Shrimad Rajchandra - Book Summary

This comprehensive document, "Shrimad Rajchandra" by Atmanandji Maharaj, published by Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust, is an exploration of the life and teachings of Shrimad Rajchandra, a prominent spiritual figure of the 20th century in India. The book delves into his early life, spiritual awakening, intellectual prowess, and profound philosophical insights, all framed within the context of Jainism.

Here's a summary of the key aspects covered in the text:

Introduction and Early Life:

Birth and Ancestry: Shrimad Rajchandra was born in Vavanavada, Saurashtra, on the auspicious day of Kartik Sud Poonam, V.S. 1924 (November 9, 1867). His family was involved in seafaring and money lending. His grandfather, Panchaanbhai Mehta, was a devotee of Krishna, while his mother, Devaba, brought Jain samskaras. This created a mixed religious upbringing.
Name: His birth name was Lakshminandan, later changed to Raychandrajchandra, by which he became famous.
Early Influences: Despite a Vaishnavite upbringing, the Jain principles of compassion for all beings and forgiveness, encountered through reading Jain scriptures like Pratikraman, deeply touched his pure heart. He was drawn to Jainism's emphasis on knowledge and renunciation.

Spiritual Awakening and Key Experiences:

Jatismaranamjnana (Knowledge of Past Lives): A pivotal event occurred when, at the age of twelve, he witnessed the cremation of a relative. This profound experience triggered his Jatismaranamjnana, allowing him to recall his past lives. This knowledge significantly deepened his detachment and conviction in the path to liberation. This is corroborated by his writings and conversations.
Early Talents and Prodigy:
- Poetry: He began composing poetry at the age of eight, writing verses on the Ramayana and Mahabharata, showcasing his innate poetic talent.
- Business Acumen: He displayed ethical business practices even in childhood, sitting in his father's shop and conducting transactions with fairness.
- Essay Writing and Oratory: By age eleven, he was writing essays, participating in debates, and expressing original thoughts on women's education.
- Language Proficiency: By fourteen, he had gained a good command of Gujarati, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Prakrit.
- Compassion and Tolerance: Even at a young age, he demonstrated immense love, affection, and tolerance for all living beings.

Adolescence and Exceptional Abilities:

Avadhan Shakti (Concentration and Memory Power): At sixteen, he witnessed an Avadhan performance and, using his father's incredible memory, mastered the technique. He later demonstrated Avadhan performances for large audiences, showcasing his extraordinary memory and intellectual capacity. He could memorize over 100 shlokas in an hour.
Shatavdhan (Hundred Avadhans): At nineteen, he performed Shatavdhan in Mumbai, earning widespread praise from intellectuals and the press. This led to an invitation to Europe from Sir Charles Sargent, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, which he declined.
Astrology and Samudrik Shastra: He also developed a keen interest in astrology and palmistry, diligently studying ancient texts.
Extraordinary Powers: Besides these, he possessed powers like identifying books by touch alone and discerning the taste of food without tasting it. These abilities were widely reported in contemporary newspapers and led to him being honored with a "Suvarnachandrak" (gold medal) and the title "Sakshat Saraswati" (Living Saraswati) by the Jain community.

Renunciation of Extraordinary Powers:

Despite his immense capabilities, Shrimad Rajchandra, at the ages of twenty and twenty-four, voluntarily renounced the use of these extraordinary powers. He recognized that their pursuit could lead to attachment and external fame, diverting him from his primary goal of spiritual liberation. He dedicated himself to practices like Shama (equanimity), Vairagya (detachment), study, contemplation, and solitary practice.

Business and Social Reforms:

Business Practices: He managed his father's jewelry business, expanding it internationally. He was known for his integrity, fairness, meticulousness, and unwavering commitment to his word, even if it meant foregoing profit. Mahatma Gandhi cited him as an example of how one could be spiritually inclined and yet exceptionally skilled in worldly affairs.
Social Reform: He actively advocated for women's education, opposed expensive wedding ceremonies, and wrote extensively on social issues, inspiring a sense of renewal.

Domestic Life and Spiritual Pursuit:

Marriage: He married Zababhen, daughter of Shri Popatalal, at the age of twenty (V.S. 1944).
Balancing Worlds: Despite his profound spiritual inclinations, he entered into married life at the appropriate time, seeking to follow the principles of Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. However, his inner desire for complete renunciation was evident.
Continued Spiritual Focus: Even within his household responsibilities, his focus remained on spiritual growth and detachment. His letters from this period reveal a deep longing for renunciation and a clear understanding that worldly happiness is often illusory. He sought liberation from worldly attachments and expressed a desire for a detached inner life even while outwardly engaged in householder duties.
His life as a Householder: His staying in the household was not for worldly enjoyment but perhaps to fulfill the obligations of past karma before complete renunciation. His life challenged the notion that householders cannot achieve spiritual goals, demonstrating that sincere effort and devotion can lead to self-realization.

