Shree Parabrahman Charitra Sar Sangrah

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Sadguru Ramanand Swamis First Visit to Dhamadka Ladudanjis Birth in Khangaam Purposes for the Lords Manifestation The Lords Manifestation The Lords Pilgrimage (Vanvicharan) The Boon Granted by Ramanand Swami Ladudans and Raidhanjis Divine Darshan of the Lord Ladudan Learns the Language of Brij in Bhuj Karniba Receives Divine Darshan of the Lord

10. The Lords Vanvicharan Continues 11. Ramanand Swami Leaves Bhuj and Arrives at Piplana 12. Maharaj Sports in Dhamadka 13. Maharaj Removes the Arrogance of the Four Brothers 14. Three Sadhus Eat the Food Prepared for Three Hundred People 15. Maharaj Adorns the Clothes of a Gopi 16. Maharaj Grants a Boon to Karniba 17. Dhamadkas Downfall as a Result of Disobeying the Gurus Command and Raidhanji and Others Move to Adhoi 18. Maharaj Sports in Adhoi and Yagnas are performed at both Adhoi and Dabhan 19. Maharaj Protects Raidhanji and Others at the Battle of Kokhra Mehmedabad 20. Maharaj Comes to Take Raidhanji to Dhaam and Protects Dangarvas Amaraji 21. Maharaj Sports in Kanthkot 22. The King of Kanthkot Disobeys Maharaj 23. The Kings Assistants Also Realise the Divinity of Maharaj 24. Devajis Downfall 25. The Anger of Mehta Jagjivan upon Maharaj

26. Fateh Mohamuds Words of Advice to Jagjivan 27. Maharaj Prevents All Violent Yagna 28. Jagjivan Sends an Army to Kill Maharaj 29. Jagjivan Metha Meets His Death 30. Maharaj Makes Two Vairagis into Sadhus in Bhuj 31. Sundarjibhai Asks Maharaj a Question 32. Muktanand Swami Asks How Peace of Mind is derived 33. Maharaj Gives His Darshan in Khokhra 34. Khokhras Sutar Rambhai Receives Darshan from Maharaj 35. The Powers of a Devotee of God 36. Maharaj Saves Khokhras Hirji Bhakta from Robbers 37. Maharaj Saves Kala Bhakta and Dines at His Home 38. Maharaj Comes to Take to His Dhaam, Kumbarias Misty Harjibhai and Sinugras Ekbai 39. Maharaj Comes to Escort Bhimji Patel of Sukhpur 40. Maharaj Saves Lalji Bhakta of Netra Village in the Dessert 41. Maharaj Saves Mavjibhai Mistry and the Brahmin Sukdev 42. Maharaj Saves Devji Bhakta of Samatra Village 43. Maharaj Saves the Devotees of Rampur 44. Maharaj Installs Shree Narnarayan Dev in Bhuj 45. The Miracle Performed By Narnarayan Dev at Bhuj 46. The Procession of Mundiya Bawa 47. Radhakrishna Dev and Ganshyam Maharaj are Installed in Bhuj 48. Bhujs Great Devotee Surajba 49. Maharaj Saves Lakhaji Bhakta of Bandara 50. Kaasu is liberated through Allegiance with Satsang 51. Maharaj Saves Kadamshi Bhakta from Robbers 52. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for the Prime Minister of Ider 53. Acharya Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj Visits Netra

54. Sojitras Bakorbhai and Motaps Babaram and Dakshini Brahmin become Satsangis 55. Maharaj Saves the Saints, Shivram Mehta and Kudera 56. Maharaj Saves Maandan Bhakta From Within the Ocean 57. Yama Tagra Ragvanand Swami Sends Yamas Fleeing 58. Maharaj Saves a Female Devotee 59. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for Chagan Parekh, a Brahmin of Madras and Vanik of Marvar Country 60. Maharaj Takes Ratanbai of Gagodar to Akshardham 61. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for Fulbai 62. Maharaj Liberates the Nawab of Junagadh 63. Two Saints Come to Get the Two Brothers from Hindustan 64. Maharaj Saves Manekdhar, Nandram and Others 65. Maharaj Saves Two Brahmins, Sitaram, Ayodhyaprasad and Raghuvira 66. Both Leave For Pilgrimage of Dwarika and Siddhpur 67. Rampratapbhais Vow to go to Jetalpur for Darshan on Every Full Moon Day and Rampratapbhais Displeasure 68. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for Rampratapbhai and Nandramji and Bhai Leaves For Akshrdhaam 69. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for Veniram of Luknow and a Wealthy Vanik from Janakpur 70. Maharaj Saves a Woman, Girdhari and his Wife and a Carpenters Wife 71. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for the Son of a Luhar, Hukamchand and other devotees and Bhavani Datt 72. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for an Elderly Woman of Magroli and Kaliprasad 73. Maharaj Saves a Carpenters Son, a Lady and Sankarprasad 74. Maharaj Gives Darshan to an Elderly Woman in the Jungle 75. The Greatness of Acharya Maharajshree and his Achievement of Greatness through Association with Saints 76. Acharyashrees Love in Serving Saints and How God is Pleased Though Such Service 77. How One Will Never Again Get a Chance For Liberation After Recognising the Manifest Pragat Bhagwan. The example of a Pandit. 78. Shreeji Maharaj is the Fountainhead of All Other Incarnations

79. One Should Not Liken God to Mere Man 80. One Should Realise the Difference in Correct and Incorrect Essence of Scriptures 81. The Sufferings Tolerated by the Foetus during Pregnancy 82. Bhulabhai is born in the Home of Jiva Kaka. 83. The Methods of Meditation upon the Tilas (Moles) and Cheens (Marks) 84. Non-Observance of Period of Menses Results in a Brahmins Wife Being Reborn as a Dog and Her Husband Who Ate Foods Prepared by Her to be Reborn as a Bullock 85. Accidental Observance of Ekadashi Vrata Results in the Liberation of Their Parents 86. One Should Never Take Any Items without Their Owners Consent Incidents of a Brahmin and Parvati Highlighting This 87. One Should Practice Devotion to God Along With Dharma 88. Realisation That God Is The Creator And Destroyer Of All Things Is The Source Of Atyantik Kalyan (Liberation) 89. The Greatness of Vachanamrit 90. The Lord Has Brought Forth a Ship In The Form Of This Satsang 91. The Reasons for Maharajs Manifestation upon This Earth and Maharajs Departure (Sadguru Swami Nandkishordasji) || Iti Shree Parabrahman Charitra Sarsangraha Granth Samapta ||

1. Sadguru Ramanand Swamis First Visit to Dhamadka

In the midst of Goloka resides the lustrous Akshardhaam, home to Shree Krishna Purushottam Narayan the highest form alone worthy of worship. He alone is the cause of all causes and the source of all other incarnations. For purposes of establishing Dharma and to give his devotees divine bliss, the Lord of Akshardhaam manifested upon this earth in Chappaiya to Dharma and Bhakti. Other Muktas of Akshardhaam also manifested to aid the Lord. He gave all the bliss of worshipping him upon this earth. Specifically he gave the devotees of Kutch divine bliss during Samvat Years 1861-1868 when Lord Swaminarayan extensively toured this area. Dhamadka in Kutch is famed for its choicest devotees such as Ladhaji, Ramsangji etc and women devotees, Karniba, Jijiba etc. Maharajs first encounter with Ladudanji (later to become Brahmanand Swami) also took place in Dhamadka. Ladudanji learnt Pingal Shastra (science of poetry and prosody) in Dhamadka. At the invitation of Manba, Ramanand Swami once came to Dhamadka. He resided there giving discourses and indeed initiated many into the Sampraday. At this time, Ladudanji was studying Pigal Shastra in Dhamadka. Ladudanji had developed a friendship with Raidhanji, the son of Ladhaji. Both used to daily go to Swami to hear his discourses and later realising the greatness of Swami, were initiated into the sect by him. Once, both asked Swami, O Swami! It is our belief that you are God. Swami replied, I am not God but am merely the drum beater for the God who will later manifest upon this earth. I am his servant. At that point both requested of Swami that he put them into Samadhi so that they can have darshan of the Lord in Akshardhaam. Swami explained to them, We have all come from this same Akshardhaam to be reborn upon this earth. Therefore Akshardhaam is not something which is new to you.

2. Ladudanjis Birth in Khangaam

Swami then narrated to Ladudanji the details prior to his birth. Swami explained, Once I arrived in Khangaam where I met your father Shambhudanji. I spent a lot of time there giving discourses. One day, I was giving discourses to all those assembled there when like Sukhdevji you too spoke to me from the womb of your mother and said, Swami, you give such beautiful discourses, but why do you not narrate the details of the manifestation of Lord Almighty residing in Akshardhaam? Hearing this all assembled there were amazed. Indeed your father was also inquisitive about your greatness. I narrated to him the details of your life that one day you would go to Udaipur where you would greatly impress the King in his court there with your poetry and singing. At the instruction of the King you would then learn Pingal Shastra in Dhamadka at the Kings own cost. True to this, you are now learning Pingal Shastra in Dhamadka. O Ladudanji! You have come from Akshardhaam and you will continue to become great. I am Uddhavji, and I have been sent here by Purushottam Narayan to establish the Sampraday and spread Satsang. I was therefore born in Ayodhyapur to a brahmin by the name of Ajay and his wife Sumati on Shravan Vad 8, V.K. 1795. Lord Purushottam Narayan has also manifested upon this earth to liberate innumerable souls. Realise this as the truth! Hearing these words of Swami, both Ladudanji and Raidhanji were immensely pleased.

3. Purposes for the Lords Manifestation

After listening to Jagat Guru Ramanand Swamis nectar-like words of wisdom accepting that he was the incarnation of Uddhavji, to whom Shri Krishna himself had given supreme knowledge and instructed him to manifest upon this earth for the propagation of Dharma, Ladudanji asked, O Swami! Please tell us in which country has the fountainhead of all incarnations, the Lord of Akshardhaam; Purushottam Narayan manifested? Who are his parents? What is his Gnati (caste)? What Charitra (pastimes) has he performed? Where does he reside at present? Swami was immensely pleased by Ladudans questions and replied thus, Once in Badrikashram Dhaam, Marich and other rishis came for darshan of Lord Narnarayan and sat before the Lord. The Lord enquired as to where the rishis had come from. They answered, We have been on a pilgrimage of Bharat Khanda (Earth) and have now come for your darshan. The Lord asked, Are the people of Bharat Khand worshipping Me and living in accordance to Dharma? Thus a discussion began to take place regarding the current state of Bharat Khand, when Dharma and Bhakti also came to the assembly and all were engrossed in discussions. I was also present there. At this time, Durvasa Maharshi came but as we were all deep in discussion we were not able to accord him a proper welcome. This angered Durvasa and in his fuming rage he cursed all those present, You have insulted me and therefore I curse you all to be reborn again upon the Earth. There you will face insults and difficulties from Asuras (demons, fiends)! All the rishis at once got up from their seat and bowed before the great sage and begged forgiveness but Durvasa could not be calmed. Dharma was finally able to pacify him with his soothing words. The Maharshi then said, I gave this curse to you not realising that you were deep in discussion with Lord Narnarayan. As I am unable to retract the curse I am offering you solace and blessing in the news that Dharma and Murti will be born upon the earth to a family of brahmins and the other rishis will also be born to families of twice-borns (upper three castes). Furthermore Lord Narnarayan will be born upon this earth to Dharma and Murti and will free both you and these other rishis from my curse and will protect you from the difficulties from asuras. Thus saying, the great sage left returning to Kailash. Lord Narnarayan further explained, If I wished to terminate this curse then I could easily have done so but it is evident that the duress of Kali is rampant and unrighteousness prevails on the Earth and it has become plagued with asuras. It was therefore my will that brought about this curse so that I may destroy these evil forces and uproot unrighteousness. I will therefore manifest upon the earth as your son O Dharma and Murti! I will provide succour for all of thee and will firmly establish Dharma. Therefore do not worry and prepare for manifestation on the earth. Ramanand Swami explained, Now I shall explain to you the details of the manifestation of Dharma and Murti. In the northern Kaushal town of Gorakpur on the northern bank of river Saryu there lived a brahmin by the name of Ramprasad who was of Sarvaria Samvedi Gnaati (class of brahmin). He was of Savarni Gotra and Kauthumi Shakha; who had three pravars of Bhargav, Vaithavya and Savetas. He was a firm devotee of Lord Surya. He had a son by the name of Dharanidhar. Dharanidhar was formally from Nepal and was the Rajguru for the King there. Their family deity was Hanumaan and family deity-mother was Lakshmi. To Dharanidhar was born Gangaprasad who had fine intellect. His son was Lakshman Sharma, who was of the Ramanuj Sampraday. He decided to leave Gorakpur because others there did not agree with his beliefs and faith in the Ramanuja Sampraday and therefore settled in his inlaws town of Itarpur. They begot a son Vansidhar who had a son Vedman who in turn had a son Kanhiram. Kanhiram was also of great intellect and well respected and served as the Rajguru for Tankoipur for King Sunetra. He had a son by the name of Balsharma who was

well versed in the Vedas and was an incarnation of Lord Brahma. His wife was Bhagyawati who was endowed with great qualities. To these was born Dharmadev on Kartik Sud 11 V.K. 1796 just after noon. Sanskars (religious rites) were performed as required and on the 12th day he was named Devsharma. Similarly, in Chappaiya of Kaushal Desh their lived a brahmin by the name of Krushnasharma, whose wife was Bhavani. To these was born Murti in the early morning of Kartik Sud 15 V.K. 1798. As days past she became more and more dedicated to devotion and therefore earned the name of Bhakti from childhood. Later, Bhaktis father Krushnasharma decided to have her married to Devsharma, the very incarnation of Dharma. He also requested that both stay in the same town at his home. Both lived in accordance to the tenets of a householder and worshipped Lord Shree Krishna. Seeing Devsharmas aptitude for strictly observing Dharma, he inherited the name of Dharmadev. But they could not lead a simple relaxed life there as asuras continuously harassed them and therefore decided to leave for Vrindavan expecting peace and tranquillity there. There they met up with Marich and other Rishis and so decided to stay with them and continued their devotion in peace. The Lord of Akshardhaam was immensely pleased with their devotion and granted them darshan and said, O Dharma and Bhakti! These asuras harass you because you are my devotees and in my previous incarnation as Shree Krishna, I annihilated them and therefore they have hatred for me. Therefore, I Lord Narayan will incarnate once again to destroy them and will be born to you as Harikrishna. I will save you all from there infliction and free you from Durvasas curse. I will destroy the evils in society and establish Dharma. Saying this the Lord disappeared. Dharma and Bhakti returned to Chappaiya and engrossed themselves in devotion of Lord Shree Krishna waiting for the day that God would incarnate.

4. The Lords Manifestation

After approximately ten months, the Lord manifested on Chaitra Sud 9 V.S. 1837. They received the darshan of the Lord in the brilliance of light, which later dispersed to reveal the human form. Great celebrations took place on the birth of the son. The gods had assembled in the skies to witness the occasion and began to beat drums and sprinkle flowers. Apsaras were dancing with joy, Gandharvas were singing and Munis were giving their blessings. The minds of the demigods and saints alike were at peace and enjoying bliss whilst the minds of asuras were in turmoil. The women of Chappaiya were also overjoyed singing songs and were mesmerised by the divine form of Balswarupa Lord Hari. The moonlit sky was absorbing, the air had a touch of sweet fragrance and the night sky was calm with the brilliance of stars; it resembled Akshardhaam in all its majesty. Dharmadev performed due rites and made donations to brahmins. On the sixth day an asura by the name of Kotra along with her accomplices tried to kill the Lord but the Lord sent them running with merely his drishti (inner sight). When the Lord was three months and eleven days old, Markandeya Muni in the guise of a brahmin came to the home of Hariprasad. Hariprasad requested that the Muni name the child and give details regarding his qualities. The Muni explained to Hariprasad, This child will destroy all your worries. Furthermore whomsoever becomes a disciple of this child will have their difficulties removed. As he is born in karkarashi he will be named Hari. As he has a dark complexion, which will attract the minds of many to him and he is born in the month of Chaitra, we are also naming him Krishna. By combining these two names he will also be known by a third name of Harikrishna. Your son will be endowed with the five qualities of renunciation, knowledge, penance, righteousness and Yoga like Lord Shiva and therefore will also be known by the name of Nilkanth. He continued to explain the very greatness of the child and then bid farewell to leave for pilgrimage of Prayag.

Both Dharma and Bhakti were immensely gratified by listening to the qualities of their son. The child grew month by month learning to sit in the fifth month, eat solids in the sixth month and in the seventh his ears were pierced. After three years his birth hair was removed. On this day an asura by the name of Kalidatt came to kill the Lord but again with his drishti he sent him into a state of delusion and he eventually died. Facing the tyranny from these asuras, Dharma and Bhakti with their family decided to leave Chappaiya and settled in Ayodhya. In his fifth year, the Lord began to learn to read and write the letters of the alphabet. In his eighth year he received the sacred thread (yagnopavit). He lived as a Naishtik Brahmchari and began study of Vedas, Puranas, Itihasas, etc. from his father. He took from them the essence, which consisted of Bhagwat Puranas fifth and tenth cantos, the Vasudev Mahatmya of Skand Purana, Mahabharats Bhagwad Gita, Vidurniti and Vishnusahastranaam. From the Dharmashastras he took Yagnavalkya Smruti. Hence these four extracts were compiled by the Lord in the form of a Gutko (small handbook) which he kept with him for purposes of reading. When the Lord was eleven he gave both his parents sermons on Bhagwat Dharma and freed them from the curse of the sage.

5. The Lords Pilgrimage (Vanvicharan)

After which, the Lord left his home without telling anybody. Adorn in the garb of an ascetic with jata, kaupin, dear skin, staff etc, Nilkanth Varni headed north towards the Himalayas. After many days he arrived at Muktanath where he performed intense penance to please Lord Surya. He then headed south through thick jungles and after a year met Gopal Yogi. Residing with the Yogi for a year he learned eight-fold Yoga from him and after giving him the knowledge of his greatness and sending him to the Lords Dhaam, he left to continue his journey. Visiting various places he converted and made disciples Siddhvallabh, Gopaldas and Pibek. He gave darshan to the navlakh yogis. He visited Balavakund, Gangasagar, Kapilashram, Jaganath Puri, Adikurma, Manaspur etc. In this way he extensively toured changing the hearts of all by uprooting evil. He went five days without food or water. On the sixth day he bathed Lord Shaligram with water that he found but the water was drank by the Lord in Shaligram form. Every time he poured more water it was drank by Shaligram. He thought that if the Lord is this thirsty then he must be hungry also, when Shiva and Parvati came to Nilkanths aid and provided some food. They were delighted to see Nilkanth and after paying their respects they left.

