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SWAMISHRI’S VICHARANAugust 2008

1 & 2. Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bochasan.3. Swamishri blesses devotees and youths on his way to Thakorji’s darshan, Bochasan.4. Youths perform a dance during the Raksha Bandhan Celebration, Anand-Vidyanagar (16 August).

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Founder: HDH Pramukh Swami MaharajEditor: Sadhu SwayamprakashdasContributors: Sadhu Vivekjivandas, Sadhu AmrutvijaydasDesigner: Sadhu ShrijiswarupdasPublished & Printed by: Swaminarayan Aksharpith,Shahibaug, Ahmedabad–380 004. India.

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Website: www.swaminarayan.orgE-mail: [email protected]

October 2008, Vol. 31 No. 10

FIRST WORDCONTENTS1. Swaminarayan History

Shri Hari Cautions! ..............................4Virtures more important than miracles...

2. Prayer: Medical ScienceWill Doctors NowPrescribe ‘Prayer’? ...............................7

3. PrayerSource of Strength .............................10

4. Prayer: Personal ExperiencesSincere PrayersAre Always Answered.........................11Prayer: Food, Rest, Exercise,for the Soul ........................................12‘Chant...!’ Yogiji Maharaj Bestoweda Bond With Prayer ............................13Prayer Amid Panic:Real-life Experience ...........................17Prayers: Helped to ObliterateHeart Blockage...................................18

5. VicharanPramukh Swami Maharaj’s Vicharan ....21

6. Inspiring IncidentsLiving With Swamishri ............................22

7. BAPS NewsBal-Balika India Trip 2008 .................23India Experience 2008 .......................23UK National Karyakar Shibir 2008 ....24BAPS Charities Relief Aid forHurricane Ike Victims, USA................25BAPS Relief Work for BiharFlood Victims, Bihar, India ................25

In childhood our needs are basic and mini-mum: food, clothing and shelter. But as we growwe are influenced by our inner desires andexpectations. Excessive desires and over expecta-tions cause burden, pain and conflict. Cuttingthem down to proper size makes life easier, hap-pier and hassle-free. It gives mental and emo-tional space to absorb distress, failure, insult, etc.

Life does not always work out the way weplan it to be. It is not straightforward, exactand trouble-free all the time because there aremany factors and variables in play. For exam-ple, we suffer because of others, mistakes,when people are rude and stubborn, our com-puter breaks down, etc. By lowering ourexpectations we will be surprised with joywhen things work out, and when they don’twe will not be devastated.

Lowering expectations should not be mis-understood with lowering our standards ofexcellence and effort. It simply means accept-ing bad moods, mistakes, failures and glitchesto be a part of life.

Over expectation is a sign of self-centred-ness. By reducing it we broaden our purview toinclude others. We learn to consider others,appreciate them, reward them and serve them.A shift from being self-centred to all-inclusivetakes places. Arrogance gives way to humility,power dissolves into service and dehbhav iseradicated to unveil atmabhav, which is thecore to an eternal and blissful life.

This is why we need daily prayer in life.This month’s issue deals with the importanceand benefits of praying to God. ◆

4 Swaminarayan Bliss ◆ October 2008

SWAMINARAYAN HISTORY: TRANSLATION: SADHU VIVEKJIVANDAS

Shriji Maharaj travelled to Visnagar

and was pleased with the chief

administrator Laldas’ change of heart.

He blessed him and proceeded to

the village of Langhnoj...

hri HariCautions!S

Maharaj then travelled to Meu andon to Langhnoj. There was a Hanu-manji mandir there. Its large

precinct was ideal to stay. But there was a bawo,endowed with magical powers, staying there.He was young and rotund. He had a rudrakshmala around his neck and a gold braceletadorning his arm. The youthful bawo had wonthe confidence of the leader and other folks ofthe village through his magical powers. He hadfulfilled the wishes of many women by givingthem charmed amulets and strings. Peoplewould wash the soles of his feet with water anddrink it. Such reverence and devotion from somany had buoyed him with joy and arrogance.All this toxicity was clearly reflected in his eyesand swagger.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan came to the Hanu-manji mandir with his entourage with the pur-pose of residing there. The bawo got up andsaw Shri Hari but he did not join his palms in

respect. He also saw Maharaj’s sadhus, but theirsterling saintliness made him flinch a little. Heshot an uninviting and raw look at them. ShriHari saw this and announced, “We cannot stayhere. It belongs to the bawo with magical pow-ers.” On hearing this the bawo felt at ease.Maharaj stayed at another place in the village.

That evening many folks of the village cameto Maharaj. They were naïve, unlettered andaccustomed to seeing God only in those whoshowed extraordinary powers. They askedMaharaj, “People call you God. We will believeit to be so if you show us your divine powers.”Shri Hari simply smiled at their words andreplied, “I do not perform any miracles, but Iabide by dharma and inspire others to do so. Iencourage whoever comes to me to give upmeat, liquor, adultery, stealing and other badhabits.”

The village folks explained, “Maharaj, wehave a bawaji staying at the Hanumanji mandir.

He performs a slew of miracles. He blesseswomen with sons. Our village chief hasassigned all his family members to look afterthe bawa. His young daughter cooks food andserves him. Everyone serves the bawaji keenly.”

Shri Hari understood their expectation ofhim and replied, “My sadhus have renouncedwomen and wealth, therefore they remain aloof.They do not know any magical spells andcharms. Furthermore, it is magicians who per-form magic and show miracles, but one shouldnot be impressed and overwhelmed by them.Take the refuge of a true guru who has thevirtues of dharma, jnan, vairagya and bhakti.”Then Maharaj smiled and made a cautious, cat-egorical remark, “Your bawaji has shown manymiracles uptil now. But he will perform a biggermiracle in a day or two. When that happensyour eyes will open up to the reality of hisnature.”

The village people left without understand-ing Shri Hari’s words. Maharaj stayed there fortwo days. The day he was to leave the bawajiran away with the village chief’s young daugh-ter. The chief sent his men in all directions tosearch for his daughter. Some of the village peo-ple came to Maharaj and said, “Maharaj, whatyou said the other day has come true. Thebawaji has run away with the chief’s daughter.He has indeed shown us a bigger miracle!”

Maharaj reminded them, “That is why onemust always see whether a guru possessesvirtues prescribed by the shastras. Only onewho has renounced money and women in eight-fold ways and offers bhakti and upasana withthe belief that God is present on earth shouldbe made a guru.”

Gangadas Suthar of Mansa arrived carryingfifty wooden eating bowls on his head. Heplaced them before Maharaj. Shri Hari waspleased with their quality and gave one each toMuktanand Swami, Nityanand Swami and other

senior sadhus. “As we get more wooden bowls Ishall give one to every sadhu. Look after themand don’t ever give them up. Never think of eat-ing without your bowl.” Then Maharaj told thesadhus to proceed towards Karjisan. Shri Haritook two parshads with him and went to Dan-garva at Jatanba’s house. But Jatanba was outto fill her pot of water. Shriji Maharaj looked upin the kitchen and saw a potful of milk suspend-ed high from the ceiling. Maharaj told someoneto bring it down. Then he drank a little andgave the rest to the parshads. Meanwhile Jatan-ba returned. On seeing Maharaj she was sur-prised and very pleased, “Maharaj, how comeyou are here? And you have emptied this vesselof milk!” She sent word to Brahmachari to pre-pare a meal for Maharaj. She desired thatMaharaj should leave only after having a mealat her house. Shri Hari replied, “Our lunch isscheduled at Karjisan. I wanted to drink milkand it’s done. I ask for your leave.” The peopleof the village came to know of Maharaj’s arrival.Immediately Agraji, Amraji and others came toMaharaj. They offered pujan and arti and giftedhim with a yellow shawl. Then Shri Hari depart-ed for Karjisan. On arriving there he went toNanabhai’s farmhouse. His farm had a luxuriantharvest of millet. Maharaj enquired, “Why haveyou not harvested your crop as yet?”