Self-Realization and Continued Sadhana:

Self-Knowledge: Through deep contemplation, study, growing detachment, chanting, and a constant yearning for experience, he attained self-knowledge (Atmajnana) in V.S. 1951. He expressed this attainment through his writings.
Further Practices: Even after this realization, he intensified his spiritual efforts, embracing complete renunciation and living in secluded places for prolonged periods. His practices included austerity in food, clothing, and daily routines, and a deep focus on meditation and silence. He shed worldly possessions and attachments, demonstrating a commitment to living a truly detached life.
Stages of Sadhana: His journey towards complete renunciation can be divided into two phases, from V.S. 1947 to 1951 and from V.S. 1952 until his demise. This period was marked by his determination to overcome obstacles and maintain the purity of his soul.
Passing: After intense sadhana, he passed away in V.S. 1957.

Disciples and Influence:

Shrimad Rajchandra's influence was profound, attracting a large following. The book highlights several key disciples and admirers:
- Shri Sobhagbhai: His closest friend and confidant, who attained a high spiritual state and composed the "Atma Siddhi Shastra" at Shrimadji's request.
- Shri Laghurajswami: A devoted disciple who spread Shrimadji's teachings through the Agas Ashram.
- Shri Ambalalbhai: A dedicated follower who helped compile and preserve Shrimadji's literature.
- Shri Jethabhai: A young seeker who achieved spiritual progress early in life.
- Shri Mansukhbhai: Shrimadji's younger brother, who played a vital role in publishing his works.
- Mahatma Gandhi: Gandhi considered Shrimad Rajchandra his foremost spiritual guide and learned significantly from his life and teachings. Gandhi's "Satyagraha" was heavily influenced by Shrimadji's emphasis on truth and non-violence.

Inspirational Incidents: The book includes several anecdotes that illustrate Shrimad Rajchandra's qualities:

The Power of Peace: An incident where his calm presence pacified two fighting bulls, while his fearful companions hid.
Concern for the Soul: A response to a question about the shape of the Earth, where he redirected the focus to spiritual well-being.
Fear of Death: His advice on not fearing death but accepting it as a consequence of karma.
Divine Foresight: A prediction of a man's death, emphasizing the importance of heeding spiritual guidance.
Integrity: His definition of Jain honesty, equating it to the highest standard of judicial integrity.
Adherence to Truth: His firm stance that truth must always prevail, even when confronting a respected scholar.
Unconditional Compassion: Returning from a journey to ensure a disciple did not miss out on spiritual discourse.
Controlling the Mind: His advice on keeping the mind engaged with spiritual thoughts to prevent it from straying.

Conclusion and Legacy:

Spiritual Focus: Shrimad Rajchandra's life was primarily spiritual. Though his teachings were not widely disseminated during his lifetime, his message of detachment, self-realization, and ethical living continues to inspire.
Multifaceted Personality: He was not just a saint but also an educator, poet, prodigious memory holder, intellectual, possessor of extraordinary knowledge, social reformer, advocate of non-violence and truth, champion of women's upliftment, and a proponent of interfaith harmony.
Undersung Hero: The author laments that Shrimad Rajchandra's personality and teachings have not received the same level of societal recognition as some other prominent Indian spiritual figures. The book aims to bring his profound contributions to the forefront.
Call to Action: The book concludes with a call for readers to understand Shrimadji's teachings with an open mind and to spread his message of peace, love, virtues, tolerance, truth, non-violence, and universal brotherhood, which are essential for the well-being of society.

Excerpts of Teachings: The final section of the book presents a selection of Shrimadji's teachings covering various aspects:

Equality and Ethics: Samadrishti (equal vision) towards all beings, abstaining from harm, reducing worldly entanglements, and the importance of righteousness.
Harmony of Religions: Respect for all paths that lead to the destruction of worldly impurities, the essence of Dharma lying in self-realization, and the unity of underlying truth.
Human Life: The rarity and preciousness of human life, the importance of self-realization through discernment, and the folly of wasting this opportunity on worldly pursuits.
Satsang (Good Company): The supreme importance of associating with virtuous individuals and spiritual guides for spiritual progress.
Bhakti (Devotion): The supreme nature of devotion, especially towards a true spiritual guide, as a means to liberation.
Happiness: True happiness resides within, and external pursuits are ultimately unsatisfying.
Vairagya (Detachment): The path to infinite happiness, the necessity of increasing detachment for seekers, and the interconnectedness of knowledge and detachment.
Sadguru (True Guru): The different types of gurus and the paramount importance of a true, self-realized guru for spiritual guidance.
Mokshu-Abhilasha (Desire for Liberation): The characteristics of a true seeker, the importance of discerning the right path through virtuous company and sincere effort.
Knowledge: True knowledge is that which leads to detachment from external objects and the manifestation of inner qualities.

In essence, "Shrimad Rajchandra" is a tribute to a remarkable spiritual master, meticulously detailing his journey from a gifted child to an enlightened soul whose profound teachings offer timeless guidance for spiritual seekers and ethical living.