________________
the letter being in prose he found it hard to memorize. So he requested Shrimad to bring out something similar in poetical version.
Shrimad was inherently compassionate. Moreover, he had a special regard for Saubhagyabhäi, who had been instrumental in bringing out, in the form of letters, what lay at his heart. Therefore in late 1896 when Shrimad was in Nadiad, one auspicious evening after returning from a walk, he called Ambälälbhai and asked him to hold a lamp. While Ambälälbhäi held it as directed, Shrimad started writing and within an hour and a half he wrote 142 stanzas of Atmasiddhi Shastra. Mere copying of those stanzas would take longer time! The fact, that Shrimad brought out that great work in that short time, would give some idea of the spiritual wealth abiding within him.
Initially only four copies of Atmasiddhi Shästra were made; one for Saubhagyabhäi, one for Ambälälbhäi, one for Laghuräjswämi and one for Mänekläl Gheläbhäi Zaveri. Saubhagyabhai was much elated to get it. He was highly impressed by its contents and committed it to memory. He has written, "Atmasiddhi is the essence of 14 Poorva. Gosaliä (Dungarshi Gosaliä, who also had become a follower of Shrimad) and I regularly read it and enjoy it very much. ... After reading it, one is not inclined to read anything else. ... It would have been hard for this body to survive, if you (Shrimad) had not sent Atmasiddhi. I get delight in reading it and thereby I am able to survive. After reading Atmasiddhi nothing remains to be asked. Everything becomes clear."
Laghuräjswämi also was very pleased to get Atmasiddhi Shastra. Since he was asked to read it alone, he used to go out of the residential area and read it in wilderness. He has written, "By reading it and by reciting some of its stanzas my soul was elated. I felt that there is unique significance in every line of it. The regular study of Atmasiddhi Shästra and its contemplation led to internal peace. It stayed in my mind while talking with any one or while undertaking any other activity." He noted that its reading was helpful to every spiritual aspirant and after setting up Räjchandra Ashram at Agäs, he made its reciting a regular feature for the resident-aspirants.
The subject matter of Atmasiddhi is soul and it deals with soul's existence, everlastingness, acquisition of Karma, bearing the consequences, liberation therefrom and the way of attaining liberation. The subject has been carefully and adequately presented. Nothing worth has been left out. Every stanza is full of significance and some of them are the most precious jewels of spiritual realm. By composing Atmasiddhi Shrimad has virtually contained the sea of spiritual science within the bowl of the book. If one wants to realize the Self, studying that text and putting its precepts into practice would suffice; one would not need to look for any other source.
The known religious philosophies can be grouped in six ideologies known as Shaddarshan, which used to form a part of the scholastic curriculum in India. Atmasiddhi Shästra is the gist thereof; it is the essence of all spiritual sciences. The religious philosophies generally contain intricate terms and their technicalities are hard to understand. But Atmasiddhi Shästra is presented in easy to understand language. Even a layman can make out its basic concepts. Moreover, except for a few terms it contains no terminology that can be considered exclusively Jain. That makes it acceptable to people of all faiths. In that connection Revered Brahmachariji has observed as under.
"This unparalleled composition of Shrimad is versified. It is the duty of discerning reader to calmly elaborate it. Shrimad himself has stated that 100 stanzas can be written on each of its 142 stanzas. It is such a great composition. But it is presented in
