Laghurajswami Biography

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 28

“Ratnasanchay' (Collection of Jewels), 'Bhaktiratna Chintämani' (Desire-yielding Jewel of Devotion) etc. He has adored Lallujiswämi as Laghuräjswämi and has devotionally expressed the gratitude for his benevolence. It is likely that correspondence might have taken place between the two during those three years, but it has not been retained. The poems of Ratnaräjshri, however, bear witness to the increase in his affection.
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From Pälitänä Lallujiswämi and others went towards Charotar and arrived at Khambhät, while Ratnaräjshri went to Vaväniä and from there to Umardashi for the monsoon of 1911. For Lallujiswämi it was the fifth monsoon at Khambhät after an interval of 15 years. He had written to Ratnaräjshri expressing the desire for contact and instructions. The latter's reply indicates how Laghuräjswämi had cultivated the humbleness to get instructive advice even from a pupil-like person. Ratnaräjshri had written:
"The writer is an obedient servant of the saintly people. If you therefore pull the string, he would be automatically drawn towards you like a magnet... As regards instructive talks, I have to humbly request you not to expect the same from a pitiable person like me." Ashvin, V.S. 1967 (About October 1911)
In another letter of the same month Ratnaräjshri had asked for some advice and Laghuräjswämi had given it brief. In return Ratnaräjshri had written, "You are writing that I should give advice, but I do not have that capability. Actually where is the scope for my giving advice to a pure soul, to purified consciousness, to the extraordinarily enlightened? ... A little intelligence does not mean the existence of self-realization... Whether slightly or highly knowledgeable, only those, who have pacified or destroyed the wrong tendencies, are competent to gain selfrealization, it is going to arise only to them. They are the highly spiritualized godly beings."
By the time the monsoon was coming to the close Ranchhodbhäi of När thought that since Laghuräjswämi was at Khambhät, it was the time to gain the path of liberation from him; nothing else needed to be done. With that intention he went to Khambhät. By repeatedly reading the section of Updeshchhäyä from 'Shrimad Rajchandra' he had come to the conclusion that liberation can even be gained at present from a true Guide. He was of the firm opinion that he understood the book and that what he had concluded was the essence thereof. When, however, he noticed the learned liberation-seekers minutely discussing the contents of the book in the presence of Laghuräjswämi, his egoism went down; he felt that he knew almost nothing.
At the end of monsoon Laghuräjswämi and others went to Vadvä; Ranchhodbhäi also was with them. Much of their time was spent in attending to Poojans performed in melodious tune by the people from Khambhät. That time the monks used to take one meal a day; the rest of the day was passed in worship and devotion. After finishing the evening-ritual Laghuräjswämi and other devotees used to go to the seacoast while reciting some stanzas or chanting the Mantra. Laghuräjswämi, with peacock feather in his hand, used to chant the stanzas like 'Drashti Thirämänhe Darshan Nitye Ratnaprabhasam Jano Re... E Gun Räjtano Na Visaru Vahälä Sambhärun Dinrät Re' (The perception in the fifth ascetic state is like the luster of a jewel. I would never forget that attribute of Raj and recall it day and night). At times he would interchange a line or two of one stanza with another and sing the same in a farreaching tone. That way they would spend the whole night on the seacoast. Some of the colleagues, who felt tired after singing for a couple of hours, would either go home or sleep on the coast. In the early morning while they proceeded towards the town, Tribhovandäs and other followers would be waiting on the road with milk, water etc. Out of that they would take what they liked and then go to Vadvä. Then after finishing the morning-ritual they would get involved in worship and devotion. Laghuräjswämi thus spent 19 days and nights in devotion without taking sleep. The unique force of his devotion led to the rise of devotion in the minds of many people.
During all those days Ranchhodbhai was with Laghuräjswämi. The impact of devotion on his mind was so great that he almost forgot everything about his business, family etc. When he had to go for the sake of business, the sense of devotion stayed in his mind. He even thought of not going back home and informed Laghuräjswämi accordingly. But the latter advised him that one should wait for the right moment; Jain path stipulates a relative approach; it is not worth adopting a way that can later lead to worries, and so on. On hearing him Ranchhodbhäi went back to work with hesitation, but his mind could not remain involved in worldly activities.
During 1912 Laghuräjswämi moved in Charotar area and passed the monsoon at Vaso. That was his third monsoon