In character, charisma and kindness Jivuba, the eldest daughter of Ebhal Khachar, the ruler of Gadhada matched her younger sister Laduba. In fact, they were inseparable like the two sides of a coin. She was already religious and pious before Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan came to live permanently at the royal residence of Ebhal Khachar.
When Jivuba and Laduba reached marriageable age they expressed before their father their desire not to marry but to practise devotion to God. It was like a bolt from the blue for the father. When he sought advice from Shree Hari, He sent Ladudanji, a scholarly bard, who later became a saint – Swami Brahmananad to persuade the sisters to get married. A meeting between Ladudanji and the two sisters was arranged, with a customary curtain between the two sides.
Ladudanji proud of his oratory, scriptural knowledge and mastery over the art of arguments tried to prove that married life is better than the life of celibacy and renunciation. But Jivuba proved to be more than a match in arguments and silenced the tongue of Ladudanji who accepted defeat and left in dejection. Then Shree Hari persuaded Ebhal Khachar to accept the reality of the situation with a smiling face.
But in those times having grown-up daughters in the house was looked upon as living in a house infested by serpents. Looking to the volcanic nature of Ebhal Khachar, Jivuba had to yield ultimately and she was married to Hathia Patgar, the son of Raiba of the village Kundal. On the first night of marriage she told the husband about her unwillingness to live the marriage life so he sent her back with a note to her father willingly.
Thus, Jivuba who returned to Gadhada devoted all her time in religious affairs. She worshipped the Murti of Lalji – a childhood form of Lord Krishna. So deep was her devotion that Lord Krishna used to drink milk offered to his icon as Lalji.
When Ebhal Khachar heard about this he wouldn’t believe it. So once he came to the room of worship and to his surprise Lalji exhausted all the milk and gave such a kick to the bowl that it dashed against the foot of Ebhal Khachar!
Jivuba kept her body covered in such a way that no man can see her body except the two glittering eyes, feet and hands. She wouldn’t stand even in the shadow of a male. She wouldn’t directly talk with any man. She talked with Shreeji Maharaj from a reasonable distance.
Shree Hari had commanded Jivuba, Laduba and Rajba to enlighten women in true religion. Jivuba with Laduba headed a group of so many like-minded women and they sang devotional songs, heard and recited religious narrations, cooked food for hundreds of saints, devotees and followers and did all work necessary for hospitality.
Once when she came to offer the plate of food to Shree Hari, she visualized Shree Hari as Lord Vishnu, the bedstead as Shesh Naga in the form of a bed. She saw herself as Lakshmiji, the goddess of wealth, gently pressing Shree Hari’s feet, Rajba as Saraswati, the goddess of learning, Amulaba and Rajba as maid-servants of Shree Hari. Of course, she was already convinced about the Godhead of Shree Hari.
Jivuba could control even animals through her divine power. Whenever Shree Hari left Gadhada he would seek her formal permission. But once before going to Vadtal he missed this formality. With her divine will Jivuba stopped the mare – Manaki from moving further. Shree hari realized his error and sought her permission. Then and then only Manaki moved!
Once Laduba offered a highly valuable quilt threaded with golden threads but it caught fire when Shree Hari was warming up at a fire-stove. When Jivuba learnt about the sadness of Shree Hari for this, she sent a message : “O Lord, we have hundreds of such quilts if they are finished then You think like this. You are not to leave us out of sorrow over such trifling matter!”
Jivuba could see through a woman whether the child in the womb is a male or a female. If the child was male she would not allow the woman to touch her feet. Because of her spiritual power whatever she said did happen. Many childless women used to come to her for blessings for getting a son. Because of her blessings the woman would definitely get a son with the grace of Shreeji Maharaj!
Jivuba had inherited golden ornaments weighing in few kgs. She donated them all for the icon of Gopinathji temple.
About Jivuba Siddhanand Swami wrote: Jivuba’s nature was so nice that all Samkhya-Yogini women looked upon her as ‘Guru’ the spiritual teacher. They obeyed her because of her saintly quality. She talked with women so that they have holy association. Any evil-minded woman became purified by listening to her. She never talked of her own virtues but would praise the virtues of Shree Hari. She provided food, clothes and shelter to poor women.
Jivuba’s monumental memorial is there in Lakshmi Baug – Gadhada. Women pray to her here and seek her blessings to beget a son and to be free from sufferings.