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F06 Story - Contemporary Jain Legends
01 - Shrimad Räjchandra - 1867 to 1901
It is the true knowledge with which an external feeling is controlled, attachment for life, family and worldly pleasures decreases, and the truth is revealed If you know yourself, you know the whole world. If you do not know yourself, your knowledge is worthless. Summary Shrimad Räjchandra was a great saint, a self-realized master, and an outstanding educator. He was a born poet, possessed an extraordinary power of memory, a reformer of society, a keen follower, and an advocate of non-violence. He had equal respect for all religions. As with many great personalities, Shrimad's greatness was not recognized in his life time. Shrimad was not popular among Jains because he spoke about the faults in Jain society and the traditions being carried out without understanding the proper meaning and purpose behind them. Many people have recognized his greatness after his death. Shrimad has put great emphasis on the need of a Sadguru in one's life for spiritual progress and ultimately to attain liberation. Shrimad always maintained that since he had not taken the vow of dikshä (sainthood), he was not eligible to preach the path of liberation. Therefore, even with his wealth of knowledge, he did not preach to the masses. He hoped that later in his life, he would become a monk, and when the time was right, he could bring the proper teachings of Jainism to the masses as there were many undesired factors in the practice of Jainism at that time. Moral: Shrimad's writings to his close associates and his personal notes are the essence of Jain religion. He has given us priceless spiritual gifts including "Moksha-mälä", "Atmasiddhi-shästra", "Apurva Avasar", and many other spiritual writings in the form of letters, articles, and poems. In his short life of 33 years, he delivered the spiritual message of eternal importance. He explained Bhagwan Mahävir's teachings in simple words. Now these teachings have become accessible to ordinary people, and we have the unique opportunity to learn about the inner state of a truly self-realized person. Highlights: • Shrimad Räjchandra was born on the auspicious day of full-moon (Dev-Diwali) of the month of
Karthik, 1924 V.S. (November 9, 1867) in Vaväniä, Morbi district, Gujarat. Father Ravajibhai (Hindu) and mother Devabä (Jain) He composed his first poem at the age of eight At the age of 16, he wrote “Moksha-mälä" and its compendium "Bhävanä-bodh". At the age of 20, Räjchandra married Zabakben in 1888 A.D. In 1891 A.D., at the age of 23, Shrimad realized samyag darshan He successfully performed 100 avadhäns simultaneously, which is known as Shatävdhän "Atmasiddhi-shästra" is an epic poem composed by Shrimad in Gujarati in 1896 Apurva Avasar was his last major compilation Almost 350 of the 950 letters of Shrimad Räjchandra were written to Shri Sobhagbhai Shri Laghuraj Swami was a Sthänakaväsi Jain monk and one of most devoted disciples of Shrimad Ambälälbhai, a native of Khambhat, was a very devoted disciple of Shrimad Räjchandra Joothäbhai was the first person to recognize Shrimad's spirituality and accept him as his spiritual mentor Shrimad has put great emphasis on the need of a sadguru in one's life for spiritual progress and ultimately to attain liberation Shrimad always maintained that since he had not taken the vow of dikshä, he was not eligible to preach the path of liberation
Compendium of Jainism - 2015
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