________________
56. The Navakara Carries Us Safe Over
The Waters Of This Birth Khushalchandbhai Khetsi Desalpurvala 2nd Floor, Rasool Bldg., Room No. 38
K. K. Marg, Seven Roads,
Bombay-400 011. The incident took place some twenty years back. I and my younger brother went to Vajeshvari with my uncle. In the morning we were playing catch and go (Pakadapakadi) when my brother shouted : "Save me! Alas! I am drowning!" When I ran near to save him he said : "It is only a joke."
I retorted : "Never play or joke in waters! If you will drown actually, no one will come to help you!"
After a while, he actually began to drown in a whirlpool of water. What to do now! I was reminded of the good religious culture imparted on us by our mother. She daily narrated the story of Arunakumar before we went to sleep and also explained the purport of the Navakara Mahamantra to us.
My brother began to recite the Navakara Mahamantra even while waters had entered his nose and it was as if his last breath. Just then a non-Jain gentleman came running, jumped in the waters and lifted my brother up. With very great difficulty he was brought on the bank of the river. He was made to lie down on the reverse and water was forced out from his mouth. The doctor was called, my brother was treated; he got new life as if! Thus we experienced directly the great influence of the Navakara.
Really, the Navakara has the ability to take us to the other shore of the waters of this birth.
*
*
*
290
