"I bow down to 24 tirthankaras and all the Jain acharya". - Srimad Rajchandra

Srimad believed in "Five Great Vows (Maha-vratas)"

Shrimad Rajchandra was a Jain poet, philosopher, scholar and reformer. His full name was Shri Raichandbhai Ravjibhai Mehta. Born near Morbi, He performed Avdhan, a memory retention and recollection test which gained him popularity but he later discouraged it in favour of his spiritual pursuits. He wrote large number of philosophical poetry including Atma Siddhi. He also wrote large number of letters and commentaries and translated some religious texts. He is best known for his teachings on Jainism and as a spiritual guide of Mahatma Gandhi

Early life

Shrimad Rajchandra was born on 9 November 1867 (Kartik Sud Purnima, Vikram Samvat 1924), in Vavania, a port near Morbi (now in Gujarat, India). His mother, Devbai, was Svetambara Jain and his father, Ravjibhai Mehta, was Vaishnava Hindu. He was initiated in Vaishnavism by a Sadhu named Ramadasji.

His birth name was Laxminandan. He was renamed Raichand by his parents when he was four years old. Later his name changed to Sanskrit form, Rajchandra. Shrimad, an honorific was added by his disciples after his death.