6. The Boon Granted by Ramanand Swami

Ladudan and Raidhanji were immensely gratified by hearing these nectar-like words of Ramanand Swami. Ladudanji asked if he would ever receive darshan of this Purushottam Narayan Bhagwan that has manifested. Swami replied, O Ladudanji! Yes you will surely meet the Lord. One day, on the banks of Sharan Ganga to the West of Dhamadka, you will meet a great Yogi. He will bless you and give you a boon that you will meet the Lord. Accordingly you will receive darshan of the Lord first and then subsequently the Yogi will also receive darshan. When Ladudanji asked, O Swami! When will I meet this great Yogi, Ramanand Swami replied, O Ladudan! This great Yogi is firmly dedicated to Lord Supreme and is immortal. He resides hidden at Mount Ratatal. He comes to the River Sharan Ganga daily to bathe. If you wish to meet this great Yogi then both you and Raidhanji must go to the river just before daybreak or at noon when the Yogi comes for bathing. The great Yogi will narrate details about your past and the Lords past and then bless you with a boon to have darshan of the Lord. After telling you this he will disappear. The Lord Purushottam Narayan will give you darshan soon after. Sometime later you will have darshan of the Lord in Bhuj at the residence of one Ganagaram Mall. At this time you will request from the Lord

to reside with him forever but the Lord will instead send you for further study of Pingal Shastra. After completing the studies you will receive diksha in Gadhada, renamed Swami Brahmanand and stay with the Lord forever. Saying this Ramanand Swami blessed both Ladudan and Raidhanji and left for Bhuj. Ladudanji and Raidhanji, in accordance with Swamis words daily went to the river to bathe. Once, at the time of just before daybreak they came to the river where they saw a wonderful and divine Yogi with all the hallmarks of great penance. They fell at his feet. The Yogi enquired as to their identity and Ladudan explained that their Guru had granted a boon that they would meet the great Yogi and he would grant them darshan of Purushottam Narayan. The Yogi replied, I have been running hither and dither for aeons in anticipation of darshan of Purushottam Narayan. In my lifetime I have witnessed many major incarnation such as Krishna and countless minor incarnations but I have not yet been able to find solitude in such incarnations as my devotion is only for the Lord Supreme Purushottam Narayan. By instruction from a divine voice from the heavens I have come to the West where I will one day receive darshan. 300 years have passed here residing at Mount Ratatal where I occupy my time in devotion to the Lord but I have still not received his darshan. The great Yogi was immensely pleased with both Ladudan and Raidhanji and blessed them by saying that they would received darshan of the Lord to the West of Dhamadka in one months time and instructed them to return to their residence. The Yogi then disappeared.

7. Ladudans and Raidhanjis Divine Darshan of the Lord

A month later, Ladudan and Raidhanji went to bathe at Narayan Dhara, which is towards the West of their village. At this time Nilkanth Varni was passing this area. Both saw the divine form of Varni and fell at his feet. They would not let go of Varnis feet and requested to be made a servant forever. Varni explained, It is because Ramanand Swami granted you a boon that I am giving you darshan now. I am still touring the dense forests. Ramanand Swami is Uddhavji incarnate, who has manifested in accordance to my wishes and has established the Uddhavi Sampradai. I have still not met Ramanand Swami. Once I have completed my Vanvicharan I shall enter Loj where I shall meet Muktanand Swami a disciple of Ramanand Swami. I will later meet Ramamand Swami in Piplana and receive Vaishnavi Diksha from him and be named Sahajanand Swami and Narayan Muni. In Jetpur, I will become the successor to Ramanand Swami. After some years I will come to Bhuj where you will meet me there. Therefore please let go of my feet for now. But Ladudan and Raidhanji would not let go of the Lords feet and so the Lord vanished from sight and continued his journey southwards to Mount Ratatal. There he gave darshan to the great Yogi and fulfilled all his wishes giving him immense pleasure. As for Ladudan and Raidhanji, they could not bear to be separated from Varni but found a sense of direction only after meditation upon the murti of Nilkanth Varni. They continued their studies of Pingal Shastra. Once, Ladudan was deep in meditation when he received the divine darshan of Lord Shree Hari in all his glory and majesty in Akshardhaam. News of this divine vision spread amongst those acquainted to Ladudan and all began to pray that they too would receive such darshan. They too all fell into Samadhi whereby they received darshan of Akshardhaam and within its brilliance Lord Purushottam Narayan. From that day they too were firmly devoted to the Lord.

8. Ladudan Learns the Language of Brij in Bhuj

After many years of study in Dhamadka, Ladudan left for study in Bhuj to learn Brij-bhasha (an old dialect associated with the area of Brij where Lord Shree Krishna used to reside). He

studied at a School set up by the Maharaja of Kutch, under the tutelage of Shree Abhaydanji. Abhayanandji was greatly impressed by Ladudans aptitude, understanding and memory and thus decided that Ladudan was worthy of receiving all his knowledge spanning Pigal Shastra as well as other such science and arts. With blessings of his Guru, Ladudan became a master of these arts in no time. The Maharaja bestowed honorary titles of Rajkavi Ratna, Pingal Vidhyacharya, Sahastra Shatavdhani, Mahamahopadhyaya and Mahashidhrakavivar. In this way Ladudan attained great recognition and fame throughout India. He then returned to Dhamadka again to further his Sanskrit studies under the guidance of Pandit Shree Kanak Kusharji Bhattacharya Maharaj, a very great and learned brahmin teacher who was also firmly devoted to God. On meeting each other it was evident that they had mutual respect for each others learning and greatness. In very little time, Ladudan attain advanced learning in Sanskrit and became fully versed in all scriptures. Furthermore, Ladudan became proficient in 24 of the 64 arts and sciences (which Lord Shree Krishna is famed to have mastered in 64 days under Rishi Sandipani). After completing his studies he left for Dhrangadhra, Morbi, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Bhavnagar where he greatly impressed the Kings with his singing and other skills beating the Kings singers etc. and achieving greatness. Finally he went to Gadhpur where he met the Lord again, received diksha and named Shrirangdasji which was later changed to Brahmanand as it rhymed better when used in his compositions.

9. Karniba Receives Divine Darshan of the Lord

Once the Lord gave divine darshan to Karniba. Karniba at that time requested of Maharaj that he remain permanently at her residence so that she would always have darshan. Maharaj refused but instead granted her the blessing that whenever she required she would receive the bliss of divine darshan of Maharaj in Akshardhaam. On another occasion Maharaj came to Dhamadka and remained at the residence of Karniba for 4 days. Maharaj asked for permission to leave but Karniba would not give permission and tried to persuade Maharaj to remain there always. Maharaj seeing her love explained that it is impossible for him to remain as he has many other souls to liberate which cannot be done by staying in just one place but Karniba would not listen. She ensured that the place was well guarded and locked to prevent Maharaj from leaving but Maharaj left during the night. In the morning she saw that Maharaj was not present even though the locks were untouched. She realised that Maharaj could not be prevented from leaving. She found solace in meditation where she always had divine darshan. On those days when she did not have darshan she would not eat and would become overcome by illness. When Maharaj did give her darshan she would become revitalised and eat. In this way, Karniba had the divine bliss of darshan of Maharaj at will for the rest of he life!

10.The Lords Vanvicharan Continues

After meeting Shankar Parvati, Nilkanth Varni continued his journey to Bhutpuri. There he received darshan of Shree Ramanaujacharya and then continued to Kumarikakshetra. Then onto Padmanabh, Janardhan, Adikeshav and Maliyachal where he had darshan of Shakshi Gopal. Then onto Pandharpur where he had darshan of Vithalnath and stayed there for two months. After that he performed circumabulation of Danda Karaniya and left for Nasikpur where he had darshan of Trayambakeshvar Mahadev. He followed Tapi Nadi, leading to Narbada and Sabarmati taking him to Bhimnath where he had darshan of Gopnath Mahadev.

From there he moved onwards to Mangrol and then arrived at Loj in V.K 1856, Shravan Vad 6. Here he met Muktanand Swami and others who were disciples of the Ramanand Swami, an incarnation of Uddhav. With Nilkanths deep found desire to meet Ramanand Swami, Muktanand wrote a letter to Ramanand who was residing in Bhuj at the time and had Nilkanth also write a letter to Ramanand. Muktanand instructed Mayaram Bhatt to deliver the letters to Ramanand Swami. Mayaram made his way to Bhuj at the residence of Gangaram Mull where Ramanand was staying. He offered his respects to Swami and proceeded to give him the letters. Swami realising the divine greatness of the Letter from Varni received them gladly and touched it with his forehead. He opened the letter, which filled the room with the brilliance of numerous suns, which later subsided. He read both letters with great joy. All those present such as Gangaram Mull, Sunderjibhai, Hirjibhai etc were wonder-struck. They asked, O Swami! What is this brilliance and who has sent this letter which is so divine? Swami then read the letter aloud and commented, O devotees! I have been telling you for so long that I am merely the drum beater and the real Lord worthy of worship will manifest later. I have been waiting for so long for that Lord to come and he has finally arrived. This letter is from him. How great is he? Well he is the source of all other incarnations. He is the cause of all. He is the one that resides in the greatest of heavens, Aksharbrahman. He alone is the cause of the creation, maintenance and destruction of countless universes. Shree Purushottam Narayan as Shree Krishna sent me (Uddhav) and gave me the knowledge to establish Dharma and a new Sampraday. That same Purna Purushottam Bhagwan has come to Lojpur and will one day come to Bhuj to give you all darshan also. Therefore it is my instruction to you that when he does come to Bhuj, you must become his disciple by worshipping and meditating upon him. He is the fountainhead of all incarnations and the Lord of Akshardhaam and therefore worship him incessantly. I will shortly leave to meet the Lord.

11.Ramanand Swami Leaves Bhuj and Arrives at Piplana

After receiving permission from the devotees in Bhuj to leave, Ramanand Swami explained to all, O devotees! Accept these as the final darshans in human form that you will have from me! Those present were extremely disheartened by Swamis statement and could not bear to be apart from Swami. Swami pacified them by explaining the greatness of Varni and the happiness that they would derive when he comes to Bhuj to give darshan and then left. He stayed overnight at the village of Khokhra and again on leaving from there he gave similar instruction as he did to the people of Bhuj. Swami had a throne constructed in a locked room and blessed them all by saying, The Lord would come to Khokhra in the guise of a Brahmchari and would seat himself on this throne. When this happens accept him to be God and worship him. All the devotees there present were overjoyed with Swamis words. He continued his journey back stopping over at various villages and giving bliss to those he came into contact with. He finally arrived in Piplana in the area of Sorath. He resided at the home of a brahmin by the name of Narsinha Mehta and instructed a brahmin by the name of Kunverji to go to Loj and inform Muktanand Swami of his presence at Piplana. On receiving this news, Muktanand Swami, Nilkanth Varni and other saints hurried to Piplana and met Swami on V.S. 1856, Jeth Vad 12. All were immensely please to receive darshan of Ramanand Swami. Swami welcomed Muktanand and the others and embraced Nilkanth Varni with great love. He asked about his wellbeing. Nilkanth at that time introduced himself and provided information about who he was, where he had come from and extensive details about Vanvicharan. Swami was immensely pleased with Varni and explained, O Brahmchari! You are ours as both your mother and father were initiated into our sect at Prayag.

Swami initiated Varni into the sect on V.S. 1857, Kartik Sud 11 by giving Bhagwati Diksha and was given the new name of Swami Sahajanand. He was also given the name Narayan Muni. Later they all left for Jetpur and on V.S. 1858, Kartik, Sud 11, Sahajanand Swami was anointed as the Leader and successor to Ramanand Swami. In V.S. 1858, Magshir Sud 13, Ramanand Swami left his mortal body in Fareni and was freed from Durvasas curse. On the fourteenth day after Swamis departure, a great assembly was called by Swami Sahajanand consisting of saints and haribhaktas. He pacified all those who were grieving at the loss of Ramanand Swami. They all later returned to Mangrol where a great Vishnu Yag was arranged and it was at this time that Maharaj began his Samadhi Prakran, whereby devotees would receive darshan of their own ishtadev. As a result many became firmly devoted to Maharaj.

12.Maharaj Sports in Dhamadka

Once Shreeji Maharaj came to Dhamadka. On hearing news that Maharaj was due to come, the Darbar (Leader) of Dhamadka, Ladhaji along with his sons, Kalyansinhaji, Ramsinhaji, Raidhanji and Adaji as well as all the devotees of Dhamadka came to receive Maharaj from the outskirts of the city with great pomp and pleasure. They fell at Maharajs feet and attained the bliss of performing Dandvat Pranam. Maharaj resided in Dhamadka for many days and passed his time by giving pleasure to the people of Dhamadka by accepting their service. He stayed at the Darbar of Ladhaji where he would give spiritual sermons. He gave pleasure to all by performing many leelas in Dhamadka and receiving the foods prepared by them. He would daily at times of early morning and noon go to Narayan Dhara for bathing along with all the saints and devotees. Once they all assembled for bathing at Narayan Dhara but there was a group of crocodiles in the water. All the devotees were frightened and began to retreat but Maharaj calmed them by saying, The crocodiles have come for my darshan therefore fear not, and so Maharaj lead the way to enter the waters. Maharaj put all the crocodiles into a still state of Samadhi by giving a divine glance upon the crocodiles, whereby all could bathe peacefully. Indeed the crocodiles were like planks floating upon the water and so Maharaj said to everyone, Sit upon the crocodiles and wash your clothes! All the devotees were mesmerised by this. After bathing and washing their clothes, Maharaj instructed everyone to leave the waters and Maharaj again gave his divine glance upon the crocodiles, which took them out of Samadhi state. In a nearby field there were date plants which were full of delicious dates. Maharaj used to eat first and foremost as prashad and then distribute to the devotees there present. Maharaj used to often dive into the waters of Narayan Dhara and would hide underwater and the saints and haribhaktas would try to find Maharaj. He would sometimes hold the hand of a blessed choicest devotee and enter the water with him and they would have the pleasure of splashing the water on one another. In this way, Maharaj performed some great leelas giving happiness to all devotees at Dhamadka.

13.Maharaj Removes the Arrogance of the Four Brothers

Once, Maharaj asked the Raidhanji and his brothers, Who is the strongest out of you four brothers? Ramsangji replied, O Maharaj, Raidhanji is the strongest out of all of us! There is none stronger than he. Maharaj enquired, How strong is Raidhanji? The three brothers replied, O Maharaj! Raidhanji is so strong that he can crush eight green coconuts with his body in one go!

Maharaj in amazement enquired, How is it possible for him to break eight coconuts in one go? Ramsangji answered, O Maharaj! He places two coconuts under his armpits, two in between the lower and upper arms, two across his thighs and the final two at his knees. And then he breaks them all in one go! Furthermore he can break a betel nut with his fingers! Similarly it does not matter how thick a sugar cane is but he can break it easily with his bare hands. Maharaj said nothing in reply to this and they all went to eat. After eating, they took mukhvas (mouth cleanser/freshener) and assembled together. Maharaj asked Raidhanji, O Raidhanji! Do you know how to wrestle? Raidhanji replied, Yes Maharaj! Then wrestle with me, insisted Maharaj. Raidhanji in amazement asked Maharaj, do you know how to wrestle? Maharaj replied, Yes I do. When I was younger, I learnt to wrestle in Ayodhya. Therefore get ready! Maharaj commanded all four brother to get ready to wrestle but the brothers were hesitant as they thought to themselves that if they were to fight with Maharaj, who is God, then it would be seen as a great insult. Maharaj pacified them and said, There is no need to worry as we are all equal here! Hearing this they got ready to fight. Maharaj told all four brothers to grab hold of his arms but the brothers again became hesitant thinking that Maharajs body was weak with the intense penance that he had subjected it to and so if they did grab hold and pull then they would surly break Maharajs fragile body. But Maharaj convinced them to continue and as they grabbed hold of Maharaj, Maharaj was able to reverse the hold and grab hold of the two of the brothers in headlocks and the other two with his legs. In this way Maharaj was able to defeat all four brothers together. The four brothers tried with great effort to get out of Maharajs hold but they were unsuccessful. Maharaj had them beat. After a while, the brothers were weakened and began to sweat profusely and accepted defeat. Maharaj released them. Maharaj asked, I thought you said that you were strong and this Raidhanji had immense strength? The brothers realised their mistake and thus their arrogance was removed. They now began to realise the greatness in strength and prowess of the Lord who in his previous incarnation as Shree Krishna at the mere age of eleven had defeated the elephant Kuvalyapid that had the strength of ten thousand elephants. He had grabbed the elephant by its tail, spun it and threw it miles away onto the army of Jarasandh. They also remembered how Shree Krishna had killed Kansa who also had the strength of ten thousand elephants and how he had defeated the wrestlers who themselves were immensely strong. Having fought with Maharaj they had now realised that the strength of the Lord was infinite and that their strength was nothing in comparison. They saluted Maharaj and begged for forgiveness.

14.Three Sadhus Eat the Food Prepared for Three Hundred People
Once Maharaj came to Dhamadka to Ladhajis residence where a wedding was taking place. Karniba and the others were all busy in preparations and tasks and so did not realise that Maharaj had come. Another person saw Maharaj and began to tell Karniba that Maharaj had arrived. All the womenfolk left their nominated tasks and came to Maharaj and performed his poojan. She asked about Maharajs wellbeing and so Maharaj requested some food, as he was mightily hungry. After feeding Maharaj, three Sadhus arrived and they too explained that they were hungry, as they had not had any food for the last three days. Karniba extended an invitation to them but Maharaj said to Karniba, O Karniba! You will not be able to provide fully for these Sadhus and so if they do go hungry then they will surly make a point of this whereby diminishing you. Karniba replied, Maharaj, we have prepared food for three hundred guests at the wedding, Im sure that we can cater for these three Sadhus!

Furthermore it would not be right if we turn them away and they have to beg for alms when everyone else is here eating sumptuous meals at the ready. Karniba brought the food out and Maharaj began to serve it to them. But however much they brought out, it was all eaten by these three Sadhus! When the plates are empty, Maharaj asks whether they are full yet but they reply that they are still very hungry and so more is brought out. This happened many times over and Karniba began to think to herself, I have brought so much food out and yet they still do not say no and now we have nearly finished all that we had! In this was Maharaj had served all the food prepared for the three hundred guests to just these three Sadhus! Maharaj asked again, O Sadhus! You look like you are full now? But they replied, O Maharaj! We are still hungry. If there is more food then please bring it to us! Only Yoghurt now remained in the house and so Maharaj requested Karniba to bring that and served it to the saints. However the saints were still hungry! Finally Ghee was brought out and given to the saints but still this was not enough. Karniba was dismayed, as she now had nothing more to give. At the request of the family, she prayed with folded hands to Maharaj and accepted defeat. She requested that Maharaj do something to alleviate her problem. Maharaj was pleased with her and said, O Karniba! I told you from the beginning that you would not be able to satiate their hunger but yet you still went ahead disobeying me and now you ask me to sort things out. What can I do now? The saints are still hungry. At that moment another twenty Sadhus came and embraced Maharaj. Maharaj asked about their wellbeing. The saints all said that they were extremely hungry as they had not eaten for three days. Maharaj requested Karniba to bring some food out for these saints. She brought out Sidhu (basic food preparation) which she had in the house and Maharaj distributed it to the twenty saints as well as the previous three, which were there. As this was Maharajs instruction, the saints were satiated by this and indeed the food did not seem to diminish at all there seemed to be an everlasting supply as Maharaj served it. This was also served to the three hundred guests and all were happily fed. In this way Maharaj performed many divine leelas in Dhamadka. Those who with faith read, listen or speak of these sports of the Lord will attain the Lords Akshardhaam as all their sins will be washed away.

