2 April 2006 (V.S. 2062, Chaitra sud 5) Sunday, Sarangpur
More than 600 devotees from Himmatnagar and Amdavad had come to celebrate the silver jubilee of Satsang in Himmatnagar.
At 6.30 pm Swamishri arrived in the silver jubilee assembly. The devotees honoured Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Swamishri. Finally, Swamishri appreciated the efforts of Yogiji Maharaj, sadhus and devotees in establishing and spreading Satsang in the Sabakantha district. Swamishri added, “By offering such bhakti, God is pleased. It is God who has given everything to us, therefore we must also give to him. When one offers heartfully and with devotion even a leaf, flower or water then God is pleased. Bhakti means to remain steadfast in God’s refuge no matter whether happiness or misery comes one’s way.”
6 April 2006 (V.S. 2062, Chaitra sud 9) Thursday, Sarangpur; 225th Shri Hari Jayanti Celebration
The Shri Hari Jayanti Celebration assembly commenced at 8.00 pm. The stage backdrop was made up of scenes depicting the life and message of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. A giant cut-out of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj’s face rose above the backdrop scenes. The assembly was first addressed by Brahmadarshan Swami, who elaborated upon the principles preached by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the Vachanamrut. Thereafter Shri J.J. Bhatt of Mumbai, advocate in the Supreme Court, addressed the assembly, “The former speaker talked about Shriji Maharaj, but I am seeing Shriji Maharaj here before me. Whatever that happened in the presence of Shriji Maharaj I believe the same process is happening here in the 21st century85” Then Viveksagar Swami explained the supreme glory of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Swamishri was honoured with garlands by senior sadhus and guests. Then the assembly was charged with devotion with the singing of a kirtan by sadhus, “Premvati sut jayo anupam85”
In his blessings Swamishri said, “It has been 225 years since Bhagwan Shriji Maharaj was born. He came and liberated countless souls. He revealed his divine form, and inspired all to live a God-conscious life. The Gita says that whenever there is a rise in unrighteousness, God takes birth to destroy adharma and re-establish dharma. In this way Bhagwan Shriji Maharaj took birth in Kaliyug. The ignorant did not realize God despite seeing his divine powers. Ravan, though he was intelligent, did not realize Ram as God. Hanumanji is believed to be the most intelligent among the intelligent because of his unique bhakti towards Ram. He loved only Ram and harboured no desires for worldly things85 God, out of compassion, came in a human form so that countless humans could happily have his darshan and take refuge in him. Bhagwan Shriji Maharaj came and established ekantik dharma.”
At 10:10 pm Swamishri performed the birthday celebration arti and thereafter rocked Shri Harikrishna Maharaj in a hindolo.
Sarangpur
8 April 2006 (V.S. 2062, Chaitra sud 10) Saturday, Sarangpur
A special assembly of devotees, who had reformed from their wayward and lawless means, was held today. They came from Bhangadh, 17 km from Dholera (120 km from Amdavad), and twelve neighbouring villages, namely, Goghla, Khun, Mahadevpura, Mingalpur, Gandhipura, Rahtalav, Jhankhi, Mundi, Kamatalav, Sarasla, Shela and Devpura. They are farmers by occupation, but because of droughts, addictions, superstitions and bad customs their lives had declined morally. Then through the blessings of Swamishri, BAPS sadhus started regular satsang visits to the villages. Through the inspiration of Swamishri the BAPS built a school and hostel for children in Bhangadh. Thereafter, the efforts of leading locals of the region, namely, Aniruddhsinh, Arunbhai Trivedi (secretary of Bhanumala Trust), Dr L.P. Shukla and Dr Sharadbhai Thakkar, played an important role in transforming the villagers. A small medical clinic was also set up by the Sanstha.
To appreciate the change in the locals and the efforts of the leading lights an assembly was arranged today in Sarangpur. Dr Sharadbhai Thakkar, Sagarbhai Solanki, administrator of Pramukh Swami Maharaj Vidyamandir (school) and Pramukh Kumar Chhatralay (hostel) in Bhangadh, Chandubhai, chief of Bhangadh village, Hariombhai Chauhan, a social worker, and Arunbhai Trivedi, secretary of Bhanumala Trust expressed their feelings in the assembly.
Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly, “We have heard the wonderful reformations that have been effected in the lives of people. Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his sadhus had reformed the lives of thousands who were under the vice-grip of addictions and bad customs. This mission of moralizing people is still being continued today. The sadhus seek to unshackle people from addictions, to purify their souls and to engage them in devotion to God. Bhagwan Swaminarayan has preached “Dharmo gneyaha sadacharaha” – to live a life of dharma free from addictions, gambling, violence, etc. If there are no morals in life then a person cannot do good things.”
9 April 2006 (V.S. 2062, Chaitra sud 11) Sunday, Sarangpur
Swamishri performed the pratishtha rituals of pujan and arti of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Radha-Krishna Dev, Shri Sita-Ram, Shri Shiv-Parvati, Shri Hanumanji and Shri Ganapatiji for the hari mandir in Deesa, and Shri Hanumanji and Shri Gana-patiji for the hari mandir in Visnagar.
Swamishri performs murti-pratishtha rituals and arti of murtis for BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Kathlal
11 April 2006 (V.S. 2062, Chaitra sud 13) Tuesday, Sarangpur
Swamishri performed the pratishtha rituals of pujan and arti of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Guru Parampara, Hanumanji and Ganapatiji for the hari mandir in Kathlal.
Chaitri Purnima,
Diksha of Sadhus and Parshads,
13 April 2006 (V.S. 2062, Chaitra sud 15) Thursday, Sarangpur; Silver Jubilee Celebration of Yagnapurush Smruti Mandir
On the occasion of the 25th inauguration anniversary (patotsav) of Yagnapurush Smruti Mandir the senior sadhus bathed the murti of Shastriji Maharaj with panchamrut. Thereafter, an annakut was arranged. Swamishri performed the patotsav arti prior to his morning puja.
At 10.15 am Swamishri arrived in the assembly hall to perform the diksha ceremony of youths. Dr Swami and Mahant Swami had addressed the devotees. Thereafter, the diksha ceremony commenced. The senior sadhus gave the kanthi, upper cloth, pagh to each of the newly initiated parshads and sadhus. Swamishri gave the guru mantra and blessed each one of them. In all 13 parshads were given the bhagvati diksha and 45 youths were given the parshad diksha.
Swamishri released a publication called Shri Akshar Purushottam Charitam (in Sanskrit) authored by Prof. Jethalal Swaminarayan and translated by Shrutiprakash Swami. Swamishri also inaugurated an audio kirtan cassette Chalo Chale Hum Akshardham and Satsang Darshan Part-51 (video). Thereafter, the senior sadhus honoured Swamishri with garlands.
Finally, the assembly climaxed with Swamishri’s blessings, “Twenty-five years have passed since the pratishtha of Shastriji Maharaj’s Smruti Mandir. This assembly is celebrated under the auspices of the patotsav festival. Also, we have performed the diksha ceremony of young educated youths. The youths have the enthusiasm to take diksha, but it is a great thing that their parents also desire that they become sadhus. It is natural for the parents to wish that their educated sons earn and take care of them, but they have all happily supported them.
“All this is happening due to the wish of Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj85 The more bhajan one does the more happiness one experiences. By keeping God in the forefront while doing bhajan and in attending to our mundane affairs, one attain lots of happiness.”
Sarangpur