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72. What I Acquired From Mahamantra
The Worthy Pupil Gautam Muni The First of Shri Ramesh Muniji
In V. S. 2030, I came into contact with the first ever Jain Shramana. He was none other than Kavi Ratnashraddheya Shri Kevala Muniji Maharaj. It was through his regard and favour that I learned the Mahamantra. I gathered also other incidents from this great Muni. Once that I committed to memory this Mahamantra, Muniji inspired and advised me to resort to its regular recitation.
Munishri left for Vihar after the completion of his Chaturmasa. From that very day my faith had become strong and firm in the Mahamantra. Though not a Jain by birth, right from my childhood my interest and faith in the Jain Dharma were great. I look upon this as my good fortune. For some seven or eight months, I did not come in close contact with Jain saints. But the recitation of the Navakara Mantra continued as usual as my worthy preceptor Kavishri had given to me a rule.
2031 V. S. was the year in which in our city of Jalna (Maharashtra) Revered Gurudev Shri Pratapmalji Maharaj, the promulgator of the Shramana Sangh, Gurudev Shri Ramesh Muni Maharaj etc. stayed during monsoon. This was my second contact with the Jain Shramana Sangh, but unfortunately I did not remember the names of the Munis thereafter. I inquired about this my forgetfulness of my mother Sau. Jadavkunverbai Golechcha. She gave to me a full acquaintance of my Revered Gurudev. As a result there arose in my inner
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