15.Maharaj Adorns the Clothes of a Gopi

Once Maharaj left for Dhamadka from Manukuva on his own. On his way he gave away all his clothings except for a Dhoti which adorned the lower part of his body. He came to Karniba where she enquired, O Maharaj! Why have you come in such guise on your own? Have you been looted on the way? Maharaj smiled and said, O Karniba! Leave such talk and please bring me some food as I am hungry. However nothing was prepared in the house and could not wait for Karniba to prepare some foods as he was so hungry. Karniba suggested Yoghurt, which Maharaj agreed to. Seven or eight containers of Yoghurt were brought out and eaten by Maharaj! Karniba then brought some ghee out for Maharaj as he was still hungry. Four measures of ghee were consumed by Maharaj and then Maharaj said, I can now wait for you to prepare some food and so please hurry and prepare me something. Karniba lovingly prepared some food and gave it to Maharaj. After satiating his hunger he drank some water and then took mukhvas. He then sat on his throne and began to stroke his feet and noticed splinters and requested Karniba to remove them. She took Maharajs feet in her hands and removed eighteen splinters. Maharaj was immensely pleased with her and blessed her, O Karniba! Today you have removed the splinters from my feet and therefore accept that all the splinters of worldly life have been removed from you! Maharaj saw some new clothing that Karniba had recently acquired. Karniba requested Maharaj to purify them by adorning them and giving darshan as a Gopi. Maharaj decided

that he had manifested for the purpose of granting all the wishes of his choicest devotees and so decided to adorn the clothing. Karniba said to Maharaj, O Maharaj! You will not know how to wear our clothing and so let me help you put them on! In this was Karniba helped Maharaj wear the clothes and bedeck him with jewellery and other ornaments. All the women came for darshan of Maharaj as a Gopi and they sang songs. Raidhanji hearing the songs also came and received divine darshan of Maharaj as a Gopi. He asked, O Maharaj! Why is it that you have dressed as a Gopi? Maharaj replied, What can I do. I was just the one and the women were many and so they all got together and dressed me as they are dressed! Its not my fault, what can I do on my own? All the haribhaktas burst into laughter! They were immensely pleased with this manushya-leela of his. Brahmanand Swami and other saints also came in search of Maharaj and they too had darshan of Maharaj in the guise of a Gopi and were immensely pleased by it. Swami composed a kirtan of these events, Gopi baniya Giradhari Once after Maharaj departed to Dhaam, he gave darshan to Karniba and instructed her to donate the clothes and ornaments that he wore to the temple at Bhuj. These have been preserved within the Aksharbuvan at Bhuj temple.

16.Maharaj Grants a Boon to Karniba

Once Maharaj had come to Dhamadka from Bhuj and all the saints and devotees were assembled in a congregation. Karniba noticed Maharaj stroking his feet and asked whether there were still some splinters, which were causing him pain that she was unable to remove previously. Maharaj replied that he did not have any splinters but was stroking his feet as he merely had a habit to do so and he continued to give sermons on Dharma etc. He took some thaal and then decided to go to Bhachau where he dined at Bhakta Shree Vaghasha. He continued to Adhoi and then onto Gujarat. After a while, he returned back to Dhamadka. He resided at Ladhajis home where Karniba served him dearly. Delighted by her service, Maharaj granted her a boon and so asked her to request any favour from Maharaj. Karniba made Maharaj confirm that he would grant whatever wish that she so pleased and then said, O Maharaj! I request that my four sons reach and receive the happiness of your Dhaam before I do. Similarly I request that my husband also reach your Dhaam before me and are blessed by serving you always. Maharaj hearing this, for some time sat in silence shocked by what Karniba had requested and hesitated in granting such wish as it would be difficult and improper to grant whereby a mother outlives all her children. However Karniba insisted by saying, I would rather see my sons off to Dhaam first as if I was to leave before them then who knows what may happen to them and what actions they may do as they may even fight over the estate? Similarly if I leave before my husband then who will take care of him after I leave? Therefore I have decided thus. Maharaj was gratified by her words and granted the boon. Karniba requested a further boon, Whomsoever leaves their body in my Darbar be it man or animal should be accompanied to your Dhaam by either yourself or your saints. This was also granted. Maharaj then left for Bhuj. The boons granted by Maharaj came true just as she requested. It is said that even today, those that leave their mortal body in the Darbar at Dhamadka are promoted to Akshardhaam and Maharaj or his saints come to take them but the servants of Yama are banned from entering such place. Just before Karniba departed to Dhaam all the assets of her estate were transferred to the temple at Bhuj.

17.Dhamadkas Downfall as a Result of Disobeying the Gurus Command and Raidhanji and Others Move to Adhoi

The King of Bhuj was Bharmalji and the King of Dhamadka was Gajaji (Gajansinhaji). Both were related to each other and once Bharmalji sent a letter requesting help from Gajaji as Bharmalji was facing defeat at the hands of one Fateh Mohamud, who had become strong in Bhuj. Bharmalji read the letter and was astonished and saddened by the fact that Gajaji was facing such atrocities at the hands of this Muslim Moghel. He was ready to leave for Bhuj to vanquish him and went to his Guru Ramanand Swami for his blessings. Swami meditated upon the Lord and replied, Do not go to Bhuj as you will surely face defeat. It is Gods will that this Fateh Mohamud gains power. Gajaji heeded the words of Swami and did not go to Bhuj. Swami left for another town. After some time, the request from Bhuj again arose. This time Gajaji decided to forget and disobey what Swami had commanded and came to Bhuj to where Fateh Mohamud was residing. Fateh did not realise his ulterior motive and so welcomed him. He did not realise that Gajaji had a sword hidden on him with Fatehs name on it. Waiting for the right moment he took out the sword and threw a blow to Fateh but Fateh had seen it coming and had moved just it time for the sword to hit the pillar beside him instead. The associates of Fateh came to his aid and grabbed hold of Gajaji and killed him. Fateh had learnt the Gajaji had disobeyed the command of his Guru, Ramanand Swami who was residing in Bhuj at present. He thought to himself that the Guru had acted in his interest and so he began to develop respect for Ramanand Swami and so wished for his darshan. Ramanand Swami also learnt of Fatehs affection for him and came to give him darshan. Fateh and his associates all arose and paid their respects to Ramanand Swami. After Ramanand departed from this earth, Fateh also accepted the greatness of his successor, Sahajanand Swami and had great respect for him. After many years, Gajajis younger brother also tried to kill Fateh as his hatred for him grew. Fateh was angered by this and he took an army with him to Dhamadka to fight. He barged into the fortress there and destroyed Dhamadka in its entirety. The younger brother of Gajaji fled that same night. Raidhanji and brothers, Karniba, Jijiba and others all left also and decided to reside in Adhoi under the control of the King of Morbi. The King welcomed them and gave them shelter there as Raidhanji and his brothers were his cousin brothers (masyai bhai).

18.Maharaj Sports in Adhoi and Yagnas are performed at both Adhoi and Dabhan
Maharaj once made his way to Rapar at the residence of Samatji Sarvaiya. Samatji was blind and Maharaj came and said that he was a Sadhu of Lord Swaminarayan but Samatji saw through this and correctly identified him as Lord Swaminarayan himself by feeling the body of Maharaj. When Maharaj asked how he was able to identify him, he remarked, When I felt your body I realised that such a beautiful body could only belong to God. Maharaj was greatly impressed and said, You are blind yet your internal eyes are wide open. Samatji then requested Mulji Brahmchari to prepare food for Maharaj and they all dined. Samatji was a great Vedantin and so he asked Maharaj a number of questions on this subject. For seven days and nights Samatji questions Maharaj who provided the answers and Mulji prepared foods. Maharaj then bid farewell and went to Adhoi to Ladhajis residence where he stayed for two months and often went to bathe at the nearby lake with all the saints and devotees. Opposite the lake there is a well with steps in which Maharaj also used to go to bathe. Maharaj used to go for darshan of Pataleshvar Mahadev there.

Once Maharaj requested Karniba to give him some ghee as he had heard that Karniba made some delicious ghee. Karniba made some ghee from the milk of some buffaloes. Maharaj was impressed and drank all of the ghee. When Karniba looked in the vessel she observed that it was clean finished - there wasnt even a sticky residue left behind! Karniba commented, Just as you drank the milk from the breast of Putana during Krishna Avatar and did not leave anything behind by even sucking the life-force from her as well, you have drunk all of the ghee today. You have not even left the sticky residue! Maharaj joked, Well you didnt ask me to leave anything behind! to which Karniba replied, You could have at least left some prasadi if nothing else, hearing this Maharaj burst into laughter. After two months, Maharaj continued his journeys giving bliss to his devotees of different towns and villages. From Adhoi he went to Tera, Kara Talav, Mankuva, Bhuj and Anjar. He then returned to Adhoi. After spending a few days there he told the devotees of Adhoi that he was going to leave for Dabhan where he is to organise a Maharudra Yagna. He told them that he would send an invitation once the time comes and for them to follow at such time. Karniba however said to Maharaj, Why not perform the Yagna here instead? It would be difficult for us women to make the journey to Dabhan. But Maharaj would not listen and left for Dabhan. Karniba was greatly upset by this and streams of tears flowed from her eyes. She went to where Maharaj slept to tidy the area where she saw Maharaj lying there. She was amazed as she had clearly just seen Maharaj leave for Dabhan. Maharaj explained to her that he was greatly pleased with her devotion and therefore would perform the Yagna there. All the devotees of Kutch, Gujarat and Kathiawad got together there. A great Yagna was organised and brahmins were called to perform the Yagna. The devas were satiated immensely through the Yagna as ghee and other grains were continuously poured and offered into the Yagna Kund. Countless brahmins were fed and gratified by giving gifts. Many saints and devotees were delighted by being fed sweets and the like. Just as Maharaj had performed the Yagna at Adhoi, a similar Yagna was performed in Dabhan where Maharaj had taken multiple forms to successfully perform both Maharudra Yagnas simultaneously. Maharaj then arrived in Gujarat after giving such happiness to all the people at both Dabhan and Adhoi.

19.Maharaj Protects Raidhanji and Others at the Battle of Kokhra Mehmedabad

Maharaj once came to Kokhra Mehmedabad, where there resided many Lolangar Khakhi Bawas. They attempted to grab hold of Maharaj and imprison him. However the valiant and courageous Ramsangji and Raidhanji from Dhamadka, Amroji and Agroji from Dangarva and Bechar Chavda from Morbi and others came to Maharajs aid to protect him. They fought gallantly and a great battle ensued but they eventually defeated the enemy. Maharaj was greatly pleased with their courage and embraced each and every warrior lovingly. He blessed them all by placing his hand over their heads and bodies. By doing so all the pains inflicted and bullets that had penetrated their body were removed. The bullets fell to the ground. The great warriors had anywhere between 20 and 50 bullets lodged within them. Raidhanji alone had 75 bullets lodged within him. Maharaj said, The great Darbar Raidhanji has the most bullets lodged within him but he still has one further bullet in his forehead, why dont we leave that bullet there? Raidhanji replied, O Maharaj! I am your faithful servant and so if you are happy with that then so be it. However I have one request, which I plead to you with folded hands I request that you come to take me to your Dhaam from my Darbar in my final days. Furthermore I request that whomsoever that departs from my Darbar are accompanied to your Dhaam by either yourself or your saints but the servants of Yama do not enter such place. Shreeji Maharaj was pleased with Raidhanjis plea and granted his wish by saying Tathastu. The bullet remained within Raidhanjis forehead and all could see it as it

formed a lump yet by the will of Maharaj it did not cause him any pain. Maharaj was immensely pleased by all the other warriors and so he asked them all in turn to request a boon and they also requested the same. In this way Lord Swaminarayan protects his most choicest and faithful devotees and comes to accompany such a person to his Akshardhaam at the time of death, where they enjoy untold happiness. Those that are not devoted to the Lord are inflicted with immense pain and suffering and after death are sent to the hells where they receive further torture.

20.Maharaj Comes to Take Raidhanji to Dhaam and Protects Dangarvas Amaraji

To fulfil the boon granted to Raidhanji, Maharaj came to escort Raidhanji to Akshardhaam in V.S. 1908 at 3 o clock in the afternoon. A procession including a golden carriage with eight elephants, five hundred Paramhansas including Saints, Varnis and Parshads and five hundred more armed guards upon horses made there way to the Darbar. Maharaj gave Raidhanji divine darshan and giving him a divine healthy body, Raidhanji sat upon the golden carriage upon one of the elephants. The procession continued northwards. All the residents of the town looked on in surprise and splendour as a five hundred gun salute was raised, the sound of which spread to all corners of the universe. In this time Raidhanji had departed to Akshardhaam. The onlookers realised that all this was Lord Swaminarayans doing and that he had taken all these forms to come and take Raidhanji to Akshardhaam. The weapons of Raidhanji such as his sword, gun and shield were prasadi vastu as the Lord had touched them and so later the descendants of Raidhanji donated them to Bhuj temple where they are preserved in Aksharbhuvan for all to see and have darshan of. Thus Dhamadka and its residents are blessed by countless leelas of Maharaj and the idol of Radhakrishna at the Thakkar Mandir that is also blessed as Lord Swaminarayan performed its poojan. The southern recess area of the temple is also divine as Maharaj often used to sit there. To the West of Dhamadka there is a temple of Lord Shankar, which Maharaj has also performed the poojan of and therefore it too is extremely divine. Thus Maharaj has extensively toured all areas of Dhamadka giving it divine greatness, even more than Vrindavan some say. Detailed accounts of the leelas that were performed in Dhamadka were passed down from generation to generation from Raidhanji to his son Rajmalji and then onto his son Jeshaji. Similarly Karniba narrated some other incidents to Raidhanjis wife who passed it down to her grandson Jeshaji also. Jeshaji then narrated these entire incidents to the author of this scripture, Sadguru Swami Nandkishordasji and therefore this scripture is great and will lead readers to salvation. Once Dangarvas Amaraji had seen a group of barbarians attempting to hunt and kill a dear. The dear was frightened and came to hide in between two bullocks belonging to Amaraji on his farm. Amaraji thought to himself, This dear has come to me for shelter and so I must act! He confronted the barbarians trying to hunt down the dear and fought against them. He fought gallantly and defeated them all killing many but one of them had successfully fired an arrow, which had lodged in the stomach of Amaraji. Amaraji removed the wooden part of the arrow but the metal tip stayed in his body lodged there. It had remained in him for twelve years when once Maharaj came to Dangarva and he removed it through his divine will. Maharaj praised him saying, O Amaraji! Because of the fruits received by protecting a dear you have harboured this metal tip of an arrow within you for twelve years, yet it has not caused you any pain. The tip is still kept today by the descendants of Amaraji.

21.Maharaj Sports in Kanthkot

Originally Ramanand Swami had developed satsang in Kanthkot and indeed it had spread to most of the towns and villages of Vagad from there. Maharaj had often visited Kanthkot and performed some divine leelas there. Maharaj used to reside in the open court just opposite the Thakkar temple. Maharaj used to perform poojan of the idols of Radhakrishna within this temple. He also used to sit in the southern recess area to the temple, where there is an idol of Shree Hanuman, which Maharaj also used to perform poojan of. In the courtyard, Maharaj used to often arrange huge assemblies and sit under the Ambli tree there. He used to go and bathe in the Pattasar river on the outskirts of the town with his five hundred Paramhansas. On the banks of the river there is a temple of Patteswar Mahadev where Maharaj has performed pooja and often assembled with the saints for religious discourse. Near the mountains there are caves which Maharaj used to instruct the santo and haribhaktos to go into but the haribhaktas were scared as tigers, lions and the like used to roam there. Maharaj explained that such animals are in his control and so the haribhaktas used to go into the cave and inside used to fall into Samadhi and the lions and tigers would serve them by smelling them, walking around them and then bowing before them. The snakes would freely wrap themselves around the haribhakatas in Samadhi and then leave. Once Maharaj came from Bhachau and Adhoi to Kanthkot on his own. He came to the grocery shop of Kachara Bhagat who was selling vegetables and the like and said, O Kachara Bhagat! Jay Shree Swaminarayan. Kachara Bhagat got up at once and performed dandavat of Maharaj. Maharaj asked him what he was doing to which he replied that he was selling shaka etc. Maharaj explained that he was hungry and wanted something to eat but nothing was ready and he was busy at the time serving customers so Maharaj would have to wait. Maharaj said, O Kachara! I am so hungry that I cannot wait so you go and make some food and Ill serve your customers! Kachara went into the house to make some food whilst Maharaj served the customers but he thought to himself, Maharaj is in the shop serving the customers but he is extremely compassionate and therefore would take little money from them and give everything away. All the effort that I go through by bringing them all the way from Adhoi would be wasted. In this time a lady came to the shop. She said, Who are you? Where is Kachara Bhagat? I wish to buy some shaka. Maharaj asked, He has gone out for a while and so Im standing in for him. What would you like? She replied, Id like two kilos of aubergines please. Maharaj continued to weigh the aubergines but put one too many on the scales and so he removed a large one and replaced it with a smaller aubergine. He then said, All right sister, here is your shaka! She commented, Kachara Bhagat is much more generous and would give one or two aubergines more. Why are being so selfish and tight as if you are selling gold? Therefore give me one extra! Maharaj replied, Enough of the lipand say no more! If you want the aubergines then here otherwise be on your way and go! You wont get any more because I have to bring this shaka all the way from Adhoi with great effort and time over such a long distance! Kachara heard this and was amazed by Maharajs businesslike nature and so was confident in his abilities and put his mind to rest. He resumed preparing the foods happy that Maharaj was looking after the shop. He lovingly fed Maharaj after he had prepared the foods. The next day, many saints and Parshads came there and resided at Thakker Muljis home. Mulji also fed Maharaj and the saints at his home thereby receiving the bliss of doing so. Similarly Thakker Vaghji and Pancha also invited everyone over to dine there. In this way

Maharaj gave bliss to all devotees of Kanthkot for many days residing there receiving their service.

22.The King of Kanthkot Disobeys Maharaj

The King of Kanthkot, Devaji was unrighteous and would take money from saints wishing to bathe in a nearby well. Sinful as he was, Maharaj began to take a dislike towards the King. He would kill cows and commit other such atrocities and thus he developed a hatred of Maharaj who was the very icon of goodness. Once Maharaj decided to meet him and explain to him his improper ways, O King! You are a King and therefore you should safeguard Sadhus and Cows but yet you take money from Sadhus and kill cows. This is improper. Therefore I request that you refrain from doing so as a Kings duties are to provide succour for cows, Brahmins and sadhus. You also practice infanticide that again is unsuitable, therefore please abstain from doing this as well. Devaji made many excuses as to why he could not stop these atrocities and even tried to convince Maharaj that he was doing the right thing for the good of the kingdom! Maharaj tried to persuade him further by citing the examples of Hiranyakashipu and Ravana whom both faced destruction as a result of their sinful ways. He explained that living in accordance with Dharma is a means to salvation and honourable life. Devaji was not prepared to listen and so Maharaj cursed him that another King would come and loot all the wealth of the kingdom and they would destroy Kanthkot! The King saw these as mere threats and disregarded them commenting, Do what you want, you are nobody! Maharaj replied, Enjoy your kingdom for six months but within that time it will be destroyed and you will have nothing! He left Kanthkot instructing his devotees that if they wished for happiness then they too would leave the kingdom. All the devotees acceded to Maharajs command and left Kanthkot to set up residence elsewhere.