“Maharaj, Govindbhai (his brother) travelsfor satsang purposes so he gets no time for this.I’ll get it harvested later,” Nanabhai replied.

Brahmanand Swami told him, “You too trav-el for the spread of satsang. Whenever Maharajtravels in this region you travel with him.”

The next day, Nanabhai told a few Brahmincooks to prepare a meal. Brahmachariji startedmaking a meal for Shri Hari. Maharaj took theparshads and sadhus to the farm and harvestedthe five vighas of millet crop. Soon thereafterGovindbhai and Nanabhai came to the farm andthey were surprised to see their crop havested.

October 2008 ◆ Swaminarayan Bliss 5


“Maharaj, what have you done?” theyexclaimed.

“Service to two devotees,” Shri Hari repliedsmilingly. “Since you do not get time off fromserving me I must serve you too.”

Govindbhai looked appreciatingly atMaharaj.

Shri Hari left Karjisan and travelled to Vadu,Pansar, Kalol and then towards Adalaj. The sad-hus were waiting upfront. When they arrived atthe narrow Kharisa pathway Maharaj observeda group of women walking a little distanceahead. But the sadhus in front of him continuedin their stride. Maharaj indicated to them toslow down. But they failed to understand. WhenNityanand Swami came Maharaj humorouslytold him to walk ahead. But Nityanand Swamiunderstood and refrained from doing so. Hestopped the sadhus from proceeding ahead fur-ther. When they arrived at Adalaj they settleddown near the famous stepwell. Shri Hari saton a cart. The sadhus prostrated to Maharaj andsat before him. Then Maharaj preached, “Youhave all renounced your homes, parents andrelatives to please me. However, if you do notfully abide by the niyams I have given, thenyour asceticism will not remain intact. Today, Isaw that you proceeded ahead disregarding ourdiscipline. For whose darshan were you walkingbriskly? There were women ahead of you.Nityanand Swami understood what I said andhe did not proceed ahead.”

Then Shri Hari told the sadhus to sing bha-jans. Before the kirtans concluded many sadhushad unrolled their bedding and gone to sleep.Maharaj called Muktanand Swami and advised,

“I have gathered these sadhus to travel with mefor my darshan, discourses and to benefit spiri-tually by doing seva. But after eating they takethe benefit of sleeping. How much at loss theyare! The senior sadhus should explain this tothem. Without telling it is not possible to over-come lapses. If a sadhu does not obey theinstruction of a sadguru then of what use is he?Therefore explain to them the purpose of theirtravelling with me.”

Muktanand Swami understood the purportof Shri Hari’s words. God comes to liberate allsouls, but the aspirant has to understand hisshortcomings and give them up. Then Muk-tanand Swami recollected Maharaj’s wordswhen he had come to Adalaj earlier. “I wish toliberate souls equivalent to the number of mus-tard seeds that would fill up this stepwell. Ihave bathed here, hence whosoever batheshere, the oxen used for transporting stones forconstructing the stepwell and any living thingthat was crushed to death will be and havebeen liberated.”

Shri Hari and his sadhus bathed again in thestepwell.* Then Maharaj told NishkulanandSwami to read the stone inscription.

Shri Hari travelled to Motera. Since he wasbanned from entering Ahmedabad (by theSuba) he camped at Motera to bless the devo-tees of the city and give them the benefit of hisdarshan and discourses.

(To be contd.)

◆

Translation from Bhagwan Swaminarayan

by H.T. Dave

*In the kingdom of Sultan Mummmad Begda the queen of Virsinh Vaghela and the daughter of King Ven, Rudbai, built

the stepwell in 25 January 1499 (Magh sud 5, Samvat 1555). It is unparalleled in beauty and intricate carvings in the whole

of Gujarat. The stone inscription says that Rudbai (Rudande) was the queen of Dandahi (Dandhavya) region and wife of

Virsinh Vaghela. She had constructed the stepwell for the liberation of her husband. The stepwell was built at a cost of

500,000 tanka i.e. Rs. 166,700. The entire inscription is written in Sanskrit except for the last three lines that are in

Gujarati. (Adalajni vavno shilalekh, a monthly of Gujarat Vidyasabha.)


‘PRAYER’ ?

Where in the entire universe since the dawn ofhuman civilization did the first phenomenonof prayer resonate? In the lap of the

Himalayas, on the banks of Saraswati and in Rig VedicBharat, at least 10,000 years ago.

“The oldest of all the known ancient records” is how therenowned philosopher and historian, H.P. Blavatsky,

describes the Rig Veda, the most ancient of all docu-mented records. “Please study them,” is her exhor-

tation to the scholars of the world.1

When the German scholar Friederich MaxMüller read the invocations and prayers in the

Rig Veda he was overwhelmed. The erudition andprayers in the Upanishads made the German

philosopher Schopenhauer indebted to India perennial-ly. He stated, “In the whole world there is no study so ben-

eficial and so elevating as that of the Upanishads. It has been thesolace of my life, and it will be the solace of my death.”2

Not only the Vedas, but a detailed analysis reveals an extensive list of such‘prayer literature’. The compilation of the 18 Purans is, essentially, an epiccompilation of prayers: such as, the invocation by Gajendra and King Ranti-dev’s prayer. In addition to the prayers of the Rig Veda or the Yajur Veda,the Ishavasya Upanishad or Shrimad Bhagvat, the Mahabharat orRamayan, there are the prayers of saints and devotees hailing from everyregion of India: Surdas and Kabir, Rahim and Rohidas, Mirabai and Gan-gasati, Muktanand Swami and Premanand Swami, and countless others.

In this sacred land the prayer by King Rantidev is a matchless his-torical lesson on benevolence. And the prayers of Bhagwan Swami-narayan when he was instated by Ramanand Swami as the Head ofthe Sampraday are the pinnacle of compassion.

These prayers have given rise to a unique identity to India:“India, the land of prayers!” How true it is indeed that India is theland of prayers and that prayer is an invaluable asset of the Indians.

But the question remains: how many of these prayers are

Will Doctors Now Prescribe

Excerpts from Gujarati article by Sadhu Aksharvatsaldas

PRAYER: MEDICAL SCIENCE


remembered by the new genera-tion of Indians. Aren’t they oblivi-ous of them?

The custom of prayer at thestart of the day in schoolsand colleges in India is onthe decline. It has been dis-

continued in many schoolsand colleges and for these

modernized Indians, these profoundprayers are replaced by the vulgar offerings ofthe TV.

Such disregard for prayer will be ill-afford-able in the future. The loss of this bountifulinheritance of prayer bequeathed to us spellsdisaster. Since, the hurricane of change andmodernization engulfing the world has claimedthe life of prayer!

Yet there is still hope for the revival ofprayer, for even in America despite the wide-spread materialism, prayer is still a part of lifefor the large majority.

Over the past century, many Western coun-tries have endeavoured to link prayer and sci-ence. Alexis Carrel, the French doctor andNobel Laureate, affirms having personally wit-nessed that prayer has healed facial bruises,injuries to the body, cancer, ailments in the uri-nary tracts and tuberculosis. Prayer, he opines,is an unfailing remedy.3

In response to a Time magazine article on 10October 2004 titled “Can Prayers Heal”, theAssociate Professor of the Nursing Dept. at Rut-gers University, states, “Who says that theresearch on prayer is not connected with sci-ence? I did research wherein I employed prayerand other forms of treatment to cancer patients.Keeping in view the patient’s faith, the resultingchanges were recorded. I came to the realiza-tion that the ailment had conspicuously dimin-ished more in patients who accepted the prayerinclusive therapy than those patients who had atherapy without prayer. In cases of stroke, AIDS,deteriorating kidney ailments and several other

incurable diseases researchers have alsoattained similar results through their studies.”

