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HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj's Vicharan

12 Dec 1999 to 17 Dec 1999, Tithal, India

The Sanstha's first Mandir on the sea shore of the Arabian Sea

Saints and devotees on the sea shore just outside the Mandir

The magnificent Mandir looking out to the sea is a testimony to the ancient tradition of Indian architecture

During the four day festival , the beautiful 5 -spired Mandir had more than 100,000 visitors

Deeply absorbed in prayers to the Lord

In his blessings, Swamishri writes that the Mandir in Kosamba, Valsad, will become a great place of pilgrimage, thousands will come for Darshan and attain Akshardham

After offering Vedic pujan, Swamishri performs arti of the murtis

After doing darshan of each shrine in the Mandir

The inspirer in the forecourt of the Mandir

Devotees patiently waiting to perform the Maha-abhishek ceremony

Darshan of Mandir by night from the sea shore

Devotees throng the Mandir for darshan

Saints performing special aarti of 'Dariyadev' - The Sea God

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Radha-Krishna Dev

Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj

Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj

Lord Swaminarayan

Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Shri Shiv-Parvatiji with Ganpatiji

Shivling - the symbol for Shivji

Shri Sita-Ram and Hanumanji

Hanumanji - at the feet of Shri Sita-Ram

The newly-wed couples at the end of the ceremonies

73 grooms after receiving the blessings of Swamishri during the mass marriage arranged by the Sanstha

Swamishri blessed more than 20 children and youths at their sacred thread ceremony, which was held parallely with the mass marriage

Swamishri honored after his arrival in Valsad.

Special assembly, at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Tithal, in honor of the local Tandel volunteers who had offered their services for the Mandir

Swamishri giving a rosary in appreciation to each Tandel volunteer

Members of Valsad City Council offering a Citation of Honor to Swamishri

Swamishri with devotees who had sacrificed their all for the Tithal Mandir

Divine Swamishri

Swamishri in devotional mood on the portico of the new Mandir

Tribal youth welcoming Swamishri with traditional music and dance

The motorcycle cavalcade getting ready to start off the procession

One of the spectacular folk dances being performed

Crowds watching the procession along the 5 km route

On the streets of Valsad the murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj are paraded in a Peacock float, Swan float and Fish float respectively

Senior sadhus gracing the procession from different floats

Exciting human pyramids during the procession by youth dancers, sadhus and tribal youths

Music and dance were essential elements of the procession - a tribal dance and peacock dance adds color and rhythm during the 3 hour long procession

A decorated camel cart

A mock fight between fake black magic practitioners

Lord Swaminarayan's murti majestically paraded on an elephant

Swamishri blessing and enthusiastically and responding to the huge colorful procession

A motorcycle driver balances 8 pots on his head

Saints pull a float with Lord Swaminarayan's murti, while children dance in front

Crowds lined the streets, balconies and windows to see the spectacular show of culture and spirituality

Traditional bamboo dance being performed - the girls dance and jump between bamboo poles being moved continuously

Women carrying Kalashes during the nagar yatra

The colorful womens procession was well-managed by the volunteers dressed in white and red saris

Swamishri performing the Yagna for World Peace

Holding aloft the Yagna Kalash

Doing pujan of Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Praying for world peace and social harmony

Performing arti of Lord Harikrishna Maharaj at the culmination of the Yagna ceremony

The Women's Convention began with the arti of the murti of Lord Swaminarayan and the Guru Parampara

Bhajans were sung melodiously

The huge gathering was proof that the BAPS womens wing is active and strong in religious and social spheres

A costume drama was enacted on social evils and the importance of satsang

The balika mandal - girls group - enthusiastically performed a folk dance

Beautifully choreographed cultural dance was performed by the balika mandal

Devotees participate in the Maha Abhishek Ceremony on the Mandir podium

Kalashes with holy water from 108 rivers for the Maha Abhishek ceremony

The Kalash on which Swamishri performed the pujan

Swamishri performing Kalash pujan at the Mandir entrance

Holy water being showered on the Murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj during the Maha-Abhishek