23.The Kings Assistants Also Realise the Divinity of Maharaj

All the devotees of Maharaj left Kanthkot and set up residence in various places such as Chabari, Ramvav, Adhoi, Chitrod, Kidianagar, Gagodar. Maharaj instructed Kachara Bhagat to leave at once and himself sold all his belongings in exchange for cash and got ready all other such valuable items to take with him to Adhoi. The King Devaji realised that Kachara was getting ready to go and taking all his wealth with him and so he commanded his assistants, the Mians, to leave at once and loot Kachara and bring back all his belongings. They hurried to the site where Maharaj and Kachara were. Maharaj gave them divine darshan of himself in all his glory. They all so the majestic form of Maharaj in the form of their own ishtadev. The Mians thought that Maharaj was in fact their Lord Allah and were disillusioned in the thought that their king had sent them to loot their own Allah and thus began to fault their ways. They fell at Maharajs feet and begged for forgiveness. They requested that Maharaj make them his disciples and command them to do as he willed. Maharaj instructed them to help carry the belongings of Kachara and the other devotees and safely reach Adhoi. In this way Maharaj initiated them and made them satsangis. Maharaj was greatly pleased by the service of the Mians who had aided the haribhaktas by carrying their belongings. Maharaj commanded them to return to Kanthkot but they were not interested as they longed to stay with the Lord. But Maharaj asked them to return and insisted that they do not kill Devaji. When they returned to the King they began to insult him and explain to him that Swaminarayan was Khuddah and that he should be shameful that he disregarded him and drove him away. They pointed out the fault in his ways. The King was angered by this insolence of their ways and asked them to leave the city. They left the city and settled

elsewhere. They worshipped Lord Swaminarayan for the rest of their days as their ishtadev Allah. In this way when they left their bodies they were reborn in the homes of satsangis. Two of the most prominent Mians were born as the sons of Padamsi Seth of Ramvav. At a very early age they had the desire for renunciation and so became Sadhus. They were given Bhagwati Diksha by Acharya Ayodhyapradji Maharaj and named Swamis Chaitanyadasji and Uddhavdasji. Swami Chaitanyadasji stayed in Ahmedabad but Swami Uddhavdasji decided to stay in Vadtal. Swami Chaitanyadasji achieved greatness and became very great learned who participated and won many debates throughout India to glorify the greatness of Lord Swaminarayan. He was also very proficient in the art of music and song. It is said that when Swami Chaitanyadas was on his deathbed, Maharaj did not come to take him immediately and so he requested his disciple to bring him his sarod and sang the kirtan, re shamariya, tum kayunahi sambharathai. By the time Swami completed one verse, Maharaj came to him and said, O Chaitanyadasji! Get ready to come to Akshardham now! Saying this he immediately left his mortal frame! Such was the greatness of this saint who was the Guru of Swami Bhaktinandandasji of Marvar. Those that even remember this Swami would surely reach the Lords Dhaam!

24.Devajis Downfall
Five months had passed and as a result of disobeying Maharajs commands, the King of Kanthkot was ready to face defeat. The Emperor of Bhuj, Fateh Mohamud got ready his massive army to invade Kanthkot. He destroyed the kingdom beyond all recognition by assembling the army of the mountains nearby and letting metal spears rain onto Kanthkot. The King was defeated and he faced downfall. He faced hunger as no one would feed him and his clothing had been torn. He made his way bare-footed to Adhoi. He luckily found his way to Kachara Bhagats house and began to cry profusely in front of him. He begged Kachara Bhagat to give him some food as he had been without food for three days. Kachara Bhagat reminded him of his days when he used to ask Sadhus to pay to bathe and asked what had happened to that money that he now has to beg! Devaji realised his faults and now was aware that it was because of his sinful ways that he now faced downfall. He realised that his biggest mistake was to disregard Maharajs wishes and insult him. Seeing him cry like this, Kachara Bhagat was overcome with compassion and asked his wife Dhanbai to make some rotlas. She spread some ghee over it and offered it to Maharaj and then gave it to Devaji. Kachara forgave Devaji and initiated him into the sect by giving him panch vratman to live a life of piety. He died the very next day. This was the downfall that Devaji faced through disrespecting and insulting saints. This is the lesson to be learnt that such disrespect towards saints will surly lead to ones downfall, just as Jay-Vijay faced downfall by disrespecting the saints Sanakadi Rishis. Therefore one should never act to disrespect the Lordss devotees or saints. This story was narrated by Kachara Bhagat to his son Karsan and then to Manji Bhakta. Manji Bhakta then narrated it to the author of this scripture.

25.The Anger of Mehta Jagjivan upon Maharaj

Once Maharaj was residing at Gangarams house in Bhuj. The devotees there got constructed a hindola (swing), beautifully decorated with flowers and requested Maharaj to sit in it so that they could derive the pleasure in swinging the Lord. At that time Jagjivan went to Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple but saw that there were no flowers upon the Shivalinga as offerings in pooja. He enquired as to why Shiva had not been propitiated with flowers that day to which the Pujari explained that Lord Swaminarayan had come to Bhuj and a swing decorated with flowers had been constructed and therefore all the flowers had been used up. Jagjivan was greatly angered by the fact that there were no flowers for the worship of Shiva because of this Swaminarayan and so he sent an army to Gangaram Mulls house to capture

Maharaj. Ganagaram hearing that an army was about to attempt to capture Maharaj, stood guard at the door with sword in hand along with Manukuvas Adabhai. Similarly other Ksatriyas (members of the warrior class) also stood guard armed to protect Maharaj and prepared to destroy anyone that dare touch Maharaj! The sun had set as the army approached, Ganagram gave a mighty roar similar to that of a lion and said, Who goes there! Beware your fate should anyone of you enter this house, as we will surely cut you into tiny pieces with our swords! Hearing these cries of Ganagram and seeing the fearful forms of Adaji and the others the army fled just like a jackal would flee in fear of a lion! Gangaram sent Valjibhai to Fateh Mohamud and said to him, O Emperor! Are you our leader or is Jagjivan our leader? If you are our leader then why has this Jagjivan sent an army to capture our guru Lord Swaminarayan? Therefore he should be imprisoned and suitably punished. He had made many attempts to injure Maharaj, the consequences of which are unthinkable! Hearing these words, Fateh immediately sent for Jagjivan and scolded him with harsh words saying, O Jagjivan! If you continue to inflict hardship on Swaminarayan then you will surely face death here in Bhuj! Jagjivan was scared by these words of the Fateh and in this way Fateh Mohamud had on many occasions come to the aid of Lord Swaminarayan and sided with him.

26.Fateh Mohamuds Words of Advice to Jagjivan

Jagjivan lived in Visnagar and was a brahmin by caste. Originally he was very poor who had gained success and recognition because of Fateh Mohamud who had enlisted him as a minister and secretarial advisor. It was because of this that he developed arrogance and opposed Maharaj. Fateh Mohamud was very righteous and would often advise Jagjivan to renounce his hatred for Maharaj. He explained to Jagjivan, Swaminarayan is indeed a great person and by trying to ruin him you are merely sealing your own fate. Heed my words for if you attempt to oppose him then I will drive you out of my kingdom! You will only face hardship should you choose to not listen to my words. There is no benefit in having contempt for Swaminarayan who is a Sadhu Purusha. Indeed I myself yearn to serve him and follow his every order therefore you should display the same respect for him. Because of your hatred for him I am likely to face hardships and therefore refrain from such thoughts. He tried in this way on many occasions to remove the hatred Jagjivan had. Once Maharaj was heading south of Bhuj along with his saints and haribhaktas to bathe. Fateh Mohamud was passing this way and for the first time they met. They had never before met but he had just heard the greatness of Maharaj and respected him greatly. He saw Maharaj from afar and saw his handsome body and lustrous face. He dismounted his horse immediately and paid his respects. Maharaj glanced at him and at that moment he was overcome with the reality that he was God. He asked, Are you Khuddha (God) or one of his prophets? Maharaj replied, I am whatever you want me to be! Maharaj gave him his blessings and went on his way. Here was a great Muslim leader whose fame had spread to all parts of India who met Maharaj and saw him as a Fakir (holy person) and accorded him such tremendous respect what brilliance. After returning to his fortress he summoned Jagjivan once again. He explained to Jagjivan that he had just met this Swaminarayan that he had such hatred for. He explained the greatness of Maharaj and that he too had an urge to serve him in his realisation that he was a great person and at the very least a prophet of God. He instructed him to go and fall at Maharajs feet and beg forgiveness for his non-praiseworthy acts. But Jagjivan would not budge. At the very least he advised him to shed his hatred for him. He further told him that if he didnt do as he requested, then he would sever his association with Jagjivan. These words

hit Jagjivan hard and he finally folded into Fatehs plea and agreed to remove his hatred for Maharaj. Pleased with this, Fateh reinforced them by saying, Should you act on the contrary then I will without question remove you from your post as a minister! From that day on, Jagjivan began to show respect for Maharaj externally, however internally he still had ill feelings for Maharaj and craved to kill or imprison Maharaj.

27.Maharaj Prevents All Violent Yagna

Jagjivan along with his brothers Kuberji and Ramchandra were great devotees of Lord Shiva. Once they decided to organise a Hinsamaya Yagna, which involved the killing of animals. Maharaj was in Bhuj at the same time and so the brothers invited him to the Yagna as they saw him to be a Naishtik Brahmchari and great person who was also brahmin by caste. Maharaj came with his band of saints and the brothers welcomed them. Maharaj saw the animals around the Yagna which were going to be used as part of the Yagna and said to the brothers, You are nagar brahmins (high castes) and yet you wish to perform a Hinsamaya Yagna? This is not proper and therefore refrain from such violent Yagnas. If you do not then I will leave at once! The brothers tried to explain that Hinsa Yagnas are in accordance with the Vedas but Maharaj refuted their claims saying that the Vedas glorify only Ahimsa (non-violent) Yagnas and that it is through incorrect understanding of the Vedas that Hinsa Yagnas are being practised. Maharaj said, The Vedas specify the word Aja for the propitiation of Yagna Narayan. Aja does not mean animals such as cattle but its correct interpretation is rice from a paddy, which is more than three years old that would not grow if planted. Such daangar (rice), milk, ghee and other grains such as jav and tal should be used and sacrificed in Yagnas. The brothers and particularly Jagjivan would not listen to Maharaj saying that the Vedas speak vividly of Hinsamaya Yagna and that such Yagnas have been performed in their family for generations. He further told Maharaj that if he did not wish to stay then he should leave as the Yagna would continue in the hands of the Kashi brahmins who believed in such Yagnas. Maharaj left with all his saints. Because of this insult to Maharaj and by his divine will, the King sent his army to Jagjivans home and took away all the items to be used as part of the Yagna. Just as Shiva sent Virbhadra to destroy Dakshas Yagna through the insults inflicted on Bhavani, the Yagna was hopelessly destroyed by the army of the King and all of his belongings were taken by them. The brothers were enraged by this and armed themselves to fight against the army. But they were nothing in comparison and the army defeated them with ease inflicting great torture on them and the Kashi brahmins. Finally the King asked the army to cease. In this way, by performing such Hinsamaya Yagnas and insulting Maharaj, their intellects became poisoned and they faced great hardship.

28.Jagjivan Sends an Army to Kill Maharaj

When Fateh Mohamud was ready to leave his body, he advised his two sons, Hussain and Ibrahim, Sahajanand Swami is Allah and therefore I have always sided with him. He has now come to take me to his Dhaam and so I will shortly leave with him. I advise the both of you to also have firm allegiance to Lord Swaminarayan. Be cautious with this Jagjivan as although he has quietened down recently I do not trust him at all. Ensure that when I leave, Jagjivan or anyone else for that matter does not become a foe to Lord Swaminarayan in an attempt to defeat him. He commanded thus and departed. Sometime later, Maharaj arrived in Bhuj and came to the Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple. Jagjivan learnt of this and once again his hatred arose from within him. He secretly devised a plan to kill Maharaj. He persuaded two of his soldiers by offering them gifts to go and kill Maharaj. But how could anyone defeat God? The Lord had other plans for these soldiers!

They made their way to the temple in the dark of night; it was nearly 10 oclock. All the devotees of Maharaj were fast asleep whilst Maharaj was reading some scriptures. The temple doors were closed. The soldiers began to ascend the steps leading to the temple. Maharaj saw them and through his antaryami shakti (all-knowing power) realised that they had been sent by Jagjivan to kill him. Maharaj began to greet and welcome them by name as if they were old acquaintances. The soldiers were surprised and as the eyes of the soldiers met with the Lords eyes the whole atmosphere seem to change and the soldiers seemed at ease and free from the thoughts of trying to kill Maharaj. They stood before Maharaj but could not speak or move. Maharaj addressed them and told them that he knew the purpose to which they had come there and instructed them to cut his head off and take it to Jagjivan to please him! The soldiers were overcome with affection for Maharaj and threw the swords from their hands and fell at Maharajs feet. Maharaj teased them again by saying, O Soldiers! You are warriors so why have you forgotten you duty? Your greatest duty as soldiers is to follow the commands of your leader. Therefore cut my head off and take it to your master! Maharaj bowed his head as he said this. Hearing these irregular words of Maharaj, the soldiers broke down and began to shed tears. One of the soldiers prayed to Maharaj, O Lord! Our true master is you. There is nothing in this world except for you. If you command, then we will take these swords and go and cut off the head of Jagjivan and place it at your feet! Maharaj forbid them from doing so explaining that Jagjivan was merely darkened through improper knowledge (agnaani) and therefore he is not worthy of such extreme punishment. The soldiers were greatly impressed by Maharajs wisdom and compassion and said to Maharaj, O Lord! We are great sinners and therefore we have come to you for pardon by serving you forever. We do not crave for women, wealth, children or work anymore and wish only for you to take us under your wing. Hearing the prayers of these soldiers, the other saints and haribhaktas awoke. They were astonished by the sight of these soldiers with the swords on the ground near them. Maharaj blessed them and instructed them to remain in their station of life but to stay true to Dharma and continue to worship and serve God. They paid their respects to Maharaj and went back to their homes. They followed the directives of the Lord and for the duration of their lives they remained faithful devotees, at the end of which they attained the Lords Dhaam.

29.Jagjivan Metha Meets His Death

In accordance with their father Fateh Mohamuds wishes, Hussain and Ibrahim were infuriated when they heard the news that Jagjivan had sent two soldiers to kill Maharaj. Jagjivan had betrayed their father, Fateh Mohamud as Jagjivan had promised to him that he would shed his hatred for Maharaj but now that Fateh Mohamud is no more he has again tried to kill Maharaj. They could not tolerate this. Ibrahim sent a number of soldiers to Jagjivan who attacked him from behind with a sword, sending him to his death! Another soldier cut his body into tiny pieces. Moments before he actually departed his body, he was told, O sinner! This is the consequence of opposing a great person like Lord Swaminarayan and disobeying the Fateh Mohamuds command. Message was sent to Maharaj that Jagjivan had been killed which greatly upset the benevolent Maharaj. Tears flowed from Maharajs eyes as he said, May the Lord take him under his wing and Lord Narnarayan ensure his liberation. The soldier who delivered this message looked on in amazement and realised the greatness of Maharaj. He thought that Maharaj would have been greatly pleased on hearing this news and would have been happy with him for delivering this news but instead he stopped him from going into further detail about his death and retired to his private residence to grieve and indeed he shed a tear and wished for

his liberation. He realised that Lord Swaminarayan was indeed a great person and worthy of the title as God as such qualities are not evident in mere ordinary individuals.

30.Maharaj Makes Two Vairagis Into Sadhus in Bhuj

Maharaj once came to Bhuj. He was well received by the disciples of Ramanand Swami, namely, Sundarji Sutar, Bhagwanjibhai, Gangaram Mull, Dosabhai, Mehta Shivrambhai, Mehta Harjivanbhai, Ladhibai and other devotee men and women. He resided at this time at Bhagwanjibhais home. Two Vairagis (who have renounced the world) came there and begged for food. Maharaj lovingly made puri (fried bread) and siro and gave it to the vairagis. The vairagis were taken aback by this and decided to stay with Maharaj. Maharaj gave them the bliss of samadhi and they too began to realise the divine greatness of Maharaj and found peace there. Once Maharaj asked them, Where have you come from? They replied, We are the sons of sarvaria brahmins and from a young age had left our homes for salvation. We came and resided in Jagnathpuri where we renounced the world living like ascetics. Whilst there, we met a young brahmchari on pilgrimage passing by there. His divine form showed the signs of sever austerities. As a result of his divine will, the other vairagis there began to oppose each other and many faced their doom and others even died. The two of us were saved however and so we continued our journey on pilgrimage for some time and were on our way to Dwarikanath when we came here for alms. After meeting you we have found internal peace. Maharaj laughed and said, Well you may now continue your journey to Dwarikanath! They replied, Maharaj, we do not wish to go anywhere now but desire to stay with you in satsang. Your satsang is a means to salvation and therefore we have decided to stay here with you in satsang. Maharaj further teased, Salvation can be found at Dwarika or Badrinarayan therefore go there! They replied, Maharaj, we are happy with whatever you command and wherever you send us. Maharaj was greatly pleased by these words. A little later, after they had bathed and had something to eat at Sunderjis home, they came back to Maharajs residence where Maharaj suggested that they become sadhus. They agreed. On the spot, a barber was called to shave their heads, they were given bhagwa vastra (orange garbs) and Maharaj administered bhagwati diksha. They were named Krupanand Muni and Virbhadranand Muni. Maharaj whispered guru mantra into their ears and instructed them to perform dandvat of the saints there present. They first and foremost performed prostrations of Maharaj, their guru and then they performed dandvat of the saints of the order. Maharaj was immensely pleased with them and their qualities of respecting their elders. Maharaj then told them in details the incident regarding the fact that it was he that came to Jagnathpuri in the form of a tapasvi. They were greatly pleased to hear this and said, Maharaj, you are the source of all other incarnations. You are Purnapurushottam Bhagwan the greatest and highest reality! Whilst saying this they fell into samadhi and had the visions of Badrikashram, Swetadweep, Vaikunth, Goloka, Brahmanpur etc. They had the darshan of God within these realms and when they arose from samadhi they told everyone of what they saw and in this way firmly glorified Maharaj as Lord Supreme. Sunderjibhai asked Maharaj, O Maharaj! In Satya, Treta and Dwapara Yuga, the Lord protected his devotees with Sudarshan Chakra. Why is it that Sudarshan Chakra is not sent in Kali Yuga to protect the devotees? Does that mean that in Kaliyuga, the Lord is not concerned for his devotees? Maharaj explained, In the age of Kali, the knowledge of the Lords Swarupa (form) is in itself Sudarshan Chakra. That Sudarshan is illuminated with the brilliance of ten thousand

suns. The ignorance arising from imperfect knowledge is full of darkness, which cannot be illuminated, even with the great lustre of the Sudarshan. However knowledge is able to destroy such ignorance and therefore it is illuminated with more than ten thousand suns and far greater than Sudarshan itself. Therefore in Kaliyuga, knowledge serves as the Sudarshan Chakra in protecting a devotee. How does it protect? Well whenever a devotee is cursed with the effects of lust, anger, avarice etc. he should think to himself, I have attained God. How can I then forgo this blessing bestowed upon me and break the duties as prescribed for me and follow a path of unrighteousness? After thinking thus, one will be freed from the influence of such vices. Understand the enemies of a devotee to be lust, anger, avarice etc; the effects of which can be counteracted through knowledge, the very form of Sudarshan Chakra. These enemies are very strong and have influenced even the likes of Shiva and Brahma and therefore the Lord sends his Sudarshan Chakra in the form of knowledge to protect his devotees during all times, even today. Therefore knowledge of the manifest form of the Lord is simply Sudarshan Chakra. The saints and devotees hearing this were greatly pleased and realised that Maharaj was the manifest form of Lord Almighty. On the second day, Maharaj came to the home of Bhagwanjibhai to dine. He performed Maharajs pooja, adorned his forehead with chandan and garlanded him. He offered Maharaj a silken robe to wear and adorned his body with jewellery. He explained to Maharaj, I had once tried to adorn Ramanand Swami with this jewellery but Swami would not accept it saying that the one to wear these would come soon. I have now decorated you with them. On the next day, Maharaj said to Muktanand Swami, O Swami! I have a fever today therefore please arrange a cure by getting together a large quantity of chillies and cloves and sour yoghurt which is 4 days old. Maharaj then proceeded to cut the chillies into tiny pieces and mixed it with the sour yoghurt. He had a couple of bajra na rotlas made and ate them with the yoghurt and chillies which saw to his fever subsiding. Sunderjibhai commented, Maharaj you are the manifest form of God and therefore nothing can happen to you but if anyone else tried to cure their fever in the same way that you have then they would surly meet their death!

