A Spiritual Travelogue of Pramukh Swami Maharaj

11 Dec 2002, Amdavad
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Ghodasar

Amdavad

Gandhinagar (2 pages)

Himmatnagar (2 pages)

Amdavad (4 pages)

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(Ghodasar, Gandhinagar, Himmatnagar)

Swamishri's Itinerary

Highlights:

December 2002

1:

2

:
3 to 6:
7:

8:
9 to 17:

Vidyanagar, Anand, Vidyanagar
Vidyanagar, Ghodasar, Mahemdavad, Amdavad, Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar
Gandhinagar, Himmatnagar
Himmatnagar, Amdavad
Amdavad

2 December 2002 (V.S. 2059, Kartak sud 13) Monday, Vidyanagar, Ghodasar, Mahemdavad, Amdavad, Gandhinagar
- At 10.10 a.m. Swamishri arrived in Ghodasar and performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of a new BAPS Hari mandir. On the previous day 585 devotees participated in the yagna and from 4.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. a grand procession of the deities was carried out.
  After blessing the murti-pratishtha assembly Swamishri visited the derelict house of Jalamsinh Bapu that was sanctified by Bhagwan Swaminarayan 193 years ago. Swamishri blessed the seventh generation of Jalamsinh Bapu - Shri Ghanshyamsinh and his family.
  Thereafter Swamishri went to the 250 year old Vaishnav Haveli in Ghodasar and did darshan of Shri Bal Krishna (murti of Lalji).
- Swamishri arrived in Mahemdavad at 1.15 p.m. After lunch Swamishri blessed the devotees.
- At 5.50 p.m. Swamishri arrived at the Swaminarayan Sanskardham (Hari mandir) in Krishnanagar (a suburb of Amdavad) and performed pujan and arti of the deities. Thereafter Swamishri blessed the assembly and went to a hospital to bless the ailing Pujya Devcharan Swami.
- At 7.35 p.m. Swamishri arrived in Gandhinagar and blessed the satsang assembly.
6 December 2002 (V.S. 2059, Magshar sud 2) Friday, Gandhinagar
Shri Manmohansingh, Former Union Finance Minister, met Swamishri and praised the construction of Akshardham in New Delhi.
7 December 2002 (V.S. 2059, Magshar sud 4) Saturday, Gandhinagar
- The venue of the 30-acre celebration site, was thrown open to devotees and well-wishers. The decorative main stage and the performing stage was flanked by two giant video screens. The 82nd birthday celebration of Swamishri commenced at 5.30 p.m. with dhun and prayers by sadhus. Thereafter, Pujya Dr. Swami spoke on the glory of a Gunatit Sadhu and the means to please him and earn his grace. Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami discoursed on the subject 'Sant - the means to resolve problems' with incidents about how Swamishri resolves crisis and problems in the lives of people.
  Some universal problems plaguing our society were posed to Swamishri. With his vast experience in resolving problems, his selflessness and his rapport with God, Swamishri replied to 5 important questions. Prior to each question a short video was shown about his contribution in that field of service.
  Prior to the question-answer programme, a colourful and impressive welcome dance was performed by BAPS children and teenagers.
15 December 2002 (V.S. 2059, Magshar sud 11) Sunday, Amdavad
- Swamishri sanctified the Sanskardham (Hari mandir) in Ghatlodia (a suburb) and performed pujan and arti of the murtis and blessed the devotees. Swamishri had performed the murti-pratishtha of the murtis during his birthday celebration programs in Himmatnagar
  Thereafter Swamishri went to the second Sanskardham in Sola Road (a suburb) and performed the pujan and arti of murtis and blessed the devotees.
- At 6.50 a.m., Shri Narendrabhai Modi came for Swamishri's blessings after being elected as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
- After the evening assembly, Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of murtis for the Sanskardham in Huka village near Amdavad.
16 December 2002 (V.S. 2059, Magshar sud 12) Monday, Amdavad
- Swamishri sanctified the newly built Sanskardham in Saraspur. After performing pujan and arti of the murtis Swamishri blessed the assembly.

Gems from Swamishri:

Obedience to the commands of the Satpurush is equivalent to atma-gnan. (15 Dec 02)
The extent of the Satpurush's commands one obeys, that much of inward-vision is attained, darshan of atma is attained, experience of atma is consolidated, ego, jealousy, anger, etc. are removed and one becomes happy. (15 Dec 02)

Living with Swamishri:

Changing Ourselves

11 December (V.S. 2059, Magshar sud 7) Wednesday, Amdavad
Mr Gurucharansingh, the election commissioner of Gujarat, came for Swamishri's darshan at the Swaminarayan Mandir. Having read the Shikshapatri, Gurucharansingh desired to know if two shlokas were to be added to the Shikshapatri than what two things would Swamishri incorporate.

Swamishri replied, "Bhagwan Swaminarayan has written the Shikshapatri properly which includes everything. There is no need for any addition. By reading it and obeying it with the fullest understanding, includes everything."

"But according to our modern age if you wish to add anything, then ..." Gurucharansingh asked.

"It is man who has to change. No change needs to be made in the Shikshapatri. There won't be any problems if one obeys its instructions; has faith in God and lives an addiction-free and moral life." Swamishri advised.

Then someone added that the election commissioner has a lot of tension because of his responsibilities. Swamishri blessed Gurucharansingh by placing his hand on his head and said, "Pray to God before you go to sleep at night and remember Him when you wake up in the morning. By praying to God you'll have no tension and experience peace."

Swamishri gave a rosary to Gurucharansingh and told him to say five rosaries every morning.

Spiritual Awakening

14 December (V.S. 2059, Magshar sud 10) Saturday, Amdavad
After performing the shangar arti Swamishri did darshan of Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj. Then on not seeing Rahul among the sadhaks from America, Swamishri asked as to where he was.

"He is writing letters," a sadhak replied.

Swamishri responded, "Writing letters, now! One should be present when it is arti time, have lunch during lunchtime, and do darshan during darshan time. Do whatever is to be done according to the time schedules. One should perform one's spiritual rituals properly."

Swamishri advised the sadhaks and induced a spiritual awakening

Spiritual Endeavors :

To please Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj children, youths and senior devotees perform austerities, pilgrimages or other devotional means. The spiritual endeavors performed by the devotees during Swamishri's visit to the local centers are congratulatory and worthy of recognition. It also reflects Swamishri's divinity for inspiring such spiritual efforts in children, teenagers and devotees.

6 Dec 2002, Gandhinagar

Swamishri blessed Ashwin, a young boy, who had fasted for 82 hours to please him on his 82nd birthday celebration. 12 kishores from G.E.B. performed prostrations (8km) to please Swamishri. Starting at 1:00 a.m. 51 disabled children from Unvarsad village walked to Gandhinagar. Swamishri blessed all the boys. Two ten year olds were also blessed by Swamishri for having prostrated from Sector 17 in Gandhinagar to the mandir.

8 Dec 2002, Himmatnagar

Swamishri blessed 14 devotees from Dali who had pilgrimaged by foot (219 km) for the birthday celebration.

9 Dec 2002, Amdavad

Swamishri blessed 6 youths from Masad, Rayam and Kadod villages (sub district: Bardoli) who had cycled 400km from Sankari to Himmatnagar on the occasion of his birthday celebration in Himmatnagar.