The Jain 1998 07

Author(s): Amrit Godhia, Pradip Mehta, Pravin Mehta
Publisher: UK Jain Samaj Europe

Page 86

10th anniversary praishdha mahotsava
intellectual powers in exhibitions by carrying on upto PADMAVATI MATA
one hundred activities simultaneously. He also regularly
wrote for various publications in his native language The image of Padmavati is
Gujarati located on the right side at the rear of the Jinalay. She is divine Later his life took a spiritual incline and became known guardian of Parshvanath and is as Shrimad Rajchandra after attracting a number of also the spouse of his principal followers. At the age of 21 he married to Zabak and Yaksha attendant, Dharanendra. had four children. After marriage he practised jewellery Snakes are her principal attribute business in Mumbai. and her mount is rooster - cumsnake. (kukutasarpa).
Shrimad Rajchandra had considerable influence on Mahatma Gandhi. They first met in 1891 when Gandhiji returned to India after studying law in England. Gandhiji
has noted in his autobiography Shrimad's wide GHANTAKARNA MAHAVIRA
knowledge of sacred writing, religious zeal and simplistic
life style. Shrimad gave Gandhiji an anchor to confirm Ghantakarna Mahavira is the the values of Indian religious traditions when he was thirtieth of the fifty-two vir uncertain of the direction of his faith. (heroes) and his image resides on the left side at the rear of the Amongst many a writings of Shrimad, for spiritual and Jinalay. He is celestial being and ethical advancement, the best known of his work Atmaguards welfare of the faithful Siddhi was written at the age of 17. This fairly short Jains. He is regarded as very poetical work was published after his death and important figure for the translated in many languages. Atma-Siddhi states that, Svetambara Jains.
(1) the soul exists, (2) it is eternal, (3) it is the doer of its own actions, (4) it enjoys the fruits of these actions,
(5) there is liberation, and (6) there is means of achieving CHOVISIS
liberation.
A group of twenty-four tirthankaras (Chovisi) is in his last two or three years he reduced his business established over every predetermined time cycle, commitments, giving more time to religion, practising comprising of millions of years. Largely only the current meditation, fasting and austerities, and becoming a group of Jinas are revered by the Jains today, however, celebate. Towards the end of his life, Shrimad became it is important to know about the other Jinas. For this thin to the point of emaciation. A photograph of reason, along with the present Jinas, the groups of Shrimad Rajchandra at this time is seen in the Gyan the past and the future tirthankaras are displayed in Mandir. He died in 1901 at Rajkot at the age of 33 the glass cabinets on the left side of the Jinalay. years. Shrimad Rajchandra achieved a lot in a short
life span and left behind memories of a great soul and SHRIMAD RAJCHANDRA GYAN MANDIR
an example which has inspired many to follow him.
GURU STHANAK
Spiritual leaders are highly regarded in Jainism as they form an essential link in the realisation process. For this reason, they are respected in the Namaskar Mantra.
Rajchandra was born in 1867 in a village called Vavania in the state of Gujarat. His mother Devbai was a Jain and father Rajivabhai was a Hindu. He was a remarkably intelligent child and blessed with a prodigious memory, it is said that he covered the seven year school curriculum in two years. In his teenage years Shrimad gave evidence of his remarkable
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