61.Sundarjibhai Asks Maharaj a Question

Maharaj was once residing in Bhuj at Sunderjibhais home where an assembly took place of devotees from Bhuj and others. Sunderjibhai asked Maharaj, O Maharaj! When the Jiva leaves the body how does it look? Can anyone see that Jiva? Maharaj explained, The form of the Jiva is incredibly small which cannot be seen even under a microscope. Those that are all-knowledgeable are able to see it. There is a different Drishti (form of sight) in seeing the atma and brahman (god). One is able to attain such sight through meditation upon God after becoming one with the soul but not through other means. Dhyana (or meditation) should be practised as follows: One should begin by visualising the form of God which one worships. Within that form one would see the brilliance emanating from that form similar to that of the sun. That brilliance is cool like the coolness emanating from the moon and stars. Meditating upon these brilliant white rays emanating from the Lords form, you will develop antar-dhrishti (inner-sight). As a result, deep and firm meditation will develop where you will have darshan of Goloka, Vaikunth, Swetadweep and Akshardhaam and the countless Muktas (liberated souls), which reside there. During this process of meditation one is able to transmigrate to Akshardham in the blink of an eye by passing through the realms of: Prithvi (Earth) which is fifty crore Yojans (1 Yojan = 8 miles); Jal (water) which is 10 fold that of Prithvi; Tej (fire) which is 10 fold that of Jal; Vayu (wind)

which is 10 fold that of Tej; Akash (space) which is 10 fold that of Vayu; Ahamkar (ego) which is 10 fold that of Vayu; Mahatatva which is 10 fold that of Ahamkar; Prakruti (nature) which countless fold further than Ahamkar; Purusha (primordial being) which is countless fold further than Prakruti and beyond that is Akshardhaam. Those that have deep and firm meditation for the Gods form as explained will have this super-sight even though they may be an ordinary householder. Those who have not developed such deep-rooted inclination of the mind to God will never gain this super-sight even though they may observe celibacy and perform intense physical austerities. Only such persons will be able to see the form of the soul. Therefore one should renounce all that obstructs such meditation seeing it as their enemy. One should meditate on the forms such as Rama and Krishna, the manifest forms of God only but should never meditate on a Sadhu even though he may be learned or ones Guru. Those that do fall to the 684,000 hells and are then reborn in the cycle of 8,400,000 births and deaths. Hence meditation upon ones ishtadev (Lord Swaminarayan) only is a means to salvation. Those that do not develop such inclination of mind for God have three faults: (1) They do not have Vivek (culture); (2) They do not have affection for God and (3) They do not know the greatness of God.

62.Muktanand Swami Asks How Peace of Mind is Derived

Once Muktanand Swami asked Maharaj, O Maharaj! How is one able to attain Shanti (peace of mind)? Maharaj narrated details regarding his life, his birth, his giving his parents Dharma and Bhakti Divyagati, his leaving for Vanvicharan and the episodes during his Vicharan and his meeting Ramanand Swami in Piplana and then sat silent. As Maharaj did not answer his question he asked once again for the source of such peace. Maharaj again began where he left off from when he met Guru Ramanand in Piplana to his coming to Bhuj and once again sat silent. Muktanand Swami was lost for words, as he could not understand why Maharaj would not answer his question. It was then that an elderly saint by the name of Sadanand Swami said, O Swami! Maharaj has spoken so eloquently and brought peace of mind, why have you not realised this? Previously Vyaas wrote seventeen Puranas but still did not attain peace. Narad Muni explained to him that the reason for not attaining peace was due to the fact that he did not compose a scripture, which recited the incidents of Lord Shree Krishna. After composing the Shrimad Bhagwat Purana and narrating the episodes of Shree Krishna, he finally found peace. Similarly we too should recite the incidents of Maharajs lifetime and sing kirtans of his praise to attain such peace of mind. In this way Swami spoke graciously and extensively of the greatness of God and his pastimes. Muktanand Swami then realised that the peace derived from the Lords pastimes is far superior than the peace derived from any other things. He lovingly prostrated before the Lord. Muktanand Swami then composed a scripture by the name of Dharmakyan, which contains vivid details of the pastimes of Lord Swaminarayan from his birth to his leaving for Akshardhaam.

63.Maharaj Gives His Darshan in Khokhra

When Maharaj first came to Kutch, he came in the guise of a Yogi on his own to Khokhra. He entered the room that Ramanand Swami had locked and placed himself on the raised platform. Someone saw Maharaj residing there and told all the other haribhaktas that some Yogiraj had entered the room and sat on the raised platform.

At once they all remembered Guru Ramanands blessing that the Lord would enter the room and sit upon the platform. They dashed to where Maharaj was and fell at his feet. They praised him saying, O Maharaj! You are the manifest form of the Lord Supreme and now we have met you here for our own liberation. Maharaj teased, I am not God! I am merely an ascetic. If you understand me to be God then please tell me the basis on which you make this assumption. They recited the incident when Guru Ramanand came and blessed them by saying that God would come to their village. Maharaj was pleased with them. The residents of Khokhra performed poojan of Maharaj. They served Maharaj greatly for several days. Once Maharaj asked, O devotees! You are all happy here arent you? They answered, By the blessings of you O Lord and the blessings of Guru Ramanand, we are very happy in more ways than one. However there is one thing that is causing us sadness that is the lack of water here. When the lake is filled with water we are happy but when it has dried up due to lack of rain it causes us great difficulties as we have to fetch the water from lake miles away. Maharaj suggested, Why dont you dig a well on the outskirts of the village then? They replied, O Maharaj! We have dug many wells on the outskirts but the water from it is salty like that of the ocean. Maharaj said, Come with me and let us make the water drinkable. All the haribhaktas accompanied Maharaj to the wells on the outskirts. He found an ideal spot and asked the bhaktas there to start digging. They replied, O Maharaj! We have dug many wells in this area and all efforts have resulted in salty, undrinkable water! Maharaj said, Never mind what has happened previously. At the moment I would like you to conform to my request and start digging here, and proceeded to mark an area with his feet, to indicate where he would like them to start digging. All the devotees decided to follow and have faith in Maharajs command and began to dig the well. After the well was completed they extracted the water and found it to the finest nectarlike water they had ever drunk. The devotees were taken aback by this miracle which affirmed their belief in Maharaj as God. This well is still around today providing water for all. It is said that those who drink from this well will definitely attain the Lords Dhaam after death!

64.Khokhras Sutar Rambhai Receives Darshan From Maharaj

Once Vaghjibhai said to his uncle Rambhai, O Uncle! Our village is blessed and divine as Maharaj as resided here often. As a result saints and devotees from far and wide come here for darshan. Therefore I suggest that we construct a temple here so that it could also serve the saints and devotees as lodgings and it would benefit us a place to get together for purposes of devotion. However Rambhai was not happy with this suggestion and therefore Vaghji decided to take on the task of building the temple on his own. Soon after when the temple neared completion, Rambhai was asleep at his residence when Maharaj came to Rambhai in divine form and suddenly awoken him with the strike of a cane! He recognised Maharaj immediately and fell at his feet and asked, O Maharaj! What brings you here so suddenly? Maharaj said, O Rambhakta! I have come to Khokhra to see the temple that your nephew has had constructed. Therefore get up and come with me to show me it! They went to the temple together but it was extremely dark. Maharaj produced brilliance from his form, which enlightened the whole temple. Maharaj then began to look at the temple in detail by touching all parts of the temple such as windows, doors etc. with his hand and began to praise Vaghjibhai for having constructed such a beautiful temple. In this way Maharaj commended Vaghji repeatedly. Rambhai became jealous of Maharajs

commendations upon Vaghji. He then began to realise his fault in not supporting his nephew and assisting in the temples construction. Rambhai suggested to Maharaj that he awaken Vaghji but Maharaj said no as he was in a hurry to get back. Maharaj gave his shawl to Rambhai to pass onto Vaghji, by way of prasadi to show his appreciation for building such a beautiful temple but Rambhai refused it saying that he cannot take it as his duty is to give and not to take. Saying this Maharaj disappeared. Rambhai at once awoke Vaghji and explained what had happened. He explained to Vaghji that Maharaj was greatly pleased with him but did not even whisper his own name! He proceeded to tell him about the shawl that he refused. Vaghji explained to his uncle that he made a big mistake by not accepting the sanctified shawl offered to him as such an item is rarely had. The reason why Rambhai did not accept the sanctified shawl is that although he had occasion to meet and serve Maharaj, he did not however have occasion to associate with a pious saint. Whereas Vaghji had associated with saints but did not ever have darshan of Maharaj. He had associated with the great Mahamukta sants such as Anandanand Swami, Aksharjivandas Swami and Achutdas Swami and served them graciously earning their blessings. Therefore Vaghji had achieved such greatness and piety which meant that he had great love and understood the greatness of Prasadi items. Therefore it does not matter whether you have met God or not but without association with great saints you will never realise the greatness of God and those things blessed by him. Such Mahima can only by derived though association with saints.

65.The Powers of a Devotee of God

Once, Vaghjibhai left his village Khokhra on his cart and bullock for Bhuj for darshan of Narnarayan Dev and to donate part of his income to the Lord. On his way back, the sun had set and he was enveloped in the dark of night. He noticed an ailing cowherd from a neighbouring village of Paddhar on his way. He had a fever. He asked the identity of the person. The shepherd recognised the voice determining that the person asking the question was Vaghjibhai from Khokhra. He replied, O Vaghjibhakta! I am the cowherd Hayjo from Paddhar. I have developed a fever and therefore am unable to walk. Please take me with you on your cart and I will get off when we pass Paddhar. Vaghji laid him down on the cart and fell asleep whist they proceeded on their journey. However the illness of the cowherd was very severe and so four servants of Yama came to take the shepherd. They began to discuss between themselves, This cowherd was very sinful and therefore we must take him but at the moment he is laying on a cart belonging to a devotee of God. Therefore it will be very difficult to take him, as this Vaghji is a faithful servant of Lord Almighty Shree Swaminarayan. Indeed we will be scolded if we go near him. Therefore let us wait for them to get to Paddhar when the cowherd will disembark. Then we will beat and tie him up and then take him to Yampuri! The sinful cowherd heard and saw all of this. He began to cry loudly at his inevitable doom at the hands of the Yamaduttas. Vaghji heard these cries and asked what the matter was. The shepherd told him everything describing the fearful servants of Yama who were armed with weapons ready to take him. He pleaded with Vaghjibhai to let him stay on the cart and not to dismount. But Vaghji knew the cowherd to be a sinner and so realised that it was inevitable that the servants of Yama would take him. Vaghjibhai then said, O Hayja! If you promise to take the Panch Vratman (five cardinal vows to live righteous disciplined lives) now and wear the Kanthi (sacred double rosary around ones neck) then these Yamaduttas will not be able to take you! However the cowherd did not wish to do this and so once they got to Paddhar, Vaghji requested the

cowherd to get off. The cowherd again pleaded with Vaghji to not force him to get off as the Yamaduttas would take him but Vaghji explained that there is no other option if you are not prepared to wear the Kanthi. He finally gave in to fright and decided to wear the Kanthi. Vaghjibhakta was about to place a Kanthi on him when the cowherds family members came there and tried to stop him by saying that the act would corrupt them! Therefore Vaghji helped him off from the cart and as he walked a fair distance away from Vaghji and the cart, he met his death at the hands of the Yamaduttas. This is the immense might of a Satsangi! He has the power to even stop the servants of Yama from coming in his proximity and thus protecting anyone that comes to him for shelter. Therefore, those that wish to be freed from the fear of Yamaduttas and the great pains of Yampuri should become a devotee of Lord Swaminarayan under the guidance of a true saint or haribhakta.

66.Maharaj Saves Khokhras Hirji Bhakta From Robbers

Vaghjibhais son was Hirjibhai and he too was an outstanding devotee just like his father. His mind was always firmly on Maharaj. Once Hirjibhai left for Anjar for darshan on his bullock and cart. Spending the day there and seeing to his business duties he prepared to return after dark. On his cart he had with him a number of golden items of jewellery. He was nearly half way home when he noticed about five or six men who were dressed in such attire which seemed to suggest that they were approaching to loot him. Hirjibhai thought to himself that he is all on his own and there is no one there to help him and so he decided to meditate upon Lord Swaminarayan and hoped that Maharaj would protect him. He remembered the promise that Maharaj has given in Vachanamrit of Jetalpur, In times of adversity when no one else can help and you feel defeated, I will come to your aid and save you! He covered his head with a cloth and began to chant Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan.. At that moment Maharaj immediately came to Hirjibhais rescue and lifted the cart and bullock from where it was and took it to the safety of a small stream near the lake at Tapar village which was at an approximate distance of one and a half miles from where the cart originally was. Maharaj then disappeared. Hirjibhai was immensely pleased and he went to sleep peacefully there for the night after meditating upon the form of Maharaj. In the morning, a number of cowherds from the village of Jaru came that way and recognised Hirjibhai. They enquired as to how it was that he was residing there for the night. Hirjibhai told them the whole story. They were greatly pleased to learn of this and helped Hirjibhai get the cart and bullock on the road to resume his journey back home. When he got to Khokhra, he narrated the whole incident to all the villagers, who were amazed on hearing about it also. After this incident, Hirjibhai became more and more devoted to religion. These are the miracles of the sampraday which are many in number. We too can benefit from Maharajs protection even today by having faith in devotion for Maharaj.

67.Maharaj Saves Kala Bhakta and Dines at His Home

The scriptures of the Sampraday are full of miracles and have granted happiness and protection to his devotees. Sadguru Nishkulanand Swami in Bhakta Chintamani has written extensively upon such incidents. The miracles are of three types. Firstly there are the miracles whereby Maharaj has saved his devotees from dissolution arising from unfavourable business affairs and circumstance; secondly you have incidents where Maharaj has given darshan to his most choicest devotees at the time of death in order to accompany them to Akshardhaam; and thirdly you have those miracles where Maharaj has given darshan to those loving devotees who have greatly pleased him with their firm devotion and granted them favour.

Another such miracle is here remembered: Once in the village of Kundal, there resided just a single devotee by the name of Kala Bhakta. Many of his villagers including his family and brother tried to turn him but Kala Bhakta was adamant in his firm devotion for Maharaj. They all got together and decided that they would not lend him support through business affairs as long as he still wore the Kanthi of Swaminarayan! Hence no one would sell anything to him nor would they buy anything from him. They even prevented his access to the well so that he did not have water. Thus they inflicted hardship upon Kala Bhakta in many such ways. However Kala would not budge from his beliefs and continued to wear the Kanthi with pride. At his last tether, unable to live like this no more he decided to present his case to the court. He pleaded with the judge to sort this out, as he was not at fault. However the judge made a very peculiar ruling, As you have opposed the whole village including your family over a little case of renouncing the Kanthi, there is no other way to resolve this than testing your faith! Therefore let us see whether your faith is true by seeing whether you can lift a red-hot metal water pot. If your Swaminarayan is a true God then he will save you from such torture. It was later found out that the villagers and family of Kala had in actual fact bribed the judge to make such a ridiculous ruling! Never the less Kala agreed to these terms and conditions. He was told to circumabulate the whole of his land holding the red hot water pot. News of this got out and many from afar came to witness this test of faith. The judge was presiding over the events. They arranged to heat the metal pot in the fire until it was glowing red. They then asked Kala to pick it up. Kala closed his eyes and meditated upon Maharaj. He prayed to him to come to his rescue as only he was able to free him from his predicament just as he had saved innumerable others from hardship. Maharaj answered his devotees prayers and came to Kala and gave him divine darshan in the guise of a brahmchari. Maharaj gave him the strength to pick the pot up and he began to circumabulate his land with the pot in his hands witnessed by thousands who were awe struck. He carried the pot as if it were flowers; hence he was immune to the scolding heat. He had proven to all including the courts that his faith was true. The villagers that once opposed Kala witnessed this miracle and were amazed and so they all decide to celebrate this event by eating sweets and the like. One person saw Maharaj in the guise of a brahmchari and asked him to partake in the juice of an intoxicant. Maharaj said that he does not eat such things but at the repeated persuasion of the fellow to sanctify it, he took a bit and spat it out immediately but it still left a bitter taste. Maharaj was residing in Gadhada when this incident took place and the devotees from Dangarva, Amaraji and Agraji had come for darshan. He requested Amaraji to fetch some water as his mouth was bitter. Amaraji asked Maharaj why his mouth had suddenly become bitter. Maharaj narrated the incident that took place in Kundal. Maharaj then cleansed his mouth with the water. Amaraji and Agraji decided to test and prove what Maharaj said was true and so they went to Kundal to verify the story. They were amazed to see that all the households were talking about the same incident that took place. Maharaj had great affection for Kala Bhakta and so often went to Kundal and used to sit under the nimb tree to give sermons. Once when he was residing at Kalabhaktas residence, Maharaj asked Kalas wife to prepare some food, as he was hungry. She at once went to the kitchen and began to make the food. She made the shaka but then thought to herself, Is the shaka nice and tasty. Is it correctly hot and spicy and is there enough salt? She decided to taste it to check by using a spoon, which was in a nearby earthen pot. Once she was happy she called Maharaj to dine. After setting the plate and giving it to Maharaj to begin eating she asked, O Maharaj! Is the shaka suitably tasty? Is their enough salt, spices and chilli? Maharaj replied, You should know as you have already tasted it yourself using the spoon from the earthen pot, so why are you asking me? She was ashamed of herself and realised

the greatness of Maharaj as the all-knower. She fell at Maharajs feet and begged for forgiveness for tasting the shaka before Maharaj.

