The Mute Clay (An Epic Story of A Strong, Pure Spirit)

Book Specification

Book Description

About the Book

In this tumultuous and at the same time reflective story, the mute clay is a symbol. It represents an individual who ardently seeks her release from a life of ignorance and sin. She submits herself to her illuminator and destiny-shaper, an expert potmaker, and goes through purgatorial fires. The clay is moulded with great loving care into an auspicious pot. But this is only half of the journey and the beginning of adventures to uphold the righteous and down the devil. The passage before and after the clay’s transformation is peopled with forces lined up for and against. The narrative exposes the reader to lessons from Jain scripture, nay all scripture.

About the Author

Acharya Vidyasagar (b. 10 October 1946) is Kannada by birth but uses Hindi proficiently as also Sanskrit, Prakrit, Kannada, Marathi and English. Initiated as a jain naked monk by his guru Acharya Gyansagar on 22 November 1972, in the lineage of Acharaya Shantisagar, he has numerous disciples himself. He has written extensively in Hindi and Sanskrit, and his other publications include Narmada-ke Narm Kankar (Soft Grains of the Narmada), Guruvani (Guruspeak), several collections of discourses, and a number of shataks ( collections of a hundred verses) on spiritual” themes. He has also translated about twenty religious books in verse form. Presently he grooms his disciples, discourses, and inspires religious and social activities.

About the Translator Omprakash Biyani Bhaarati (b. 2 June 1955) was a professor of English at SIES College, Mumbai and Dhanwate National College, Nagpur. He is an internationally published and awarded poet and fiction writer, writing in Hindi, English and Marathi. He also writes for the audio– visual media, with a strong spiritual bias. He has translated Swami Ranganathananda, Ramakrishna Mission global president’s Upanishad commentary into Hindi. His religious writings include Raamaayan for Bright Young Hearts, Vandanalaya (a collection of aaratis) and Mahavir ko Smar (a collection of Jain hymns).

Preface

This epic portrays on a cosmic canvas the trials of lowly clay in trying to attain stardom of the spirit. One fine morning she laments her sin-splattered state – all too human, of course – and tearfully prays to her mother the earth for a way out. A strong will creates its own vibrations in space and authors circumstance. The mother reassuringly prophecies that her shaper, her destiny-maker, will take her in his fold within a day. And so he does. The guru is an exalted soul, free from passions, kind of heart, but an uncompromising taskmaster.