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Jinamasjari, Volume 23, No.1, April 2001
AMŪLYA TATTVA VICĀRA AN EARLY POEM BY ŚRĪMAD
RĀJACANDRA
Vinod Kapashi
The cardinal Jaina principle of non-violence (ahimsā) was made popular by Mahātmā Gāndhī using this as his weapon of non-coperation to free India from the shackles of foreign rulers. However, the essence of Jain philosophy lies in the realisation of the soul and the path leading to mokşa. This can be achieved by following the path of renunciation. Renunciation of not just material objects or feelings of pleasure derived from them, but renunciation of worldly relations too. A renouncer is indifferent in his thinking about what the pleasures and pains, losses and gains in his life are. He neither cares for praises nor is he disturbed by any criticisms. He sees himself as the true self (ātmā) which is unsullied by any external forces and external feelings. This philosophy unfolds in a short poem by Srimad Rājacandra (1867-1901) which was composed when he was merely 16 years old.
Rājacandra or just Śrimad as he is usually refered to, is now considered not only as a great philosopher of the last century but as a great poet too. He was a guide and a guru of Mahātmā Gāndhī. His poem Amulya Tattva Vicāra is to be found in a book called Mokşamālā, which he wrote in 1883. The book was first published in 1887 from a printing press in Morvi in the state of Gujarāt. Srimad writes in the preface of the book that it is written to explain the philosophy of Jainism to young people and to prevent them being corrupted by false ideals. The book contains 108 short chapters or lessons. Srimad perhaps chose
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