Param Upkari Param Pujya Laghuraj Swami
“સહજાત્મસ્વરૂપ પરમગુરુ”
Param Pujya Laghuraj Swami (Prabhushriji)
When the Sun Shines, its rays radiate and spread all over the world!
Param Pujya Laghuraj Swamiji (Prabhushriji) was the SUN for US.
High Morals from Childhood
On Samvat 1910, Aaso Sud 1, Param Pujya Laghuraj Swamiji (Prabhushriji) was born in Bhaal Pradesh Vataman, Gujarat to spread the essence of bhakti and help souls pave their way to eternal bliss. His birth name was Lalluji and he was born in a wealthy family. His family was in money lending business.
• He was virtuous right from childhood: When Prabhushriji was at a young age, he recalls going out with his friends. They all were from Sthanakvasi background. They went to a Jain temple to play. Since all of them were Sthanakvasi, his friends used to throw bangles at the Jin idols and would insult the religion!
• In spite of being with them, he neither insulted the idol nor did he throw anything at the idol. These distinctive qualities were his second nature. He was virtuous, noble and well cultured!
• He was keen to attain Moksh and willing to do anything to attain it.
• His family was in the money lending business. He managed the business. Some people avoided paying him back, but he was always calm and courteous.
Seeking Diksha
• At the age of 27, Prabhushriji suffered a serious illness and realized that he would not survive.
• During his illness, he did a lot of self-introspection and decided that if he every recovered, he would become a saint for life.
• Prabhushriji’s guruji’s name was Harakhchandji Maharaj of the Sthanakvasi sect.
• Prabhushriji was meticulous and very disciplined!
• He fasted for 5 long years under his guru’s Aagya but did not attain samkit (differentiation of body and soul). He realized there is something else that is missing from what he was doing.
• He became prominent in Jain community because of his conduct.
• He knew he was lacking true spiritual guidance in attaining self-realization even though he left the worldly bliss and was preaching religion to many people!
• He was in search of a true teacher to guide him on the spiritual path to attain self-realization.
Meeting with Shrimad Rajchandraji
• In Samvat 1946 (1890 AD), Prabhushriji heard about Shrimad Rajchandraji from Ambalal bhai. He had a spiritual awakening at the age of 36.
• It was the most important day in Prabhushriji’s life!
• A 36 years old Prabhushriji bowed down to a 22 years old Shrimad Rajchandraji with a Shashtang Dandvat Namaskar (complerely prostate on the ground).
• Despite being a muni, he bowed straight down at Shrimadji’s holy feet despite Shrimadji being dressed as a householder. Prabhushriji saw something in him that he did not see in anyone else before.
• “Eyes of a genuine disciple can recognize a true mahatma” – Patra-254, Vachanamrut.
• Prabhushriji asked Shrimad Rajchandraji for self-realization, i.e. Samkit (differentiation of soul and body). To reach Moksh and how to strictly follow celibacy.
• Shrimad Rajchandraji blessed him with an extraordinary mantras (to know about the mantras, kindly visit Agas Ashram), spiritual letters for guidance, sermons, etc..
• In Mumbai, Shrimad Rajchandraji explained Prabhushriji the first 17 verses of “Samadhi Shatak” written by Pujyapad Swamiji. He explained it and gave Prabhushriji a powerful mantra! (To know more, kindly visit Agas Ashram)
• In Samvat 1950 (1895 AD), Prabhushriji felt that he may not survive due to an illness. He requested Shrimadji for “Samkit” because if we leave our body without attaining Samkit, then our sould will be in the cycle of 4 Gati forever. (To know more kindly visit Agas Ashram)
• His desire for self-realization was so strong that Shrimadji composed an exception letter #493 in Vachanamrut also called “Six Steps of the Soul” (6 Pad No Patra)
• Prabhushriji used to say that by reciting, understanding and meditating on this, one can acquire self-realization in just 6 months! (To know more kindly visit Agas Ashram
• Upon meditating, incredible joy and gratitude overflowed from the Prabhushriji’s heart for Shrimadji’s incredible gift!