68.Maharaj Comes to Take to His Dhaam, Kumbarias Mistry Harjibhai and Sinugras Ekbai
In the village of Kumbharia of Kutch, there lived a Mistry by the name of Harjibhai. He was a great single-minded devotee of the Lord who had associated with the saint Swami Nirgundasji. He had also associated with the great devotee Laxmirambhai of Mandvi and was greatly devoted to Mahant Sadguru Swami Aksharjivandasji of Bhuj also. He had served these and other saints and haribhaktas greatly and earned their gratitude. Once he had learnt that Laxmirambhai had accepted Vanprastashram (a station of life, usually at the age of around fifty where individuals pass on their responsibilities to their children and themselves retire to the solitude of the forests to serve the Lord). Laxmirambhai had retired and stayed at the temple to worship the Lord without any other distractions. One day he had put a board on the door of the temple and written that he had today gone to the Lords Dhaam. Harjibhai thought to himself that he too was approaching fifty years of age and therefore should do the same and retire for single-minded devotion. He transferred his wealth and responsibilities to his brother Govamalbhai and he then stayed at the temple where he practised devotion day and night. He had kept a servant with him to serve him and the servant had observed that whenever Harjibhai sat down to meditate, lustrous brilliance would emanate from his forehead. Thus Harjibhai had deep devotion and had achieved a high level excellence in meditation. In this way he spent the rest of his days in deep devotion. In his last days as he was about to depart for Lords Dhaam, many haribhaktas had assembled at the temple to witness the departure of this great devotee. He announced, I am about to leave for Lords Dhaam! If any of you wish to come along then get ready and I will take you with me. You will never get this opportunity again so do not waver as you are able to attain salvation without performing any devotion. However nobody was prepared to go with Harjibhai. He therefore asked his wife whether she wanted to come but she also turned down this opportunity. A while later, the daughter of Govamalbhai (his niece) accepted. Harjibhai asked her to perform a few rites such as alighting a divo in the main square and meditating upon Maharaj. She followed this and true to Harjibhais words, she departed to Maharajs Akshardhaam. Harjibhai instructed the family members to take the body for cremation and then to return for him. When they returned, Harjibhai also left his body. In this way, if we too renounce our attachments to worldly things and practise devotion always, then Maharaj will come to take us to his Dhaam also. On another occasion in V.S. 1961, there lived a young girl born of a low-caste family in the village of Sunigra. She was eight years old and even at such a young age she was very devoted to God and had great qualities as a result of previous births. Once Maharaj had put her into Samadhi where she had witnessed the tortures of hell. Maharaj after showing her this explained to her, This is the consequence of those who do not follow the path of Dharma after attaining man-form which is rare and favoured even by the devas. Those that establish false religions and thus put their disciples on an unrighteous path suffer much more pain in these hells. She asked Maharaj not to show her these visions as they scared and upset her and so Maharaj then took her to Badrikashram to see the bliss of the heavens. Maharaj showed her other heavens such as Swetdweep, Vaikunth, Goloka and finally Akshardhaam. She witness the immense bliss derived from being in Akshardhaam and was at peace when Maharaj then told her to return to her body. However she did not want to go as she had become attached to the bliss of Akshardhaam. She said that she would only go back if

Maharaj would come immediately to bring her back to Akshardhaam. Maharaj blessed her by saying, Go back now and I will come back for you in four days. After she arose from Samadhi she told everyone what had happened, the tortures to be inflicted in hell and the happiness to be derived from the heavens and the subliminal bliss of Akshardhaam. She recalled the fact that the Gurus who had established unrighteous religions were suffering in the hells. Many of the devotees of such faiths had come to this place when she was saying this. She told the disciples of these faiths firmly that their Gurus were suffering in the hells and they too would meet such doom, as they were their disciples. She instructed them to renounce such sinful faiths if they wished to be redeemed and be initiated into the Swaminarayan faith, which is a true faith. To confirm what she had already spoken was the truth, she said, I will leave my body on the fourth day in the fourth period when Maharaj will come to take me to his Akshardhaam. If this comes true then you should all accept that whatever I have said is also the truth. On the fourth day in the fourth period, Maharaj came for her on a white elephant and he placed her on the elephant with him to take her to Akshardhaam. All witnessed this and were speechless. In a previous birth, she was of a high-caste brahmin family but she had become arrogant of her family heritage although she was quite devout and therefore had offended another satsangi woman once. For this reason she was reborn in a low-caste family. Now that she had taken her due and intoned for such sin, she was ready for Akshardhaam.

69.Maharaj Comes to Escort Bhimji Patel of Sukhpur

In the village of Sukhpur in Kutch their lived Kanji Patel, whose son was Bhimji Patel. He was very devout and was endowed with righteous qualities. He was renowned as a great person throughout the whole village and was respected within the Royal Court as well. At the age of twenty-five, he was ready to leave for Akshardhaam. He was a very fine devotee who would be able to see Maharaj at will and thus he had visions during the day of Maharaj majestically coming on an elephant with innumerable saints and haribhaktas of Akshardhaam accompanying him. He often used to tell devotees around him to be faithful to religion and to Maharaj and never to transgress the code of ethics. After advising all in this way he retired to Akshardhaam. The departure was witnessed by many.

70.Maharaj Saves Lalji Bhakta of Netra Village in the Dessert

Lalji Bhakta was a faithful devotee of Netra Village and had gone along with his son to Sindh country to find work and earn money. On their way back they had got a bit lost and were stuck in the Lakhpat dessert at nightfall. They had taken a wrong direction and ended up more towards the ocean side than the dessert side. They thought that because of the time of year the ocean may have come further inland but did not realise that they were on the wrong track. They continued on their way thinking that they were heading the right way but got to a point where the ocean water was in all directions surrounding them. It was extremely dark and they were tired from walking with the heavy load of their possessions on their backs. They were also very hungry and thirsty from the salty dessert atmosphere. Under such great duress the body had weakened, they had contracted a fever and the body was shaking from the cold. They lost all hope thinking that they would die there. They prayed to Maharaj to come to their saviour. In that instant they heard the sound of cattle and they noticed an island in the middle of the ocean. There they saw a group of shepherds and so they decided to walk towards that island. Two or three of the shepherds came towards Lalji Bhakta and began to say, O Lalji Bhakta! What are you doing in this dark of night near

this fearful ocean! Lalji Bhakta could not speak as his mouth and throat had dried up due to lack of water. Some water was given to him. After their thirst was quenched, he also offered them some nice fresh warm goats milk. After Lalji Bhakta and his son had drank the milk and were suitable satiated he began to ask questions as to why there was an island there and who they were but the shepherds told them to rest for the night and all would become apparent in the morning. When they awoke in the morning, the shepherd showed them the direction in which to walk in order to cross the dessert and return home safely. They walked a fair distance in that direction. When they looked back they could not see the island nor the shepherds. In all directions they could only see the water once again. They realised that this was a miracle that Lord Swaminarayan had sent to aid them! They continued their journey singing the Lords name. In no time they had crossed the dessert and reached their village of Netra. In the village they told everyone of how Maharaj had saved them. In this way, Maharaj saves his choicest and most faithful devotees from danger and even death.

71.Maharaj Saves Mavjibhai Mistry and the Brahmin Sukdev

Mavjibhai Mistry was from Rajkot and was a great devotee of the Lord. He was residing in Karachi at the time and was requested to go overseas to England. He got onto the ship, which was going to take him to England and during the night it did a brief stop at a port on the way. Mavjibhai decided to make the most of the stop and so disembarked the ship to find a secluded place so that he could perform his daily rites. He was in the middle of performing the pooja when he realised that the ship was about to leave. He thought to himself that if he does not complete his pooja then it would be seen, as an outrage on his part and his duty as a devotee would not be upheld. He decided that there was no way that he could leave in the midst of completing the pooja and so he stayed and began his maansi pooja. He got to the stage of performing tapni mala and realised that the ship was quite far now. Through the divinity of Maharaj, the navigator of the ship realised that a passenger was left behind and decided to turn the ship around and come back for him. He docked near where Mavjibhai was performing the pooja and by now had completed it. Mavjibhai then boarded the ship. Mavjibhai protected his pativrata dharma for Lord Swaminarayan and would not leave before completing the pooja. Maharaj was greatly pleased by his sense of duty and aided him by allowing him to complete his pooja and board the ship safely for England. Sukdev brahmin was from the village of Suthrampur and was also a faithful devotee. Once, he decided to go to Ahmedabad for darshan on Ramnavmi and with him he took many jewellery items for repair. He wrapped the jewellery in a piece of cloth, which he put on his shoulder and set out for Ahmedabad. He arrived at the temple at approximately 10 oclock in the morning and did darshan of the Lord and then maansi pooja. At that time a robber entered the empty temple in the guise of a satsangi and saw Sukdev there and thought that he had fallen asleep. He saw the bulging cloth on his shoulder and without alerting anybody he took it and left. When the robber took the jewellery, Sukdev did realise but he was in the middle of his maansi pooja and was offering foods to Maharaj and therefore decided that he could not move and thus disturb his pooja of feeding Maharaj. Thus again this would break his duties as a faithful devotee and it would be a sin on his part and so he decided to complete his maansi pooja. When he opened his eyes he could see nobody about but was not disturbed at all as he convinced himself that Maharaj would indeed look after him and arrange the safe return of the items. On his return he stopped over at a rest house. At the same time the robber that had stolen the jewellery had also stopped over at the same rest house. He was crying loudly as he was in pain from the fact that his leg had been broken. The robber thought to himself that this was

the consequence of stealing from a devotee of Lord Swaminarayan. He saw Sukdev Brahmin enter the guesthouse and immediately recognised him. He gave back the jewellery and begged for forgiveness! In this way Maharaj gives support to those who are his firm devotees who see their duty of devotion as first and foremost above anything else, including ones own saviour. Thus pativrata duty and devotion to Maharaj is endorsed.

72.Maharaj Saves Devji Bhakta of Samatra Village

Another great devotee was Devji Bhakta of Samatra in Kutch. He also used to sometimes serve as the pujari for the Lord at the temple there. Once he was invited to dine at the home of his Vevai (father-in-law of one of his sons or daughters). However it so happened that he dined food prepared by a rajsvala (a woman on her period of menses). On his return home after eating, he happened to notice someone approaching him. Devji asked, Who are you? I am the king of all ghosts, he replied. Why have you confronted me? I have come to take your soul. But I am a devotee of Lord Swaminarayan, which duty have I broken for me to face such consequence? The king of ghosts explained, You have dined at the hands of a rajsvala today and therefore the Lord no longer resided within you and so I will not leave without you! The conversation continued whereby Devji refused to be taken as he explained that the incident took place without his knowledge and therefore he was still a satsangi. But the king of ghosts would not budge as he explained that he was a satsangi no more as he had eaten from impure sources and so the Lord had abandoned him. He further explained that he had five hundred horses and so required somebody to be chiefly responsible for them and decided that Devji was the right person for the job. Devji Bhagat stood his ground and dared him to touch him and began chanting Swaminarayan loudly! Hearing the Lords name the king of ghosts was engulfed in flames and began to flee. The ghost did not give up though and thought to himself that hed captures him when he gets to his home and so waited there. When Devji Bhakta got to his home he called everyone and explained what had happened. He instructed everyone to be alert as the king of ghosts was still looming for him and so told them to chant the mantra of Swaminarayan and nothing else. For three days they sang the dhunya of Swaminarayan non-stop. Three days in waiting the ghost finally gave up and left in a southerly direction where he saw a twenty-five year old son of a shepherd and took him instead. This story became to be known throughout the village and indeed the lady that did not practice rajsvala dharma also heard of this and from that day on she too changed her ways and observed the dharma correctly. In another incident, a great famine hit India during V.S. years 1956 and 1957 due to lack of rain. Times were very hard as they had no money and there were days when food and water were scarce. However Devji Bhakta had unshakeable devotion even in these adverse conditions and decided to get by with whatever Maharaj gave them and continued singleminded devotion. One day the whole family went without food for the whole day. The following morning, Devji Bhakta went to the temple at 5 oclock and began his duties. Because of the difficulties he had endured, he fell whilst serving Thakorji. At that point, Maharaj came out of the murtis and in his divine form he went to the aid of Devji Bhakta and stood him upright again.

Maharaj caressed Devji Bhakta with his hands lovingly and said, O devotee! Why have you fallen like this? Devji Bhakta smiled and said, O Maharaj! You know everything and yet you still ask me? Youre merely testing me! Maharaj was pleased with Devji Bhakta and said, O Bhakta! You have passed the difficult test! Now go to Manukuva to Punsi Vaarnias shop and take as much grain as you like. Devji said, O Maharaj! I have been to his shop on many occasions and he has not given me anything. Maharaj said, O Bhakta! That may well have been but listen to me now and go and he will without doubt give you all that you need without having to pay for it. Saying this Maharaj disappeared. After that, Devji Bhakta completed his duties at the temple and went back to his home. He took with him many people from the village and went to the shop in Manukuva as Maharaj had instructed. Without saying anything, the shopkeeper welcomed them and offered them his all without money. Later that year it rained seeing an end to the famine as the farmland again became enriched and fertile able to grow grains and the like.

73.Maharaj Saves the Devotees of Rampur

In Rampar were two great devotee brothers by the name of Vaghjibhai and Shamjibhai. Once a wedding took place in their village. Both brothers went to the wedding. However on this occasion they had dined from the hands of a woman who had concealed her rajsvala dharma. On their way back, they too this time saw the king of ghosts. This time he wanted to take the life of a young boy who was with them. They again asked why and the king of ghosts explained the reason. He further explained that because the brothers had drank the pure water of their own home (which they took with them) it had counteracted the effects of the sin of dining at the hands of the rajsvala and so they were saved but the child had not drank such water. The brothers again sang the Swaminarayan Dhun which cause the ghost great pain. The ghost then requested that the brothers remove the garland of wooden sandals put on him by S.G. Mahant Anandanand Swami as he could not remove it himself because it had so much power but the brothers refused explaining that the Swami was their Guru and they couldnt go against him. The ghost fled. Hence again we see that purity of foods is of importance. In the Vachanamrit Ghadhada I 18 it is written, The soul feeds through the five sense organs. If he feeds from pure sources then his mind and intellect will also become pure and cleansed. If the mind and intellect is pure then he will develop mindful attraction to the Lord. Should even one of the sense organs partake in impure objects then it will surly lead to the degradation of the mind and intellect. Therefore one should always partake in the purest of things. The question of how S.G. Mahant Swami happened to garland the ghost is given: Once the Mahant of Bhuj Mandir, S.G. Mahant Anandanand Swami came to Rampar along with his disciples for katha varta. They happened to pass a date tree on the banks of the lake there after returning from bathing. Swami was told that a ghost lived within the tree and the devotees requested Swami to remove the ghost from there as it often pushed passers by causing them to fall and injury. Swami acceded to the request and took some water in his had and sprinkled it around the tree to prevent it from exiting the tree and inflicting harm on others. Swami then requested the devotees there present to go back to the village and bring back as many old and torn wooden sandals as they could get hold of. When they brought them back the other Swamis then strung them together to make a garland. Swami then garlanded the ghost with this and told him to never inflict harm on others and retract from his sinful ways. The ghost however requested the Swami to remove the garland and to free him

from the bondage of such sinful form of a ghost. Swami then blessed him by saying that he would have to pay for the hardships he has caused others and that he would come in five or six years time to free him for good and send him to Badrikashram. Swami then left. Five or six years later, Swami returned to the same place where he removed the garland from the ghost and freed him from the form of a ghost and sent him to Badrikashram thus giving him salvation. This is the greatness of Lord Swaminarayans great saint S.G. Mahant Anandanand Swami who was able to deliver even a ghost to salvation. Hence association with such great Brahmanveta (fully god-realised) saints is stipulated for our own salvation.

74.Maharaj Installs Shree Nar-Narayan Dev in Bhuj

In V.S. 1878, Falgun Sud 3, Maharaj installed Nar-Narayan Dev in Shreenagar (Ahmedabad) and then returned to Gadhada to celebrate Fuldolotsav. Devotees Sunderjibhai, Hirjibhai, Gangaram Mull, Bhagwanjibhai etc. came to Gadhada for darshan of Maharaj and of the celebrations. At this time they requested with folded hands, O Maharaj! You have had a beautiful temple constructed by Sadguru Anandanand Swami and installed Nar-Narayan Dev for the spiritual welfare and salvation of satsangis in Gujarats royal capital of Shreenagar. We therefore request that a similar temple be constructed in Kutchs royal capital Bhuj. Maharaj hearing this instructed, All of you get together and decide on a suitable place and then contact me. All the devotees of Kutch were immensely pleased by this. Once they had determined and bought a suitable place, they wrote to Maharaj in Gadhada, O Maharaj! In accordance with your wish we have now purchased suitable land for the construction of the temple. We have already began to get materials together for the construction, therefore please send a capable saint to overlook and manage the construction. Maharaj was pleased to hear this and replied to the letter through Suka Muni, We are sending Sadguru Vaishnavanand Swami along with his disciples to assist in the construction. Ensure that you follow Swamis advice and act accordingly in laying the foundations. The temple should be a grand Sikharbandh (with towers) temple and should face in the northerly direction so that we can correctly install the icons of Nar-Narayan Dev and others. We are sending saints from here to Dungarpur to arrange the murtis. Once they have arranged for them they will come to Bhuj with the idols of Nar-Narayan Dev and others. Once the temple is complete, we will come with all other saints and will install the murtis in accordance with vedic rites. Complete the construction work with urgency! Maharaj gave this letter to Vaishnavanand Swami and requested him to leave for Bhuj. Swami left for Bhuj without a moments notice along with his band of disciples. In Bhuj, he arranged for an excellent architect and had the temple constructed. As the temple neared completion, Swami wrote a letter for Maharaj and sent it with two saints who hurried to Gadhada. They prostrated before Maharaj and gave him the letter. It said, O Maharaj! As you have instructed, the temple at Bhuj is nearly ready. Saints from Dungarpur have also arrived with the murtis of Nar-Narayan Dev but the murti of Lord Nar is damaged therefore what should we do about this? Only you are able to instruct us correctly regarding this so please advise. Maharaj asked Mayaram Bhatt, O Bhattji! Please advise on an auspicious time for the installation ceremony of Nar-Narayan Dev. Bhattji took out a booklet from his turban and looking at it he said, O Maharaj! The most auspicious time for installing Nar-Narayan Dev at Bhuj would seem to be V.S. 1879 Vaishaka Sud 5. There is no other day nearby which would seem to be as auspicious as that day and therefore I advise that such day should be used for installation of the deities. Maharaj thought to himself that the day that Bhattji recommends is not too far away and so it would be difficult to arrange a murti in time to replace the damaged one. Similarly it would be ill advised to delay the ceremony. Maharaj therefore decided to take the murti of

