Bhavana Bodh

Author(s): Shrimad Rajchandra
Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram

Page 59

LIFE OF SHRIMAD RAJCHANDRA
Shrimad Rajchandra was born in A.D. 1867 at Vavania Bandar, a village of Saurashtra in Gujarat state(India). He belonged to a wellknown merchant community. His father's name was Ravajibhai Mehta and mother's name was Devbai. His grandfather was a devotee of Lord Krishna. His mother was bred up in Jain religious traditions. In samuchchaya Vayacharya he writes :--
For first seven years I enjoyed only childhood plays. I still remember to have cherished wonderful imaginations in my mind. Even in play I had strong desire to be victorious and to be the emperor of everything. I aspired to be a great man of a resigned nature. I had no attachment to wearing clean clothes, selection of good food, good bed or good sittings. Still my heart was extremely soft. I still recollect that side of my nature at an early age. Had I had at that time the discriminative knowledge which I now possess. I would not have more cared for liberation. It was a life of such spotless innocence that I love to recollect it very often.
From 7 to 11 years of my age I devoted myself to study. At that time I remembered all what I once saw or read. My recollection was faultless, as my memory was sinless. As a boy I had no idea of fame, hence the big bear of publicity never bothered me. I had unique retentive memory which I find very few men even today possess. Still I was indifferent to my studies. I was given much to talking, play and merrymaking. Because of good memory, my teacher was pleased with me as I used to recite all what I once read before the teacher. At that time I was full of affection and natural sympathy towards all around me. I preferred unity with all. Naturally 1 learnt that a spirit of affectionate brotherhood was a key to family and social happiness. If I found a separatist feeling or behaviour in anybody, it used to pain me very much and my heart was crying. In my eighth year I used to compose poems which at a late age 1 found to be very well done. I studied so well that I could explain the book to my teacher who started teaching it to me. I cultivated very wide reading. I had much faith in mankind and I loved the natural world order. I read the Jain sacred books such as Pratikramana