View source for Shrimad Rajchandra

{{Short description|Jain mystic poet from India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| religion           = [[Jainism]]
| sect               = 
| honorific-prefix   = Shrimad
| name               = Rajchandra
| image              = Srimad Rajcandra.jpg
| caption            = Rajchandra in [[Lotus position]]
| birth_name         = Lakshminandan Ravjibhai Mehta
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1867|11|09|df=yes}}
| birth_place        = [[Vavaniya]], [[Morvi State]], [[British India]] (now in [[Gujarat]], India)
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1901|04|09|1867|11|09|df=yes}}
| death_place        = [[Rajkot]], [[Rajkot State]], British India (now in Gujarat)
| works              = {{hlist|''[[Atma Siddhi]]''|''Mokshamala''}}
| parents            = Ravjibhai and Devbai
| spouse             = {{married|Jhabakben|1887}}
| other_names        = {{ubl|Kavi|Raichandbhai|Param Krupalu Dev|Krupanath}}
}}

'''Shrimad Rajchandra''' (9 November 1867 – 9 April 1901), also known as '''Param Krupalu Dev''', was a [[Jainism|Jain]] poet, mystic, philosopher, scholar, and reformer from India. Born in [[Vavaniya]], a village near [[Morbi]], he attained recollection of his past lives at the age of seven. He performed [[Avadhanam|''Avadhāna'']], a memory retention and recollection test that gained him popularity, but he later discouraged it in favour of his spiritual pursuits. He wrote much philosophical poetry including ''[[Atma Siddhi|Atma Siddhi Shastra]]''. He also wrote many letters and commentaries and translated some religious texts. He is known for his teachings on Jainism and his spiritual guidance to [[Mahatma Gandhi]].

==Early life==
[[File:Shrimad Rajchandra Janmabhuvan.jpg|thumb|Shrimad Rajchandra Janma Bhuvan in Vavaniya|left]]
{{Jainism}}
Shrimad Rajchandra was born on 9 November 1867 ([[Kartik Purnima|Kartika Purnima]], [[Vikram Samvat]] 1924), in [[Vavaniya]], a port near [[Morbi]] (now in [[Gujarat]], India).{{sfn|Flügel|2006|p=241}} His mother, Devbai, was [[Śvetāmbara]] [[Sthanakvasi]] [[Jain]] and his father, Ravjibhai Mehta and paternal grandfather, Panchan Mehta, were [[Vaishnava]] [[Hindu]]. So he was introduced to [[Jainism]] and [[Hinduism]] from early life.<ref name="Jainpedia" /><ref name="CSCSU" />{{snf|Salter|2002|p=126}}{{snf|Salter|2002|p=125}} He was initiated in Vaishnavism by a [[Sadhu]] named Ramadasji.<ref name="Jainpedia" /><ref name="CSCSU" />{{snf|Salter|2002|p=126—127}} He continued to study other [[Indian religions]] and was attracted to [[Ahinsa|Ahimsa]] (non-violence) doctrine of Jainism. Later, he chose Jainism because he considered that it provides "best path to [[Moksha (Jainism)|salvation]]".{{snf|Salter|2002|p=127}} In one of the letters to [[Mahatma Gandhi]], Rajchandra stated that the great souls like the [[Tirthankars]] have revealed knowledge of a thousand times deeper import than what the [[Vedas]] contain. Therefore, since something imperfect cannot be the origin of a perfect thing, it is not justified in asserting that all religions (including Jainism) had originated from the Vedas.<ref>{{Cite web| title=Shrimad Rajchandra’s Reply to Gandhiji’s Questions | url=https://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/shrimad-rajchandra-gandhiji-questions-answers.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620095253/http://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/shrimad-rajchandra-gandhiji-questions-answers.pdf | archive-date=2017-06-20}}</ref>

