Shrimad Rajchandra

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text about Shrimad Rajchandra:

The text, "Shrimad Rajchandra," published by the JAINA Education Committee, provides a detailed biographical and spiritual account of Shrimad Rajchandra (1867-1901), a prominent saint and philosopher of the modern era. He is described as a great visionary, a renowned saint, a profound philosopher, a brilliant poet, a social reformer, a thinker, and a self-realized soul. Mahatma Gandhi was deeply influenced by Shrimad Rajchandra's spiritual life, considering his writings the essence of his self-experience. Even today, many Jain and Hindu seekers follow his teachings for spiritual awakening and self-realization.

Early Life and Influences: Born on November 10, 1867 (Kartik Purnima, Dev Diwali in Vikram Samvat 1924) in Vavania village, Morbi district, Gujarat, his birth name was Laxminandan, later changed to Raychand, and finally known as Rajchandra. His father, Ravjibhai, and grandfather were Vaishnav (Hindu) devotees, while his mother, Devba, came from a Jain family. This dual upbringing instilled in him both Jain and Hindu values.

From a young age, Rajchandra had a passion for reading. He was particularly moved by the Jain Pratikraman Sutra, its compassion for all living beings, and the sincere forgiveness expressed during Paryushan. He recognized Jain philosophy's emphasis on self-knowledge, restraint, supreme peace, renunciation, detachment from worldly pleasures, and meditation as the path to ultimate truth and eternal peace.

A pivotal moment occurred at the age of seven when he witnessed the cremation of a neighbor who had died after being bitten by a snake. This experience led him to question the nature of death and, upon seeing the burning body, he recalled past lives. This profound realization of the cycle of birth and death ignited his spiritual journey and his resolve to liberate himself from the bondage of karma and suffering.

Intellectual and Spiritual Prowess: At seven, he entered school, demonstrating an extraordinary memory by completing seven years of study in just two. Despite his limited formal education, he continued his self-study through books. He began his father's business with integrity and dedication. By the age of eight, he composed his first poem, later writing socially relevant poems that were published in local newspapers. At a young age, he also wrote on critical social issues like women's education, child marriage, and the misuse of wealth by the rich.

He possessed a supernatural ability to foresee future events and helped many people facing difficulties. By 18, he became an expert astrologer and exhibited uncanny abilities like identifying books by touch and predicting the taste of food without tasting it. Alongside these extraordinary powers, he developed deep compassion and a strong commitment to non-violence.

Family and Business: At 20, in 1888 (VS 1944), he married Zabbakben, the daughter of his business partner. He had four children: two sons, Chhaganlal and Ratilal, and two daughters, Javalben and Kashiben. He also had a younger brother named Mansukhbhai. In 1888, at the age of 20, he became a partner in the diamond business in Mumbai, conducting all his dealings with utmost morality, honesty, and kindness. His business acumen led to rapid growth both domestically and internationally. His commitment to truth, ethical values, and doing what was right inspired others. In 1899, at 31, he retired completely from business.

Avadhan Shakti (Concentration Power): At 17, he learned the art of Asthavadhan (performing eight tasks simultaneously). The next day, he performed twelve tasks. He continuously enhanced his concentration and became capable of performing 52 tasks simultaneously. At 19, in the presence of the Chief Justice of Mumbai and other dignitaries, he performed 100 tasks simultaneously, known as Shatavadhana. These tasks included playing cards, chess, counting bell sounds, performing mathematical calculations, composing poems on various subjects, and arranging words from 16 different languages. This was an incredible feat, given his primary school education. His achievements were widely publicized. He declined an invitation to Europe to demonstrate his powers, as he felt it would be difficult to adhere to Jain principles there and would hinder his spiritual progress. By the age of 20, his fame had spread across India, but he realized his extraordinary abilities were yielding only material benefits, which was not his ultimate goal. He abandoned these activities to focus on self-restraint, renunciation of worldly pleasures, contemplation, and meditation for spiritual advancement and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Literary Contributions: In his early years, Shrimad penned poems and articles on social reform. By 14, he learned Sanskrit and Prakrit and, while working in his father's shop, deeply studied Jain Agamas and other scriptures. At 16, he wrote "Mokshamala" (The Garland of Liberation) and its abridged version, "Bhavna-bodh." "Mokshamala" is written in simple language, providing comprehensive information about Jainism and guiding readers on the path to liberation. He composed 108 verses of it in just three days.

While residing in Nadiad, near Ahmedabad, in VS 1952, he composed the magnum opus, "Atma-siddhi Shastra." He wrote all 142 verses of this scripture in just 90 minutes in a single sitting. The scripture elaborates on six fundamental characteristics of the soul: its existence, permanence, role as the doer and enjoyer of karma, liberation from karma, and the means to achieve it. It extensively explains Jain philosophy and how its anekantavada (non-absolutism) encompasses other Indian philosophies.

"Apurva Avsar" is another significant poem detailing 14 sequential steps of spiritual progress towards ultimate liberation. Mahatma Gandhi included this poem in the prayer book of his ashram. Shrimad's entire literary output comprises over 35 poems and approximately 950 letters to his associates, collectively known as "Shrimad Rajchandra Vachanamrut." His writings are characterized by profound spirituality, offering a guide to liberation through self-realization.

Mahatma Gandhi deeply admired Shrimad Rajchandra's divine qualities and considered him his spiritual guide. When Gandhi was in South Africa, facing pressure from Christian and Muslim friends to convert, he wrote to Shrimad for guidance. Shrimad advised him that his Hindu faith was conducive to spiritual progress. Gandhi respectfully acknowledged Shrimad's influence in his autobiography, attributing his understanding of compassion and non-violence to him. Shrimad's spiritual life and writings had a greater impact on Gandhi than those of Tolstoy and Ruskin.