Swamishri performing Abhishek of the Murtis

Devotees performing Maha-Abhishek by pouring holy water brought from 108 rivers

15 December 1999 -

Swamishri engrossed in the worship of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj (Thakorji)

Performing Vedic rites of worship (pujan) of the murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj

Immersed in prayers to Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj

Offering respects at the feet of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Radha Krishna Dev

Performing the pujan of Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Performing Vedic rites of worship (pujan) of Shri Shiv-Parvati and Ganpatiji with Vedic rites

Performing Vedic worship (pujan) of Shivling, Shri Shiv-Parvati and Ganpatiji

Performing Vedic worship (pujan) of Shri Sita-Ram and Hanumanji

In a humble gesture before the Lord

Offering flower petals(Pushpanjali)

Offering rice grains as a symbol of worship

Performing Aarti of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj

An impromptu blessing to the saints and devotees

Swamishri prostating before the Lord

Sadhus during the evening assembly

150,000 devotees from all parts of India and abroad during the Birthday Celebration

The magnificient 40 feet high decorative backdrop built for the occasion

Cultural dances were performed in front of the thousands of devotees

Volunteers serve prasad to all devotees

A colorful procession with music and dance led the entry of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj on a palanquin and Swamishri on a Swan-chariot pulled by saints

Swamishri seated on a resplendent stage, serenely chanting the holy name of Swaminarayan

Swamishri seated on a colorful giant stage, serenely chanting the holy name of Swaminarayan

Dramatic presentations depicting stories of moral transformation and spiritual faith inspired by Lord Swaminarayan

Fish - dance by local satsangi youths

Even today, Swamishri's followers show the same faith, fearlessness and honesty which Lord Swaminarayan had instilled in satsangis. A few such devotees were honored by Swamishri during the festival

Swamishri holding a torch, carried by a team of 11 satsangi youths (Gondal) in an all India crusade against Aids and addictions

The leading devotees of Valsad and Tithal offer a giant garland to Swamishri

Swamishri, after being honored with a garland

Praying serenely to the Lord during mantra pushpanjali

Swamishri performing aarti of the entire assembly

Nectarine words of wisdom

Tribal women volunteers played an active part in the four day festival

The primarily tribal audience in the assembly

Adivasis (tribals) in traditional garb, with their hand-made bows and arrows

A thrilling tribal dance by trained youths

Tribals dance with joy on the main stage

Children play traditional instruments

A tribal volunteer speaks of his transformation to an audience of 20,000

Swamishri with sadhus involved in tribal upliftment activities

Tribals, who walked many kilometers to attend the convention, take Swamishri's blessings

Tribal youths pose for a photograph with Swamishri

A tribal youth dances to the rhythm and flavor of a tribal song

MP, Shri L.M.Singhvi, praised Swamishri's services to mankind, and recited a poem dedicated to him

A new Medical Van was inaugurated by Swamishri, to provide free medical services in tribal areas

Swamishri blessing the Tribal Convention: "Since you are living near to God it behoves of you to live a life that pleases Him. God does not reside with us if we are shackled by superstitions, addictions and mundane infatuations..."

Blessing sadhus while on the way to his morning puja

Performing tilak chandlo and chanting the name of Swaminarayan during his morning puja

Swamishri, may you live for a hundred years! Birthday cards and wishes from all over the world

Sanctifying the water

Reading the Shikshapatri

Saying 'Jay Swaminarayan' after completing his puja

Inaugurating 'Swapna thaya sakar', a video publication

Swamishri inaugurating the Sanstha's renovated website: www.swaminarayan.org

The Sanstha's first Mandir on the sea shore of the Arabian Sea

Saints and devotees on the sea shore just outside the Mandir

The magnificent Mandir looking out to the sea is a testimony to the ancient tradition of Indian architecture