His birth name was Lakshminandan Mehta. He was renamed Raichand by his parents when he was four years old. Later, his name changed to its [[Sanskrit]] form, Rajchandra. Shrimad, an honorific, was added by his disciples posthumously. His disciples also refer to him as Param Krupalu Dev (Lord of the Highest Compassion).<ref name="Jainpedia"/>{{snf|Salter|2002|p=126}}

===Recollection of previous lives===
[[File:Jain Universal History Diorama in Jain Museum of Madhuban 33.jpg|thumb|A [[diorama]] representing Rajchandra's seeing of cremation, Jain Museum, [[Madhuban, Giridih]]|left]]
Rajchandra said that he first attained ''jāti smaraṇa gnān'' (recollection of previous lives) at the age of seven, in 1874. In an 1890 reply to a question from Padamshibhai, his friend in Bhuleshwar, Bombay, he described the incident:{{snf|Salter|2002|p=131}}<ref name="CSCSU"/><ref name="Raj1964"/><p></p>"When I was seven years old, an elderly man named Amichand, well-built, stout and sturdy, a neighbor in my village, suddenly died of a snake bite. I did not know what was death. I asked my grandfather as to what was the meaning of death. He tried to evade the reply and advised me to finish my meals. I insisted on a reply. At last he said: "To die means the separation of the soul from the body. A dead body has no movement, it contaminates and decays. Such a dead body will be burnt to ashes near a river-bank as it has ceased to function." Then I went secretly to the cremation ground and climbing a Babul tree I saw the whole process of cremation of the dead man's body and I felt that those who burnt him were cruel. A train of thoughts started on the nature of the death and as a result I could recollect my previous lives."

This incident played a pivotal role in his perception of the world.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Rajchandra|first1=Shrimad|title=Shrimad Rajchandra|journal=Haathnondh-1|issue=6th edition|page=801|url=https://archive.org/details/shrimadvachanamrutweb|access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> He described his spiritual journey in one of his poems. He wrote that he advanced on the path of spirituality he had already attained in his previous life. He claimed that he developed complete resignation and detachment to his mortal body and the rest of the world in 1897. He thanked the day of the experience in one of his poems written at the age of 30.<ref name="CSCSU"/> The tree he climbed no longer exists, but a monument temple with a model of the event was erected on the site.{{snf|Salter|2002|p=131}}

He experienced the same when he visited the [[Uparkot Fort|fort]] in [[Junagadh]]. His experiences influenced him to live a religious life.<ref name="Jainpedia"/>

===Prodigy===

Rajchandra had atypical memory retentiveness and recollection. He joined the school at the age of seven and half but mastered the preliminaries in calculation in just a month. In two years, he completed the study of seven grades.<ref name="Jainpedia"/><ref name="CSCSU"/>

At the age of eight, he started composing poems. He composed verse synopses on ''[[Ramayana]]'' and ''[[Mahabharata]]'' at the age of nine.{{snf|Salter|2002|p=128}} He gained maturity in thinking and reasoning and by the age of 10 started public speaking. At the age of 11 he started writing articles in newspapers and magazines, such as in {{Lang|gu-latn|[[Buddhiprakash]]}} and won several prizes in essay writing competitions. He wrote a 300-stanza poem on 'a watch' at the age of 12. In 1880, he went to [[Rajkot]] to study English, but very little is known about his education there. By 1882, he had studied and mastered several subjects. He became known as a young poet and was referred to as Kavi due to it. He occasionally visited the residence of the ruler of [[Cutch State|Kutch]] as a writer and was praised for his penmanship. He started attending his father's shop aged 13. He composed many poems on the lives of [[Rama]] and [[Krishna]] while managing the shop.{{efn-ua|as written by Shrimad in his ''Samucchaya Vayacharya''.}}<ref name="Jainpedia">{{cite web | title=Rājacandra | website=Jainpedia|first=Jérôme|last=Petit| date=2016 | url=http://www.jainpedia.org/themes/people/studying-jainism/rajacandra.html | access-date=9 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="CSCSU">{{cite web | website=Computer Science Department, Colorado State University. | url=http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/rajchandra.html |title=Life of Shrimad Rajchandra|access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref>

