________________
SHRIMAD RAJCHANDRA
all such activities completely and only concentrated on self restraint, detachment from worldly matters, contemplation, and meditation to progress spiritually so that he could free himself from the cycles of births and deaths.
Shrimad's Writings:
In his early years, Shrimad composed poems and articles on social reforms arousing nationalistic passion. When he was working in his father's shop, he had done an in-depth study of Jain Agams and scriptures after having learnt Sanskrit and Präkrit languages on his own at the age of 14.
At the age of 16, he wrote Moksha-mälä and its compendium Bhävanä-bodh, which literally means 'garland of liberation'. True to its name, it deals with subjects that lead towards the path of liberation. It is written in a simple and easy to understand language, but explains the Jain religion in finest detail. Its 108 lessons were composed in three days!
શ્રી ભાભસિવ્યિનું અવતરણ ગુસ્વાર સં. ૧૯પર નડિયાદ મા!
Shrimad Räjchandra writing Atmasiddhi-shastra Standing from Left: Shri Laghuraj Swami, Shri Sobhagbhai and Shri Ambälälbhai (with lantern)
Ätmasiddhi-shästra is an epic poem and prime jewel composed by Shrimad in Gujarati in 1896 while he was in Nadiad, a town near Ahmedabad. On one auspicious evening, he composed 142 stanzas of Atmasiddhishästra in one sitting of less than 90 minutes. The fact that Shrimad composed such comprehensive and all inclusive work within such a short time can only give us a clue of the depth of spiritual wealth he possessed.
139
JAIN STORY BOOK For Private & Personal Use Only
Jain Education international
www.enelitary.org