During the four day festival , the beautiful 5 -spired Mandir had more than 100,000 visitors

Deeply absorbed in prayers to the Lord

In his blessings, Swamishri writes that the Mandir in Kosamba, Valsad, will become a great place of pilgrimage, thousands will come for Darshan and attain Akshardham

After offering Vedic pujan, Swamishri performs arti of the murtis

After doing darshan of each shrine in the Mandir

The inspirer in the forecourt of the Mandir

Devotees patiently waiting to perform the Maha-abhishek ceremony

Darshan of Mandir by night from the sea shore

Devotees throng the Mandir for darshan

Saints performing special aarti of 'Dariyadev' - The Sea God

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Radha-Krishna Dev

Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj

Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj

Lord Swaminarayan

Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Shri Shiv-Parvatiji with Ganpatiji

Shivling - the symbol for Shivji

Shri Sita-Ram and Hanumanji

Hanumanji - at the feet of Shri Sita-Ram

The newly-wed couples at the end of the ceremonies

73 grooms after receiving the blessings of Swamishri during the mass marriage arranged by the Sanstha

Swamishri blessed more than 20 children and youths at their sacred thread ceremony, which was held parallely with the mass marriage

Swamishri honored after his arrival in Valsad.

Special assembly, at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Tithal, in honor of the local Tandel volunteers who had offered their services for the Mandir

Swamishri giving a rosary in appreciation to each Tandel volunteer

Members of Valsad City Council offering a Citation of Honor to Swamishri

Swamishri with devotees who had sacrificed their all for the Tithal Mandir

Divine Swamishri

Swamishri in devotional mood on the portico of the new Mandir

Tribal youth welcoming Swamishri with traditional music and dance

The motorcycle cavalcade getting ready to start off the procession

One of the spectacular folk dances being performed

Crowds watching the procession along the 5 km route

On the streets of Valsad the murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj are paraded in a Peacock float, Swan float and Fish float respectively

Senior sadhus gracing the procession from different floats

Exciting human pyramids during the procession by youth dancers, sadhus and tribal youths

Music and dance were essential elements of the procession - a tribal dance and peacock dance adds color and rhythm during the 3 hour long procession

A decorated camel cart

A mock fight between fake black magic practitioners

Lord Swaminarayan's murti majestically paraded on an elephant

Swamishri blessing and enthusiastically and responding to the huge colorful procession

A motorcycle driver balances 8 pots on his head

Saints pull a float with Lord Swaminarayan's murti, while children dance in front

Crowds lined the streets, balconies and windows to see the spectacular show of culture and spirituality

Traditional bamboo dance being performed - the girls dance and jump between bamboo poles being moved continuously

Women carrying Kalashes during the nagar yatra

The colorful womens procession was well-managed by the volunteers dressed in white and red saris

Swamishri performing the Yagna for World Peace

Holding aloft the Yagna Kalash

Doing pujan of Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Praying for world peace and social harmony

Performing arti of Lord Harikrishna Maharaj at the culmination of the Yagna ceremony

The Women's Convention began with the arti of the murti of Lord Swaminarayan and the Guru Parampara

Bhajans were sung melodiously

The huge gathering was proof that the BAPS womens wing is active and strong in religious and social spheres

A costume drama was enacted on social evils and the importance of satsang

The balika mandal - girls group - enthusiastically performed a folk dance

Beautifully choreographed cultural dance was performed by the balika mandal

Devotees participate in the Maha Abhishek Ceremony on the Mandir podium

Kalashes with holy water from 108 rivers for the Maha Abhishek ceremony

The Kalash on which Swamishri performed the pujan

Swamishri performing Kalash pujan at the Mandir entrance

Holy water being showered on the Murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj during the Maha-Abhishek

Swamishri performing Abhishek of the Murtis

Devotees performing Maha-Abhishek by pouring holy water brought from 108 rivers

15 December 1999 -

Swamishri engrossed in the worship of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj (Thakorji)

