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Reception
at Ahemdabad:
In
the S. Y. 1923, when he was on his way to Vadtal for attending
the samaiya of Hari Jayanti, he came to know about the illness
of Acharya Ayodhyaprasadji. He was feeling restless and had
sent a special invitation to Swami. The Acharya accorded a grand
reception to Swami by sending chariots, an elephant, Krishnaprasadji
and a group of saints and devotees. After the darshan at the
temple, Swami met Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj who derived half the
peace by merely seeing him (Swami). According to the advice
of Swami he took some food. Acharya Maharaj insisted and requested
Swami to attend the samaiya of Hari Jayanti at Ahmedabad.
In the samaiya, Swami talked in a very eloquent style about
the Purushottam identity of Maharaj. Keshavprasadji Maharaj
and other saints of Ahmedabad region were delighted. Swami said
kind words of advice to Keshavprasadji to give up his long hair,
mustaches, hobby of seeing plays and indulging in fun and frolic,
in order to observe properly the duties of Acharya. Keshavprasadji
Maharaj was very happy.
Next day to honour the hearty invitation of Acharya Maharaj,
Swami and other saints of Junagadh came to his palace for lunch.
Acharya Maharaj placed a silver plate before Swami. But Swami
immediately demanded a patter. So his disciple Balmukundasji
brought it. Seeing that, Acharya Maharaj folded his hands and,
urged Swami, "Swami, today, I pray that you please dine
in this plate." Swami then replied, "I cannot dine
in that plate because we don't have orders from Maharaj to do
so."
Acharya Maharaj further insisted and said, "Swami, for
you gold and dross are equal. So I request you to dine in this
plate." Swami smiled and replied, "That is true, but
Maharaj has ordered that one can dine in the dross like wooden
patter, but not in the dross like silver plate." But then
to respect the wishes of Acharya Maharaj Swami placed the wooden
patterin the silver plate aud dined in it. He did not deviate
even slightly from the orders of Maharaj. Thereafter, Acharya
Maharaj served a variety of dishes and urged Swami to take them
but he did not eat anything from these dishes. Balmukund Swami
had got the bajra loaf cooked in advance and Swami took it along
with mung daal.
In this way, Swami arrived at Vadtal after honouring the wishes
of Acharya Maharaj and giving him peace of mind. Swami attended
the samaiya of Chaitra Poonam at Vadtal, and then again went
to Ahmedabad with Acharya Maharaj of Vadtal and other saints.
From here he went to Junagadh.
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