Vasudevnarayan installed in the northern section of the darbar at Gadhada. Maharaj arranged for the Uthapan ceremony to lift the murti and it was then placed in a carriage to take to Bhuj. It was secured firmly in place to make sure it too does not get damaged and two footguards and five saints were placed in the service of the icons and sent to Bhuj. On Chaitra Vad 2 day of the same year, Shreeji Maharaj left Gadhapur with S.G. Gopalanand Swami and other saints and devotees. They stopped at many villages giving them the bliss of darshan and eventually arrived at Bhuj on Chaitra Vad 13. On hearing the news of Maharajs arrival, devotees of Bhuj went to the outskirts to receive him and with pomp, pleasure to the sound of beating drums they escorted Maharaj to Bhujnagar where he set up residence at Akshar Ordi. All the other saints set up residence within the temple. Maharaj came to the temple after freshening up and saw the temple and sinhasan in all its glory and was immensely pleased. Maharaj saw the murtis of Vasudevnarayan that he had sent and also the murti of Hanumanji and was also gratified. Gopalanand Swami then said to Vaishanavanand Swami, O Swami! The installation ceremony will take place on Vaishaka Sud 5 therefore arrange for the celebrations and invite the Veda Brahmins such as Pragji Dave. Arrange with Ganagram Mall and Hirjibhai the getting together of items for the celebrations. The day on which the murtis were to be installed came a few days later. Maharaj awoke early and saw to his daily duties of bathing and pooja rites. He wore beautiful clothing and entered the temple. Maharaj first installed Hanumanji in accordance with rites as prescribed in scriptures Pratishtamayukh and Pratishtaprakash. The time to install the murtis of Narnarayan Dev then came. At this time, the four Vedas were present in divine form to sing the verses. On this occasion, Gangaram Mull gave 500 pieces of gold to place the flags on the temple and Hirjibhai gave 1000 pieces of gold to place the Kadash on the shikhar. The murtis were then installed by Maharaj himself embracing them. Maharaj then instructed the other saints to adorn the murti with clothing and jewellery ornaments, which were done to the sound of musical instruments. After offering thaal to the murtis, Maharaj performed aarti and then mantras and flowers were offered. Maharaj then sat in front of the murti and for a while gazed into the eyes and the form of the murtis. At that moment, Lord Nar-Narayan Dev in the heart of lustrous light arose from the murtis to give divine darshan, witnessed by all. Gifts were given to the deity by haribhaktas. After that, Maharaj retired to his residence, bathed and dined and then again came back to the temple and said, Let us joyously feed all the brahmins and haribhaktas now! Maharaj himself served the saints giving them Ladus (sweet balls). On the next day a great congregation was assembled where Maharaj announced, Arrange for the installation of my own form next to Nar-Narayan Dev (Shree Hari-Krishna Maharaj). To the west and next to the murtis you should arrange for the installation of Radha-Krishna and my form (Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj). Maharaj then gave an abundance of gifts to the brahmins as dakshina. He also gave gifts to the architects and embraced the saints who were involved with the construction. The following day another assembly took place with Maharaj when he said, Those who with love, perform darshan of the murtis of Nar-Narayan Dev that have been installed here will definitely attain salvation. Those who offer their tenth or twentieth part to Lord Nar-Narayan Dev here or offers thaal will reach Akshardhaam where they will enjoy immense spiritual bliss. Those that alight a divo of ghee or oil will have their sins quashed and will sit in a chariot illuminated with millions of suns and go to Akshardhaam. If they are not able to offer ghee then oil should be offered; if they do not have oil then any other form of wealth; if they do not have such wealth then even by merely giving a vessel to alight the divo here will definitely result in their salvation. Those that serve in the temples by cleaning etc. will result in three generations of their family being blessed by attaining salvation. Hence those that clean in the temple or do divo

attain the fruits of performing Agnistom Yagna every fifteen days, Vajpeya Yagna every month and Ashwamedh Yagna every year. All the devotees hearing this and many other details were extremely happy. The murtis of Nar-Narayan Dev were made of stone (pashan) but Maharaj further commanded that the murtis of Radha-Krishna and Hari-Krishna should be made of metal (dhatu). He also insisted that the murtis installed were his own form and instructed all to serve them dearly. He then instructed Gopalanand Swami to stay behind and arrange for the installation of Hanumanji Maharaj at the temple, which is nearly ready and then to come to Gadhada. Maharaj then left Bhuj for Gadhada along with all the other saints and Parshads. Visiting many villages to give his darshan he finally arrived and retired to Akshar Ordi. The question of Vasudevnarayan is answered: Vasudevnarayan was originally installed in the darbar of Dada Khachar. Jivuba and Laduba could not stay a second without having darshan of Maharaj and therefore they prayed to Maharaj, O Maharaj! Whenever you leave Gadhada for other towns and villages at the request of loving devotees, we are unable to bear the separation from you. Furthermore we are not able to serve you, offering food, milk, water and the like when you are not here. Therefore we request that you do not leave here at all but stay here forever. If you must go then we request that you take us with you. Maharaj replied, If we stay here with you always then how will we fulfil the wishes of the countless number of devotees far and wide? Therefore we will have to go but taking you with us wherever we go would not be practical. Therefore we request that you stay here and we will install a murti of ourselves here and I will continually reside within the murti and will receive your service and food offerings through them even though I may be miles away. Whilst saying this and through his divine will, a person passed by there in the darbar near the nimb tree with his cart, in which there was a beautiful murti of Lord Vasudevnarayan. He said, If you want a murti then I have this murti to sell. If you wish to purchase it then here take it. Maharaj saw the murti and said, This murti is very beautiful and I do wish to buy it. What will you take for it? The person said, Take it for now, I am about to go to bathe at the famed Unmatganga near here and will return, when we shall sort out the payment. The murti was given to Maharaj and the person was never to be seen again! As he never returned, Dada and the others asked why he has not returned. Maharaj explained, He will not return as he is not from this world. He is a mukta from Swetdweep who had come to deliver this murti from there to us realising your deep devotion for me! All were immensely surprised. After that the murti was installed on a suitable auspicious day. The murti would accept all foods offered to it as Maharaj resided within it. This is the murti that Maharaj later took and installed in Bhuj as Lord Nar because the murti made had been damaged. This damaged murti had later been taken by devotees of Janshali and repaired and then installed in a beautiful temple there.

75.The Miracle Performed By Nar-Narayan Dev at Bhuj

In V.S. 1923, Adi Acharya Ayodhya Prasadji Maharaj came to Kutch and installed Shree Hari-Krishna Maharaj to the right of Nar-Narayan Dev on V.S. Falgun Sud 2. That year however, during Chaturmaas, there was no rainfall. The brahmins of Bhuj asked an elderly Sanyasi; Mundiya Bawa, who was also an enemy of the satsang, the reason for the rain not falling that year to which he replied, The rain will not fall this year as in the temple of Bhuj, an idol of Swaminarayan (the founder of the sampraday) has been installed beside Nar-Narayan Dev. That Swaminarayan is not a God; he was merely a human being. If a mere man is installed in a Kingdom and worshipped, then the King is also at fault and bears the hardships of such act. Hence the whole of Kutch will suffer the consequence by receiving

no rain and indeed bad times and famine will be rampant. Many will die and face such great calamity. The brahmins were shocked to hear this and asked whether there was a way to counteract this. The Bawa said, The only way to bring back the rains and avoid this calamity would be to lift the idol of Swaminarayan from beside Nar-Narayan and place it into the river! The brahmins then went to the King and explained this to him and got his support. The King announced that the idol of Lord Swaminarayan should be removed and news of this spread to all parts of the area. When the saints at the temple learnt of this, they were extremely disheartened and increasingly were terrified of the possibility that the idol could be removed. The saints stopped taking food and water altogether. News of this made its way to the Darbar of Harbhamji, a great and valiant Ksatriaya of Samadhogaji. The mother instructed his son to go immediately to Bhuj and protect Hari-Krishna Maharaj at all costs, even at the cost of his own life. With sword in hand, Harbhamji came to Bhuj. He stood guard near Hari-Krishna Maharaj to fight off any threat. He had decided that he would not hesitate in cutting the head off anyone that comes there to take the murti! At this time, Sadguru Mahant Swami Achyutdasji came by and saw Darbar Harbhamji. Swami offered him some food but the brave Harbhamji denied it saying that he did not wish to dine until such time that the threat was over. At around 11 oclock that evening, Mahant Swami, out of concern, came and sat opposite Nar-Narayan Dev and began to meditate. At roughly 11:30, the doors to the temple of Nar-Narayan Dev miraculously opened and a brilliant light enveloped the whole temple auditorium. Lords Nar and Narayan arose from the Murti and prayed with folded hands to Hari-Krishna Maharaj saying, O Maharaj! If you so wish then we will go and sort this threat out once and for all! Hari-Krishna Maharaj was immensely pleased by this and said, Very Good! You may go and do whatever you see fit. Lord Nar-Narayan Dev with this order left the temple passing Mahant Swami. Swami had their darshan and was amazed to see them and wondered where they were going. In that instance Lord Nar-Narayan exited the temple even though the doors were locked and shut. They made their way to the temple of Shiromanirai where the temple Pujari was asleep there. With a great kick the celestial twins awoke him and sent him flying and then said, O Great Fool! You are supporting this effort to have the idol of Hari-Krishna Maharaj removed! Therefore go to the King in the morning and put this matter to rest. If you do not act as We instruct, then prepare to meet your death as you will not see another day. After that the twins also went to Lord Shiromanirai and advised him accordingly, O Deva! Your Pujari is also in on this conspiracy so why do you not advise him correctly? Therefore ensure that you advise him correctly from now on. Saying this, Lord Nar-Narayan left and came back to the temple at Bhuj where they respectfully bowed before Hari-Krishna Maharaj and then resided as before within the idols of Nar-Narayan Dev. The pujari at Shiromanirai temple was just about able to stand up with great effort after being physically taught a lesson by Nar-Narayan Dev. He went to the Kings darbar where he told the King the whole story and pleaded with the King to withdraw his statement to have HariKrishna Maharaj removed. He showed the King the wounds of his encounter with Lord Nar-Narayan and the King too was frightened by the wrath of the Lord. He therefore announced throughout the kingdom that the previous decision to remove Hari-Krishna Maharaj was now quashed! He further announced that whosoever talks about such action ever again would be imprisoned. The news of this incident spread throughout India. He also sent message to the temple to inform them that they had nothing to fear now and so could worship Hari-Krishna Maharaj in peace. The saints and Haribhaktas of Bhuj were very pleased to hear this. All the saints and Harbhamji with the advent of this pleasing news now broke their fast.

76.The Procession of Mundiya Bawa

Once the great brahmin devotee Jetha Bhakta went to Mundiya Bawa, who was sat at the entrance of the temple of Mahadev. The Bawa asked as to the identity of the Bhakta. Jetha Bhakta explained that he was brahmin and was also a devotee of Lord Swaminarayan. The Bawa however began to scold him with his words explaining that a high-caste brahmin should not be a devotee of Swaminarayan. He further explained that there was no possibility that such devotion would bring salvation as Swaminarayan is a mere man and not God. He continued to slander Lord Swaminarayan and his saints. Jetha Bhakta entertained him by asking, If you are positive that I will not attain salvation through Swaminarayan then please tell me how I can attain salvation and I will obey you. Mundiya Bawa said, If you are desirous of salvation then you need to become my disciple and serve me as only I can give Moksha to my devotees. Jetha agreed and decided that he wished to become an ascetic and accept the Bawa as his Guru but first he said, For me to become your disciple I would need to test you to ensure that you are competent enough to be my Guru. The test would be to answer a number of questions in accordance with the scriptures. Mundiya Bawa agreed to this and told him to ask away. However Jetha Bhakta hesitated and said that he would be prepared to become his disciple if Mundiya answers the questions correctly but if he is unable to answer the questions then he should be prepared to do everything as Jetha tells him to do. Jetha told him the consequence of being unable to answer the questions; that he should have to shave half his head, moustache and beard, cover it with lime and then he should be sat on a horse in the opposite direction so that he can hold the horses tail in his hand and then be paraded through the streets with pomp and pleasure. The Bawa agreed to all of this as he was proud and confident in his own learning. This was confirmed by writing an agreement to that effect and duly singed and witnessed by the disciples of Mundiya and others such as the state representatives. Mundiya was not afraid by Jethas questions thinking him to be insignificant in comparison to his own knowledge. Jetha then began with the following seven questions with more to follow. He further instructed that the answers should be consistent with Veda Vyaas teachings for them to hold any value: 1. How many types of Sanyasis are listed in the scriptures? 2. You are a dandi Sanyasi (an ascetic with wooden staff in hand) but the staff you have is decorated with silver. Which scripture gives you permission to use such silver? 3. You are a Tyagi (one who has renounced all worldly things) and yet women come to massage your feet. Which scripture gives Tyagis the right to accept the service of women? 4. You keep your own personal wealth. Which scripture allows you to keep such wealth? 5. Scriptures speak of the five entities namely Jiva, Ishwar, Maya, Brahman and Parbrahman. Explain the qualities and nature of each. 6. How does the nerve Sushumna reside within the body and outside the body within the universe? 7. Explain the differences and qualities of the four skies: Gatakash, Mathakash, Mahadakash and Chidakash. Hearing these questions, Mundiya Bawa was frightened and could not answer even one of the questions! He was stuck. He had not alternative but to give in and in accordance with the agreement drawn up he was paraded half-shaved. He faced such great humiliation and suffered for the rest of his days. When he died he fell to the tortures of hell. Those that supported him and were his disciples also faced great hardships and were childless. All of

which, as they insulted God and his great saints and devotees. Therefore Those desirous of salvation should never cause insult to God or his saints and devotees. Those that do face difficulties and never attain salvation. (Vachanamrit)

77.Radha-Krishna Dev and Ghanshyam Maharaj are Installed in Bhuj

In V.S 1967, the saints of Bhuj decided that Shree Radha-Krishna Dev and Ghanshyam Maharaj should be installed. They approached the King of Kutch, Khengarji, for his approval in the matter. However the King replied, At the moment there is a disease going round which is seeing to the death of many and therefore it would be ill advised for an installation ceremony to take place where there are many people from afar coming here which could lead to the spread of the disease. If you so choose to go ahead with the ceremony then I instruct that people from Mandvi should not be invited as an outbreak of the disease is already evident there. The saints were unhappy with this, as they did not wish to isolate devotees of Mandvi from enjoying the ceremony when all others would be present. Indeed the great Sankhyogi Dhanbai Fai of Rampar was visiting Bhuj at the time and she too voiced her concerns with this and left Bhuj. Many other sankhyogis also left Bhuj. The Mahant at the time, Sadguru Mahapurushdasji was very concerned at the potential threat to the Yagna Installation ceremony not taking place in light of the sankyogis leaving. Soon after, Ghanshyam Maharaj once gave darshan to Dhanbai Fai. He asked her why she had left Bhuj. Dhanbai Fai explained that she was not happy with the fact that the installation ceremony would take place without devotees from Mandvi and so she left. She asked Maharaj to help to settle this matter amicably. Maharaj then instructed her, Go to Bhuj and send word to the Mahant Swami to arrange the ceremony and invite all devotees from everywhere and that for ten days during the ceremony there will be no problems and the disease will not spread. Inform the King of this also. Furthermore, you should stand guard at a perimeter of approximately seven miles to prevent death from entering the perimeter. Dhanbai Fai informed Mahant Swami of this and he then sought the help of Swami Harinarayandasji of Muli temple, who prompted a satsangi Shree Dhanjibhai Katval who was an advisor to the King to influence matters. Dhanjibhai gave the King assurance that for ten days during the celebration, nothing would happen and the spread of disease would be prevented. However the King was not convinced and said that he would give permission only if Dhanjibhai would be prepared to be personally held responsible and should the disease spread then he would face banishment from Kutch or imprisonment. Dhanjibhai was hesitant and so returned to Mahant Swami and Dhanbai Fai for advice. Dhanbai Fai reassured him that Maharaj had given her darshan and that nothing would happen. At the instruction of Dhanbai Fai and Mahant Swami, he returned to the King and fully agreed to his conditions and the King finally gave permission. Dhanbai Fai stood guard at the perimeter to prevent Death from entering. She told Death that he was not allowed to go in and retrieve anyone even if their time was genuinely up for normal reasons. Hearing this he touched the feet of Dhanbai Fai and went on his way. The celebrations began on Chaitra Sud 14. On Chaitra Vad 7, Dharma Dhurandhar Acharya Shree Vasudev Prasadji Maharaj installed Radha-Krishna Dev and Hari-Krishna Maharaj (young Ghanshyam Maharaj) in accordance with vedic rites. Devotees from the whole of Kutch were present and the occasion was celebrated with great festivity. All the devotees returned to their own villages after the event was over. Dhanbai Fai requested Acharya Maharajshree to spend that night in Madhapur and then to leave for Ahmedabad the following morning as Death would enter soon, now that the event was complete. The following day, Dhanbai Fai and

others left for Rampar. On the way they stopped at Khatri Talav, where Death was waiting and so Dhanbai Fai gave him permission to enter now. In this way Dhanbai Fai returned to Rampur that day and Death entered Bhuj to claim the backlog of deaths. In that one day, nearly 70 deaths were recorded. Whilst zero deaths were recorded in the previous ten days! Similarly in V.S. 1998 Vaishakh Sud 5, Acharya Shree Devendra Prasadji Maharaj installed Ghanshyam Maharaj at Bhuj. The devotees assembled for Katha in the temples farmland. A nine-day parayan was held and accommodation was arranged at Dakshinada Talav, named Ghanshyam Nagar. Ghanshyam Maharaj would be seen often during the occasion, either walking or on Manaki Godi at either the Sabha Mandap, Ghanshyam Nagar etc. to personally see to the wellbeing and safeguarding of his devotees. Once early in the morning at about 3.00 a.m. Ghanshyam Maharaj was seen to enter the main square of the temple. At this time Mahant Swami Shree Vallabhdasji was performing Pradikshana and he saw Maharaj. He fell at the feet of Maharaj and asked, O Maharaj! What brings you here so suddenly in the middle of the night? Maharaj said, O Swami! I have just been to the accommodations of haribhaktas (utara), the kitchen, Sabha Mandap and the Bhandar (treasury) to stand guard and protect them. We have been doing this daily but today I decided to come here and give you my darshan! Saying this he disappeared within the murtis. Thus Maharaj always looks after the wellbeing of his devotees but sometimes, may through his divine will, give darshan to his Ekantik Sant-Haribhaktas. Furthermore, even though the murtis may be made of stone, metal etc. he still resides within them in divine form. Whenever Maharaj installed murtis in the major temples he said, The murtis that I have installed are in actual fact Me. There is no difference in these murtis and the murti of the Lord residing within Akshardhaam. Therefore if you serve and perform poojan of these murtis with love then I will definitely accept such poojan, save you from all difficulties and come to take you personally to Akshardhaam.