Performing Vedic rites of worship (pujan) of the murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj

Immersed in prayers to Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj

Offering respects at the feet of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Radha Krishna Dev

Performing the pujan of Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Performing Vedic rites of worship (pujan) of Shri Shiv-Parvati and Ganpatiji with Vedic rites

Performing Vedic worship (pujan) of Shivling, Shri Shiv-Parvati and Ganpatiji

Performing Vedic worship (pujan) of Shri Sita-Ram and Hanumanji

In a humble gesture before the Lord

Offering flower petals(Pushpanjali)

Offering rice grains as a symbol of worship

Performing Aarti of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj

An impromptu blessing to the saints and devotees

Swamishri prostating before the Lord

Sadhus during the evening assembly

150,000 devotees from all parts of India and abroad during the Birthday Celebration

The magnificient 40 feet high decorative backdrop built for the occasion

Cultural dances were performed in front of the thousands of devotees

Volunteers serve prasad to all devotees

A colorful procession with music and dance led the entry of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj on a palanquin and Swamishri on a Swan-chariot pulled by saints

Swamishri seated on a resplendent stage, serenely chanting the holy name of Swaminarayan

Swamishri seated on a colorful giant stage, serenely chanting the holy name of Swaminarayan

Dramatic presentations depicting stories of moral transformation and spiritual faith inspired by Lord Swaminarayan

Fish - dance by local satsangi youths

Even today, Swamishri's followers show the same faith, fearlessness and honesty which Lord Swaminarayan had instilled in satsangis. A few such devotees were honored by Swamishri during the festival

Swamishri holding a torch, carried by a team of 11 satsangi youths (Gondal) in an all India crusade against Aids and addictions

The leading devotees of Valsad and Tithal offer a giant garland to Swamishri

Swamishri, after being honored with a garland

Praying serenely to the Lord during mantra pushpanjali

Swamishri performing aarti of the entire assembly

Nectarine words of wisdom

Tribal women volunteers played an active part in the four day festival

The primarily tribal audience in the assembly

Adivasis (tribals) in traditional garb, with their hand-made bows and arrows

A thrilling tribal dance by trained youths

Tribals dance with joy on the main stage

Children play traditional instruments

A tribal volunteer speaks of his transformation to an audience of 20,000

Swamishri with sadhus involved in tribal upliftment activities

Tribals, who walked many kilometers to attend the convention, take Swamishri's blessings

Tribal youths pose for a photograph with Swamishri

A tribal youth dances to the rhythm and flavor of a tribal song

MP, Shri L.M.Singhvi, praised Swamishri's services to mankind, and recited a poem dedicated to him

A new Medical Van was inaugurated by Swamishri, to provide free medical services in tribal areas

Blessing sadhus while on the way to his morning puja

Performing tilak chandlo and chanting the name of Swaminarayan during his morning puja

Swamishri, may you live for a hundred years! Birthday cards and wishes from all over the world

Sanctifying the water

Reading the Shikshapatri

Saying 'Jay Swaminarayan' after completing his puja

Inaugurating 'Swapna thaya sakar', a video publication

Swamishri inaugurating the Sanstha's renovated website: www.swaminarayan.org

Vicharan Reports

12 Dec. 99: (V.S. 2056, Magshar Sud 4) Sunday

Special assembly is held in honor of the local Tandel volunteers who had offered their services for the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Tithal. Swamishri gave a rosary to each volunteer.

13 Dec. 99 to 16 Dec. 99

Maha Abhishek Ceremony of Murtis at Swaminarayan Mandir, Tithal, and 79th Birthday Celebration Festival at Valsad.

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HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj's Vicharan

Vicharan Reports

12 Dec. 99: (V.S. 2056, Magshar Sud 4) Sunday

13 Dec. 99 to 16 Dec. 99

Audios