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Sacred
and Purifying Influance of a True Saint:
Vagha
Khachar of Sarangpur was called an incarnation of the Sun God.
He used to stay with Maharaj for long spells. When Swami visited
his residence at Sarangpur, he asked him a question, "Swami,
in Vachanamritam Shreeji Maharaj has said that the primordial
ignorance cannot be eradicated without the help of the duo of
meditation and obeying the word of the Almighty. I have remained
in the company of great sadhus, still at night I have dreams
in which I see myself participating in battles and losing my
limbs. If that subtle attachment with the body in the dreams
is yet not removed, when will the causal attachment of the body
be removed ? And unless that attachment is removed, how is it
possible to transcend to Akshardham?" Swami then replied
with a smile, "Vagh Khachar ! If you wish to remove the
subtle and causal attachment of the body, come to Junagadh.
I'll remove them altogether." So Vagha Khachar then went
to Junagadh with Swami. Swami made him realise his Swami's true
identity and removed all his attachments to the sutle and causal
bodies. He constantly enjoyed the divine bliss of Brahman in
his heart.
Dharmaswarupanand Brahmachari of Vadtal was a contemporary of
Maharaj. Once when Swami came to Vadtal from Junagadh, knowing
his greatness, he folded his hands and requested him, "Swami,
the weakness of taste does not bother me but other weaknesses
bother me. So, kindly do so something to remove them."
Swami then replied with a smile, "Out of thirty characteristics
of a sadhu you have mastered only one and twenty-nine remain
yet to be mastered; come to Junagadh, I'll help you to overcome
them." Who can utter such words unless he is a perfect
man ? One who is perfect can only make others so. Under the
influence of Swami, Dharmaswarupanand also became perfect. In
this way Swami made everyone experience his Aksharbrahman prowess
to remove the weakness of those Jivas who surrendered themselves,
by his benevolent influence and make them one with Brahman.
Similarly, there was another devotee of Ahmedabad, named Pitamberdas.
He formerly held a good post in the collectorate of Surat. But
he was full of rajo guna. He used to put on good attires, spray
perfumes on his clothes and body; and to chew twenty to, twenty-five
paans everyday and was a man with a colourful temperament. But
once when Swami came to Surat he was moved by Swami's talks.
Hs developed a strong, desire to remain in the company of Swami,
become nirvasanik and attain Brahmic state.
He conveyed his wish to Swami. Replying to him Swami said, "You
have an appearance like a harlot, you are full of rajo guna,
and how is it that you ask to remain in my company?" But,
at last, when he made repeated requests, Swami permitted him
to go to Junagadh.
He left his job and went to Junagadh. Here Swami addressed him
on talks from Vachanamritam about becoming one with Brahman.
Swami showed affection towards him by remembering him often
and giving prasadi. Pitamberdas also developed a sort of an
attachment for Swami and he began to change as a result of Swami's
company. In this way, Swami made him experience the Brahmic
state. After Swami's departure to Akshardham he settled at Ahmedabad
and talked beautifully on gunatit knowledge. Ayodhyaprasadji
Maharaj was happy with his activity and asked him to renounce
the world. He immediately became a sadhu and was known as Vignandasji.
By the grace of Swam he made everybody happy at the Ahmedabad
Temple by his constant talks and holy sermons.
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