Rajpad

This document is a Gujarati book titled "Rajpad" (રાજપદ), authored by Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram Agas and published by Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram. It is a collection of spiritual poems and prose by Shrimad Rajchandra.

Here's a comprehensive summary of its content, based on the provided pages:

Overall Purpose and Theme:

The book is presented as a collection of spiritual insights and practices that guide the reader towards self-realization and liberation (moksha) in the Jain tradition. The poems and prose are described as not merely literary works, but as expressions of pure spiritual experience and unwavering inner stability. They aim to provide solace and guidance to those who are weary of the cycle of birth and death (samsara) and genuinely seek freedom.

Key Content Areas and Specific Poems/Texts:

The book is divided into a "Padya Vibhag" (Poetic Section) and a "Gadya Vibhag" (Prose Section), with a detailed index.

Poetic Section (Padya Vibhag):

• Invocation and Prayer (Pages 10-12):
  • Grantharambh (Opening of the Book): A prayer invoking God and expressing the purpose of the compilation – to share the essence of Dharma and overcome illusion.
  • Nabhinandan Nath: A praise of Tirthankara Rishabhdev, highlighting his role as a world-honored, knowledgeable being who breaks the bonds of samsara.
  • Prabhu Prarthana (Prayer to the Lord): A series of verses (Dohras) praying for divine grace, fearlessness, purity, and the eradication of obstacles. It seeks divine blessings for peace, knowledge, and virtue.
• On Renunciation and Detachment (Page 13):
  • Sansarma Man Are (Oh, Mind in the World): A poem reflecting on the illusory nature of worldly attachments and the importance of detachment.
• Praise of Tirthankaras (Page 13-14):
  • Shri Shantinath Bhagwan (Stuti): A eulogy to Lord Shantinath, praising his perfect knowledge, meditation, conduct, and serene nature.
• Salutations to Monks (Page 14-16):
  • Munine Pranam (Salutations to Monks): A poem in Manhar meter saluting the virtuous monks, describing them as oceans of peace, navigators of morality, embodiments of compassion, knowledge, and meditation, and free from passions. The second part (Shardulvikridit) further praises their detachment from Maya (illusion), ego, and desires, and their adherence to righteousness and forbearance.
• The Inevitability of Time (Page 15-16):
  • Kal Koine Nahi Muke (Time Spares No One): A poem in Harigiti meter illustrating the impermanence of worldly possessions, power, and even life itself, emphasizing that time eventually claims everyone, regardless of their status.
• On Dharma (Righteousness) (Page 17-20):
  • Dharma Vishe (About Dharma): A detailed exploration of Dharma through Kavitt meter. It asserts that worldly pleasures like wealth, power, youth, and beauty are meaningless without true Dharma. True Dharma is described as the means to overcome ego, delusion, and attachment, leading to ultimate happiness and the knowledge of the soul. The poem repeatedly stresses the indispensability of Dharma for a meaningful human life, comparing its absence to a sunless day or a flowerless tree.
• Universal Dharma (Page 20-22):
  • Sarvamanya Dharma (Universal Dharma): A Chaupai meter poem defining Dharma as compassion, fearlessness, satisfaction, truth, chastity, charity, and non-violence. It highlights that these virtues are the essence of all teachings and the path to eternal happiness, as taught by Lord Mahavir and reflected in the teachings of Lord Shantinath and Shrimad Rajchandra.
• Exhortation to Devotion (Page 22-23):
  • Bhakti no Upadesh (Advice on Devotion): A Totak meter poem encouraging devotion to Jin (Tirthankaras) as a means to attain the wish-fulfilling tree, realize one's true self, overcome suffering, and achieve spiritual liberation.
• On Brahmacharya (Celibacy) (Page 23-25):
  • Brahmacharya Vishe Subhashit (Aphorisms on Brahmacharya): A series of Dohras emphasizing the importance of celibacy, viewing worldly desires with detachment, and the power of conquering senses. It states that victory over desire is akin to conquering an entire kingdom.
• General Aspirations (Page 25-26):
  • Samanya Manorath (General Aspirations): A Sawa meter poem expressing aspirations for detachment from others' women, considering worldly possessions as mere stone, upholding twelve vows, and achieving a pure state of being. It also speaks of increasing knowledge and reflection through the teachings of Lord Mahavir.
• The Strange Nature of Craving (Page 26-28):
  • Trushna ni Vichitrata (The Strangeness of Craving): A Manhar meter poem illustrating the insatiable nature of desire through the example of a poor person who, upon gaining wealth, still craves more, progressing from wealth to ministership, kingship, and even divinity, yet remains unfulfilled. It also depicts how desire persists even in old age, clinging to attachments even at the point of death.