• Atmasiddhi, an epic shastra, was composed by Shrimadji in one sitting in just 90 minutes on Aso Vad 1. What a coincidence that it was composed on Prabhushriji’s birthday! What a gift to receive from a gyani!
• This shastra was only given to 4 people. One of them was Prabhushriji.
• Deeply immersed in Atmasiddhi, Prabhushriji wrote: “Atmasiddhi is the essence of all the agams and texts and the 14 Puravs. Shrimadji has blessed the entire world with this divine gift.”
• Every seeker can attain self-realization by singing, understanding and meditating on these 142 verses of Atmasiddhi
• Prabhushriji attained self-realization in Samvat 1954 from Shrimadji at Vaso, Gujarat
Marvellous Devotion
• In Samvat 1967,Prabhushriji influenced many other on this spiritual path. He held continuous bhakti for 19 full days and nights at Vadva with full enthusiasm and zeal.
• In Samvat 1967, Shrimadji’s birthday was celebrated by Prabhushriji by doing superlative bhakti in Sandesar. There were around 5,000 people. This bhakti was so powerful that it left a strong impression on all the people that attended. All the people (Mumukshu’s) were so eager and confident to follow on this righteous path and had full faith in Prabhushriji to guide them on their spiritual journey.
• His hunger to attain true Moksh, true happiness was so powerful. He held un-imaginable bhakti satsang all day and night in Simarda.
• Even on Shrimadji’s samadhi day tithi (the day Shrimadji left his body), around 2,000 people from all over gathered for bhakti. Prabhushriji put a spark of bhakti in every person who would come to relieve their karmas.
Hardships faced by Muni
• At Ranakpur, when Prabhushriji visited Ranakpur temple, one hostile monk told their fellow monks not to offer food and water to Prabhushriji or allow them to enter the temple.
• As instructed, no one gave food and water to Prabhushriji.
• Prabhushriji was neither furious nor discontented. He kept Samta, calmness because he was on the spiritual path.
• On the 4thday, a sangh (group of people) came from Khambhat and offered food and water to Prabhushriji.
• Once Prabhushriji went far away in jungle. Around 100 – 200 tribal people surrounded him with weapons.
• Prabhushriji remained calm and politely asked them why they had surrounded him.
• They thought Prabhushriji was a government agent who had come to start a war or to infiltrate their tribe by dressing like a saint.
• Prabhushriji replied that he was not a government agent and was a saint who is a devotee of god.
• Then he told them about the village he was going to visit and the Sharavak’s name whose house he was going to visit.
• They all were satisfied with his code of conduct and released him.
Prabhushriji Poona prasang
In V.S 1980, Prabhushriji went to SametShikharji for yatra and on his return, did his chaturmas at the abode of Shri Manekji Seth.
• During Paryushan, some mumukshus in Prabhushrji’s absence, forcefully invited his son, Shri Mohanbhai, to sit on a higher seat (throne) and did bhakti inspite of Shri Mohanbhai’s refusal.
• The next day, upon hearing this incident, Prabhushriji in a very stern tone asked the people present there as to what they were thinking when they made Mohanbhai sit on the high seat ( where P. P. Prabhushriji used to sit)?
• P. P.Prabhushriji emphatically told them that this this marg was not similar to Swaminarayan’s wherein a worldly person inherits the leadership. Even He sits on the seat after doing namaskar and taking agna from Shrimadji (Param Krupaludev) then how could they use their own self-conceit like this?
• The following day, Prabhushriji very effectively told everyone that, with no bias or selfish motive and only for their own self-benefit, those who had faith in him, should get up, keep their hand on Krupadudev’s chritapat and say that on Sant’s (Prabhushriji) saying, I am accepting Param Krupadudev’s agna.
• Its indeed difficult to identify A True Gyaani and that’s the Start point for Eternal Happiness.
• P. P. Prabhushriji after Himself getting self realized endorsed and took a Guarantee in Vitraag Hall that ” A true Faith on PARAM KRUPALUDEV but on the saying of Prabhushriji is the surest way to Moksh”.
