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Mahesana, Unza, Siddhpur
Siddhpur, Kheralu, Modasa
Modasa
Modasa, Himmatnagar, Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, Raisan, Gandhinagar, Bavala, Sarangpur
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- 2 March 2001
(V.S. 2057, Fagan Sud 7) Friday,
Siddhpur, Kheralu, Modasa
- Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha
at the newly inaugurated Swaminarayan Mandir.
- During late afternoon Swamishri
arrived at Kheralu and performed the foundation-stone laying
ceremony for a new mandir.
- At 7.45pm Swamishri arrived
in Modasa and was welcomed by devotees and dignitaries.
- 3 March 2001
(V.S. 2057, Fagan Sud 8) Saturday,
Modasa
- Swamishri participated in
a peace yagna for the departed souls who perished in the
devastating earthquake. The yagna was also held as part
of the murti-pratishtha ritual to be concluded in Samera
and the 6th opening anniversary (patotsav) of the Swaminarayan
Mandir in Modasa.
- After the evening assembly,
Swamishri arranged an exclusive assembly for the adivasis
(tribals) where he wished to address them and bless them
personally. In his blessings, Swamishri said, "God
is above all. There is no one above or older than he...
If we can reside with Him then we will be called adivasi.
But if we do not have virtues befitting us to reside with
God then we are worthless. But now you have become devotees
and have given up your past life of killing and eating goats
and hens. Hence you have come closer to God and become adivasis
in the truest sense...
"Shabri was an adivasi like yourselves. Like you, she
too stayed in a hut. But because Ram blessed her, we sing
of her story even today.
"Vidur was also an ordinary person. He invited God
to his home. Duryodhan too invited God. He had 56 delicious
food items for him, but he did not believe Krishna to be
God. Infact he believed he was a mischief-monger. Whereas
Vidur believed him to be God and chanted his name, 'Krishna,
Krishna, ...' So God went to his hut and ate rotlo
and bhaaji... So you too should perform bhakti according
to your means... Since you have given up addictions and
vices and accepted Satsang your honor and credit has increased...
So maintain and look after this Satsang in your life."
- 4 March 2001
(V.S. 2057, Fagan Sud 9) Sunday,
Modasa
In the presence of Swamishri,
the foundation stone-laying ceremony, and for some, the ground-breaking
ceremony of seven new mandirs in the Sabarkantha District was
held. The donor of the land were blessed and appreciated by
Swamishri. The soil from the following places were brought for
the ceremony:
- Bhadresar, Idar region
- Adpodara, Himmatnagar region
- Gaambhoi, Himmatnagar region
- Prempur, Himmatnagar region
- Khaari, near Shamalaji, Liloda
region
- Talod, Talod region
- Himmatnagar
- 5 March 2001
(V.S. 2057, Fagan Sud 10) Monday,
Modasa, Himmatnagar, Gandhinagar
At 5.20pm, Swamishri departed from
Modasa and arrived in Himmatnagar and blessed the land for the
new mandir. After learning of the land details and location, Swamishri
departed for Gandhinagar.
- 8 March 2001
(V.S. 2057, Fagan Sud 14) Thursday, Gandhinagar, Raisan, Gandhinagar,
Sarangpur
At 9.35am, Swamishri
arrived at Raisan and amidst Vedic chantings inaugurated the
BAPS cattle camp with Shri Keshubhai Patel the Chief Minister
of Gujarat.
During an assembly, the Chief Minister lauded the activities
inspired by Swamishri, "The unique attribute of this cattle
camp is that there are no paid persons serving here... One finds
dedication and feelings here, and that is why the work done
here is proper and organized."
Finally, Swamishri blessed the function, emphasizing the need
to serve cattle because of their services to us.
After the function, Swamishri individually blessed the farmers
who, owned the drought-afflicted cattle, had come to offer their
services in the camp.
Before departing, Swamishri visited the cattle camp and enquired
in detail about the arrangements for the cattle.
- 9 March 2001:
(V.S. 2057, Fagan Sud 15) Friday,
Sarangpur, Bhagatji Maharaj Birthday Celebration
The morning celebration
of Bhagatji Maharaj's birthday celebration was held on the mandir
ground. After a couple of discourses and bhajans the assembly
was blessed by Swamishri. He said, "Bhagatji Maharaj had
a single goal; and that was to please Gunatitanand Swami. Whatever
Swami commanded he followed with 100% faith. He had no doubt
in the Swami's words as to why he had said that, and how will
it be done?
"There are two principal things for us, agna and
upasana. And Bhagatji Maharaj had imbibed and consolidated
that in his life. The more agna one follows, the more
happiness one experiences within. He had it firmly embedded
in his life because he had spiritual associated with Gunatitanand
Swami and Gopalanand Swami. In order to please Gunatitanand
Swami, Bhagatji Maharaj had to go through a number of sufferings
and problems. But he overcame them all because he had one goal
- to achieve Akshardham. Similarly, if we have a single goal
then no matter what tribulations, difficulties or in-sults come
our way we will not be disturbed, we will not find fault in
Satsang, in a sadhu or a devotee and our mind will never fall
back..."
- 10 March 2001:
(V.S. 2057, Fagan Vad 1) Saturday,
Sarangpur, Pushpadolotsav
During the darshan of
Thakorji in the morning, Swamishri sprayed colored water on
the murtis of Harikrishna Maharaj, Mukundanand Brahmachari,
Gopinath Dev, etc. Swamishri also briefly sprayed colored water
on sadhus and devotees.
This year because of the earthquake calamity, the pushpadolotsav
was cancelled and only an assembly was held in the morning.
In his blessings, Swamishri said, "Whatever talents we
find in people have all been blessed by God... But when we acquire
a talent we become arrogant. And God's talents are such that
everyone experiences joy and happiness..."
Then Swamishri and the assembly of sadhus and devotees offered
peace prayers for the departed souls in the earthquake disaster
and for the early rehabilitation of the homeless.
Swamishri then worshipped the murti of Lord Harikrishna Maharaj
and sprayed a little colored water.
- 11 March 2001:
(V.S. 2057, Fagan Vad 2) Sunday,
Sarangpur
Swamishri offered pujan
of bricks to be placed in the foundation of a mandir in the
village of Khijalpur, Umreth.
- 13 March 2001:
(V.S. 2057, Fagan Vad 4) Tuesday,
Sarangpur
Swamishri visited the
BAPS cattle camp in Sarangpur. With 2000 cattle in the camp
(details
of cattle camps), and still more arriving, the BAPS is providing
care and nourishment to save them from the severe drought that
is prevaling in Gujarat. The camp is hosting cattle from the
districts of Bhavnagar, Amreli, Surendranagar and Dhandhuka.
Everyday the cattle are provided with 10kgs of fodder and nutrients.
Swamishri offered fodder to several oxen and also blessed the
volunteers and farmers who tend the cattle. Swamishri said:
"This is not a cattle ground but a cattle camp that looks
after the welfare of animals. This is a great pilgrim place.
We go to a pilgrim place for God's darshan and redemption. When
you've come to a pilgrim place you have to give up your addictions..."
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