Sahajanandaghana Gurugatha

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 21

SERVICEFUL PARENTS
Spiritual practice of India is very remote and famous. It commenced thousands of years back. Unknown it is that who started it first, but its several great exponents are well-known. It is preBuddha-Mahavira tradition of the Rishis or the Saints.
The saints, devoted to that spiritual practice, have been existed there after in various parts of this country in different traditions and different castes and tribes.
Inspiring and life-inspiring awakening is the spiritual practice and way of living of Srimad Rajchandra, who existed in the same spiritual tradition. Let us dive deep in the pious flow of his life and proceed on the path of self-achievement or self-realization.
Sri Panchanbhai Mehta, grandfather of Srimad Rajchandra, was originally a resident of Manekwad near Morvi(in Saurashtra-Gujarat region of India), from where the former came to reside and settle down at VAVANIA, near Morvi, in Samvat 1892, after getting divided from his brothers.
After coming down to Vavania, Panchanbhai purchased one building. The same was the birthplace of Srimad Rajchandra.
At Vavania , Panchan dada(the said grandfather), was carrying on the business of Ship-building , shipping and side by side that of banking and lending money on large scales.
No sons of Panchan dada survived as years passed. But lateron, Sri Ravjibhai who was the father of Srimad Rajchandra and Devbai the mother.
Since the age of 14 , Sri Ravjibhai used to handle the banking business in Vavania, Chamanpura and nearby places. He used to pass his leisurely hours with his colleagues in the centre-place called 'Chora' of the temple of the 'Thakor' (the Chief of the town) of Vavania. 'Dayra'-the seating of folk poets and interested class-audience-used to get assemble when the village storytellers or the bards told the legends and the stories of the Epics. Ravjibhai did go there. Moreover, He did attend such seatings being held at the doors of the warrior landlords the 'Garashias' - also. There Ravjibhai earfully listened to the folk-legendaries or legend -tellers, who used to tell stories, fables and myths in interesting poetic expressions.
Shri Ravjibhai used to serve and pay homage to the saints with great devotion. He also used to donate and distribute foods and clothings to the poors. He had enormous faith in the saints,monks, faquirs, etc.
An aged business-agent aften used to pay visit to Ravjihai's place. Once, the former fell seriously ill. Devbai, Srimad Rajchandra's mother nursed and served him like anything then. The