Pinnacle Of Spirituality

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Raj Saubhag Satsang Mandal

Page 18

1. Shower of Nectar
After paying homage to Shrimad Rajchandra, let us reflect on the times into which he was born. After the depressing failure of the freedom struggle in the year 1857, the nation's spirit had begun to revive. There was on the horizon, a new dawn of learning, social reform and a new awakening.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy and many other social reformers fought against social evils such as 'Sati' (the custom where a bride joins her husband's funeral pyre), and new religious thought emerged as a result of the efforts of organisations like Brahmosamaj, Prarthanasamaj and the Theosophical Society.
On the other hand, society was besieged by meaningless rituals, religious hypocrisy and blind faith. Religious festivities had become an excuse to display wealth. While religious customs were practiced, their true meaning and ultimate purpose had been lost. During such a period of decline in religious principles and understanding, two great figures were born - Shrimad Rajchandra, who scaled the heights of spirituality and who explained the fundamental path of Jainism, and Mahatma Gandhi who won Independence for India.
Shrimad Rajchandra was born two years before the birth of Gandhiji, in Vavania, a small port near Morvi in Saurashtra. Gandhiji was born in Porbandar, also in Saurashtra. Shrimad became Gandhiji's spiritual guide and it was from his life, above all others, that Gandhiji learnt the height of compassion for all living beings, even for an enemy. These two extraordinary souls enlightened the world by their faith and their deeds.
Shrimad was born on a Sunday, on the night of the full moon (Poonam) of the Indian month of Kartik in Vikram Samvat 1924 (Vikram Samvat,"VS" for short, is the Indian calendar) or November 9" 1867, into a bania family. His birthplace has become a place of pilgrimage.
Even the day is auspicious, as the full moon of Kartik also saw the births of such great Souls as Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion, and the great Jain saint and scholar Acharya Hemchandra. Such souls are born to bring light in times of darkness and to uplift humanity, like a thirst-quenching shower of rainfall on arid soil.
Thus, Shrimad's parents Ravjibhai and Devbai, a devout couple who served the community with much love, were blessed with a son who later became Mahatma Gandhi's spiritual guide and confidant, and thus played a part in changing the world.