Spiritual Development: Shrimad Rajchandra had no external spiritual guru. His spiritual awakening began at seven when he recalled his past lives, including his association with Lord Mahavir Swami. In 1891, at 23, he experienced Samyag Darshan (right faith or innate knowledge). He gradually withdrew from worldly affairs, dedicating himself to the study of scriptures, cultivating virtues, reducing attachment to worldly pleasures, and engaging in long periods of meditation. He often retreated to secluded places away from Mumbai for months. Initially, he faced challenges balancing his spiritual path with family and business responsibilities.

In 1896, he spent months in solitude in the forests of UttarSanda, Idar, and Kavittha, observing a strict routine of one meal a day, minimal sleep, and deep meditation. At 28, he attained self-knowledge. He retired completely from business in 1899. He sought his mother's permission to become a renunciate but was refused due to her affection. Despite his persistent requests for two years, his mother, whose health was declining, couldn't grant permission. He passed away in 1901 at the young age of 33 in Rajkot.

Followers: Although Shrimad tried to keep his spiritual life private, many who recognized his spiritual depth considered him their guide for ultimate liberation. Notable disciples included:

• Shri Sobhagbhai: Shrimad wrote 350 out of his 950 letters to Sobhagbhai, who recognized Shrimad as a self-realized soul and a true guru from their first meeting. Sobhagbhai was simple in conduct and devout. At his request, Shrimad composed the lyrical "Atma-siddhi Shastra" for easier remembrance. Sobhagbhai attained self-knowledge and died in meditation.
• Shri Laghuraj Swami: A Sthanakvasi Jain monk, he was a devoted follower. His devotion to a householder like Shrimad caused significant issues within the Jain community. He attained spiritual knowledge in Shrimad's presence and founded the Agas Ashram near Vadodara. This ashram is credited with preserving and disseminating Shrimad's writings widely. Agas remains an important center for Shrimad's followers, with over fifty ashrams in and outside India today.
• Shri Ambalalbhai: A devoted disciple from Khambhat, he abandoned his flourishing legal career to serve Shrimad. Shrimad entrusted him with copying scriptures and transcribing his letters due to his exceptional memory. He and Shrimad's brother, Mansukhbhai, were instrumental in collecting and publishing Shrimad's letters and literature. Ambalalbhai attained self-knowledge in 1905 (VS 1961) and died young in meditation.
• Shri Juthabhai: Juthabhai was among the first to recognize Shrimad's divine essence and accepted him as his spiritual guide. Their relationship was deep. Juthabhai attained self-welfare and died in meditation in 1890 (VS 1946) at the young age of 23 under Shrimad's guidance.

Shrimad's Teachings and Contributions: Shrimad Rajchandra's entire literary work is based on the teachings of Lord Mahavir. He presented these teachings in simple Gujarati and Hindi, in both prose and poetry, contributing significantly to bringing true spirituality to light and dispelling blind faith. His key contribution was teaching people that judging a guru solely by outward behavior and dress is a mistake, as an unworthy guru can lead a disciple astray, increasing suffering and prolonging the cycle of life. Conversely, a true guru's teachings can lead to true freedom and liberation.

His core teachings, presented in simplified terms, include:

• Morality: Good manners, good actions, and good conduct are the foundation of purity. All living beings are equal; therefore, no soul should be harmed. One should not exploit the capabilities of any soul.
• Human Life: All living beings desire permanent happiness, achievable only in human life. However, humans often choose suffering, seeking happiness in worldly desires and possessions due to the influence of delusion, which is ultimately an illusion.
• Detachment from Worldly Pleasures (Vairagya): Detachment from worldly and material pleasures, as well as family relationships, is crucial for eternal happiness. True renunciation stems from true self-knowledge; without it, self-realization is impossible. Wasting human life by solely focusing on renunciation without desiring self-knowledge is futile.
• Knowledge and Wisdom: True knowledge allows understanding the qualities and changes in worldly objects. Like a needle with a thread that doesn't get lost, a knowledgeable person on the spiritual path also does not stray. True knowledge controls external emotions, reduces attachment to family and worldly pleasures, and reveals the true reality. Knowing oneself leads to knowing the entire universe; otherwise, knowledge is meaningless.

Conclusion: Shrimad Rajchandra was a great saint, a self-realized guru, an exceptional scholar, a gifted poet, a possessor of unparalleled memory, a social reformer, a worshipper and propagator of non-violence, and a proponent of equality towards all religions. Like many great figures, his greatness was not fully recognized during his lifetime. He was not widely popular within the Jain community because he pointed out inaccuracies in their understanding and baseless traditions. His greatness was realized posthumously. He emphasized the necessity of a true guru for spiritual development and ultimate liberation.

Shrimad believed he was not qualified to preach the path to liberation as he had not taken formal initiation. Despite his vast knowledge, he refrained from publicly preaching. He hoped to become a monk in his later life and, at the appropriate time, impart true teachings to the Jain community, urging them to abandon the inappropriate rituals that had entered Jainism.

Shrimad Rajchandra's writings, personal correspondence, essays, poems, "Mokshamala," "Atma-siddhi Shastra," and "Apurva Avsar" are invaluable gifts. In his short 33-year life, he conveyed a spiritual message highlighting the glory of the eternal, simplifying Lord Mahavir's teachings for the common person. His writings offer a unique opportunity to understand a truly self-realized human being.