==Later life==
===''Avadhāna''===
[[Avadhanam|''Avadhāna'']] is a difficult test of attention and recollection in which a person attends multiple objects and activities at a time. In 1884, Rajchandra came from Vavania to Morbi where he saw Shastri Shankarlal M. Bhatt performing eight ''Avadhāna'' at a time. Gattulalji Maharaj was performing the same in [[Bombay]]. He saw the performance and quickly picked it up. Just two days after the performance, he performed it in front of his friends and later in public. Initially he performed 12 ''Avadhāna'' in public in [[Morbi]] but later he performed 16 ''Avadhāna'' in audience of two thousand in [[Wadhwan|Wadhwan Camp]], which was praised in newspapers. He performed 52 ''Avadhāna'' in [[Botad]] in a private meeting with his friend Harilal Shivalal Sheth which included playing ''[[Chopat]]'' game with three players; playing cards with three players; playing chess; keeping count of the sound of a small gong; mentally computing arithmetic sums involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division (4); keeping count of the movement of beads along a thread; solving eight new problems; composing verses on eight diverse topics selected at the time and in the specific [[metre (poetry)|metre]] chosen by various members of the audience (16); rearranging 400 words of various languages spoken in random order including Greek, English, Sanskrit, Hindi, Arabic, Latin, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Maru, Jadeji, in the right order of subject, predicate (16); teaching a student; contemplating various figures of speech (2); all at one time.<ref name="CSCSU"/>{{snf|Salter|2002|p=132}}

He performed ''śatāvadhāna'' (100 ''Avadhāna'') at Sir Framji Cowasji Institute in Bombay on 22 January 1887, which gained him praise and publicity. He was awarded gold medals by institutes and public for his performances as well as title of 'Sakshat [[Saraswati]]' (Incarnation of the Goddess of Knowledge). Rajchandra believed that the publicity gained by such ''Avadhāna''s may become an obstacle in spiritual pursuits, so he gradually discouraged the performances and stopped it completely by age of 20.<ref name="CSCSU"/>{{snf|Salter|2002|p=132}} The performances attracted wide coverage in national newspapers.{{snf|Salter|2002|p=133}} In September 1893, when in Chicago, [[Virchand Gandhi]] mentioned this feat at the [[Parliament of the World's Religions]].<ref name="KarbhariGāndhī1911">{{cite book|author1=Bhagu F. Karbhari|author2=Vīrchand Rāghavajī Gāndhī|title=The Jain Philosophy: Collected and Ed. by Baghu F. Karbhari|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5kWQQAACAAJ|year=1911|publisher=N.M. Tripathi & Company|pages=116–120}}</ref>

===Later years===
In 1887 (Maha Sud 12, VS 1944), Rajchandra married Jhabakben, daughter of Popatlal, the elder brother of Revashankar Jagjivandas Mehta, a [[Zaveri]] merchant family. He then engaged in the pearl and diamond business.<ref name="CSCSU"/><ref name="Raj1964"/>{{snf|Salter|2002|p=135}} They had two sons and two daughters.{{snf|Salter|2002|p=135}} His in-laws wanted him to move to [[Bombay]] and establish business there, but he was interested in his spiritual pursuits.<ref name=Jainpedia/>

In 1890 (VS 1947), he experienced [[self-realization]] (shuddh samyak darshan) in Bombay. In His letter (Patrank 133) describing His state at the time, Shrimad wrote “Day and night, reflection upon the supreme reality alone prevails, that alone is the food, that alone is the sleep, that alone is the bed, that alone is the dream, that alone is the fear, that alone is the pleasure, that alone is the possession, that alone is the walking, that alone is the sitting. What more do I say? Bones, flesh and their marrow are only coloured in the colour of that alone."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Life - Shrimad Rajchandraji |url=https://www.srmd.org/shrimad-rajchandraji/life/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur |language=en-US}}</ref> He continued his householder life for more six years and was successful in his business.{{snf|Salter|2002|p=137}}