Dr Herbert Benson is the departmental direc-tor and an eminently versatile cardiologist-sci-entist of the world famous Harvard University.He has conducted research on prayer andhealth and this research has triggered an exten-sive discussion in America. In his book, TheRelaxation Response, Herbert Benson providesreflections on prayer and meditation whichhave surprised the scientific world. With thesupport of Harvard Medical College and othermedical institutions he used prayer and medita-tion therapy for 1,802 patients who underwenttheir heart bypass surgery.

In the E-magazine Harvard UniversityGazette, published by the Harvard University, DrBenson says that from the Upanishads to mod-ern prayer recitations, the concept of breakingof the train of everyday thought to gain a senseof calm is a worldwide phenomenon.4

Many eminent medical scientists andrenowned medical organizations are conductingresearch on the effects of prayer on health.

In fact 84 of the 125 medical colleges inAmerica have already introduced ‘Philosophy –Health and Prayer’ into their curriculums.5

In 1995, the reputed Journal of the AmericanMedical Association (JAMA) published a studyby the National Institute of Healthcare Researchshowing the beneficial effects of prayer onhealth.6 The article described a series of 12 sur-veys since 1930 by Gallup Poll on prayer andhealth. Commenting on these sureys GeorgeGallop Jr. said that many Americans considerprayer as an important part of their lives, thatprayers lead to miracles by God and that prayergives them a feeling of proximity to God. Headded that people accept that prayer does havea beneficial effect on health.7

The paper also describes the experience ofDr. Jeffrey S. Levine, Associate Professor atEastern Virginia Medical School (Norfolk) whostates that in 22 out of 27 studies on patients


with heart disease, cancer, tuberculosis and sui-cidal tendencies there have been favourableoutcomes due to prayer.8

Professor Dr. Harold Konning of North Car-olina Durham University Medical Centerrevealed that over 50 studies throughout Ameri-ca have shown that heart and diabetic patientswho prayed had better outcome to treatmentand less likelihood of depression.9

At the end of the paper the author, C. Mar-wick writes, “Spirituality and religion haveimportant health benefits and more detailedstudies using more accurate measures of thisare warranted. The question today is not weath-er there are health benefits, it is how these ben-efits can be obtained. We can no longer affordto neglect this important clinical variable.”10

A 1999 paper in the Archives of Internal Med-icine revealed that 90% of patients had faiththat prayer would help them in their illness and94% wished that doctors also incorporatedprayer and spirituality in the care of partients.11

An article in the New York Times stated theopinion of physicians that ‘the medicine of thefuture is going to be prayer.’12

The statements of these patients and doctorswas experienced many centuries ago by devo-tees like Mirabai, who remained unaffected bypoison due to her prayers.

The poisonous effect of the cobra that bit YogijiMaharaj was negated by prayer in the Akshar Deri.Countless people have benefitted from the prayersof Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj, PramukhSwami Maharaj, sadhus and devotees.

A leading scientist of the twentieth century,Dr. Charles Steinmetz, stated, “I think the great-est discoveries will be made along spirituallines. Someday people will learn that materialthings do not bring happiness and are of littleuse in making men and women creative andpowerful. Then the scientists of the world willturn their laboratories over to the study of Godand prayer and the spiritual forces which, asyet, have been hardly scratched. When that day

comes, the world will see more advancement inone generation than it has seen in the last four.”

The most important factor in prayer is tohave faith and to unconditionally surrender atthe feet of God.

Once, a French soldier who had lost a leg inbattle, entered a place of worship. Someone sar-castically commented, “So you think that bypraying here God will give you a new leg!” Thesoldier calmly replied, “I know that God will notgive me a new leg, but he will give me thestrength to live as if I did have one.”

Prayer should be an integral part of one’slife. Shri Ramkrishna Paramhansa once said, “Itis natural, in fact, desirable to inform God ofour joys and sorrows. Just like a husband andwife confide in each other, we should confide inGod. At least once a day, we should open ourheart out to him in prayer. This will certainlypurify the mind. There is no doubt.”

Much has been written on the benefits ofprayer, yet many still do not use it. Only by sin-cerely engaging in daily prayer will one person-ally experience and benefit from its effects. It isimportant to develop a habit of praying andalso to encourage all members of one’s family topray for each other. This will result in benefitsfor everyone.

◆

1. H.P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine, The TheosophicalPublishing House, USA, 2003. v.2, p. 606).

2. Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 1, The Upanishads, trans-lated by Max Müller; Introduction, p. lxi.

3. Quoted in Kalyan, January 1935, p. 429.4. 4 March 2004.5. Fortuin A.H. Medical School Curricula in Spirituality

and Medicine. JAMA 2004;291:28836. Marwick C. Should Physicians Prescribe Prayer for

Health? Spiritual Aspects of Well-being Considered.JAMA May 24/21, 1995;273, No. 20:1561-1562.

7. ibid. 8. ibid. 9. ibid. 10. ibid.11. King DE, Bushwick B. Beliefs and Attitudes of Hospital

Inpatients About Faith Healing and Prayer. J Fam Pract1994;39:349-352.

12. Sides H. The Calibration of Belief. New York Times Mag-azine. Dec. 7, 1997:92-5.

Amid the extremes of material-ism man has forgotten the basicsupports of life. Consequently, he

invites more problems, causing deeper pain and agonyday by day. But a devotee who abides by the spiritual legacy

according to the guidance of a guru experiences bliss despite prob-lems. It is because of one powerful support: prayer.Prayer is an essential spiritual endeavour. It is a unique period

of communion with God. Through prayer a person meets God andacquires solutions to material and spiritual problems.

In particular, one piece of guidance by Pramukh Swami Maharaj isworth remembering. On 5 December 1986, he had told a scholarly SouthAfrican priest, “A saint is invariably touched by the sorrow of a devotee.He feels for the devotees, shares their sorrows, and gives them consola-tion, he prays for them, and so their sorrows and burdens are lightened.Even a great person (God-realized) suffers sorrow. All have a physicalbody and so sorrow is inescapable. Therefore, one has to endure sorrow.Sorrow is there to stay but a guru bestows strength to a person throughprayer. Our scriptures and philosophy teach precisely that.”

In 1990 Swamishri was in Akola, where he said, “In times of sorrow praypeacefully and patiently. You will get strength to tolerate.”

Prayer is a divine and extraordinary experience. It is impossible todescribe in words the experience resulting from prayer, but this issue of

Swaminarayan Bliss is a humble attempt to capture its importance,necessity and effects. The articles are translations from the Gujarati

version that appeared in Swaminarayan Prakash, March 2007.Appreciations to Gajendra Inamdar and Sadhu Amrutvijaydas for

the translations.

PRAYER



Question: Can you describe an inci-dent where you have prayed and theprayer was answered?

Answer: God unfailingly listens to everyprayer. But a few manifest and can be witnessed.Shamjibhai (Shamji Ada) hailed fromGadhshisha, a village in Kutch, but Mumbai hadbecome his longstanding place of residence. Hisdaughter was to give birth to a baby, but her doc-tors had predicted severe complications. Birth bycaesarean operation was the safest, but still risky,option. Shamjibhai requested me to pray and Ihad prayed very very heartily to Shriji Maharaj,Gunatitanand Swami and Pramukh Swami. Andprayer bore fruit. Without any operation or jeop-ardy a healthy child was naturally born, to thesurprise of even the doctors.

Question: Does prayer ever fail? Answer: Heartfelt prayers invariably come

true. However, even intensely offered prayersmay fail. But, even in such circumstances somegood is ingrained.

Normally, I pray daily to God to resolve theproblems and worries of the devotees. About45% of the prayers come true. But, actually, it ismy conviction that prayers come true 100% ofthe time. A prayer may have apparently failed,but it does surely come true. God is the all-doerand he does everything for the good of an indi-vidual only. Character is nurtured by gruellingtests. A prayer is only fulfilled if it is beneficialfor the jiva. And if a prayer is not fulfilled, that

too, is for the good of the jiva. This is the trueunderstanding.

