A Spiritual Travelogue of Pramukh Swami Maharaj

	4 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Kartak vad 7) Friday, Anand At 11.00 am Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of murtis for BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir for the villages of Gamdi, Vaghasi and Parth Township (Jhol). Thereafter Swamishri blessed the assembly.
	6 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Kartak vad 9) Monday, Anand, Nadiad Swamishri arrived at the Santram Mandir in Nadiad to pay his respects at the memorial shrine of the late Santram Maharaj, who had passed away recently. Swamishri offered flowers and tulsi leaves at his memorial shrine. Then Swamishri visited the office and garland the new successor Shri Ramdasji Maharaj.
	10 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Kartak vad 13) Friday, Bharuch (Jhadeshwar) Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of pujan and arti of murtis for the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sansoli.
	12 December 2004 (V.S. 2061; Maghshar sud1) Sunday, Bharuch In the evening satsang assembly, BAPS youths performed a traditional dance. The BAPS Youth Forum enacted a drama, 'Kaf', which showed the pride of devotees who have internalized satsang in their lives. Thereafter Swamishri addressed the assembly, "Be he a sadhu or a householder, if one is proud of satsang then the devotee experiences happiness and pride in his life. When one realizes the glory of God's form then one loses all love for worldly things. He performs his worldly duties but God and His realized Sadhu are primary in his life ..."


	Subtle Devotion 6 December 2004, (V.S. 2061, Kartak vad 9) Monday, Anand After Swamishri completed his morning puja at Akshar Farm (which lies between Anand and Vidyanagar) his car was on its way back to the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Anand. On the way Swamishri sanctified the petrol pump of Yogeshbhai, a devotee. Swamishri remained seated in his car while Yogeshbhai garlanded him. Then at Swamishri's instruction the attendant sadhus showered the sanctified flowers on the premises of the petrol pump. During this time Yogeshbhai offered cashew nuts, raisins and dry fruits to Swamishri. Swamishri took a single raisin and held it between his thumb and finger. After blessing Yogeshbhai Swamishri proceed towards the mandir. After doing darshan of and offering prostrations to Thakorji' Swamishri started walking towards his room. The attendant sadhu enquired as to why he had held the raisin between his fingers till then. Swamishri remained quiet. Then on asking as to whether it was because he had not done Thakorji's darshan. Swamishri replied briefly, "Yes." Even at the age of 85 Swamishri abides by the rule of not eating anything prior to Thakorji's darshan. Swamishri's subtle devotion to Thakorji is unique and exemplary.



	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. 7 December 2004, Nadiad 285 devotees pilgrimaged by foot to the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir from the villages of Mehlav, Torna, Kaletar, Kaliyel, Fatehpura and Swaminarayan Nagar. 10 Decembr 2004, Bharuch (Jhadeshwar) Six BAPS youths cycled 70 km from the villages of Nahar and Samoj. 12 December 2004, Bharuch 326 boys and girls from the ages of four to ten pilgrimaged by foot from different suburbs to the mandir; the maximum distance being 10km.