He is known as a spiritual guide of [[Mahatma Gandhi]].{{snf|Salter|2002|p=145}} They were introduced in [[Mumbai]] in 1891 and had various conversations through letters while Gandhi was in South Africa. Gandhi noted his impression of Shrimad Rajchandra in his autobiography, ''[[The Story of My Experiments with Truth]]'', calling him his "guide and helper" and his "refuge in moments of spiritual crisis". He advised Gandhi to be patient and to study [[Hinduism]] deeply. His teaching directly influenced Gandhi's non-violence philosophy.<ref name=Jainpedia/><ref name="Weber2004">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/gandhiasdisciple0000webe|url-access=registration|title=Gandhi as Disciple and Mentor|author=Thomas Weber|date=2 December 2004|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-45657-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/gandhiasdisciple0000webe/page/34 34]–36}}</ref>{{snf|Salter|2002|p=145}}

[[File:Shrimad Rajchandra Vihar Idar2.jpg|thumb|Shrimad Rajchandra Vihar located on the [[Idar, Gujarat|Idar]] hill where Shrimad Rajchandra gave discourses.]]
He stayed in Gujarat with his disciples and avoided moving to Bombay. He retired from householder life and business when he was thirty. He spent three months in [[Idar, Gujarat|Idar]] where he instructed seven monks in religious discourses sitting on a stone, ''pudhvi śila''. A memorial temple and a prayer hall was later built there.{{snf|Salter|2002|p=147–148}}<ref name=Jainpedia/>

During his final years, he suffered from colitis. No specific cause of death was identified except [[Weakness|extreme weakness]]. In 1900, he lost a large amount of weight. He was under medical supervision, and doctors advised him to move to coastal region of Gujarat for the benefit of his health. He contracted the illness during his stay in [[Dharampur, Gujarat]], from which he never recovered. In 1901, he, his mother and wife stayed at Aga Khan's bungalow in [[Ahmedabad]] before moving to [[Wadhwan]] Camp. He died on 9 April 1901 ([[Chaitra]] Vad 5, VS 1957) in [[Rajkot]] (now in Gujarat) surrounded by his family, friends and disciples.{{snf|Salter|2002|p=149}}<ref name=Jainpedia/><ref name="Raj1964">{{cite book|author1=Shrimad Rajchandra|author2=Jagmandar Lal Jaini (rai bahadur)|title=The Atma-Siddhi: (or the Self-Realization) of Shrimad Rajchandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9D_lAAAAMAAJ|year=1964|publisher=Shrimad Rajchandra Gyan Pracharak Trust}}</ref> A small photograph taken after his death is displayed in a library in [[Khambhat]] established by him. The room where he died is now a prayer hall dedicated to his memory.{{snf|Salter|2002|p=150}}

==Works==
Rajchandra wrote ''Stri Niti Bodhaka'' (The Nature of Ideal Moral Life for Women, 1884) in which he had advocated women's education as essential to national freedom. ''Sad-bodh-shatak'' (1884) is his work on ethical topics. ''Mokshamala'' (1887) is about Jainism and self-liberation written in an easy style understandable to young people.<ref name=Jainpedia/> Due to delay in the publication of ''Mokshamala'', he composed ''Bhavna Bodh'' for his readers. It was a small book of fifty pages in which he gave instructions to cultivate 12 sentiments to lead the life of non-attachment. He had composed ''Namiraja'', a work of five thousand verses explaining the nature of the four [[purushartha]]s. In ''Shurvir Smarana'' (1885), Rajchandra described the brave warriors of the past and compared them with their descendants who are not able to free India from British dominance.<ref name="CSCSU"/>
[[File:Shrimad Rajchandra and Ambalal.jpg|thumb|The statues of Shrimad Rajchandra and Ambalal which are erected by Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur in a room at Nadiad where ''[[Atma Siddhi]]'' was composed.]]
In ''[[Atma Siddhi]]'', a Gujarati short verse poem, he set forths six fundamental truths on soul which are also known as ''satapada'' (six steps). He lays emphasis on right perception ([[samyaktva]]), personal efforts and a true teacher's guidance in the path to self-realisation. It is a summary of his interpretation of Jainism.<ref name="CSCSU"/> It is adapted in a musical [[bhajan]] form by Shefali Shah. It is translated in English several times;  the first by J. L. Jaini in 1923. Its popular translation was published by Brahmachari Govardhandas in 1957.<ref name=Jainpedia/>