Heart bypass surgery entails cutting thechest into two pieces. It causes scars on the skinand other difficulties. How troublesome! Yet, torescue one from death it is obligatory. In thesame way liberation of the soul is of utmost pri-ority. If the material benefit is gained in theprocess, then fine. But what’s the use if thebody were to gain and the jiva to lose!

Similarly, a prayer may seem unfulfilledbecause the result does not match one’s expec-tations. But God’s wish may be altogether differ-ent. He wishes for the jiva not to lose but togain. And the prayer will bear fruit in that way.

It is my conviction that a prayer never goesin vain. If the body does not benefit from prayerthen the jiva certainly will. Maharaj blessedDada Khachar fourteen times that his land issuebe favourably settled. Yet it was not. But, infact, this apparently negative outcome was inhis benefit, since acquisition of the land wouldhave caused waning of affection for the Lord.Even the slightest decline in attachment to Godwould have been costlier than the gains ofacquiring the land.

Once in Purushottampura-Radhu Ashabhai’shouse caught fire. “Your sins are burnt!”quipped Shastriji Maharaj. “Otherwise love forGod would have declined.” And so from theperspective of testing staunchness, building ofcharacter and life, blessings and prayers have

Mahant Swami

PRAYER: PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

Are Always AnsweredSincere Prayers


certainly borne fruit.In case prayers go unfulfilled,

one should still believe that it isbeyond our comprehension.

I knew nothing aboutprayer in my school days. Weprayed in the school church.In spite of knowing the mira-cles and benefits of prayer Inever paid attention to it.

I feel very very grateful toBhagwan Swaminarayan andSwami and thank them that Iam able to pray for the happi-ness of devotees. Such prayersarise naturally. Due to attach-ment to them I feel their pain and joy. Prayerfor them emanates spontaneously. I know thatGod’s will shall prevail. Nevertheless I don’tresort to wisdom. Knowledge and matters ofcharacter and life take a back seat. Prayer just

pours out, “Shriji Maharaj,Pramukh Swami Maharaj,please cure the devotees oftheir sorrows.”

Only 45 per cent are ful-filled. Yet I don’t lose heart. Ipray but never sulk or chal-lenge God’s will. WhateverGod does will always be good.I believe that he is the mostbenevolent of all.

If a prayer is not fulfilled, Ibelieve that it has protectedme in other ways. Perhaps,fulfilment of the prayer may

have boosted the ego or causeddigression from the path of Ekantik Dharma.

I pray with confidence for devotees and oth-ers. For myself it is always according to thecommands of Shriji Maharaj and Gunatit Sad-hus. Never otherwise. ◆

Prayer is food for the soul. We under-stand what food for the body is, butare oblivious of the food for the soul

which is the life-giving force within the body.Prayer is respite for the soul. Just as we

need rest when the body suffers fatigue so doesthe jiva within needs rest when it gets tired.That rest is derived from prayer.

Prayer is exercise for the soul. People doexercises to keep physically fit and become

stronger. Similarly, prayer is a means to keepthe soul spiritually fit and make it stronger.

Prayer bathes the soul. Just as bathingcleanses the body of dirt and infuses it withfreshness, prayer cleanses the soul of impuritiesand invigorates it. Certain impurities are invisi-ble, like the infinitesimal dust particles in theair which accumulate on the body during day-time. So, the body has to be cleaned everyday.What would happen if that cleansing is notdone for a couple of days? Similarly, impurities

Dr. Swami

Prayer:Food, Rest, Exercise

for the Soul

Work as if you

were to live a

hundred years.

Pray as if you

were to die

tomorrow.

- Benjamin Franklin


somehow do gather inside thesoul through listening, seeing,reading, writing and otheractivities of daily life. We aremade aware of this contami-nation of the soul by prayerand it is prayer which is themeans to clean it.

Prayer is an infinite power.Prayer gives strength to thesoul. Prayer is necessary tocomplete any work nicely. Itenergizes. After all, what isthe strength of a man? It islimited, like the water of ashallow well. If you place an electric motor inthe well you would quickly run the well dry.However, if you drill deep and build a tunnel tolink the well with Lake Victoria and then installa pump, the well would never be exhausted ofwater. Similarly, prayer links us with God. God’spower is infinite. Prayer taps into the infinitepower of God, infusing us with the energy andability to succeed in life.

Prayers are not always answered immediate-ly. A prayer may or may not be answered today.Some may be answered tomorrow or after ayear or even after many years. It depends uponthe intensity with which the prayer is offered.But no prayer ever remains unanswered. Manypeople have experienced this.

Every religion of the world places greatimportance in prayer. Prayer is often an intrinsicpart of the treatment of patients in many hospi-tals. Relatives of patients pray for their recovery.Specialists in prayer are appointed to guide thepatients and their relatives in prayer. Scientistsnow also acknowledge the power of prayer.

A short while before the launch of the rocketto the moon, a press reporter asked the chiefscientist, “What is the launch time?” The scien-tist said, “Eleven o’clock, sharp.” The reporterthen asked, “What preparations are left?” Thescientist said, “Nothing, nothing. We are all set.

Everything is ready, but weare now praying that we donot fail in this mission.”

Prayer provides strengthfor success in any work.

Prayer is offered with vari-ous objectives. It could be forone’s own or someone’s sor-rows and problems. It is notalways to ask for something.Confessing one’s faults to Godand mentally seeking forgive-ness is yet another form ofprayer. If one errs in the act ofpraying, but confesses them

before God, God forgives those mistakes. If onehas offended a person but apologizes to himthen a gentleman would surely grant forgive-ness. If a gentleman can forgive then God obvi-ously forgives.

The solution to all problems is prayer toGod.

Our obligations to God are just uncountable.To reminisce upon these obligations with sin-cere feelings of gratitude is also a form ofprayer. We should thank God for everything hehas bestowed upon us. We are grateful to some-one who provides food, clothes or extends somefavour to us. So, isn’t it appropriate that wedaily thank God, thus: “I exist because you arethe support of my life. I was able to survive thepast 24 hours because of your support.” Weshould thank God, the saviour and life-giver.

Students should pray for such strength, intel-ligence and good company that would enablethem to excel in studies and lead a virtuous lifethat would please Maharaj and Swami. God hasinfinite intelligence, so pray to God for intelli-gence.

In worldly matters and satsang certain prob-lems are very delicate. How should they beresolved. Through prayer, God will pave a way.

Abraham Lincoln prayed even during war!One such story was cited in the Readers’ Digest.

Prayer

is not asking.

It is a longing

of the soul.

It is daily

admission of

one's weakness.

- Mahatma Gandhi


During the War the soldierswere baffled and couldn’tdecide whether to surrender orforge ahead. They consultedAbraham Lincoln, who studiedthe situation; but he, too,couldn’t think of a solution. Hesaid, “Wait, my intelligencecannot fathom the solution. Ishall pray and convey the out-come to you. That answer (tothe prayer) shall prevail.” And after Lincoln hadprayed an inspiration came from within that thearmy should march onward, “Do not surrender,fight unto the end, there is no retreating.” Heconveyed this to the generals and ultimately thewar was won.

Man can achieve much more through prayerthan can be imagined. Pray to arrive at impor-tant decisions in your work. Pray daily in facto-ries and in the office. Assign 5, 10 or upto 15minutes to prayer. I am familiar with a fewindustrialists in whose daily schedule prayer isunfailingly included. They begin work only afterprayer is offered by all members of the staff.The daily 8-hour work schedule of all the staffincludes 10 minutes of prayer in the morningand 10 minutes in the evening. The impact hasbeen such that in these factories not a singleperson has an addiction. It is true that theprogress of the factory is dependent on goodmachines. But you also need good people to runthese machines well. If the life of a person iswell-oiled, stable and peace-ful, and if they harbour goodthoughts, then such amachine-operator will workwell. One machine may do thework of 50 ordinary people,but no machine can do thework of even one extra-ordi-nary person. This is the resultof prayer.

