Navaneeta The Cream of Wisdom: Inspiring Tales of Common Sense

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Navaneeta is a collection of 28 tales narrated by Shivjibhai Devshi, a saintly social activist who believed in high thinking, moral uprightness and simple living. For decades he roamed about the country, spreading his message of spiritual uplift by sharing his soulful songs and stories. "Always live drowned in bliss", he told people, and he sought to live that way himself.

Shivjibhai's stories, unusual and compelling, arise out of his own life-experiences. He is the happy child who loves dogs and donkeys and hanging out the window of a running train, enthralled by Nature's beauty. He is the astute observer who sees that the rich are never happy because they are never satisfied. He is the wise elder who counsels a distraught daughter-in-law to soften the heart of her mother-in law by saying, when scolded, "Please, Mother, forgive my mistakes; I am your child."

These stories go beyond moral platitudes and social reforms. Colourful and carefree, they reveal the greatness of a life of rectitude, compassion, freedom and joy.

Pujalal was born Punjalal Ranchod-das Dalvadi in Godhra on 17 June 1901. Since "English V" was then the highest class in his school there, he had to move to Nadiad where he lived with his elder sister and joined the Coronation School. In January 1966, in his obituary of his mentor Shri Ambu bhai Purani, Pujalal wrote, "He, who was later reputed to be always carrying a gymnasium in his pocket, started his first centre of physical culture at Nadiad and that too in a dharma- shala, and I had the good fortune of joining it or rather joining my destiny with that of Ambubhai's." That was in December 1917.

Until Ambubhai passed away in December 1965, Pujalal remained one of his closest companions.

**Contents and Sample Pages**