He wrote more than 900 letters which charts his spiritual journey and teachings to disciples.<ref name="Raj1964"/> He also edited a newspaper, ''Vairagya Vilas''.<ref name="CSCSU"/>

''Shrimad Rajchandra'' ''Vachanamrut'' is a collection of his complete works including letters and other writings.<ref name=":0">{{cite book|last=Broker|first=Gulabdas|url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Language%20and%20Literature/chapter_4.pdf|title=Maharashtra Gazetteers: Language and Literature|publisher=Directorate of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State|year=1971|series=Maharashtra State Gazetteers|location=Mumbai|pages=360|chapter=Chapter 4: Gujarati|author-link=Gulabdas Broker}}</ref>

His several poems are popular including "Apurva Avsar Evo Kyare Aavshe..", "Mool Marg Sambhlo Jinno Re..", "Bina Nayan Pavey Nahi..", "Hey Prabhu! Hey Prabhu! Shu Kahu..", "Yam Niyam Sanjam Aap Kiyo..", "Ichche Chhe Je Jogijan...,"Bahu Punya Kera Punjthi..." and "Hey Prabhu! Hey Prabhu! Shu Kahu.." were Mahatma Gandhi's favourite [[bhajan]]s and were included in the ''Ashram Bhajanavali''.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gandhi|first1=Mahatma|title=Swar-Lipi-Mein-Ashram-Bhajanavali|publisher=Navjivan|isbn=817229266X}}</ref>

===Translation and commentaries===
Rajchandra wrote 51 quotes on ''Samyati Dharma'' (the religion of monk) as described in ''Dasha Vaikalika Siddhanta'' (VS 1945). It is Gujarati rendering of the original Magadhi text. He also wrote commentary on ''Moksha Siddhanta'' (VS 1953). He incompletely translated Chidanandji's ''Swarodayagyan''. He wrote an incomplete commentary on ''Chauvisi'' of [[Anandghan]].  In his three letters (No. 393, 394 and 395 printed in "Shrimad Rajchandra Vachanamrut"), he commented on one of the couplets of sixth out of the eight perspective, ''Ath Yogdrashtini Sajjhaya'' composed by [[Yashovijaya]]. He wrote equivalent Gujarati translation of the first 100 verses of ''Atmanushasan''. He wrote on three ''Bhavna'' or Contemplations (''Anitya'', ''Asharan'' and a little on ''Sansara Bhavna'') out of [[Twelve Contemplations|12 ''Bhavna'']] described in ''Shri Ratnakarand Shravakaachar''. He completely translated ''Panchastikaya'' of [[Kundakunda]]. He had prepared an index on the ''Pragnavabodh'' (VS 1956).<ref name="CSCSU"/>

