15th of January 2019, the sun shone brighter upon the Sacred Samadhi of Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani and Rev. Dada J. P. Vaswani. Today was a big day, an auspicious day, for joining the two Masters was Sister Shanti in all her tenderness and warmth- a statue of Sister Shanti was to be inaugurated today.
Soon thereafter, the havan was lit by Didi Krishna Kumari and the ahuti was offered. Devotees present were chanting the Gayatri Mantra and Asatoma Satgamya Mantra in a choral with utmost vedic rhythm. The atmosphere was divine in all its element.The programme began to the reading of a verse from the Holy Scripture of Sukhmani Sahib. This was followed by a recitation of a shloka from the Man Prabodh. Lighting of the lamp was done by Didi Krishna Kumari, Working Chairperson, Sadhu Vaswani Mission. An audio rendition of the Chapter 12, Shlokas 13-20 in the flute-like voice of Sadhu Vaswani was played. A vachan from the Nuri Granth and then from the Anjali Sangraha was read. Incidentally, the vachan opened to a verse on Sister Shanti, something that moved everyone present, coming to all as a message from dear Dada himself.
Finally, with a clarion call of ‘jo bole so nihal, sat sri akal,’ the statue of Sister Shanti was unveiled at the hands of the committee members of the Mission.
The moment was truly ecstatic. Sister Shanti’s statue was glistening with love and light. Tender as she was, the statue was every bit of her, motherly and divine.
On the designing and making of the statue, Piya Uttamchandani spoke, saying, “Sister Shanti, the spiritual-daughter of Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani was laid to rest by Rev. Dada J. P. Vaswani in the Sacred Samadhi of the Great Master. For long, the Mission had been contemplating upon placing a statue of her. With that view, we created a model statue and on the occasion of Sister Shanti’s Mahayagna placed it in the Samadhi. Although we had decided to take it out once the programme was over, none of us had the heart to do so. So it remained stationed there lovingly gazing upon Gurudev Sadhu Vaswani. Being a rough model, it needed replacement. Dada pooled in his funds and for the statue to be soon made. We connected with Mr. Vinayak Rampure, a renowned sculptor from Pune. On approaching him, it so happened that listening to the life and teachings of Sister Shanti, he was thoroughly moved and held her in high regards. His devotion to her, shows in the carving. The sculpture depicts her in all her illustriousness; compassionate, loving and caring. All those who have had the fortune of being in her company have remarked that the statue is an image of hers in its entirety.”
Truly, the devotees were seen tear-touched as they bowed down to Sister Shanti as she continued to gaze upon the Great Master- Sadhu T. L. Vaswani.
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