First Stage

Incarnation of the Era – Shrimad Rajchandraji

Within every era and every sector of this eternal flow of nature, reincarnates on earth one such rare consciousness which discovers the eternity in momentariness and amidst number of differences settles in an impervious state. One such rare consciousness which is born in the form of human but disappears in the supreme source of life before its death- one such divine consciousness is Shrimad Rajchandraji. It would not be an exaggeration to venerate a born-yogi as the incarnation of the era, who explained the self-nature to many eligible beings of this age and re-illuminated the path of liberation, because an incarnation is the one who appears on this earth to be a saviour; and in the “Vachnamrut” by Shrimad Rajchandraji, the complete path from attaining the desire of liberation to reaching till the self-attainment has been illuminated clearly. Consequent to His intense experiential flow of Self-enlightenment, in “Vachnamrut” written by Him, He clearly announces His experiences and phenomenal guidance comprising the doctrines of manifold path for the people who are on the path of liberation. The expressions flowing from the profound insight of Param Krupalu Dev uplifts and reforms all of us who are on the path of liberation- this itself is the proof of this divine consciousness being an Incarnation of the Era.

An ardent devotees since innumerable births who are on their final terminal lap of merging into the eternity are very useful for the people who are spiritual seekers. These pure hearted people are like the river falling into the unfathomable ocean which even being a river has already established its identity with the ocean. As the river flows between the two banks but ultimately at the end the banks are left behind and it enters the depth of the ocean similarly the spiritual Yogi who is aware about the banks of birth-death, at the end of their spiritual journey are enriched with the enjoyment of the depth of the consciousness. We can see such an unmatched harmony flowing within Shrimad Rajchandraji’s life which reflects a glimpse of Supreme Being within a man, and amongst the various events of worldly association, leaves a unique impression of an intrinsic unattachment.

If we look at the short life span of Shrimad Rajchandraji then an ascending order of self-development can be clearly understood. When on the basis of prior worship, the diligence in present time gets activated then the process of accomplishment and attainment of life emerges. Going through the spiritual progress and ever elevating states of Param Krupalu Dev in chronological sequence by dividing it into 5 different stages, let us take an insight in to the life and intrinsic state of the “Incarnation of the present Era”’and overwhelm ourselves with the motivation of walking on the noble path of truth.

Second Stage

The Churning Period and Power Manifestations (1879–87 AD)

Along with enrichment in the educational study, this period of visibility of the special powers was also very astounding. Mere at the age of thirteen Shrimadji’s life was adorned with three Jewels of equanimity in viewpoint, metaphysics and detachment. Due to His past life wisdom the purity of His knowledge was explicit. The knowledge of Sanskrit and other vernacular languages have naturally opened up within Him due to which he studied a number of old books till the age of fourteen. Shrimad’s scriptural knowledge perceived the concepts of all the philosophies in its actuality, due to which even the beliefs which seemed contradictory to six schools of philosophies used to reflect in sync with His thoughts. A period of 13 to 16 years of Shrimadji’s age was known in the form of “Churning Period”. At the mere sixteen years of his age Shrimadji created “Moksha Mala” in a time frame of just three days. In this writing Shrimadji has stringed 108 pearls of core wisdom in such a way that even today this brief scripture is very enlightening for the people who wish to begin their journey to the supreme path of liberation and also acts as a supporting reason to empower the inclination of detachments.

During this period from the treasure of Shrimadji’s wisdom there emerged the gem of “Avdhan Shakti”. With emergence of this prowess He was able to concentrate on multiple activities at a time. Starting with eight ‘Avdhan’ at Morbi, then twelve, sixteen, twenty two, fifty two and then by experimenting “Shatavdhan” of hundred activities He had left people in a surprise. From that time Shrimadji’s “Avdhan Shakti” had a mention in every leading newspapers of that time. After the experiment of “Shata Avdhan” in Mumbai He received an invitation to do this experiment in Europe but Shrimadji whose heart was drenched in detachments considered fame as one of the hindrances in the process of purification. As the effect of this after reaching the peak of success and glory Shrimadji in every aspect renounced these acts of power demonstration which created hindrances in the path of Sadhana. At the young age of 20 when every youngster runs after the fame, Shrimadji concealed all his extraordinary power and decided to head on towards the path of Self-discovery.

Also Shrimadji’s knowledge about astrology was extraordinary. Due to his this prowess number of people were attracted towards Him and this power could have even earned Him substantial financial proceeds, however in this field as well Shrimadji realized that astrology etc. are also hindrance in the path of Self-discovery, so He renounced those fields as well. Apart from astrology Shrimadji was also expert in the field of “Anga Vidya” and “Samudrik Gyan Vidya” which can make future predictions looking at the palms, face, ears, nose, etc. of the people.

During this period of Shrimadji’s life, due to worship from his past lives and progressive purification of his conscious various prowess had manifested within him, even his poetic power was effloresced, however he simply immersed all these extraordinary powers in the course of Self-realisation. In Vachnamrut 322 Shrimadji has written “From the time the true realisation has been originated from that time I pledged not to keep any direct or indirect connection with any sort of “Siddhi Yog” or “Vidya Yog” and don’t remember any slackness towards the adherence of this pledge till today. In the same reference within Vachnamrut 329 Shrimadji writes “Considering astrological knowledge or “Anima Siddhi”, etc. as delusionary objects my mind hardly ever remembers it. To understand or to prove anything by this way doesn’t seem appropriate and there is no conscious entry within these things as well.”

