SHRIMAD RAICHANDRA JAIN
(1867—1900)
Greaty religious minded and spiritualist, an outstanding writer-poet and religious teacher and guide of Mahatma Gandhi, Shrimad Raichandra was born to his parents Sh. Ravibhai Panchanbhai and Smt. Devabai in a Vaishnava family in village Bavania in erstwhile Morvi State in Saurashthra.
In his early childhood he had deep faith in Vaishnavism and believed God as creator. When he was seven years old his neighbour Amichand died of snake-bite. Child Raichandra enquired from his grand-father that why a man dies even after having a physical body.
An explanation about separateness of body and soul created in him deep faith in Jainism which propounds this philosophy. He studied Jain religious scriptures Panchastikaya, Samayasar and Pratikraman-Sutra which removed all his doubts and strengthened his faith in Jainism.
Religiously broadminded, Shri Raichandra strongly felt that the basic aim of all religions was purification of soul. One of his poetic compositions clearly reflects these feelings.A renowned jeweller of Bombay, Shri Raichandra was greatly devoted to spiritualism and religious activities. Even at his shop he devoted all his spare time to study of religious books.
He used to answer the innumerable religious queries through letters. At the young age of 16 he composed Mokshmala in a record time of only three days. He had composed Atma-Sidhi Ki 108 Namawali only in 1hours. With much labour he had translated Kund- Kundacharya’s Panchastikaya in Gujarati language. He composed very effective couplets and poems.
He had a very strong memory and mental build-up and was an expert in Shatavadhan, a feat of great memory and concentration. At the age of 19 he gave his demonstration of this feat in Framji Institute, Bombay under the Presidentship of Dr. Pitterson in the presence of many distinguished persons-Indian as well as foreigners.
He exactly repeated one by one the 10 sentences of 6 words each of 10 different languages which were read to him a little time before. His strong and unfailing memory was highly appreciated by all present. The Chief Justice of Bombay High Court who witnessed the demonstration was so much impressed that he requested Shri Raichandra to give the demonstrations in England.
In the words of Mahatma Gandhi himself, Tolstoy, Ruskin and Bhai Raichandra had greatly influenced him and his thinking. Besides having close association with Gandhiji he used to remove his doubts about principles of Hindu philosophy. Gandhiji used to correspond with him on these matters also from England and Africa.
While practising as a Barrister at Bombay whenever Gandhiji visited Bhai Raichandra he talked to him mostly on religious matters. He was truely a religious and spiritual parsonage. The versatile genius Shrimad Raichandra had Samadhi-maran (death) very prematurely at Rajkot at the young age of 33 years.
Several of the books written by him have been published by Shrimad Raichandra Ashram, Post Boria and Paramshrut Prabhawak Mandal, Bombay and other institutions. His devotees have established Shrimad Raichandra Ashrams at Khambat, Narora, Dhaman, Ahore, Navania, Kavitha Bhadran etc. for educational and spiritual activities.
