Three words come immediately to mind whenever we think of Pujya Tai Ma: Pragya (wisdom), Purusharth (effort), and Punya (merit). Everything Tai Ma envisioned was rooted in wisdom and awareness. And she was never afraid of monumental effort. In 1973, she willingly gave up the comforts of city life and took her first steps into Bihar - the sacred land of the Tirthankars.
Life in this unfamiliar land - where Mahavir Bhagwan once walked but had, with time, been forgotten - was extremely difficult. Her journey was filled with obstacles: abuse by the local people and attacks from dacoits, extreme weather, scorpion stings, lack of initial resources and no guarantee of success. Still, nothing could deter Tai Ma.
She understood deeply that sincere effort lay in her own hands, while the fruits of that effort did not. Her wisdom had taught her that the results would unfold according to destiny and merit.
From that relentless devotion grew Veerayatan - a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, which has flourished into a gigantic tree of compassionate service reaching countless lives.
Despite accomplishing so much, Tai Ma humbly said:
“The Veerayatan that you see today is the result of the blessings of God and the immense grace of respected elders and gurus. You are witnessing all this, and I too am witnessing it. You are happy, and I am also happy. Yet there is not even the slightest corner of my heart that feels ‘I have accomplished this.’ I have neither done it, nor do I own any of it.”
Tai Ma taught us a profound lesson: walk with discernment, work tirelessly, and do not become attached to the outcomes – for they are not in our hands.
