2 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Sud 11) Saturday, Surat, Cildren's Day
In the evening assembly, the drama 'Charan Kamalna Ful' was performed. The drama described the courageous stories of children-devotees who had remained steadfast in their morals and faith amidst opposition and enticements.
Finally Swamishri, in his blessings, underscored the virtues of faith, devotion and morality with reference to stories of children in the drama. 6,000 devotees availed of the special Children's Day program.
3 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Sud 12) Sunday, Surat
In the evening assembly, Swamishri emphasized the importance of attending the Sunday assembly:
"The 'Sunday Assembly' was introduced by Yogiji Maharaj. It was his wish that everyone should come together and attend the 'Sunday Assembly.' Initially he used to write postcards to devotees regarding the assembly program of dhun, prayer and reading of Vachnamrut and Swamini Vato. Then as the numbers increased the weekly agenda was printed in the 'Patrika.' He had also instructed that every devotee should have a home-mandir in which arti and thal be performed. He insisted upon this so that in doing our mundane activities we do not forget God.
"It was Yogiji Maharaj's instruction that one should forfeit the profit of Rs.25,000 and attend the Sunday Assembly. Through samagam one attains spiritual strength which solves many of our problems ..."
6 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Sud 15) Wednesday, Dumas, Mumbai
In the evening assembly, the District Governor of the Rotary Club, Mumbai, Shri Kumar Keval Ramani presented to Swamishri the 'Service Above Self' award. Shri Kumar presented the silver plaque after reading the letter of honor that acknowledged Swamishri's charity and symbol of love towards man and God.
7 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Vad 1) Thursday, Raipur (Chhattisgadh)
After a thrilling program of bhajans by sadhus and youths, Swamishri crowned the evening assembly with his divine blessings. He said, "One experiences peace during bhajan. This is the power of singing God's glory. Because of the day's work or business one's mind becomes agitated and stressed. By coming to the mandir one's mind unwinds and becomes relaxed. And it becomes more disturbed when you go to the disco or club. So in coming to the mandir the tendency of one's senses turn inwards, whereas in the other case it comes out from within to pursue the material pleasures."
2 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Vad 2) Friday, Raipur
Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Radha Krishna Dev and Guru Parampara at the newly built Swaminarayan Mandir. The Governor Shri Dineshnandan Sahay and Mayor Shri Tarun Chatterjee and other dignitaries attended the function.
10 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Vad 4) Sunday, Cuttack, Banipat, Chakulia, Jagannathpuri
o Swamishri left Jagannathpuri and arrived in Chakulia at 9.50 a.m. by helicopter to inaugurate the BAPS reconstructed cyclone-hit villages of Banipat and Chakulia.
o Performed the murti-pratishtha of the newly built Swaminarayan Mandir.
o Swamishri, Shri Divyasinghdev (King of Jagannathpuri) and Chief Minister of Orissa - Shri Naveen Patnaik, inaugurate the village of Banipat.
o Inauguration of a secondary school, 'Shri Swaminarayan Vidyamandir', on the outskirts of Chakulia by Swamishri and the Chief Minister.
o Inauguration assembly. 6000 people attended the function.
o Opening of Chakulia village and primary school.
(see detailed report)
11 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Vad 5) Monday, Jagannathpuri, Bhuvaneshwar, Kolkatta
o King's Palace
At 8.15 am, Swamishri arrived at the palace of the king of Jagannathpuri. He was welcomed at the main gate by the king and led into his living room. The king bowed and reverentially touched the feet of Swamishri. Then he performed pujan of Hrikrishna Maharaj and Swamishri amidst Vedic chantings by the palace Brahmins.
The king then explained the history of Jagannathpuri, mandir and its kings.
o Jagannath Mandir
Thereafter the king and Swamishri went to the Jagannath Mandir. The darshan of the main murtis were closed for 15 days because it is believed that after the smearing of chandan during the summer months, God becomes ill and He therefore takes rest. During this time the devotees do darshan of Bhagwan Jagannath's 10 forms that are installed outside the sanctum doors. The king explained the importance of the other shrines during the pradakshina of the mandir.
Swamishri also bathed in the ocean waters sanctified by Nilkanth Varni and chanted the dhun.
o Indradumyna Lake
Swamishri arrived at the Indradumyna lake where Nilkanth Varni had resided and sanctified the lake. As a memorial to His visit, Swamishri inaugurated a small marble shrine and installed the murtis of Akshar and Purushottam. Then the holy feet of Harikrishna Maharaj were bathed with the sanctified waters of the lake and Swamishri too sprinkled the water on his head.
16 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Vad 10) Saturday, Kolkata, Bal-Kishore Day
The evening program of folk dances, speeches and drama. `Eet Ane Imarat' by children and teenagers was praiseworthy and inspiring.
17 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Vad 11) Sunday, Kolkata
o At 9.00 am, Swamishri arrived at the 33-acre site for the Bhumi-pujan ceremony of the proposed BAPS Cultural and Social Complex. The Vedic rituals of the maha-puja were performed by Swamishri and devotees. Swamishri 'broke' the ground with an iron bar and thus performed the Bhumi-pujan and ground-breaking ritual.
Finally, in his blessings Swamishri said, "By the will of God and Yogiji Maharaj and the efforts of sadhus and devotees we have acquired a nice area of land. The road nearby leads to Gangasagar, hence we are on the road towards a great holy place. A holy place is where God is installed. Similarly, this too will become a great holy place where hundreds of thousands will come for darshan and attain peace and happiness ..."
More than 1,000 devotees had attended the function.
o The evening assembly was held at the renowned Kalamandir Hall. More than 1,100 devotees had assembled for the program to honor the murti of Harikrishna Maharaj. After the preliminary bhajans and speeches, a lively procession of Harikrishna Maharaj placed in a palanquin, commenced in the hall. Finally, Swamishri blessed the esteemed gathering.
18 June 2001 (V.S. 2057, Jeth Vad 12) Monday, Kolkata, Nagpur
Swamishri departed from Kolkata at 8.52 pm and arrived in Nagpur at 10.20pm.