A life without prayer isempty. Just as austerity, absti-nence, pilgrimage, yagnas andchanting are a few of themany means to progress spiri-tually, prayer is also an essen-tial means. In VachanamrutGadhada III-35, Maharaj hasdirected that prayers shouldbe offered to God to protectone from ego and attachment

– the forms of maya. The biggest obstacles onthe spiritual path are ego and attachment. Oneshould pray for protection from them. InVachanamrut Gadhada I-48, Maharaj has askedto pray seeking protection from the four kindsof evil company.

Prayer is a like a telephonic link with God.One has to learn how to dial it. The first requisiteis staunch allegiance to the deity one worships.One who has the unshakeable faith that ShrijiMaharaj is Supreme God will be able to link upwith him to pray. With such faith one may direct-ly connect with God from anywhere. Such is thevital importance of nishtha. Outwardly everyonemay appear to be doing the same thing. It is notdifficult to fold the hands, shut the eyes or repeatwords. Everyone can do so. But what happenswithin is a different matter altogether. The effica-cy of an individual’s prayer is directly proportion-ate to the extent to which he is staunchly alignedto the God he worships.

Prayer does the work of eradicating internalvices, base natural instincts,desires and ignorance.

Praying thus before Godwould instill inspiration andstrength in a person.

However, remember that aprayer offered now may notbe immediately answered, butit is a 100% fact that it willhave an effect. ◆

Prayer

does not

change God,

but changes

him who prays.

- Soren Kierkegaard

Who rises from

prayer a better

man, his prayer is

answered.

- George Meredith


Yogiji Maharaj embedded in us theglory of prayer from our very child-hood.

To him prayer meant chanting of the divineSwaminarayan mahamantra dhun.

Even after all these years the vision of himengrossed in prayer and chanting dhun is stillfresh in my mind: his eyes closed, face tiltedslightly downwards, hands clapping, body, mindand his entire existence merged into the form ofShriji Maharaj, and every breath resonatingwith the melodious sound of ‘Swaminarayan…Swaminarayan’ – filling the atmosphere withsublime spirituality.

The proximity of Yogiji Maharaj in such anatmosphere forver bonded us to prayer.

My first experience of his divine prayer anddhun dates back to around 1949-50 in Mumbai.Shastriji Maharaj had stayed at Gulzarilal Nan-daji’s bungalow in Mumbai for two months andhad celebrated the Bhim Ekadashi festival. Thedevotees of Africa had come to benefit from hisspiritual company. At the rear of the bungalow,facing the sea, was a small room especially forpuja. Yogiji Maharaj would regularly performarti there and would make us young children sitwith him in front of Shri Harikrishna Maharajand sing the dhun for about three-quarters of anhour. I have a faint memory that we felt as if wewere compelled into singing the dhun. But hisaffection was such that we could not but sit! Wechildren branded this dhun as ‘giant’! Since,who would pray for so long everyday. But that

first experience of Yogiji Maharaj’s dhun hasbeen etched in my mind forever.

The 1950s touring in the company of YogijiMaharaj exposed us to prayer and dhun whichwere quite a special experience. Wherever hewas, in mandirs or in the villages, it was hisroutine to get everyone to sing the dhun in cho-rus daily after the evening arti. He prayed atevery opportunity, laying the burden of anywork – whether big or small – at the feet ofThakorji. He chanted the dhun and prayedpatiently and persistently until the task wasaccomplished. He never tired, and just perse-vered in his typically enthusiastic style. Whetherthe question concerned an individual, a family,society, an institution, the nation or the world,Yogiji Maharaj had but one eternally powerfuland universally applicable means – dhun. Hewould naturally say, “Sing the dhun.”

A few memories are fresh in my mind. Thedevotees of Mumbai wished to acquire a hall fortheir satsang assemblies. So, every year whenhe visited Mumbai and stayed at Kapol Vadi forabout 21 to 24 days he would offer dhun everyevening so that “the hall would soon takeshape.” Many would therefore wittily ask, “Bapaare you are wishing to get a hall for singing thedhun?” Meaning, that neither was there a hallcoming up nor was there an end to the dhunanywhere in sight! But his confidence and faithwould never diminish. As a result of his prayersand dhun, the Akshar Bhavan was acquired.Since then it has blossomed into a magnificent

Yogiji Maharaj Bestowed a Bond With Prayer...

‘Chant...!’

Sadhu Ishwarcharandas


mandir, with a splendid satsangauditorium. There are also sev-eral hari mandirs in the suburbsof Mumbai. In the same fashionYogiji Maharaj offered prayersand dhun for many years that51 educated youth become sad-hus.

A record of every big orsmall work for which YogijiMaharaj offered prayers anddhun is memorable too. Forexample, prayer would beoffered for rains during a sea-son of scanty rainfall; and incase of a flood it would be for cessation ofrains. All the sadhus and devotees would alsorecite the dhun according to his wish. At the oldSmruti Mandir of Shastriji Maharaj (in Sarang-pur) dhun would be chanted to pray that abeautiful mandir be built there and a murti ofShastriji Maharaj be consecrated there. Whenhe visited the shrine where Maganbhai was cre-mated in Uganda, Africa, he chanted dhun thatSatsang develops and mandirs be built in Toro-ro, Jinja, Kampala and other places.

He regularly performed dhun for the incep-tion of Youth Forums in big cities. He constantlyoffered prayer and dhun for all, that sadhus anddevotees attain Ekantik Dharma and that every-one develops samp, suhradhaybhav and ekta.

When he visited the sacred places of theSampraday, he would not fail to offer prayersand dhun, encouraging everyone present to joinin chorus. In Vartal mandir he would devoutlysing dhun in front of the murti of Shri Harikr-ishna Maharaj. After darshan and circumambu-lations in the old mandir at Bhoivada in Mum-bai Yogiji Maharaj would chant the dhun. Afterthe darshan of Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj in theRangmahol at Kalupur mandir in Ahmedabadhe would sit before the sukh-shaiya, briefly talkof God’s glory and then sing dhun.

A dhun at the birthplace of Shastriji Maharaj

in Mahelav was a must.Before Shri HarikrishnaMaharaj in Sarangpur, ShriGhanshyam Maharaj inGondal and in the AksharDeri (memorial shrine toAksharbrahman Gunati-tanand Swami in Gondal) heimmersed himself in dhun.He would sit in front of theAkshar Ordi in Gadhada andsing dhun.

In those days work was inprogress under the sacredmango tree at Lakshmi Vadi

in Gadhada. Marble had been laid on the floor,but there were problems completing the roof.Whenever he visited Gadhada he would praythat the roofing be completed quickly. Similarly,he would remember to pray that the sanctifiedrooms of Shriji Maharaj in Karyani should besecurely and permanently well covered. Thus,he would be anxious that the Sampraday’ssacred places be well maintained and for this hewholeheartedly sang the dhun.

He prayed for many years for completion ofthe railway stations in Chhapaiya, and for aroad and mandir in Gunatitnagar (Bhadra). Hetook such deep interest in and offered sincereprayers at every step. His prayers and dhuneventually succeeded. In his final years hewould sing dhun so that a pinnacled mandir bebuilt on the banks of the River Yamuna.

He sang the dhun so that mandirs would bebuilt in Kolkata, Chennai and other cities. Allthose resolutions have materialized today. Of allthese varied incidents one involving Haka Bapuremains immemorable. Once, in Gondal, theyoung Haka Bapu saw Yogiji Maharaj perform-ing mahapuja in the Akshar Deri and heard himsing dhun for three prayers: may the number ofsadhus increase, may Satsang flourish and mayseva increase. Haka Bapu would laugh and jokethat Yogi Bapa is dreaming since there is not the

In times of

misery, pray.

