29 October 2004 (V.S. 2060; Aso vad 1) Friday, Mumbai
Swamishri’s Air India flight number 200 to Mumbai took off from Nairobi at 6.00 pm (8.30 pm IST). During the flight, after attending to his correspondence, Swamishri rested for a couple of hours. After a flight of five hours and forty minutes, Swamishri landed in Mumbai, where the local time was 2.30 am. Swamishri reached the BAPS Mandir in Dadar at 4.00 am and retired for rest.
1 November (V.S. 2060; Aso vad 4) Monday, Mumbai, New Delhi
Swamishri departed from Mumbai at 6.05 pm by flight and arrived in New Delhi at 8.05 pm. When Swamishri arrived at the Swaminarayan Akshardham complex he was welcomed by children dressed in colourful attires, holding flags of the countries that Swamishri had visited.
After Thakorji’s darshan Swamishri advanced towards the Sant ashram.
2 November to 9 November 2004, New Delhi
Swamishri’s daily routine during his stay in New Delhi included site tours of the ongoing construction at Akshardham and exhibition halls and meetings. Every morning and evening Swamishri performed his puja and attended the evening satsang assembly. Swamishri also personally blessed and counselled the devotees.
Everyday, during Swamishri’s puja, primary and secondary school children from nearby schools came for Swamishri’s puja darshan and spiritual enlightenment. The children would wake up at 5.00 am and from their respective schools they would be transported in their school buses to the mandir. From 6.45 to 7.30 am Dr. Swami addressed them in Hindi about studies, values and faith in God. Thereafter they would have the puja darshan of Swamishri and also listen to bhajans sung by sadhus. Thereafter Swamishri would bless the school principal and a few schoolboys. Then all the boys and girls were given prasad and after having darshan of the mandir they would return back to school.
A total of 3,200 schoolboys and girls experienced the cultural and divine ambience of the mandir and Swamishri’s puja.
In the daily evening assembly Prabhucharan Swami elaborately explained the meaning, glory and significance of the Shikshapatri in Hindi. Finally, Swamishri would bless the assembly.
6 November (V.S. 2060; Aso vad 9) Saturday, New Delhi
Swamishri blessed an assembly of 1,310 artisans working at the Akshardham complex. Swamishri said, “You are all working with devotion for the divine monument that will be dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and our glorious Indian culture. You have worked previously for other projects but this is for God. Only those who are blessed are graced with such work…”
Finally the artisans honoured Shri Harikrishna Maharaj.
8 November (V.S. 2060; Aso vad 11) Monday, New Delhi
At 9.30 am, Swamishri arrived at the Akshardham monument to perform the pujan rituals of the ‘amalsaro’ stone to be placed on the main dome. Vedic chantings suffused the air with divinity. Shri Harikrishna Maharaj was placed on the ‘amalsaro’. Swamishri performed pujan of the main ‘key’ to be placed on the dome and the ‘amalsars’.
9 November (V.S. 2060; Aso vad 11) Tuesday, New Delhi, Rajkot
At 4.30 pm Swamishri departed by flight from New Delhi via Bhopal, Indore and arrived in Rajkot at 8.15 pm. Swamishri was welcomed at the airport by Yogiswarup Swami and devotees. A grand welcome was arranged along the way. A cavalcade of 84 youths on motorcycles escorted Swamishri’s car and children welcomed Swamishri with divas in hand along the route to the mandir. When Swamishri arrived at the mandir, which was illuminated with decorative lights, a spectacular firework display in the background splashed the night sky will colours and joy. The entire mandir was brimming with devotees. After Thakorji’s darshan Swamishri briefly blessed the assembly.
10 November (V.S. 2060; Aso vad 13) Wednesday, Rajkot, Gondal; Dhan Teras
After Swamishri’s morning puja in Rajkot devotees honoured Shri Harikrishna Maharaj.
At 10.00 am a grand welcome assembly for Swamishri was arranged on the mandir grounds in honour of his works during his trip to USA, UK and Africa. Swamishri was honoured by government ministers, industrialists, social workers, heads of associations and devotees. The finance minister of Gujarat, Shri Vajubhai Vala, former minister of India Dr. Vallabhbhai Kathiriya and many others
BAPS children and youths performed a traditional welcome dance. Thereafter children paid tribute to Swamishri for his achievements during his satsang tour abroad by waving flags and attired in the local dress of the countries he had visited. Then the dignitaries and heads of associations expressed their accolades to Swamishri for his socio-spiritual services. A citation of honour was presented to Swamishri. Prior to Swamishri’s blessings 109 dignitaries presented garlands and bouquets to Swamishri. Finally Swamishri blessed the assembly of 1,200 devotees and wellwishers emphasising that God, His incarnations and God-communion Sadhus descend upon earth to establish dharma. Swamishri also dwelled upon the need of spiritual values in our materialistic age which has spawned unrest, lack of peace and unhappiness.
