Shrimad Rajchandra

SR No.: 201075
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 8
Language: English
Classification: Article, Jaina_Education, & 0_Jaina_education_Story
File Size: 1 MB

Page 1

SHRIMAD RÄJCHANDRA
35 Shrimad Räjchandra
(1867-1901)
Introduction:
Shrimad Räjchandra was a great seer and one of the most recognized Jain sages of modern times who has made priceless contributions to Jain philosophy and literature. He was a great philosopher, a brilliant poet, social reformer, thinker, and a self realized saint. Mahatma Gandhi was highly influenced by Shrimad's spiritual life. Shrimad's writings come from his experience of life and at present his teachings are widely followed by many Jain and Hindu aspirants seeking spiritual awakening and self realization.
Birth and Childhood:
Shrimad Räjchandra was born on the auspicious day of full-moon (Dev-Diwali) of the month of Kärtik, 1924 V.S. (November 9, 1867) at Vaväniä, Morbi district, Gujarat State, India. His parents were Ravjibhai and Devabä. He was named Laxminandan at birth but after four years his name was changed to Raichand. Later he became famous by the name of Räjchandra.
Räjchandra's father and grandfather followed the Vaishnav (Hindu) religion. They were devotees of Lord Krishna. His mother, Devabä, was from a Jain family. Thus, the child Räjchandra was brought up under the unified culture of Jainism and Hinduism.
As a child, Räjchandra was deeply interested in reading various books. Once he read the Jain Pratikraman Sutras and was touched by the feelings of kindness to animals and the expression of sincere forgiveness from each other during daily Pratikraman ritual and Paryushan festival. He was drawn closer to the Jain faith because of the emphasis it places on self knowledge, self control, penance, renunciation and detachment from worldly affairs, and meditation. As a seeker of ultimate truth, Shrimad came to the conclusion that the philosophy and culture of Jain religion was of the highest order of truth and equanimity.
An incident that took place when he was 7 years old changed the course of his life. An adult acquaintance, Shri Amichandbhai died of a serpent-bite. Young Räjchandra asked his grandfather, "What does it mean to die?” His loving grandfather explained, "His soul has left the body and he will no longer be able to eat or talk or move. His body will be burnt outside the village.” Räjchandra saw the dead body being burnt and slipped into deep contemplation. Suddenly as if a veil lifted and he recalled his past lives. With this experience he realized the pains of repeated births and deaths from one life to another. This incidence became a major spiritual awakening point in his life to free himself from the bondage of Karma and the life cycle of pain and misery.
Räjchandra started schooling at the age of seven. With his exceptional ability to remember exactly what he saw or heard or read once, he was able to complete the seven year elementary school education in a mere two years. The village school provided only seven years of education and hence his formal education came to an end. However, he continued to learn and read many books on his own. After his elementary education, he worked in his father's shop and conducted the business honestly and sincerely.
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