Strong Fundamentals and Experiential Knowledge

A tree can grow big and provide shelter to others only if its roots are deep and strong. Param Krupalu Dev’s knowledge about religion stemmed from His in-depth study of numerous scriptures. When He was merely a teenager, He had gone through the sacred scriptures of Jainism known as Agamas. Param Krupalu Dev studied the teachings propounded by major religious philosophies and came to the conclusion that the path propounded by the Omniscient Lord is completely true. Param Krupalu Dev had studied the teachings of Jainism in great detail and imbibed its essence thereby transforming His knowledge to an experiential level.

Revolution – Right Knowledge in Action

Once a signboard was placed at a crossroad indicating the path to a particular destination. People used to follow the directions given and reach the destination. As time passed, the signboard underwent wear and tear. Later this old signboard’s direction was changed by a hurricane and it started pointing in a different direction. The people following this signboard were however not aware about this and continued following it, but didn’t reach their destination. If someone then rectified the direction of the signboard and pointed it again in the right direction, would we criticise him as a rebel who challenged and changed traditional beliefs or thank him for rectifying the error and guiding people on the right path?

A true revolutionary’s focus is not on changing all the prevalent practices but rectifying those practices which have deviated from the fundamental teachings. While doing so, it may appear that he is preaching something different altogether, but once we try and understand the essence of the idea, the differences disappear. His aim is to correct erroneous deviations from the true path. Param Krupalu Dev too strived to emphasise the importance of right knowledge in all our actions. He is a revolutionary not just because He challenged or changed the then prevalent practices but because He highlighted the true essence of Jainism wherever it was lost in dogmatic beliefs.

Preaching the Truth

Param Krupalu Dev’s friend Popatbhai Manjibhai Desai shares that once some rich individuals from Mumbai and Morbi, belonging to one sect of Jainism, came to meet Param Krupalu Dev and requested Him to profess the teachings of their sect. In return they would offer Him great respect. Param Krupalu Dev replied that He will preach only that which is true and He does not have likes or dislikes for anyone. In another such instance, when a monk asked Param Krupalu Dev to preach about the teachings of his sect, He conveyed that He will only preach the truth.

Once some people out of their ignorance had assumed that Param Krupalu Dev preached something different. When they came to Param Krupalu Dev, even without them expressing their views, Param Krupalu Dev told them that what they thought about Him was erroneous. He said that one has to walk on the path propounded by Lord Mahavir only as that was the only right path and He had no reason to preach anything which was contradicting to the Lord, thereby increasing worldly transmigration infinitely.

Thus, whatever Param Krupalu Dev preached was true and not with the intention to impress anyone, be different from others or to be a revolutionary. His sole purpose was to bring forth the true essence of religion.

Propounding the Essence of Jainism

The teachings of Jainism are not to be confined to certain rituals but are to be practised as a way of life for developing virtues. Param Krupalu Dev highlighted this facet of Jainism by stressing on the importance of transformation through spiritual practices.

Owing to the then prevalent traditions and the differences in rituals, Shri Mohanlalji Muni once asked Param Krupalu Dev that what they should answer if someone asks them about their sect and what sort of pratikraman they do? Param Krupalu Dev replied that they should say that they are Sanatan Jains and to retire from sin is their pratikraman. Param Krupalu Dev’s thoughts and actions were all focussed on the core of Jainism – to experience the blissful nature of the True Self.

Elucidating this true essence of Jainism and summarising the teachings of scriptures, Param Krupalu Dev penned compositions like Shri Atmasiddhi Shastra, Mool Marag, Mokshmala, etc. These compositions highlight the fundamentals of Jainism in simple language thereby making it easy for a common man to grasp them. These were not composed to preach something different from the teachings of Tirthankars, but the same philosophy was expressed in a simplified form.

To people with myopic vision, it may appear that Param Krupalu Dev was a revolutionary who changed the Jain traditions. But the fact remains that He only refined the traditions by focusing on their core and eliminating the vices that had got into the dogmatic practices. Glory to such a spiritual revolutionary – Param Krupalu Dev!