In the evening, Swamishri was welcomed in Gondal. The mandir and its grounds were illuminated with colourful lights and divas.
10 November (V.S. 2060; Aso vad 13) Wednesday, Rajkot, Gondal; Dhan Teras
After Swamishri’s morning puja in Rajkot devotees honoured Shri Harikrishna Maharaj.
At 10.00 am a grand welcome assembly for Swamishri was arranged on the mandir grounds in honour of his works during his trip to USA, UK and Africa. Swamishri was honoured by government ministers, industrialists, social workers, heads of associations and devotees. The finance minister of Gujarat, Shri Vajubhai Vala, former minister of India Dr. Vallabhbhai Kathiriya and many others
BAPS children and youths performed a traditional welcome dance. Thereafter children paid tribute to Swamishri for his achievements during his satsang tour abroad by waving flags and attired in the local dress of the countries he had visited. Then the dignitaries and heads of associations expressed their accolades to Swamishri for his socio-spiritual services. A citation of honour was presented to Swamishri. Prior to Swamishri’s blessings 109 dignitaries presented garlands and bouquets to Swamishri. Finally Swamishri blessed the assembly of 1,200 devotees and wellwishers emphasising that God, His incarnations and God-communion Sadhus descend upon earth to establish dharma. Swamishri also dwelled upon the need of spiritual values in our materialistic age which has spawned unrest, lack of peace and unhappiness.
In the evening, Swamishri was welcomed in Gondal. The mandir and its grounds were illuminated with colourful lights and divas.
Performs Hanuman pujan on Kali Chaudash
11 November (V.S. 2060; Aso vad 14) Thursday, Gondal; Kali Chaudash
After Thakorji’s darshan Swamishri performed the arti of Shri Hanumanji as part of the ritual on Kali Chaudas. After doing darshan of Akshar Deri Swamishri performed his morning puja.
Swamishri writes his blessings in the mandir account books on Chopda Pujan day
12 November (V.S. 2060; Aso vad 30) Friday, Gondal; Diwali
At 7.00 am, as Swamishri emerged from his room, his pathway was decorated with divas and patterns of flower petals. Bhajans related to Diwali were sung by sadhus in Swamishri’s puja.
At 6.00 pm Swamishri arrived for the annual Chopda Pujan ritual. The mahapuja rituals lasted till 7.20 pm.
Thereafter Viveksagar Swami explained the significance and history of Diwali in his address. Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly, “Since the day this mandir was consecrated mahapuja and chopda pujan have been performed in the Akshar Deri. Yogiji Maharaj used to sit in the Akshar Deri and perform these rituals because during that time there weren’t many devotees. He had absolute faith in God and would sing dhun for the growth of Satsang and quantity of sadhus… Never forget God. The more we keep God in the forefront of our lives the more He will advance us. He is there to bless us, therefore we must do daily puja and say our prayers… Maharaj has instructed that one should write one’s accounts on a daily basis. One should also introspect daily as to how humble we have become and how much of worldly attachment and infatuation we have shed. If we do our daily work with this in mind then God will become happy upon us… ”
13 November (V.S. 2061; Kartak sud 1) Saturday, Gondal; New Year's Day
While Swamishri performed his morning puja, the New Year’s Day mahapuja was being performed on stage at the same time. After concluding his puja Swamishri performed the concluding mahapuja rituals.
Then, throughout the morning, Swamishri personally blessed devotees who had come to Gondal and also conveyed his blessings through phone calls to various mandirs and dignitaries. At 11.00 am Swamishri addressed the satsang assembly, “Shriji Maharaj came on earth and fulfilled His divine mission. The crux of the matter is that we are all in the Akshar Deri which is very divine and powerful. Devotees from throughout India and abroad have come for the annakut celebration… This human body is temporary. So attaining happiness through one’s body, which is destructible, is also destructible. When one experiences the joys of atma then all other joys (mundane) are flushed out…”
At 11.30 am Swamishri and sadhus sang thals during the annakut offered to the deities. In conclusion Swamishri performed the annakut arti before the murtis of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and also in the Akshar Deri.
14 November (V.S. 2061; Kartak sud 2) Sunday, Gondal; Bhai Bij
After Swamishri’s morning puja, devotees honoured Shri Harikrishna Maharaj. Thereafter, Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of pujan and arti for murti of four BAPS hari mandirs for the villages of Dodiyala, Daredi, Mevasa and Shastrinagar in Rajkot.