The Hindu shastras regard the virtue of nirman as the zenith of all saintly virtues.

Nirman is a combination of egolessness and humility. These two words are often used synonymously, but they are not exactly the same. Ego is what separates us from others and distances us from God. It attaches us to things that are perishable and makes us feel proud, arrogant, selfish, greedy, envious and other negative emotions. Hence, to become egoless is to overcome this self-centredness and connect with the Divine to experience everlasting divine bliss. Becoming egoless transforms us from being egoistic to being altruistic. Hence, egolessness is the realization that we are insignificant before the vastness of God and his virtues. This state of egolessness is not a submissive state. It is a state of wisdom and strength, love and compassion, and happiness and peace.

Humility is putting others before oneself, and not seeking praise or attention. It is the quality of being humble and modest.

Thus, humility and egolessness share some common characteristics. However, egolessness may be considered as the thought process, while humility is the practical application of this understanding.

Mahant Swami Maharaj, as the present manifest form of Aksharbrahma, embodies the virtue of nirman, and hence egolessness and humility.

The following incidents reveal just how naturally he exemplifies this pinnacle of saintly virtues. Since, his egolessness manifests naturally through his humility.

After singing the chestha an attendant swami pointed to Swamishri’s feet and asked, “How much are these feet worth?”

“Two paisa,” Swamishri quipped.

The swami laughed and countered, “No, swami. We say that Vairat Purush prayed for 50 years and 1½  pahors [of his time scale] and then Maharaj’s feet graced this earth. And that Maharaj is manifest through you. So, now how much are they worth?”

“Two paisa, “Swamishri said again, firmly. The swami smiled and said, “You are not telling the truth, Swami.”

“Tell the true value,” another swami said.

“Two paisa,” Swamishri said for the third time.

“Two paisa in Akshardham? Which currency?” a swami  quizzed.

Again, Swamishri replied, “Nothing…  Zero!”

Self-deprecatingly, Swamishri reduced his value to zero.

An attendant swami then pointed to another swami’s feet and asked, “What is the value of his feet?”

“Crores of dollars,” Swamishri replied. The attendant swami pointed to another swamis’s feet and asked again.

Again, Swamishri said, “Crores of dollars.” Pointing to a third swami, the attendant again asked Swamishri.

Again, Swamishri replied, “Crores of dollars.”

This casual dialogue revealed just how much Swamishri believed in the greatness of others, while he claimed that he himself was insignificant.

During a discussion between Swamishri and the swamis, Jnanpriya Swami said, “In 2017, in Chicago, Swamishri told me, ‘I daily perform dandvats to the attendants in mymind. They all offer seva. So, I understand their greatness and perform dandvats.”

Swamishri was asked, “Even today?”

“Yes, in my mind…”

“Why?” the swamis probed.

“Why? Because we have to become the servant of servants.” Swamishri explained.

Then Uttamyogi Swami said, “Even if we have done something routine, Swamishri expresses his approval and humbly bows down to us. On ekadashis he says, ‘O! You have earned billions and trillions of dollars.’ Then, he bows low and touches our feet!”

During Swamishri’s puja balaks sang melodious bhajans and recited mukhpath (memorized verses and phrases) on the topics of unity, friendship and oneness. When Swamishri began to read the Shikshapatri, a group of eight balaks fluently recited the Sahajanand Namavali. At the centre of the line was a very young balak. Even though small in size, he had a booming voice.

Swamishri was delighted by their presentation and so called them near. The small balak approached Swamishri first. Immediately, Swamishri bowed down and touched his feet. Then, he hugged and blessed him. The remaining balaks also hugged Swamishri and received his blessings.

After breakfast, the sadhus asked Swamishri why he had touched the feet of the small balak.

Swamishri replied, “Well, he was so fluent. Such a capable braveheart.”

The sadhus expressed that such a gesture is possible by the Gunatit Satpurush. It is out of this world. Impossible. The sadhus recalled other occasions of Swamishri’s humility, before Swamishri changed the topic of conversation.