Shrimad Rajchandraji

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text about Shrimad Rajchandraji, based on the content of the pages you've shared:

This document, titled "Shrimad Rajchandraji" and authored by Atmanandji, is a biographical and devotional account of the esteemed Jain spiritual leader, Shrimad Rajchandraji. It positions him as an exceptional figure of the 20th century, a profound philosopher, and a highly realized soul. The text emphasizes his significant contribution to the path of liberation, illuminating the eternal path illuminated by ancient saints.

Key Aspects of Shrimad Rajchandraji's Life and Teachings:

• A Beacon of Spirituality: Shrimad Rajchandraji is described as a brilliant light in the spiritual firmament, a rare and distinguished personality not only for the Jain community but for the modern world. He is hailed as a treasury of divine knowledge, a sun of wisdom, and an embodiment of knowledge itself.

• Mahatma Gandhi's Reverence: The text highlights Mahatma Gandhi's deep admiration for Shrimadji, calling him an extraordinary individual whose writings are akin to drops of his own experience. Gandhi believed that reading and practicing Shrimadji's words could lead to liberation and self-understanding for anyone, regardless of their religious background.

• A Life of Experimentation: Kaka Kalelkar is quoted, referring to Shrimadji as a "hero of experimentation," whose life was a living testament to his profound realizations, particularly evident in his works like 'Samaysar' and 'Atmasiddhi.'

• Birth and Early Life:

  • Born in Vavania village, Morbi state, Saurashtra, on Kartik Sud Poonam, V.S. 1924 (November 9, 1867).
  • His grandfather, Panchanbhai Mehta, was a successful merchant involved in shipping and finance.
  • His parents, Devaba and Ravjibhai, were devout and service-oriented individuals, blessed with a virtuous son after their devoted service to an elder devotee and a saintly fakir.
  • The day of his birth, Dev Diwali, is also celebrated as the birth anniversary of Acharya Hemchandrasuri and the commencement of the Palitana pilgrimage in the Gujarati Jain tradition.
  • Initially named Lakshminandan, his name was changed to Raychand Rajchandra at the age of four.

• Childhood and Education:

  • Raised in a mixed environment of Vaishnav (due to his grandfather) and Jain (due to his mother) traditions.
  • His innate curiosity and love for reading led him to Jain scriptures like the 'Pratikraman' sutras. The compassion and humility expressed through forgiveness in these texts deeply touched his heart.
  • He was drawn to the renunciation-oriented nature of Jainism.
  • At the age of seven, he began his formal education and displayed remarkable memory, completing seven years of study in just two years.

• Prodigious Abilities and Past-Life Awareness:

  • Jatismaran Gyan (Past-Life Recall): A significant event occurred when his elder friend passed away due to snakebite. His questioning about death led to a profound realization, shattering the veil of ignorance and awakening his memory of past lives. This experience significantly deepened his detachment and clarified his path to liberation.
  • Poetry: He started composing poetry from the age of eight.
  • Business Acumen: He conducted his father's business with integrity and fairness.
  • Linguistic Proficiency: He understood Gujarati, Hindi, Sanskrit, and Prakrit texts thoroughly.
  • Compassion: Even at a young age, he exhibited universal love, affection, and tolerance for all beings.
  • Avadhan Shakti (Concentration Power): At sixteen, he demonstrated twelve 'Avadhans' in Morbi, later performing sixteen in Jamnagar and fifty-two in Botad. At nineteen, he performed 'Shatavdhan' (one hundred Avadhans) in a public assembly in Mumbai, earning him the title 'Saraswati Incarnate' and a gold medal from the Jain community.
  • Astrology and Clairvoyance: Following his success in Avadhan, he turned to astrology. He also developed extraordinary abilities such as identifying books by touch without seeing them and discerning the taste of food without tasting. These abilities were widely reported in contemporary newspapers.

• Renunciation of Worldly Talents: Shrimadji renounced both Avadhan and astrology by the age of twenty and twenty-four, respectively. He viewed them as potential distractions from the pursuit of the soul's true purpose. He prioritized self-realization through practices like sham (equanimity), vairagya (detachment), study, contemplation, and solitude.

• Marriage and Family Life:

  • He entered married life at the age of twenty in V.S. 1944, marrying Zabakbehen, daughter of Shri Popatlalbhai.
  • The text suggests his engagement in household life was a means to work through past karmic predispositions, challenging the notion that married life is always an obstacle to spiritual seekers. His letters reveal a balanced approach, seeking to maintain equanimity within family life.

• Deep Contemplation and Self-Realization:

  • Despite his profound spiritual focus, Shrimadji was characterized by his loving conduct towards all beings.
  • His unwavering pursuit of a higher life, past-life awareness, deep scriptural study, growing detachment, constant yearning for truth, diligent cultivation of virtues, and deep contemplation of scriptural truths led him to Shuddha Atma-gyan (pure soul-knowledge) in V.S. 1947.
  • The text marks this realization with a verse: "In 'one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, pure Samyakdarshan dawned; the state of scriptural experience grew, and the true self was revealed." This is interpreted as Samyakdarshan in Jain philosophy and Keval-gyan (omniscience) in Vedanta.
  • Four significant poems written in Ralaj in V.S. 1947 are presented as offerings from this state of self-realization.

