________________
(७) सप्तभाषी आत्मसिद्धि
xviii
SAPTABHASHI ATMASIDDHI
Sri Atma-Siddhi Shastra
The Author: SHRIMAD RAJCHANDRAJI (Born: Kartik Poornima, Samvat 1924; Left: Chaitra vad 5, Samvat 1957.)
*"He was a man of great character and learning. He was also known as a Shatavadhani... XXX. The thing that did cast its spell over me I came to know afterwards. This was his wide knowledge of the scriptures, his spotless character, and his burning passion for self-realization. I saw later that this last was the only thing for which he lived".
MAHATMA GANDHIJI ("The story of my Experiments with Truth": Part II Ch. I.pp. 112-13).
*"For several years, I am in search of a religious man in India, but I have so far not come across any person who could compete with Shrimad Rajchandra Bhai...XXX. He mostly used to say that he did not belong to any sect or tradition or fragment, nor did he intend to limit himself to them. These are all sub- religions, the "Limited” ones, while religion is 'Infinite or 'Limitless', which cannot be defined at all!
MAHATMA GANDHIJI (In the Presidential Address at A bad on the occasion of Shrimad Rajchandra Jayanti)
*"Raichand Bhai became instrumental in strengthening Bapu (Gandhiji)'s faith in Hinduism-this, a service which had naturally taken shape at his hands but from the view point of public, was his best act. In my opinion, his best service is to manifest in himself, a burning zeal for self-realization." -ACHARYA VINOBA BHAVE (In a Marathi letter dated 17-111935 from Pavnar.)
The Creation: Based on 'ATMA-PRAVADA' the 7th of the 14 'Poorvas' (The Great Jain MasterScriptures), "THE ATMA-SIDDHI deals with the existence, form, nature, quality of doer, quality of enjoyer and liberation of the Soul. This creation, in the words of PRAGYACHAKSHU DR. PANDIT SUKHLALJI, D. Litt; is "The Atmopanishada of Shrimad Rajchandra" and in that of YOGINDRA SAHAJANANDAGHAN MAHARAJ, "The supreme golden summit of philosophy and self-knowledge." While sending one copy of this creation to SHRI LAGHURAJJI MAHARAJ in addition to SHRI SOBHAG BHAI. Shrimad Rajchandraji had himself
specified the object of the ATMA-SIDDHI' in these words; "THE SOUL IS DIMINISHED DOWN FOR INFINITE TIMES FOR SAKE OF THE BODY! NOW IF THE BODY IS REDUCED AND DIMINISHED EVEN FOR ONCE, IT WILL REPAY FOR SEVERAL BIRTHS OF SELF-DESTROYAL AND DIMINISHINGS......" (Back Jacket of Vardhaman Bharati; Bangalore's Atmasiddhi L.P. Disc)
The Background, Significance, Importance and Uniqueness of this precious, great Creation : Calling Atma-Siddhi Shastra as the quintessence of his teachings, Srimad Rajchandraji's apt and well-versed Biographer Prof. Digish Mehta writes in his book "Srimad Rajchandra - A Life": “This text which is meant to sum up Srimadji's teachings and his insights on the right means for spiritual liberation, was composed at a single sitting on August 22, 1896 in Nadiad. It is in verse and it runs into 142 couplets. Srimad speaks here of the main obstacles in the way of salvation, of the importance of a proper guide (Satguru), of the six tenets, and of the need for spiritual endeavour on the part of the individual." (pp.95)
As very rightly observed and minutely and studiously recorded by ardent researcher Dr. Smt. Saryu Mehta in her imp. Gujarati Thesis Srimadjini Jivansiddhi on page Nos. 252-254, Srimad Rajchandraji was very much concerned and aware that the knowledge of this precious gem of Atmasiddhi is not passed on and does nto reach unto the hands of unworthy person and that is why the study of this great scripture (Grantha) was forbidden for the persons of lesser worthiness. Hence initially it remained the subject of authorised chosen few only and it did not come to printing light during the lifetime of Srimad Rajchandraji.
But later on in Vikram Samvat 1964 Sri Mansukhbhai R. Mehta published only The Atmasiddhi Shastra and wrote 50-page long Preface therein showing significance and importance of that creation saying, "Even though this Grantha was written for the sake of one person, the pious words of Gyani Purushas (Realised Seers) being equally beneficial to all the beings in spite of being written for single person and they are openly publicised here." (Preface to the Atma Siddhi Shastra, p.1)
"The size of this Grantha is only 142 verses. However, unlike Acharya Haribhadrasuri's Shaddarshan Samuccaya consisting of only 86 verses,
.fG
J INA-BHARATI
Jain Education Intemational 2010_04
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org