• Priceless Thought (Page 28-30):
  • Amulya Tattva Vichar (Priceless Thought): A Harigiti meter poem reflecting on the preciousness of the human birth, questioning why one remains engrossed in worldly pursuits and fears death. It emphasizes the importance of introspection on one's true nature ("Who am I? Where did I come from?") and the pursuit of selfless happiness.
• The Words of the Jinas (Page 30-31):
  • Jineshwar ni Vani (The Words of the Jinas): A Manhar meter poem describing the words of the Jinas as infinite, all-encompassing, beneficial to the world, and capable of destroying delusion and leading to liberation. It acknowledges the difficulty for ordinary minds to grasp their profound meaning.
• Auspicious Completion (Page 31):
  • Purnalika Mangal (Auspicious Completion): A poem in Upajati meter referencing celestial bodies and stages of spiritual progress, culminating in a state of pure being.
• Meditations on Impermanence and Self (Page 31-34):
  • Anitya Bhavna (Meditation on Impermanence): Reflections on the transient nature of wealth, power, life, and beauty.
  • Asharan Bhavna (Meditation on Helplessness): The understanding that only the teachings of the omniscient are a true refuge.
  • Ekatva Bhavna (Meditation on Oneness): The realization that suffering is experienced individually and cannot be shared.
  • Anyatva Bhavna (Meditation on Otherness): The understanding of detachment from body, family, wealth, and possessions.
  • Ashuchi Bhavna (Meditation on Impurity): Contemplation of the impure nature of the body.
  • Nivritti Bodh (Knowledge of Cessation): The understanding that true happiness lies in detachment from worldly pursuits and the attainment of a state free from suffering.
• The Companion of Happiness (Page 36):
  • Sukh ki Saheli (The Companion of Happiness): A poem reflecting on the nature of detachment and self-realization, suggesting that true happiness arises from introspection and the understanding of one's true self.
• Different Perspectives (Page 37):
  • Bhinn Bhinn Mat Dekhie (Let's See Different Opinions): A poem that acknowledges diverse philosophical viewpoints but emphasizes the underlying truth and the importance of self-realization as the root of all Dharma.
• The Institution of the Worldly Man (Page 38-40):
  • Lok Purush Sansthane Kaho (Tell About the Worldly Man): A poem in Chaupai meter posing questions about happiness, suffering, and the nature of the self, and the role of knowledge and the guru in understanding these. It highlights the importance of discernment and the guidance of a true guru.
• Encountering the Sublime (Page 40-41):
  • Aaj Mane Uchharang (Today I Feel Exhilarated): A poem reflecting on a profound spiritual realization and the guidance of a wise path.
• Overcoming Delusion (Page 41-42):
  • Hot Aasva Parisva: A poem emphasizing the importance of understanding oneself to understand the world and the need for genuine devotion to the Jinas.
• The True Path (Page 42-43):
  • Marg Sacha Mil Gaya (The True Path is Found): A poem about finding the true path, shedding illusions, and the importance of understanding.
• Others' Efforts and True Guidance (Page 43-44):
  • Bijha Sadhana Bahu Karya (Many Other Efforts Made): A poem contrasting external efforts with the indispensable guidance of a true guru.
• The Power of the Guru's Guidance (Page 44-45):
  • Bina Nayan Pave Nahi (Without Eyes, One Cannot See): A poem emphasizing that true spiritual sight and understanding come only through the grace and guidance of a Satguru.
• Prayer for Divine Help (Page 45-46):
  • He Prabhu! He Prabhu!: A series of profound prayers of self-condemnation and seeking divine forgiveness and grace from the Lord. It expresses deep humility and the realization of one's own shortcomings.
• The Path of Yama, Niyama, and Samyama (Page 47-48):
  • Yam Niyam Sanjam (Yama, Niyama, Restraint): A Totak meter poem detailing various yogic practices and their limitations without the guidance of a Satguru, emphasizing that true spiritual attainment comes through devotion to the guru.
• The Nature of Jada (Inert) and Chetana (Conscious) (Page 48-50):
  • Jad Ne Chetanay Dunne (Both Inert and Conscious): A series of Dohras exploring the distinct natures of inert and conscious substances, the concept of bondage and liberation, and the illusion of self due to ignorance.
• The Words of the Tirthankaras (Page 50-52):
  • Jinvar Kahe Che Gyan Tene (The Tirthankaras Call it Knowledge): A Harigiti meter poem defining true knowledge not as mere book learning or rhetoric, but as the realization of the self, freedom from delusion, and the attainment of liberation, all guided by the teachings of the Tirthankaras.