==Legacy==
[[File:Stamp of India - 2017 - Colnect 709423 - Shrimad Rajchanraji Poet.jpeg|thumb|Stamp released by [[India Post]] in 2017]]
[[File:Shrimad Rajchandra Kayotsarg.jpg|thumb|200px|Idol of Shrimad Rajchandra in [[kayotsarga]] posture at Digambar Jain temple in [[Ville Parle]], [[Mumbai]]]]
Rajchandra was inspired by works of [[Kundakunda]] and [[Digambara]] mystical tradition. His followers sometimes consider his teaching as a new path of Jainism, neither [[Śvetāmbara]] nor [[Digambara]], and revere him as a saint. His path is sometimes referred as ''Raj Bhakta Marg'', ''Kavipanth'', or ''Shrimadia'', which has mostly lay followers as was Rajchandra himself.<ref name=Jainpedia/><ref>Salter, Emma  (2002)  ''Raj Bhakta Marg: the path of devotion to Srimad Rajcandra.  A Jain community in the twenty first century.'' Doctoral thesis, University of Wales.</ref> His teachings influenced [[Kanji Swami]], [[Dada Bhagwan]],<ref name=FPeter>{{Cite book|url=http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/7438/1/Present_Lord_2003.pdf|title=Present Lord: Simandhara Svami and the Akram Vijnan Movement|last=Flügel|first=Peter|work=The Intimate Other: Love Divine in the Indic Religions|publisher=Orient Longman|year=2005|isbn=9788125028017|editor-last=King|editor-first=Anna S.|location=New Delhi|pages=194–243|editor-last2=Brockington|editor-first2=John}}</ref> [[Rakesh Jhaveri]], [[Saubhagyabhai|Saubhagbhai]], [[Lalluji Muni|Lalluji Maharaj]] (Laghuraj Swami), Atmanandji and several other religious figures. Some of them established temples and institutions in his dedication and to spread his teachings. Such temples often house his pictures and images based on photographs taken in a studio in various meditation postures just a month before his death.<ref name=Jainpedia/> Shrimad Rajchandra's teachings have been popular in the Jain diaspora communities; mostly in [[Jainism in Africa|East Africa]], the [[Jainism in the United Kingdom|United Kingdom]] and [[Jainism in the United States|North America]].<ref name="Jainpedia" />

A special cover featuring him and [[Rabindranath Tagore]] was published by the [[India Post]] on occasion of [[Gandhi Jayanti]] in 2002.<ref name="Indian Stamp Ghar 2014">{{cite web | title=Shrimad Rajchandra Archives | website=Indian Stamp Ghar | date=6 April 2014 | url=http://www.indianstampghar.com/tag/shrimad-rajchandra/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108183533/http://www.indianstampghar.com/tag/shrimad-rajchandra/ | url-status=usurped | archive-date=8 January 2017 | access-date=8 January 2017}}</ref>

The [[Government of India]] released {{INR}}10 coins, {{INR}}150 souvenir coins and the stamps at the [[Sabarmati Ashram]] in Ahmedabad on 29 June 2017 as the commemoration of Shrimad Rajchandra's 150th birth anniversary.<ref>{{cite news|title=Narendra Modi releases stamps, coins to mark 150th birth anniversary of Jain scholar Shrimad Rajchandra|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/narendra-modi-releases-stamps-coins-to-mark-150th-birth-anniversary-of-jain-scholar-shrimad-rajchandra-3760169.html|access-date=3 July 2017|agency=First Post|publisher=First Post|date=30 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pm-narendra-modi-to-pay-tribute-to-the-mahatma-gandhis-guru-on-june-29/articleshow/59328103.cms|title=PM Narendra Modi to pay tribute to the Mahatma Gandhi's guru on June 29|last1=Venugopal|first1=Vasudha|date=27 June 2017|work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=17 July 2017|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Bapu's spiritual guru Shrimad Rajchandra remembered|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/bapus-spiritual-guru-shrimad-rajchandra-remembered/articleshow/59377265.cms|access-date=28 July 2017|agency=Times of India|issue=30 June 2017|publisher=Times of India|date=30 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jathar|first1=Dnyanesh|title=Indian who inspired Gandhi|url=http://www.theweek.in/theweek/statescan/mahatma-gandhis-mentor-shrimad-rajchandra.html|access-date=28 July 2017|agency=The Week|issue=16 July 2017|publisher=The Week|date=16 July 2017}}</ref> [[UCR College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences|U.C. Riverside's College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences]] and the Department of Religious Studies announced the establishment the Shrimad Rajchandra Endowed Chair in Jain Studies on 17 February 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=University of California announces new Endowed Chair in Jain Studies|url=http://theunn.com/2017/03/university-of-california-announces-new-endowed-chair-in-jain-studies/|website=The Universal News Network|access-date=6 August 2017}}</ref>

Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur is a spiritual movement inspired from Shrimad Rajchandra. It was founded by [[Rakesh Jhaveri]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur |url=https://www.srmd.org/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur |language=en-US}}</ref> It is headquartered in [[Dharampur, Gujarat|Dharampur]], Gujarat and carries out social and spiritual activities.

A 34-feet idol - the world’s tallest statue of Shrimad Rajchandra was inaugurated in November 2017 at Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Dharampur by [[Rakesh Jhaveri]] and [[Ravi Shankar (spiritual leader)|Sri Sri Ravishankar]].<ref>{{cite news |title=34 ft statue of shrimad rajchandra unveiled, works to set up 250-bed hospital kick off |url=http://deshgujarat.com/2017/11/05/34-ft-statue-of-shrimad-rajchandra-unveiled-works-to-set-up-250-bed-hospital-kick-off/ |access-date=10 June 2018 |agency=Desh Gujarat |publisher=Desh Gujarat |date=5 November 2017}}</ref> A ''Grand Mahamastakabhishek'' of this idol happens every year, and in 2024 India's Home Minister [[Amit Shah]] and RSS Chief [[Mohan Bhagwat]] both performed this annual ritual. <ref>{{Cite news |date=4 January 2025 |title=Grand Mahamastakabhishek of World's Tallest Idol of Shrimad Rajchandraji by Home Minister Amit Shah |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/business/grand-mahamastakabhishek-of-worlds-tallest-idol-of-shrimad-rajchandraji-by-home-minister-amit-shah20250104143909/ |access-date=12 January 2025 |work=ANI News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat lays foundation stone of Veterniary College at Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Darampur |url=https://deshgujarat.com/2025/01/02/rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-lays-foundation-stone-of-veterniary-college-at-shrimad-rajchandra-mission-darampur/ |access-date=3 March 2025 |publisher=Desh Gujarat |date=January 2, 2025}}</ref> In March - April 2025, thousands of devotees performed Mahamastakabhishek of Shrimad Rajchandra statue at Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram, Dharampur on occasion of celebrating 125 Years of Shrimad Rajchandraji gracing [[Dharampur, Gujarat|Dharampur]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 April 2025 |title=શ્રીમદ્ રાજચંદ્ર આશ્રમ, ધરમપુરમાં સેંકડો ભક્તોએ મહામસ્તકાભિષેકનો લ્હાવો લીધો |url=https://www.gujaratimidday.com/news/gujarat-news/photo/hundreds-of-devotees-join-mahamastakabhisheka-at-shrimad-rajchandra-ashram-in-dharampur-14365/4 |access-date=3 April 2025 |work=Gujarati Mid-day}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
In 2007, ''[[Apurva Avsar]]'', a biographical play on Shrimad Rajchandra in Gujarati, was produced by [[Manoj Shah]].<ref name="Parekh 2011">{{cite journal|last=Parekh|first=Dhwanil|author-link=Dhwanil Parekh|date=September–October 2011|script-title=gu:મનોજ શાહ દિગ્દર્શિત નાટકો-એક અભ્યાસ|trans-title=Plays Directed by Manoj Shah: A Study|url=http://www.sahityasetu.co.in/issue5/dhvanil.html|journal=Sahityasetu|volume=1|issue=5|issn=2249-2372}}</ref><ref name="Mumbai Mirror 2011">{{cite news|date=19 March 2011|title=Manoj Shah's Apurva Avsar today|newspaper=Mumbai Mirror|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/art-theatre/Manoj-Shahs-Apurva-Avsar-today/articleshow/16111264.cms|access-date=26 October 2020}}</ref> A Gujarati play entitled ''[[Yugpurush (play)|Yugpurush: Mahatma na Mahatma]]'' depicting the spiritual relationship between Shrimad Rajchandra and Mahatma Gandhi was produced by Shrimad Rajchandra Mission, Dharampur, in November 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Play looks at a scholar who shaped Mahatma Gandhi's spiritual journey|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Play-looks-at-a-scholar-who-shaped-Mahatma-Gandhis-spiritual-journey/articleshow/55445407.cms?from=mdr|access-date=16 November 2016|date=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kochar|first1=Ritu|title=Yugpurush — Mahatma na Mahatma: Play highlights Gandhi's association with his guru Shrimad Rajchandraji|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/yugpurush-mahatma-na-mahatma-play-highlights-gandhis-association-with-his-guru-shrimad-rajchandraji-4496549/|access-date=28 July 2017|agency=The Indian Express|issue=29 January 2017|publisher=The Indian Express|date=29 January 2017}}</ref> An animated biographical Gujarati film ''Shrimad Rajchandra'' directed by Bhairav Kothari was released in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chappia|first=Hemali|date=19 November 2021|title=Jains rush to watch life-changing biopic on Shrimad Rajchandraji|work=Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-jains-rush-to-watch-life-changing-biopic-on-shrimad-rajchandraji/articleshow/87790100.cms?from=mdr}}</ref> 