Compassion towards Seekers
• Prabhushriji was adversely affected by his ailing health. In spite of that he would give unforgettable sermons that put a mark on seekers hearts which never faded away!!!
• He would personally go and help seekers in attaining “Samadhi Maran” on their last breath. (To know more kindly visit Agas Ashram)
• Shrimadji has said, “If anyone attains Samadhi Maran, then their should would never have Asamadhi Maran thereafter. That soul will attain Moksh in maximum 15 lifecycles. (Liberation of sould from the cycle of birth and death).
• There are many more instance, to know more kindly visit Agas Ashram.
• Pujya Bramhachariji was in his service for 11 years and attained “Self-Realization” and Prabhushriji handed over the “Maarg” to him.
• Prabhushriji gives a guarantee for our true teacher “Shrimad Rajchandraji” (as he obtained self-realization following Shrimadji’s teachings) and if one follows him the result is definite “Moksh”.
• What more does a true seeker want?
Down to Earth Nature
• Prabhushriji refused the other seekers to accept him as a Guru.
• He emphasized that the only Guru that everyone should follow is Shrimad Rajchandraji, who is the true teacher.
• Fame was like venom to him.
• Due to his benevolent nature and soft hearted words, even non-Jains (especially Patel community) and many others joined this spiritual path of enlightenment.
• To know more kindly visit Agas Ashram.
Faith towards Shrimad Rajchandraji
In his text Updeshamrut, Prabhushriji has repeatedly given his personal endorsement of Shrimadji: “Show your utmost respect towards Shrimadji as the real and only true self realized teacher and spend your life in devotion to him. Those who will keep unshakable faith and devotion to Shrimadji’s teachings will attain self-realization.”
Prabhushriji strongly emphasized this advice “Genuine faith in a self realized Sadguru like Shrimadji is found so rare in this descending era. Anyone who will have faith in Shrimadji and devotion anchored to Shrimadji’s teachings, will undoubtedly attain divine bliss according to the immortal words of Lord Mahavir in Uttaradhyayana Sutra – “Shraddha Param Dullaha”.
Right faith in a true Sadguru is the most precious gift for a seeker to have in his heart to attain self-realization and Moksha.
• He identified a true teacher of englightenment – Shrimad Rajchandraji
• Prabhushriji attained self-realization and showed us that it is possible to do so in this era
• Prabhushriji established a beautiful place called “Agas Ashram” for us to go and seek our soul’s welfare
• Prabhushriji designed an incredible daily schedule with incredible foresight to help the seekers stay anchored in devotion (bhakti and satsang) and to develop detachment and faith.
• He gave Agnaa to do this bhakti. 10 hours of this magnificent bhakti has been continuing daily for more than 100 years at this ashram. There have been no changes made to this schedule since its inception by Prabhushriji.
• Prabhushriji was popularly known as “PRABHUSHRIJI” by everyone in Agas Ashram where he spent more than 14 Chaturmas (4 months during the monsoon season).
Muni in his last Days
Shrimadji had stated that Prabhushriji’s Samadhi Maran would be similar to that of Shri Sobhagbhai (an extraordinary Samadhi Maran).
• One month prior to Prabhushriji’s Samadhi Mara, he had instructed all the disciples to henceforth sing “Apoorva Avsar” in the evening everyday after Dev Vandan.
• On 8thday of Vaishakh Sud in V.S. 1992 (1936 AD), Prabhushriji went into the final Samadhi at 08:10 PM (IST) once all the disciples finished reciting “Apoorva Avsar” at Agas Ashram.
• What a coincidence that Prabhushriji instructed everyone to sing Apoorva Avsar and he passed away once they finished singing it. The lyrics mean that when will this extraordinary time come when we will become free from the outside world and attain salvation.
• His soul left this world at age of 82 in 1936 AD.
• Due to his child like innocence and simplicity, Prabhushriji is a living example of a true disciple of Shrimadji in modern times. He blessed thousands of seekers and showned them the right path of salvation.
• Greater details of his biography and all his teachings are compiled in the text “Updeshamrut”.
• To know more kindly visit Agas Ashram