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Shrimad Rajchandra & Mahatma Gandhi
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Rajchandra was truthfulness. According to him Shrimad practised what he preached and invariably spoke the truth. Truth, central to the Jain philosophy, is reflected in Gandhiji's life and deeds. A question arises as to where these two qualities, the love of truth and non-violence, led Gandhi.
In his own weekly publication “Young India”, in the March 1925 issue, Gandhi wrote, “His (Shrimad's) Anekantvad (multifaceted view) is based on two principles - truth and nonviolence.” Gandhi explained how he was impressed by the philosophy of Anekantvad - “I had believed that my view or opinion was always right, and that my genuine critics were wrong. Now I have realised that both of us were right from our own individual perspectives. I stopped accusing my critics or opponents of being wrong. I learnt that we must see what Muslims had to say from their point of view and what Sikhs say from theirs."
In 1938, Gandhiji visited Rajkot for the first time after Shrimad's death. He had an extremely tight schedule of meetings of national importance, however, after alighting from the train, he went straight to the shrine of his spiritual guide and his source of inspiration demonstrating his reverence towards Shrimad.
Gandhiji also made a point to attend prayer meetings held to celebrate Shrimad's birth anniversary whenever possible. At such meetings, he would talk about Shrimad's qualities and what he had personally learnt and gained from his life.
He once said that we can learn four qualities from Shrimad's life: (1) to be absorbed in the eternal truth (2) straightforwardness in life and a sense of equality towards all living beings (3) adherence to truth and (4) a life based on Ahimsa (non-violence).
Jain religion lays great stress on fasting and for Gandhiji it became a most powerful weapon. In the severe austerities