On 4 August, 2022, Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] inaugurated various projects in Dharampur including [[Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital]] and women and childcare center which were named after him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-04 |title=PM to inaugurate projects under Shrimad Rajchandra Mission |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/pm-to-launch-and-inaugurate-projects-under-shrimad-rajchandra-mission-11659570412107.html |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref>

==Notes and references==
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===Notes===
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===References===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*{{citation |editor-last=Flügel |editor-first=Peter |editor-link=Peter Flügel |title=Studies in Jaina History and Culture: Disputes and Dialogues |url={{Google books|CIgqBgAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}} |year=2006 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-23552-0 }}
*{{cite thesis |url=http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/9211/|title=Raj Bhakta Marg: the path of devotion to Srimad Rajcandra. A Jain community in the twenty first century|last=Salter|first=Emma|date=September 2002 |type= Doctoral thesis |access-date=21 September 2018|via=University of Huddersfield Repository|pages=125–150|publisher=University of Wales }}

==Further reading==
{{wikisourcelang|gu|સર્જક:શ્રીમદ્ રાજચંદ્ર|શ્રીમદ્ રાજચંદ્ર}}
* [http://vakilspublications.com/S001.asp ''Atma-Siddhi : In Search of the Soul''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002135138/http://vakilspublications.com/S001.asp |date=2 October 2021 }} published by Vakils Feffer & Simons
* [http://www.shrimad.com/images/Vachanamrut-shrimad-mark.pdf ''Vachanamrut'', the complete works of Shrimad Rajchandra in Gujarati, including letters and writings]
*[https://vitraagvigyaan.org/admin/files/ebook/pdf_name/bda67ea9-f56f-11e4-94a5-d4bed934b450/Bhavana%20Bodh.compressed.pdf Bhavana Bodh by Shrimad Rajchandra]

{{Jain Gurus|state=collapsed}}
{{Jainism topics}}
{{Gandhi}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rajchandra, Shrimad}}
[[Category:Mahatma Gandhi]]
[[Category:1867 births]]
[[Category:1901 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Rajkot]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian Jains]]
[[Category:19th-century Indian philosophers]]
[[Category:Jain philosophy]]
[[Category:Scholars of Jainism]]
[[Category:People from Morbi district]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language writers]]
[[Category:Jain reformers]]