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PART VI CONTEMPORARY JAIN LEGENDS
However, after two years of clever persuasion, he was hopeful of his mother's permission, but by this time his health had deteriorated. and he could not recover. He died in 1901 A.D. in Rajkot at the very young age of thirty-three.
Followers
Though Shrimad tried to keep his spiritual personality completely private, several people accepted him as their guide to achieve ultimate liberation and devoted their lives to him. Some of his closest followers were:
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Shri Sobhagbhai
Almost 350 of the 950 letters of Shrimad Räjchandra were written to Shri Sobhagbhai, who was about 40 years older than him. In the very first meeting, Sobhagbhai recognized Shrimad as a highly self-realized person and accepted him as his true guru. He was simple in his behavior and serious in devotion. He was a native of Sailä, a town near Rajkot. Based on his request, Shrimad composed the epic poem "Ätmasiddhishästra" so that it would be easier to memorize. Shri Sobhagbhai attained self-realization and died in deep meditation (samädhi).
Shri Laghuraj Swami
Shri Laghuraj Swämi was a Sthänakväsi Jain monk and one of most devoted disciples of Shrimad. As a monk, his devotion to Shrimad caused him great problems from the Jain community.
Shri Laghuraj Swämi attained self-realization during Shrimad's presence and then established the Agäs Äshram near Vadodarä. The äshram can take credit for preserving Shrimad's writings and making it available to the Jain community at large. Agäs is an important place for Shrimad's followers. Today there are more
શ્રી આત્મસિધ્ધિનું અવતરણ ગુરુવાર સં. ૧૯૫૨ નડિયાદ
Shrimad Räjchandra writing Ätmasiddhi-shästra
(Standing from Left: Shri Laghuräj swämi, Shri Sobhagbhai and Shri Ambälälbhai with lantern)
than fifty äshrams in India and aboard where the followers worship and study Shrimad's literature based on the divine faith and testimony provided by Shri Laghuräj Swämi.
JAIN STORY BOOK