• The Opportunity to Attain the Supreme State (Page 52-56):
  • Apurva Avsar Edo Kyare Avase? (When Will Such a Rare Opportunity Come?): A long poem describing the stages of spiritual progress, the attainment of detachment, the realization of the soul's true nature, overcoming desires, and the ultimate state of liberation. It outlines the path to becoming a liberated soul.
• The True Path (Page 58-61):
  • Mul Marg Sambhalo Jinno (Listen to the True Path of the Jinas): A Giti meter poem emphasizing that the true path to liberation lies in the purity of knowledge, perception, and conduct, and that this path is revealed through the guidance of a Satguru, not through external rituals or ego-driven practices.
• The Blessed Day (Page 61-63):
  • Dhanya Re Divas (Blessed is the Day): A poem reflecting on the progression of spiritual realization over years, from initial awakening to the attainment of purity and detachment.
• The Nature of Inert and Conscious (Page 63-64):
  • Jad Ne Chetanay Dunne (Both Inert and Conscious): Another poem on the distinction between the inert and the conscious, and how knowledge dispels the illusion of their unity.
• Through the Guru's Teachings (Page 65):
  • Sa Guru Na Updesh Thi (Through the Guru's Teachings): A poem emphasizing that understanding the true nature of the Jinas and the self comes through the guidance of a Satguru.
• The Desire of Yogis (Page 65-67):
  • Ichhe Che Je Yogi Jan (What Yogis Desire): A poem describing the yogi's aspiration for an unchanging, blissful self and the role of the Jinas and Satguru in revealing this path.
• Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra (Page 68-86):
  • This is a significant part of the book, presenting a dialogue between a disciple and a Guru. It meticulously explains the nature of the soul, its attributes (eternity, doership, experiencer, liberation, means to liberation), the process of bondage and liberation, the distinction between the inert and the conscious, and the importance of distinguishing between true and false gurus. It also elaborates on the six fundamental principles (Shatpad) related to the soul and its existence, expounding on them with logical reasoning. The dialogue addresses common doubts and misconceptions about the soul and liberation.
• Concluding Remarks on the Six Principles (Page 86-94): This section elaborates on the six key principles discussed in Atmasiddhi Shastra, further clarifying the nature of the soul, its eternity, its role as a doer and experiencer, the concept of liberation, and the means to achieve it. It emphasizes the importance of the Satguru's guidance in understanding these truths and attaining liberation.
• Prose Section (Gadya Vibhag):
  • Karma Gati Vichitra Che (The Nature of Karma is Mysterious): A prose piece emphasizing the importance of cultivating equanimity, joy in others' virtues, compassion for the suffering, and detachment from worldly matters.
  • Chha Pad No Patra (The Letter of Six Principles): This likely refers to the six principles discussed in Atmasiddhi Shastra, elaborating on them.
  • Vitarag No Kaelo (What the Passionless Ones Have Said): General reference to the teachings of the liberated souls.
  • Kshamapana Path (The Path of Forgiveness): A prose piece expressing deep remorse and seeking forgiveness for spiritual transgressions, acknowledging the limitations of the self and the need for divine guidance.
  • He Kaam! He Maan! He Sanguday! (Oh Desire! Oh Ego! Oh Accumulation of Company!): A prose piece addressing the detrimental influences of desire, ego, and negative associations.
  • He Paramkripalu Dev! (Oh Most Compassionate Lord!): A prose piece expressing gratitude to the Satguru for revealing the true path and pledging devotion.

Publisher's Note:

The publisher's note (Prastavik) highlights that this collection was previously published by another organization that is now inactive. The current publication is by Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Agas. It reiterates that these poems are not mere poetry but expressions of spiritual experience and provides brief descriptions of some key texts within the collection, such as "Atmasiddhi Shastra," "Apurva Avsar," "Mul Marg," and others, explaining their spiritual significance.

Author's (Shrimad Rajchandra's) Vision:

The book concludes with a quote attributed to Shrimad Rajchandra, calling him an "avatar of knowledge" and someone detached from worldly affairs despite living in the world. His ultimate aspiration is described as freeing himself from karmic debts by gradually returning what he has accumulated from the world.

In essence, "Rajpad" is a profound compilation of Shrimad Rajchandra's spiritual writings, offering a comprehensive guide to the Jain path of liberation, emphasizing self-knowledge, detachment, devotion to the guru, and the practice of virtues.