Sadhvi Kalp Lata
Sadhvi Raikanwarji with her group was spending her Chaturmas in a village named Malideval (Maharashtra). Two Harijan sisters named Mukta and Ghouda used to pass by the house where the nuns stayed. They were pleased to see the nuns and had a keen interest in their teachings. Since they were Harijans, people used to object their entry in the house, so they had to sit outside the house to listen to the nuns. The nuns would come out to talk with them. This continued for months. They were very much impressed by the nuns. Mukta and Ghouda lived a miserable life. One day, both of them narrated their story of misery to Sadhvi Raikanwarji. Consoling them she said, “Face all the difficulties with equanimity. Recite the Mantra of ‘Om Bhikshu,’ and do the fast of Trayodashi.” Both of them started fasting on Trayodashi and observed silence also.
During ‘pajusana’, seeing the other devotees keeping fast for days continuously, they were also eager to perform same. But the problem was, if they did so they could not go on work and without that they might not be able to sustain themselves. At last one day, they could not control their feelings. They kept their feelings in front of Seth Lalchand Jain, a follower of Acharya Bhikshu, for whom they worked. The Seth was confident about them, because he had seen them visiting the nuns. He said that he would not deduct their wages if they would undergo the fast.
They went to the nuns to accept the fast for three continuous days. They kept silence and did Japa along with the fast. On the second day, suddenly, Mukta developed high fever. The family members forced her to take the medicine. But Mukta stayed firm and continued the Japa even in fever. As she was observing silence, she explained by gesture that she would not eat anything for three days.
On the third night she was not able to sleep. Thrice she heard a voice, “Your problems are solved.” She narrated this incident to the nuns.
Mukta had been abandoned by her husband. She earned her living herself. In the Indian society, it is difficult for a married daughter to stay with her parents. She was helpless, and so she had to face all the problems.
After she broke her three days fast, her husband persuaded her to return to their home. She refused to go back as she was familiar with his habit of drinking, etc.
A ray of hope flashed in her mind. It seemed to her that her fate had changed. Her husband assured her -that he would take a vow of not drinking. He went to the nuns and accepted the vow.
Mukta was assured by the divine voice, which she had heard during her fast. Thereafter, she decided to fast in silence on every Trayodashi and continued the Japa.
After this determination, she realised the ecstasy in her life.
