Sadhvi Kalp Lata
Sonaldevi, wife of Mohanlalji Nahata of Sardarshahar, was a religious and devoted lady. She had great faith in austerity. She observed fast from one day fast to 22 days fast continuously, further 31 days, 45 days and finally alternate day fasting for a year.
Once she thought to observe. 16 days fast. She took her mother-in-law’s permission and then started her fast. Some of the special performances while doing fast was meditation, swadhyaya and to hear the lectures of monks and nuns. Along with this she continued her daily housework. She believed that it was easy to perform penance while performing daily routine. Prior to this penance, she had undertaken a number of fasts successfully.
It was the 5th day of her penance. When in the afternoon, while clearing the wheat she felt giddy and she vomited. Everybody was surprised to see her vomit. Which had a large quantity of green coloured bile and as a consequence there developed swelling in her body. Her body was turning green.
After a short while as she tried to rise, she felt that her hands and legs had become crooked. She made an effort to move her hands and legs but she was not able to do so. Looking at her condition, the family members were worried. Because of her 5th days fast, she could not be provided any medicine. So they thought not to consult any doctor. Whenever she felt uneasy she asked her mother-in-law to utter the Mantra of ‘Om Bhikshu’. She firmly believed that she would be alright by hearing this Mantra.
The next morning Sadhvi shree Bhattuji came to visit her. The Sadhviji was not aware of her poor physical condition. She saw that her body had doubled due to swelling and had turned pale green. When Sadhviji was informed about the complete facts she closed her eyes and meditated. Then she said, “Don’t worry. I think that you are not suffering from any disease but somebody is taking your test. Tolerate this troublesome situation with patience. It will shed off your karma. The swelling will go away automatically.”
After hearing the words of Sadhviji, with deep faith she decided to continue her fast so that both the soul and body could remain healthy. She considered that this is the test of her firm determination. She replied peacefully, “I will not be distracted because I have the Mantra of ‘Om Bhikshu’. Kindly allow me to do my fast till tomorrow.” The nuns permitted her to do so and they left for their destination. Sonaldevi addressed her family members, “In spite of swollen body and changed colour, I am feeling alright. You may do your routine work. I want the Mantra of ‘Om Bhikshu’ to be chanted day and night near me.” There was hardly any change in her condition and she was not able to sleep for the whole night. But she was fully engrossed in the Mantra which provides remarkable peace to her.
On the 7th day, her mother-in-law said to her, “I am going to visit the monks.” Sonaldevi said, “Before you go to visit the monks take any one vow.”
The mother-in-law instantly replied, “The day you completely recover, I will perform Ayambila for three days.” Saying this she left for the place of monks and Sonaldevi fell fast asleep. In her sleep, she realised that a monk with white robes was standing beside her head. At that time she felt effect of light.
When her mother.-in-law returned, she found that the-colour of her face had become normal. When she came near, Sonaldevi narrated the whole event and said, “Up to the neck I am feeling normal but below it there is the same swelling.”
The Japa continued for three days and her mother-in-law was chanting the Mantra in every evening, Sonaldevi said, “In the morning you made a decision of penance which cured me up to the neck, now I want to continue this fast for 16 days and chant the Mantra despite my pitiable condition. The power of the Mantra will help me to complete my fasting without any obstruction.” While chanting the Mantra, she was asleep.
Exactly at 4 o’clock, she saw again the same monk standing near her feet. She felt that something was going away from her feet and she felt very light.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she said to her mother-in-law, “Just now a monk was standing here. Did you see him?” Her mother-in-law replied negatively. Sonaldevi started thinking— who was he? Where did he come from? Where did he go? These questions had no answers even today.
Her mother-in-law looked towards her legs and found that there was no swelling. Everybody bowed their heads to the holy monk. She was overjoyed peace full completion of her penance of 16 days.