The misery will

disappear. Pray,

‘O Maharaj!

O Swami!

Please help me.’

- Yogiji Maharaj


slightest sign of these wishescoming true! So, one day hetalked it over with ShastrijiMaharaj. Shastriji Maharajsaid, “Hakabhai, this Yogi isan eternal Yogi. His wishes arefulfilled and his words cometrue. His form is so divine thatSwami-Shriji must concede tohis wishes. You will yourselfwitness the fulfilment of hisresolutions.”

When Haka Bapu wit-nessed how the power of YogijiMaharaj’s dhun and prayers had spread world-wide, he exclaimed, “That the Satsang has

flourished throughout thecountry and the world is alldue to the power of YogijiMaharaj’s prayers and dhun. Istand witness to it.”

This legacy of dhun andprayer bestowed by YogijiMaharaj has been sustained byPramukh Swami Maharaj.

That panacea of dhun andprayer popularized by YogijiMaharaj continue to have pro-found impact even today. For

every occasion, grand or small,those sweet words tinged with his memoriespour out of the heart, “Sing the dhun!” ◆

Prayer is the

atma’s strength.

By prayer and

sincere effort suc-

cess and peace

are attained. - Pramukh Swami

Maharaj

Han Kop

Real-life ExperiencePrayer Amid Panic:

The single most dramatic experience ofmy life happened in May of 1972.Actually, it was a series of events from

my first encounter with the SwaminarayanSanstha in Mombasa to a short stay in theMumbai mandir and my first contact withPramukh Swami Maharaj in Gondal. The culmi-nation of the effects of these visits took place in aremote place in Karachi off the coast of Pakistan.I was on my way back home to Holland enjoyingthe cool breeze and waters of the Arabian Sea.Local children had brought car tubes to float on.But they lost them to the wind. Feeling sorry forthem I swam into the sea to retrieve their tube. Isat on it for a few minutes, out of breath.

The very moment I decided to slowly paddleback to the beach, which was a good 1,000 feetaway, I saw a shark right in front of me. At first Ifroze from fear, then tried to lift my body out ofthe water. Failing to do so I started panicking andhad visions of being eaten alive. The shark wasclearly visible and my fearful mind had made itinto a huge monster. Suddenly I rememberedSwamiji and his last words before I had taken hisleave: “Do not forget us!” he had said. This wasthe moment of truth for me. I experienced thestrongest recollection of his presence.

He occupied my mind. The image of SwamiBapa, his face and eyes exactly as I had knownthem stayed with me. In fact I saw nothing else.


With my mind floating and mypanic gone I was able to makethe right decision. I jumpedinto the waves and swam backto the shore in record-breakingtime. There and then I thankedSwamiji for having become mylifeline. I believed it to be amiracle of sorts, but perfectlyacceptable and explicable.

The experience itself was a down-to-earthone. I was out there, scared to death, alone anddesperate, with a strong sense of survival. I hadnothing to grasp on to, nowhere to run away toand the engulfing presence of the shark and theocean had minimized my chances of survival.Swamiji's all-encompassing protective power hadfelt supernatural. And a change had taken placewithin me on the spiritual level, something whichfor a Westerner is not easy to understand or

accept. I had greatly feltSwamiji's closeness, experi-enced the conviction of his sav-ing love. I have chosen – ifchoice is the right word – forPramukh Swami Maharaj to bemy guide, to lead me on to thatpath of conscience necessary forspiritual progress. In otherwords, he is the only person

capable of transforming my life. Through thisincident, more than 35 years ago, he has reachedout, given his hand to me and I have grasped it.His touch has changed me. His words have carvedmy thoughts and his love has touched my soul.

The voiceless prayers which filled my mindwhen confronted by the shark were answered bySwami Bapa and have changed the course of mylife.

◆

God alone is the all-doer. Nothing is inthe hands of man. Man must haveabsolute confidence in God and must

surrender to God’s wish. Nevertheless he mustpray and endeavour sincerely. God would thensurely shower his grace on him. It is necessary,however, that his life be pure and heartabsolutely clean as proposed by God. This is myown experience of prayer.

The story dates back to the 1970s. In spite ofthe demise and loss of my father and threebrothers I had joined the Indian Air Force. As amedical specialist my duties were those of asquadron leader. My family was quite big; inaddition to the brothers, there were eight sis-ters. The huge burden of a big family boreheavily on me. Yet my elder brother suggestedthat I continue working in the Air Force. He was

Prayer

is the spirit

speaking truth

to Truth.

- Philip James Bailey

Prayers: Helped to Obliterate

Heart BlockageDr. Indrapalsingh Kalra (Cardiologist, New Delhi)


very proud of it. He had reas-sured me of sustaining thehuge family and its responsi-bilities but at the tender ageof 34 years he passed away.This heralded a deluge ofordeals in my life.

I resigned from the AirForce so that I could supportmy family and begin a careeras a cardiologist. A short timeafterwards, in 1979, my wifewas diagnosed with cancer.The pressure of the responsi-bilities and circumstances was too much for me.Once, at 3.00 am, intense pain gripped mychest. It was angina! I consulted the renownedheart surgeon Dr Naresh Trehan who had flownin to Delhi from New York. He asked me to goto New York for treatment. The expenses wouldbe high and place the family under financialstrain. My nephews and my children were stillyoung. Also, doctors at the Sloan Kettering Hos-pital in New York reviewed my wife’s reportsand concluded that there was no better alterna-tive to the treatment she was already undergo-ing.

The problem of pain everyday in the earlyhours was too perturbing. I discussed my casewith the eminent cardiologist Dr M.L. Bhatia atthe renowned All India Institute of Medical Sci-ences (AIIMS) and he said that coronaryangiography was necessary. Dr S.C. Manchanda,a renowned cardiologist, hadjust returned to Delhi fromAustralia where he hadacquired advanced training.My wife and I had a candid,detailed, heart-to-heart talkwith him. The outcome was adecision that both of us wouldundergo treatment here inIndia. I underwent an angiog-

raphy that revealed a 69%blockage in the circumflex-artery of the heart. Treatmenthad to be imminent. At justthat moment a line from theJapuji Granth by Guru Nanakcame to my mind:

‘Amrutvelã sachh nãmvadiye vichãr….

Kari snãn simar Prabhu,apnã man-tan hove arogã…’

Meaning: By waking up at3.00 am (in the brahmamuhurt), taking bath, meditat-

ing on God and praying, the body and mind arecured of diseases.

This touched me. During the brahmamuhurt tranquility pervades the universe, twin-kling stars illuminate the sky and when thequiet of the atmosphere is astir with waves of acool breeze the pure souls wake up and pray toGod. It was at the stroke of three that painoccurred in my chest. I accepted it as God’sblessings and from then onwards I began pray-ing and chanting God’s name at precisely thistime. I deemed my ailment the will of God andmy wife also started reading regularly the holyprayer granth.

Renowned cardiologist Colonel K.L. Chopraoften would cite this scientific fact that medita-tion and prayer caused the physiologicallyinnate body organs to discharge a chemicalcalled morphine, which gives pain relief. I too

experienced it. Guru Arju-nadeva, the fifth in the lin-eage of the Sikh religion, wasable to sit atop a red-hot potwhile chanting God’s name!

The main thing is that ifwe accept pain and sorrow asGod’s will, the torture a dis-ease inflicts upon the mindautomatically vanishes.

Our prayers

should be for

blessings in

general, for God

knows best what

is good for us.

- Socrates

God tells us

to burden him

with whatever

burdens us.

- Author Unknown


Terã kiyã mithã lãge,Harnãm padãrth Nanak

mãge…’Meaning: Everything

bestowed unto us by God’swill is sweet.

