Page 96 - Fait Personified

fast (Tapasvis) was also an integral part of this religious
outlook.

4) He believed harsh statements or insults from the

Tapasvis to be their shower of grace and the best
possible shortcut to wash away his previous inauspicious
karmas. Such faith made even adverse situations seem
smooth and joyous. This, too is the ideal religious
outlook.

Imagine the situation – on the holy day of Samvatsari, he
brought rice for himself and showed it to those saints who
were fasting since 4 months. Despising his incapacity to control
his hunger, they furiously spit in his vessel of rice. But Kurgadu
Muni’s faith made even this situation seem favourable. He

assumed the great fasting saints’ saliva to be nectar which had
the power to dilute and eventually nullify the effect of the
poison of his inauspicious karmas. Thus, he happily consumed
the rice without any complaints or hatred. What a noble

religious disposition! It gradually it took him on higher
spiritual Planes, right upto Vitaragta – Complete non-
attachment and omniscience.

Another glimpse of his ever-increasing religious disposition–

5) He ensured that since his one business i.e. his market
of fasts and external penance crashed, the alternative
market of Swadhyaya – Vinaya – Veyavacha flourished.
His enthusiasm, excitement and increasing

82