• The Path of Solitude and Asceticism:

  • Even after attaining self-knowledge, Shrimadji continued to increase his detachment from family and material possessions. He began spending increasing amounts of time in secluded places outside Mumbai to deepen his renunciation, study, and contemplation without hindrance.
  • His spiritual efforts are divided into two phases: V.S. 1947-1951 and V.S. 1952-1957.
  • The second phase (1952-1957) is described as a period of intense spiritual practice, marked by increasing detachment, study, contemplation, and austerity. He practiced extreme asceticism, including minimal possessions, simple food, sleeping on the floor, and enduring hardships like insects, cold, and heat with equanimity.
  • He spent significant portions of the year in spiritual retreats, limiting correspondence to essential matters. In V.S. 1955, he sought permission from his mother to embrace a renunciate life, but his declining health prevented this, and he departed his mortal body in V.S. 1957.
  • During this period, he stayed in various locations in Gujarat, including the Charotar region (Kavitha, Anand, Nadiad, etc.) and Saurashtra.

• Disciples and Admirers:

  • Like a flower attracting bees, many seekers were drawn to Shrimadji's influence.
  • Shri Sobhagbhai: A close friend, on whom a significant portion of Shrimadji's letters were written, embodying simplicity, gentleness, surrender, and earnest inquiry.
  • Shri Laghuraj Swami: An ardent devotee who, despite being initiated as a Sthanakvasi monk, dedicated his life to Shrimadji, achieving great self-welfare through devotion and rigorous practice.
  • Shri Ambalalbhai: He assisted in collecting and organizing Shrimadji's literary works after his passing.
  • Shri Juthabhai: A young seeker who achieved self-welfare at a tender age after a brief association with Shrimadji.
  • Shri Mansukbhai: Recognized Shrimadji as a knowledgeable soul early in their acquaintance and developed unique devotion towards him.
  • Mahatma Gandhi: Considered a primary spiritual guide, alongside other influential figures. Gandhi is referred to as a "Mahatma" and Shrimadji as a "Dharmatma" (man of dharma).
  • Numerous other individuals were profoundly influenced by Shrimadji, leading to a transformation in their lives.

• Inspiring Incidents:

  • "Unconditional Compassion": Shrimadji once returned to Morbi from Vavania despite the train having arrived, to give a seeker, who had to leave due to an urgent call, the benefit of satsang (spiritual discourse).
  • "Don't Leave the Mind Idle": In response to a question about controlling a restless mind, Shrimadji advised against wasting even a moment. He recommended reading spiritual books, contemplating, or reciting mantras. He likened the mind to a restless animal that needs constant good thoughts as sustenance to prevent it from falling into negativity. He advised acting contrary to the mind's impulses.

• Conclusion:

  • Shrimad Rajchandraji's life was primarily spiritual. Despite his short lifespan, his message was not widely disseminated during his time.
  • He is recognized not only as a great saint but also as an enlightened educator, a born poet, a possessor of extraordinary memory, a sharp logician, a person of various extra-sensory knowledges, a social reformer, a proponent of non-violence and truth, a champion of women's upliftment and Indian culture, and a unique beacon of religious harmony.
  • His significant works, such as 'Atmasiddhi Shastra,' 'Mokshmala,' and numerous letters and poems, offer profound guidance. The text laments that his teachings have not been fully recognized or utilized by society.
  • By understanding him with neutrality, setting aside emotionalism or criticism, society can benefit immensely. His eternal truths and principles can spread peace, love, appreciation for virtue, tolerance of thought, righteousness, truth, non-violence, and universal brotherhood, leading to the welfare of all.

• Essence of Teachings: The document concludes by presenting some of Shrimadji's simple and practical teachings for the general reader, offering inspiration for life improvement:

  1. General Conduct and Ethics: Equanimity towards all beings, not harming any creature, living a simple life by reducing worldly entanglements, purity of conduct leading to happiness in this and the next life.
  2. The Human Body: The human form is rare and precious, its true success lies in recognizing a spiritual guide and taking refuge in good fortune. While humans desire happiness, they often embrace suffering due to delusion.
  3. Detachment (Vairagya): Detachment means developing non-attachment to worldly relationships and possessions. It is the supreme guide to infinite happiness. Seekers should strive to increase detachment. Recognizing one's own faults is crucial for virtue to manifest. True detachment is coupled with self-knowledge.
  4. Knowledge (Gyan): Knowledge is the means to understand the true nature of things. Knowledge is like a needle threading a string, ensuring one does not get lost in the world. True knowledge stops external inclinations, reduces attachment to the world, and allows one to perceive truth as it is. Self-knowledge is the only way to liberation from all suffering. Contemplation without self-knowledge is impossible, and impure associations hinder one's contemplative power. The ultimate goal of knowing all substances is self-knowledge; without it, all other knowledge is futile.

The summary highlights Shrimad Rajchandraji as a multifaceted spiritual luminary whose life and teachings continue to inspire seekers towards self-realization and a more ethical existence.