By believing that the ail-ment I suffered was the will ofGod, I transformed my way oflife by praying during thebrahma muhurt. I supplement-ed this with jogging and yoga. Yoga is notmerely exercising physically, but it is actuallyaligning the mind with God.

So, by adherence to prayer and making achange in my lifestyle, day by day the diseaseregressed. In 1996 I had another angiographyby famous cardiologist Dr G.S. Karla. He wasastonished to see that all the blockages in myheart had vanished. Dr S.C. Manchanda, headof the Cardiology Dept. at AIIMS, Delhi, was awitness to this. He has researched extensively inthis area.

In 1990 my wife passed away. In 1998 myson, Dr Indrapreetsingh, a gastroenterologist,died in an accident. He was just 34 years ofage. He left behind two sons. Such a barrage ofordeals shook me to the roots, but I was able tobear them all because of the habit of prayingand chanting God’s name in the brahmamuhurt. This realization was now crystallized.

I also came to believe that a family thatprays in unison can remainunited.

I was helped greatly by sat-sang. There is no differencebetween the God-realizedSadhu and God. Proximity tosuch a sadhu can vanquish thedevilish natures of anger, lust,avarice, passion and ego.

I have met many differentsadhus and it has ennobledme and provided me patience.

But the meeting at Swami-narayan Akshardham, Delhi,with Pramukh Swami Maharajand his blessings was themost momentous time of mylife. The moment he put hishands on my head I suddenlyfelt a surge of divine peace. Itwas an unforgettable experi-ence.

I now go to the mandir onWednesdays and Sundays to attend the satsangassemblies, and on various occasions, my sonsaccompany me to satsang. It has done me aworld of good. I also go to different gurudwarasfor darshan and visit the SwaminarayanAkshardham regularly. Not only does it provideme infinite peace, but, as a doctor, I insist thatmy patients go to Akshardham and other sacredplaces. It heals them faster. Apart from treat-ment and medicines, I engage them in discus-sion on prayer, meditation, yoga and properdiet.

Any individual can experience the grace ofSupreme God within by resorting to prayer andmeditation. I still pray and meditate with myfriends everyday, at that golden moment in themorning.

There is no denying that prayer keeps usmentally and physically healthy. It is an experi-ence of divine joy.

◆

Prayer

is exhaling the

spirit of man

and inhaling

the spirit of God.

- Edwin Keith

Prayer

requires more

of the heart

than of the

tongue.

- Adam Clarke

1 August, BochasanAt 4.00 pm Swamishri arrived for an assem-

bly on the occasion of the solar eclipse. Theassembly commenced with the Swaminarayandhun followed by a discourse by ViveksagarSwami, bhajans by sadhus and a question-answer session with senior sadhus. The assem-bly concluded at 6.05 pm.

9 August, Bochasan, VidyanagarSwamishri performed the murti-pratishtha

rituals of pujan and arti of murtis for the BAPShari mandir in Dali (Kheda district).

In the evening Swamishri departed fromBochasan for Vidyanagar.

16 August, Vidyanagar; Raksha BandhanFestival

At 10.15 am Swamishri arrived at Aksharfarm where an assembly celebrating RakshaBandhan was in progress. Viveksagar Swamielaborated upon an incident of Shriji Maharajfrom the Harililamrut. Thereafter a traditionaldance was performed by youths. Swamishri wasthen honoured with garlands by senior sadhus.Then all the devotees ritually tied rakhis, sancti-fied by Swamishri, on each other’s wrist.

In conclusion Swamishri blessed the assem-bly, “The more education one has the greaterone’s progress. Without it any society or countrycannot develop and progress. Parallel to thisprogress also lies the observance of dharma. Wehave mandirs according to the various faiths ofpeople in society. They increase people’s spiritu-al inclination. The responsibility of providingand developing education rests upon societyand the government. The blending of both(education and spirituality) gives inner soul-strength. The more one follows dharma, themore soul-strength one gets.

“Today is Raksha Bandhan. Sisters tie a rakhion the wrist of their brothers. We pray to Godto protect us. Because you live a householder’slife you face many difficulties. But during suchfestivals we pray to God to protect all. God real-ly protects. So today may all be blessed withauspicious feelings. By taking firm refuge inGod he protects and blesses all with peace andhappiness.”

In all, 14,000 devotees attended the festivalassembly and left after taking mahaprasad.

At 1.00 am Swamishri arrived at the hostellawn to attend the lunar eclipse assembly.Despite the late night assembly thousands ofdevotees had gathered. The assembly pro-gramme included a discourse by ViveksagarSwami, speeches by Swamishri’s attendant sad-hus, and various interesting and humourouspresentations by youths of the Akshar-Purushot-tam Chhatralay.


August 2008Bochasan, Vidyanagar, Atladra

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s

Living With Swamishri

24 August, Atladra; Janmashtami CelebrationThe Janmashtami celebration was held in the

mandir assembly hall in the evening. ViveksagarSwami talked about spiritual equanimity, Dr.Swami and Mahant Swami discoursed upon theneed of firm faith in God. The assembly programmewas interspersed with kirtans, a traditional danceand honouring of Swamishri with garlands.

In conclusion, Swamishri blessed the assem-bly, “The power generated through having firmfaith in God protects one from the consequencesafter death. Wealth and bungalows do not pro-

tect oneself. Our philosophy says that the bodydies and one will leave everything that has beenattained behind. The atma, by having refuge inGod, attains the abode of God.”

26 August, AtladraSwamishri performed the murti-pratishtha

rituals of murtis for the BAPS hari mandir inDudhvada. ◆

(Highlights translated from Gujarati report

by Sadhu Priyadarshandas)

Swamishri performs theJanmashtami Celebration arti, Atladra

In Atladra Swamishri performs themurti-pratishtha arti for Dudhvada mandir

MOULDING A SUCCESSFUL LIFE24 August 2008, Atladra

During a personal meeting session Swamishri advised a teenager regarding his life, “At presentgive priority to studying well at school. Take care of your life: observe rules of moral conduct andbe a vegetarian. You have to take care of these aspects now. Do not eat outside (in restaurants) anddo not surf the net. Do satsang and inspire values in others. This will increase your firmness. Other-

wise if you get entangled in kusang then you will decline and you will besidetracked from your studies. You have to make your life. It is yourresponsibility that you do not spoil it. So your studies should be thepriority. If you stray then you will be miserable and unhappy later.

One’s mind is such that it leads one astray. Therefore adhere to satsangproperly and study hard to achieve the best academic degree.”

Swamishri inspired a turning pointin the life of the teenager.

◆


During July and August 2008 twentybalaks and balikas of the UK Bal-Balika Mandal participated in the

2008 India Trip themed ‘Apni Parampara’.The children visited all the major BAPS cen-

tres and pilgrim places in Gujarat and NorthIndia learning about the history of the Swami-narayan Sampraday. They visited New Delhi,Ayodhya and Chhapaiya, paying respects at thebirthplace of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and

other sacred places. The children spent seven days with Pra-

mukh Swami Maharaj in Bochasan and VallabhVidynagar, where they enjoyed the festival ofRakshabandhan and had the rare opportunityof sitting through a grahan assembly with Pra-mukh Swami Maharaj from 1 am to 4 am.

The children enjoyed and were enlightenedby their visit to India.

◆

INDIA EXPERIENCE 2008Theme: Brahmavidyani College

July-August 2008, Sarangpur

BAL-BALIKA INDIA TRIP 2008 Theme: Apni Parampara

July-August 2008

During July and August 2008, a groupof 11 kishore karyakars from theUSA, together with 25 kishores and

23 kishoris from the UK visited India to partici-pate in a special shibir in Sarangpur and tourvarious regions of India.

