6 September 2009 (VS 2065, Vad Bij ) Sunday, Amdavad
In the evening satsang assembly a traditional dance was performed to welcome Thakorji and Swamishri by children and teenage members of the Dehgam Satsang centre. Then senior sadhus honoured Swamishri with garlands. Thereafter a drama ‘Vajesinh Darbar’s Hoko’ was performed by the youth members of Ahmedabad Satsang centre. Blessing the congregation, Swamishri said, “Normally, we find that people take pride in being rich, in having a high position or power. Many times people are in high spirits after returning from a trip abroad or seeing a film. They feel elated in such ordinary things. But their joy is short-lived and does not bring peace to them. All material happiness is fleeting, whereas God’s divine happiness is inexhaustible and eternal.” More than 18,000 devotees attended the Sunday satsang assembly.
8 September 2009 (VS 2065) Tuesday, Amdavad, Shastriji Maharaj Smruti Parva
Shastriji Maharaj’s Memorial Day: Swamishri came for Thakorji’s darshan prior to his morning puja. In the central shrine of the mandir a scene of Dada Khachar’s darbar was displayed. The murtis of paramhansas were arranged with bowls of dudhpak before them. The entire ambience was related to the commemoration. When Swamishri came on stage he was welcomed by a traditional dance and bhajans on the glory of Shastriji Maharaj. A panel of large photoprints on canvas, mainly on Shastriji Maharaj, spanned across the stage in memory of Swamishri’s guru.
During Swamishri’s morning puja sadhus sang bhajans in praise of Shastriji Maharaj. Thereafter senior sadhus garlanded Swamishri. Swamishri then blessed the devotees, “We heard about Shastriji Maharaj’s extraordinary work in the kirtans that have been sung just now. He was a great person who came on earth and accomplished a unique mission. We have all gathered here because of him. This celebration is important because it has a divine association. Shastriji Maharaj explained the principles of upasana. His mission was genuine and he preached the truth. He made mandirs, shastras and sadhus for us. He consecrated the murtis of Akshar and Purushottam in mandirs.”More than 19,000 devotees were served mahaprasad after Swamishri’s morning puja.
10 September 2009 (VS 2065) Thusday, Amdavad,
Swamishri performed the pratishtha rituals of pujan and arti for the new murtis of the BAPS hari mandir in Himatnagar.
13 September 2009 (VS 2065) Sunday, Amdavad,
The main programme of the evening satsang assembly was a debate by children and volunteers of Ahmedabad Bal Mandal in which the subject was the Vedic and eternal nature of the Akshar-Purushottam philosophy. Children aged between eight to twelve recited Vedic mantras and shlokas from the Upanishads to show that the Akshar-Purushottam principle is based on our ancient shastras. The 45-minute programme captivated the entire assembly. In conclusion Swamishri praised the performance and blessed the assembly.