Third Stage

The Uniting Period (1888–91 AD)

At the age of twenty-one Shrimadji entered into the act of marriage with Shri Jabak Bahen. A life of a sage is spent by fulfilling his last relationships (Alliances based on Karma) in a complete withdrawn emotion. Shrimadji while living a life of a householder only for the purpose of removal of accumulated Karmas from the soul and while doing the work of trading etc. was drifting towards the spiritual-immersion . At the age of twenty three, the course of detachment became so intense that there was stability in the state of thoughtless Self-Realisation and the element of the state of transcendental non-attachment started originating. While praising His self-glory in His Vachnamrut 170 Shrimadji wrote, “The Soul has acquired the knowledge undoubtedly. The knots of attachment and aversion is pierced, which is the truth in all three times of past, present and future, and now I have to obtain the final thoughtless absolute abode and which is conveniently attainable.” After that in Vachnamrut 187 while clearly illustrating the experience of the final state He said, “There is not even a smallest deficiency in understanding and experiencing the final state has entirely been understood in its complete actuality. The absolute knowledge has begotten; how would it be to come out of this Absolute state and go towards witnessing the entire universe and the substratum? This thought arose not only to me but also to the one who writes this letter.”

As a fruit of the exact knowledge of the perspective of various philosophies, Shrimadji was well aware about the experience of Self-enlightenment within Him and He could express it in accordance with the philosophies. In the Vachnamrut 708 He says “Looking from the approach of Jain philosophy; Self-Realization and “Vedant” perspective, Absolute Knowledge is possible for me.

After the event of Self-enlightenment, the period of the beneficial and beneficiary meeting began for Shrimadji. At the one hand when due to the wearing- away of all the types of karmas, purity of the Soul was taking place then on the other hand meeting with “Rajratna” Shri Ambalal Bhai, soul mate Shri Saubhagya Bhai and Laghuraj Swami, Shri Laluji Munni also took place. The revelation of the right path received from the letter communication which happened with these people is still of supreme benefit for the category of people who are walking on the path of liberation.

Shrimadji, residing in the world due to karmic manifestation, whose conscious was drenched in spirituality, was introduced to Mr. Mahatma Gandhi for the first time within this period (1891 AD). Till then Gandhiji was only recognised with the name of “Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi” but his first meeting with Shrimadji itself had sown the seed of being a “Mahatma” within him. The major credit of strengthening Gandhiji’s religious beliefs by giving detailed answers to the total 27 questions asked by Gandhiji stated in Vachnamrut 530 goes to Shrimadji Himself.

Fourth Stage

Reaching the Peak of Purity

In the time of extensive external circumstances in His life, Shrimadji diligently spent time in solitude to nurture His consciousness. Within this time itself He wrote “Six verses letters” to Laghuraj Swami Shri Lalluji Muni; for His Soul mate Saubhagya Bhai He wrote “Sh. Atmasiddhi”, and complied in a poetry form “Apoorva Avasar” expressing His progression towards intrinsic detachment. Even today these verses of Shrimadji act as the compass for the people who walk on the path of liberation. A summary of many scriptures “Sh. Atmasiddhi” is such a harmonious and clear presentation of six philosophies which is such a timeless creation of Param Krupalu Dev which will keep on singing the melodies of the path of the ultimate end till eons to come. In His poetry Apoorva Avsar when on one hand it reflects the inside-out state of fully awakened and detached Lord and on the other hand giving clear directions on how to reach the state of self-actualisation for the being who is firm on the path of liberation is also clearly mentioned.

A pure, unacquisitive and steadfast Self-state of Shrimadji is seen in Vachnamrut 850 where He wishes that “My conscious and propensities of my conscious should be so quiet that even a deer should keep looking at this body and should not run out of fear. The state of my consciousness should be so quiet that an old deer who gets an itch in his head should think that this is a lifeless thing and scratch his head on my body.” 

Final Stage

The Ultimate Retirement (1898–1901 AD)

Shrimadji’s internal state was on the culmination of its purity and quiescence but within this period, incidence leading to external retirement were increasing which were conducive for nurturing His internal state. At this time for immersion in Self and retirement from outside, Shrimadji started to travel in the area of Kavitha, Vaso, Kheda, Uttarsanda, etc. Lot of mementoes are still present in the mountains of “Idar”. Congregation of sages, experience of “Siddhashila”, fearless attitude towards Lions and Tigers, clarity over the book of “Dravya Sangraha” etc. incidents at Idar are unforgettable.

During this period because Shrimadji took a complete retirement from his business, etc. He was solely engrossed in His Self-state. His poetry “Nij Sansmaran Pothi” (Personal Reminiscence), Shrimadji writes;

“Such a unique attitude, will unite in the substratum
Nearly an absolute state, touching the body transcendence,
Blessed is the day today!”

It is clear from these lines that Shrimadji had reached to such a peak of “Samadhi” that His role was very close to the Abode of Absoluteness. For the one whose heart is not filled with faith this will seem to be a talk of exaggeration but the one who has noticed the transformation within himself after absorbing the lessons of Vachnamrut by Shrimadji will find the interest and passion from the statement of almighty.

While describing His internal state Shrimadji in the Vachnamrut 680, in a flow of an insuperable state on the day of Mahaveer Jayanti says “Within this adverse timeframe, in the ultimate state of divine peace, I am the other Rama or Mahaveer; because I have attained the supreme state of consciousness.“