The daily schedule for the 15-day shibir inSarangpur comprised of darshan of mangala artiand Swamishri’s morning puja, 3-4 classroomsessions, one hour of seva, discussions, personalreading time and time for introspection. The top-ics covered included: Akshar Purushottam

Kishores chant the Swaminarayan dhun onthe banks of River Ganga in Kashi

B A P S N E W SBAPS NEWS

Group photo of shibir balaks with Swamishri


Siddhant in Our Shastras, Siddhant in OtherShastras, Hindu Principles, Guru Parampara andquestion-answer sessions with senior sadhus.

After the shibir, the three groups embarkedon separate tours exploring the mandirs and pil-grim spots of the Swaminarayan Sampraday,historic locations of Hindu culture, and variousscenic destinations around India.

All groups visited the major pilgrim places inGujarat, Swaminarayan Akshardham in NewDelhi, Ayodhya and Chhapaiya.

The USA group then went to South Indiawhere they had darshan of the majestic mandirsat Mahabalipuram, Tanjore, Trichy, Madurai,Verkala, Trivendrum, Rameshwaram and alsovisited the historic caves at Ajanta and Ellora.

The UK groups visited the holy places ofHaridwar and Rishikesh where they performedarti of the sacred river Ganga.

All the youths left with strengthened pridefor India and Hindu culture and a deeperunderstanding of the BAPS. ◆

Over 450 karyakars from across theUK gathered at Warwick ConferencePark on Friday 22 August 2008 for a

four-day National Karyakar Shibir, entitled ‘Sat-purush, Siddhanta, Sanstha’.

Structured with a balance of auditorium ses-sions, workshops, mandal-specific breakoutsand team-building activities, the programmedelivered the key message that the Sanstha isthe Satpurush’s body and the Siddhanta is hissoul. The workshop and training sessions com-plemented the spiritual learning with practicalskills and specific requirements that thekaryakars need to enhance their respectiveseva.

Karyakars and sadhus provided an enlight-ening insight into the concepts of swarup-nishtha and agna, ruchi and anuvrutti throughpowerful speeches, multimedia presentationsand interactive sessions with the audience.

The understanding of God as karta-harta, afundamental aspect of our Siddhanta, wasaddressed. Also, the concepts of shraddha, khapand samagam were effectively elaborated uponusing sketches, speeches and videos inter-spersed with prasangs from the life ofSwamishri and exemplary devotees.

Karyakars have an important responsibilityto shape the future of BAPS and so in the thirdand final element of the shibir all karyakarshad the opportunity to reflect upon their per-sonal role in the Sanstha and were inspired totake personal responsibility to propel BAPS fur-ther.

Throughout the four days, many importantconcepts were learned and addressed to helpkaryakars progress in their personal satsangand seva roles.

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UK NATIONAL KARYAKAR SHIBIR 2008Theme: Satpurush, Siddhanta, Sanstha

22-25 August 2008

Auditorium session

Disaster The recent mass flooding of the River Kosi

caused mass devastation in the state of Bihar(Northeast India) with over 3 million people in16 districts affected, 1 million people evacuat-ed, thousands still missing, hundreds of villagesdestroyed and over 230,000 people left home-less with entire livelihoods destroyed. It wasBihar’s worst flood disaster in 50 years.

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, under theguidance of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, set upbase camps at Katihar and Patna with teams of

volunteers gathering first-hand information onthe devastation and the type of relief materialsrequired in the affected areas.

From Katihar, the BAPS team went toMadhepura, meeting the Relief Commissioner.BAPS was advised by the Government of Bihar toprovide specific medicines to the medical campsorganized by the Indian Army in the worst affecteddistricts of Madhepura and Saharsa (North Bihar).

BAPS was instructed to provide relief toareas still unaided by any agency or organiza-tions in the District of Madhepura.


BAPS RELIEF WORK FOR BIHAR FLOOD VICTIMS3 to 28 September 2008, Bihar, India

BAPS CHARITIES RELIEF AID FORHURRICANE IKE VICTIMS

September 2008, Texas, USA

On 12 September 2008, southeast Texas wasravaged by Hurricane Ike which knocked outpower to almost 98% of southeast Texas. BAPSCharities launched its relief efforts immediatelyafter the Hurricane in the devastated zonesalong the Texas Gulf Coast.

As the hurricane moved further north, BAPSCharities provided shelter to those in need andserved hot meals of pasta and bread at a point

of distribution (POD) in Stafford. Throughoutthe entire week, BAPS Charities volunteersjoined the FEMA volunteers at the POD locationto distribute hot meals. Volunteers of BAPSCharities also reached out as far as Beaumont,Texas, to deliver hot meals.

On Saturday, September 20, 2008, BAPSCharities took these meals to local communitiesin downtown Houston, where many were stillwithout power. In the Seabrook area volunteerswent door to door to distribute hot meals tothose that did not have transportation.

Maria Zamora of Houston said, “I was out ofelectricity for a couple of days so I know howenjoyable a hot meal will be to those who stilldo not have electricity. Thank you so much foryour timely help. I really appreciate your com-mitment to serve.” With a majority of Houstonand it surrounding areas without any power forsuch a long period of time, these meals provid-ed much needed assistance. ◆

Hot meals for the hurricane-affected

Villages helped in the District of Madhepura:1. Padava Ghat 2. Gusai Tola 3. Panchhi Tola 4.Rahuar 5. Seema Tola 6. Tulsi Badi 7. Lachma-nia Tola 8. Manik Pur 9. Bind Toli.

Medical HelpBAPS has organized many large medical

camps, treating thousands of flood-affected vil-lages suffering from fevers, malaria, stomachupsets, diarrhoea, dehydration and skin allergies.Water purification tablets were also provided.

Relief ProvidedBAPS provided home kits to 500 families in

affected villages in the District of Madhepura.Each kit contained clothes for the entire family,food items (rice, dal, flat rice, salt, biscuits, etc.)together with other necessities and large plasticsheets for shelter. Over 3,000 sets of utensilswere also distributed.

Counselling and UpliftingTogether with material relief aid, psychologi-

cal and emotional counselling has helped victimscope with the trauma. BAPS sadhus and volun-teers are actively counselling victims in the after-math of the floods. Many have found innerstrength to cope with the shock of the disaster. ◆

BAPS medical camp for flood victims Volunteers upload utensil sets for Biharflood victims in a goods train

READ SWAMINARAYAN BLISS FROM ANYWHERE

Now you can read the latest and past issuesof Swaminarayan Bliss from anywhere.

Every month, a PDF version of that month’sissue of Swaminarayan Bliss is posted on theBAPS website for free use and download.

It is full of features that make reading moreconvenient and provides links to other BAPSwebsite sections for more detail.

It’s a great way to add to your spiritualknowledge and remain in touch withSwamishri’s and the Sanstha’s activities.

Check it out on http://www.swaminarayan.org/publications/magazine/bliss/index.htm


JANMASHTAMI CELEBRATION24 August 2008, Atladra

1. Swamishri on stage during the celebration assembly.2. Swamishri blesses the devotees.3. Thousands of sadhus and devotees enjoy Swamishri’s darshan and blessings.

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JAL JHILANI CELEBRATION,11 September 2008, Ahmedabad

After 23 years, the Jal Jhilani Ekadashi was celebrated inSwamishri’s presence at the BAPS Swaminarayan mandir inAhmedabad. A giant, water pool was set up in the large au-ditorium. Swamishri presided over the concluding rituals ofthe Vedic mahapuja ceremony and performed arti. Then dur-ing Swamishri’s morning puja bhajans relating to BhagwanSwaminarayan’s divine incidents in water were sung, and thetraditional five artis were offered to Thakorji after sailing himin a remote-controlled fish-shaped boat. Finally, Swamishriblessed the thousands of devotees who attended.

More Details:http://download.baps.org/videos/2008jaljhilani.wmv http://download.baps.org/videos/2008jaljhilaniblessings.wmv

october 2008 annual subscription rs. 60 - swaminarayan sanstha

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