78.Bhujs Great Devotee Surajbaa

The idols installed by Lord Swaminarayan will not accept the offerings of sinners but will accept the offerings by the Lords great devotees. One such great devotee is the sankhyogi Surajbaa who often used to speak with the Nar-Narayan Dev and Maharaj. The Lord would often go to her residence and accept foods offered by her. A Satsangi Haribhakta went overseas to earn money once. For five years he worked tirelessly and amassed nearly ten thousand rupees. On returning to India he arrived in Mumbai and decided to write a letter to his home to inform them that he had arrived in India and would arrive home shortly. After a few days he arrived in Bhuj and decided to visit his sister, in the nearby village of Madhapar, before returning home. His sister welcomed him and served and fed him dearly. He decided to spend the night there and gave his sister a purse containing the money that he had amassed. However the sister began to have thoughts of having her brother killed so that she could then keep the money. She spoke to her husband about this who immediately scolded her with harsh words saying that she was a sinner to even think such bad thoughts. He further said that such sin would never be concealed and it would see to their own death and tortures in hell. He tried very hard to vanquish these ill thoughts from her wife but she did not listen. In the middle of the night, whilst her brother was fast asleep, she grabbed an axe and told her husband to go and cut the head off her brother! The husband tried again to persuade her to not talk such evil but she did not listen and instead began to belittle and insult her husband. She then took the axe herself and went and cut the head off her brother. She decided to dig a

grave within the house to bury the body so as not to attract any attention outside by trying to dispose of the body there. After about ten days, the parents of the person who had been killed began to worry, as their son had still not come home. They asked around the family to see whether anyone knew anything more but they did not. Finally they decided to contact their daughter in Madhapar to see whether she knew anything. She replied that she knew nothing of his whereabouts and even began to shed fake tears saying, What has happened to my dear brother? Where has he gone? Why has he still not come? She did this to cunningly display concern when in actual fact she was full of joy within. A few more days passed when the sister now began to see the light and started to think that what she had done was wrong. She began to think how she could have done things otherwise by maybe asking for some money from her brother but instead through selfishness she acted hastily and killed her very brother. She began to realise that she was a great sinner and would have to suffer the consequences. She could not take food or water and was unable to sleep as a result of the worry of what could happen to her. She decided that she would go to the temple at Bhuj and donate some of her brothers money to the Dev in an attempt to nullify her sin. She went to the temple and arranged to provide for Lord Nar-Narayan Devs thaal (food offerings to the Lord) and santo ni rasvoi (food offerings to saints). The Pujari of the Lord (Brahmanchari) arranged for the food to be made for the Lord with the sisters donation and then went to the inner sanctum of the temple to offer the foods but through the Lords divine will, he gave a bit of a push which resulted in the falling of the Brahmanchari and the food in his hand! The Brahmanchari began to think that he must have done something wrong; otherwise the thaal would not have fallen like this. He therefore decided to bathe and prepare new thaal again but the same thing happen. This happened three times. All the Santos, Parshads, Haribhaktos and lady devotees saw this and were upset by why this was happening. Because the Lord was not accepting the food, all of them too decided not to take any food also. They thought that there was some crime, fault or sin, which had happened for this to be apparent. The news of this spread and many devotees, men and women came to the temple. Swaminarayan Dhunya resounded within the Ladies temple attended by the sinful woman also. She sat in one corner and thought to herself that this may be as a result of her own sinful acts. At that time Lord Nar-Narayan Dev gave divine darshan to Surajbaa at her residence and said, O Surajbaa! We are extremely hungry today, therefore please hurry and prepare something in offering for us. Surajbaa immediately arrange for some food to be prepared and satiated Lord Nar-Narayan Dev. She then asked with folded hands why they were not accepting the thaal offered to them at the temple. They replied, The thaal is falling through no fault of the Brahmanchari but is due to the donor of the thaal today. It is due to the sinful acts of the woman that has donated the food! Lord Nar-Narayan then went on to narrate the details of her sinful acts of killing her brother for the money and her attempt to nullify the sin by offering thaal to them and the santos. They explained, We cannot accept such foods offered by the sinner and have therefore come to you O Surajbaa, to accept the pure food from your hands. The saints have also not dined because of this. Please go to the temple and inform the saints of this, the real reason why I am not accepting food. Once the brahmanchari has bathed, cleansed the kitchen and utensils and prepared offerings on behalf of the temple treasury, we will then dine. Saying this, Nar-Narayan Dev disappeared. Surajbaa went to the temple and got word to the Mahant Swami, the real reason why Nar-Narayan Dev was not accepting the thaal. In this time the sinful woman had returned to her home. The Brahmanchari did as the Lord had instructed and the Lord then accepted the

thaal, the saints broke their fast and also dined. News of this incident spread and the police contacted the temple to verify. The police then went to the home of the sinful woman and found the story to be completely true. They arrange for the body to be exhumed for verification, the ten thousand rupees were taken off her and then she was imprisoned.

79.Maharaj Saves Lakhaji Bhakta of Bandara

In Bandara, there lived a faithful devotee, who implicitly followed all of the tenets of the Shikshapatri but through association with the sinful, he had once been late in completing his religious duties. Maharaj came to Lakha Bhagat at around 11 oclock in the night and awoke Lakha with a sharp strike of a cane! Maharaj told him to make him some siro as he was hungry. Lakha bathed and cleansed himself and immediately went and made the siro and then offered it to Maharaj. After dining, Maharaj said to him, I will come again tomorrow at the same time to dine siro. Saying this he disappeared. Maharaj came again the following day and awoke him with that strike of a cane and had Lakha make him siro again. This happened for six nights. On the night of the sixth, he decided to ask, O Maharaj! Why do you come here daily and wake me up with a cane and request siro such that all the ghee and ghor is nearly finished in the household now? Have I done something to offend you? Maharaj explained, There has been a lapse in your practice of religious rites and therefore to test your faith I have been coming here for six days and have been giving you difficulties. Maharaj then instructed him to stay firm to the disciplines of the sampraday and to go to Swami Aksharjivandasji of Bhuj to receive the Panch Vratman (five basic duties). Lakha begged forgiveness for his lapses in devotion and agreed to do as Maharaj instructed. After receiving the Kanthi again from Swami, Lakha once again became a firm and faithful devotee observing the tenets of the sampraday implicitly, achieving spiritual greatness. Indeed once, he had seen his own auntie in the form of a ghost. Lakha freed her from this bondage and sent her to the Lords Dhaam, such was the power of this great devotee.

80.Kaasu is Liberated Through Allegiance With Satsang

In V.S. 1943, Acharya Shree Keshavprasadji Maharaj came to Baladia in Kutch. After spending a few days there he was ready to leave for another village. However transport could not be arranged for some reason and so news of this reached Swami Aksharjivandasji. Swami approached a Muslim by the name of Kaasu who was an executive officer in Baladia. He was a righteous fellow and he immediately acceded to Swamis request to arrange transport for Maharajshree. Both Swami and Acharya Maharajshree were very pleased by this gesture. Satsang in Baladia was very good and in light of this, Swami decided that a temple should be built in the village. The devotees of Baladia agreed whole-heartedly that a temple should be built there, as it would be for the welfare of all devotees in Baladia. Swami requested that the temple be built in farmland that was on the outskirts of the village and blessed them by saying, Though this land is on the outskirts now, it will be the centre of the village in years to come as the village will expand. One Ayis Bawa, the owner of Baladia, owned the land and it was rented by Gangji Bhakta for purposes of farming. Swami requested of Gangji Bhakta to free the land. Gangji agreed but explained that he had borrowed some money and so would need to pay that back. Swami offered to pay this off and give him extra. Swami blessed him and his descendants that they would have ever-growing devotion for satsang, he would never be plagued with illness and both he and his descendants would live happily. Swami then enlisted the help of Kaasu to have the land transferred to them for purposes of building the temple.

Kaasu also aided greatly in the laying of the foundations of the temple and the temple construction. He himself arranged for the transfer of sand from the nearby river to the temple site by getting all the village people together to help in this mammoth task. Until the very last day of the completion of the temple, Kaasu used to come daily to overlook the construction and so in this he was aided greatly by have firm alliance to the temple and satsang. Swami Aksharjivandasji was immensely pleased by this and blessed him, You will attain salvation and Lord Swaminarayan will come to take you to Dhaam. Kaasu later retired to the village of Bharudia in Vagad. In V.S. 1961, he left his mortal body. His last words to his family surrounding him were, Lord Swaminarayan, Acharya Shree Keshvprasadji Maharaj and Swami Aksharjivandasji and other saints have come to take me to Akshardhaam! Maharaj has said in Vachanamrit, The great sins of killing Brahmins are quashed through allegiance with the Lord and his saints and they are then delivered to the Lords Dhaam. Therefore one should always associate and obey saints and devotees and should never act in such a way as to cause them insult by having enmity towards them. Those that have such malice for saints are reborn again and again.

81.Maharaj Saves Padamshi Bhakta From Robbers

Padamshi Seth was from a village called Kanthkot. He was a great and pious devotee with great love for Maharaj and devotion. Maharaj was greatly pleased with him because of his devotion. Whenever Maharaj used to tour Gujarat, Kathiwad etc. and celebrate festivals in such places, Padamshi Bhakta would also attend without question or excuse. Once Maharaj was going to celebrate the occasion of adorning a head-dress (Mugat Dharan) in Vadtal. Padamshi got ready to leave for Vadtal along with many other devotees from Kanthkot. He arranged the hire of the services of a cart for the transportation of their belongings. On the way there, Padamshi Bhakta talked vividly about the greatness of Maharaj and thus initiated the owner of the cart; Mamaiya, into the sect by placing a rosary round his neck. On the way, one of the bullocks suddenly died. Mamaiya thought that maybe it was because he had been initiated into the Swaminarayan faith and so took the Kanthi off at once and threw it back to Padamshi. He then bought another bullock and they continued their journey to Vadtal. They got to Vadtal and stayed for approximately ten days and celebrated the Utsav with great festivity. After celebrating with such happiness and enjoying the bliss of Maharajs darshan for many days, Padamshi along with all the others in his party from Kanthkot decided to return. It had got quite late in the night when returning and at that moment they noticed about seven or eight fellows approaching in order to loot them. They confronted Padamshi and the others and said, Give us all your belongings, otherwise we will kill you! They all began to off load their belongings and give it to the robbers. At that moment, Mamaiya said to Padamshi, You speak of the greatness of your Swaminarayan but why doesnt he come to your aid now and help you? Padamshi replied, My dear Swaminarayan will come any moment now to save us! Maharaj came immediately and gave everyone his divine darshan with him upon a horse and armed with a sword, axe and shield to fight off these looters! Along with him, was an army of fifty Kathi warriors. They bellowed with a fearful voice, Who do you think you are, trying to loot these devotees! Saying this they grabbed hold of the looters and inflicted great pain. The looters began to shake in fear. They fell at Maharajs feet and sought refuge, O Swaminarayan! We have made a great mistake. We will never rob anyone again. Please forgive our sins and us. Therefore please show us your kindness by letting us go alive. Maharaj instructed the Kathis to let them go and the looters fled.

Padamshi and the others continued their journey and arrived at Kanthkot peacefully. Many years passed and the time for Mamaiya to leave this world came. Yamdoots came to take him and began to beat him viciously. Padamshi learnt that Mamaiya was in his dying days and so he came to visit him. He came to Mamaiyas residence chanting the Swaminarayan Mahamantra. The Yamdoot immediately fled on the arrival of the Bhakta. Mamaiya then told Padamshi, I had faced such pains at the hands of the Yamdoots but have now found solace in your arrival as they have gone away. However they are still waiting for me once you leave. Padamshi said, Why dont you remember your Guru and meditate upon your Ishtadev? Mamaiya replied, O Padamshi! I have been doing that for so long but they have not come to my aid! Therefore please save me from them. I will do whatever you ask of me. Padamshi then instructed him to seek refuge at the feet of Lord Swaminarayan and to receive Panch Vratman and wear a Kanthi. Mamaiya agreed and so Padamshi placed a Kanthi round his neck. Padamshi then instructed him to remember the time when they went to Vadtal for Mughat Dharan Utsav and to remember the Lord decorated in his beautiful attire seated in a swing. He told him to also remember the glorious murti of Maharaj, when he came to their rescue and saved them from the robbers. He told him to chant Swaminarayan and as he did so, he had divine darshan of Maharaj. He told Padamshi, O Padamshi! Maharaj has come to give me darshan! Padamshi said, Ask Maharaj when he will come to take you. He asked Maharaj when he would take him and Maharaj replied, If you wish to come to Akshardhaam then come now with me! Mamaiya said to Padamshi, Maharaj is asking me to go with him now! Padamshi then said, Then dont hesitate and leave now and go with him! Mamaiya left his body immediately and followed Maharaj to Akshardhaam. Thus through association with a haribhakta, even in his last few moments before death, he was able to attain salvation. This is the greatness of a haribhakta and also the mercifulness of Maharaj.

82.Maharaj Performs a Miracle for the Prime Minister of Ider

The King of Ider was Yuvansinhaji. He was a faithful devotee of Lord Swaminarayan. He would always go to the temple for darshan and then sit with the saints to spend time and learn from them. The Prime Minister to the King was Balakhiram a nagar brahmin by birth. He too, through his association with the King, would sometimes visit the temple and associate with the saints. Once, a Swami asked Balakhiram, O Prime Minister! Why dont you take the Panchvratman like the King and become a Satsangi? However the Prime Minister was hesitant, as he believed that salvation was only available as a result of ones past, present and destined actions. He did not believe that there was any benefit in joining satsang and that salvation was not available to those who merely sought shelter at the Lords feet as Swami had explained. He therefore decided to test this theory to verify it. Many days passed. Once, the Prime Minister approached a Bank Manager and asked to borrow ten thousand rupees. He took the ten thousand rupees but acted in such a way as to breach the trust and therefore many days later, when the Bank Manager approached the Prime Minister to return the money, he replied in such a way as to not know anything about the money that was borrowed. Unfortunately there was no proof of this nor a witness as the Banker accepted the Prime Minister to be a man of high standing and trustworthy and so would not require any proof. The Prime Minister was adamant that he did not borrow any money and so in the end the Banker decided to take the matter to court.

After many days the court had decided in favour of the Prime Minister. He then went to Swami and decided to become a satsangi in order to test whether he could still obtain salvation even though he had previously committed sin. He confirmed with Swami that now he had become a satsangi, he was free of all past sins. He then called the Banker and devised a test to prove he was right. He had a metal rod heated so that it was red hot and then instructed that both would hold either end. The one that is burned is the one that is not telling the truth. Both held the rod and the Banker was burned whilst nothing happened to the Prime Minister. All witnessed this as a miracle and accepted that the Prime Minister was telling the truth. The Prime Minister had actually tested to disprove Swami that once joining the satsang, all previous sins would not be destroyed and therefore one could not attain salvation by merely seeking refuge at the Lords feet. But he himself was proved wrong and so from that day on he became a dedicated and devoted satsangi. He then gave back the money that he borrowed to the Banker including all the costs incurred in him having to take the matter to court. He later retired and decided to spend the rest of his days in Ahmedabad and became devoted to Swami Nirgundasji serving him with mind, action and speech. He became absorbed in meditation of Lord Swaminarayan and through the favour of his Guru, attained Samadhi and Niravana Dhrishti (special sight).

83.Acharya Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj Visits Netra

In V.S 1902, Acharya Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj came to Kutch for touring and eventually arrived at the village Netra after visiting many other villages. Devotees of Netra including Keshra Bhakta decided to go to the outskirts of the village to receive Maharajshree and escort him to Netra with pomp and celebration. All the people of Netra were assembled at the outskirts when Maharajshree arrived there on a decorated elephant along with many saints and parshads. Many antagonists of the satsang also came to receive Maharajshree and they insisted that Maharajshree could not enter the village sat upon an elephant as this would disgrace the divine mother deity, Mataji and so they requested that he enter the village on foot. Otherwise Mataji would surely kill the offender! Maharajshree said, What you say is true. Those that enter here disregarding the instructions of Mataji will surely face death. But do you know who is worthy of such punishment? Mataji will kill those who are insolent but will never harm those who are her most obedient son. Those who realise that Matajis husband is the Lord Almighty and seek refuge at his feet; who live in accordance with Dharma (duty); and who practice faithful devotion (Bhakti) are considered to be obedient and righteous. Examples of such pious persons and faithful devotees (ascetics and householders) of God are Hanumanji, Tulsidasji, Narad, Sanakadik, Nav-Yogeshvar, Sukhdevji, Narsinha Mehta, Ambarish Raja, Janak Raja, Dhruvaji and Prahlad. In this way, the devotees of Lord Swaminarayan are also pious and obedient devotees and Mataji understands that they are devoted to her own husband, the Lord Almighty and therefore are to be protected by her. Hence, Mataji would never attempt to harm us. Those present listening, had never heard this supreme knowledge and were taken aback by it. They were grateful to Maharajshree for imparting such knowledge to them. Maharajshree explained, You have never come across and met a true Brahmanveta Guru (a Guru of such high standing with commanding knowledge of the scriptures) and therefore who would give you such supreme knowledge? They were pleased with this and said, O Maharaj! You are indeed great and therefore may enter the village in any way as you may so please. Maharajshree then continued into the village sat upon the elephant. He arrived at the centre of the village, when Raiyo Mukhi, a prominent person of the village approached Maharajshree. Raiyo was evil and a great antagonist of satsang. Maharajshree seeing him

approach offered a flower garland to him but he did not accept it and instead it fell to the ground! The elephant then picked the garland up from the ground with his trunk and placed it around the neck of a devotee. However Raiyo received sin for this act by not accepting the garland whereby insulting and offending a great person. Many years later, there lived a faithful devotee of Lord Swaminarayan by the name of Natha Mukhi. Once he went to the nearby temple to listen to religious sermons, as was his daily custom. At about 10 oclock in the evening, he decided to return to his farm on the outskirts of the village of Netra. There he saw a large group of fearful Yamdoots. Realising who they were, he began to chant Swaminarayan loudly. Hearing this, the Yamdoots said, O devotee! Do not be afraid of us as you worship the eminent Lord Swaminarayan. Even we strive for his darshan. You are a faithful devotee of his and therefore you too are great! Natha then asked, Why is it that there is a large group of you here? Where are you going? The Yamdoots said, In this village of Netra resides a leader by the name of Raiyo Mukhi. He once offended the son of Lord Swaminarayan, Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj. Raiyo is a great sinner and therefore we have been sent by Lord Yama to take him. We have come here for a short rest and then we will continue on to his residence when we will take him to Yampuri. Therefore do not fear and continue to your farm at peace. Natha Bhakta continued on his way and the Yamdoots went to retrieve Raiyo. Natha returned the next day back to the village and told everyone about this incident and received confirmation that Raiyo had indeed died! Therefore it is very important that we never offend either God, his Acharyas, his great saints and his devotees. Those that do commit such a despicable act facing the tortures of hell and are never eligible for salvation.

84.Sojitras Bakorbhai and Motaps Babaram and Dakshini Brahmin become Satsangis
In Sojitra there lived a Patidar (a particular type of caste) by the name of Bakorbhai. He worked in the railway industry in Ahmedabad. He was a very firm devotee of Bhadrakali Mataji. Once during Navratri, Bakorbhai decided to please Mataji by performing fasts. He decided, I will continue to fast until such time that Bhadrakali Mataji is pleased with me and gives me her darshan. In this way he observed eight continuous days of fasting taking no food for the whole duration. On the ninth day, in the early morning at around 4 oclock, Mataji came to Bakorbhai in the guise of a sixteen-year-old girl and gave him darshan. She said to him, O Bakorbhai! I am immensely pleased with your intense fasting and therefore I am granting you a boon. Ask of me whatever you wish for. Bakorbhai did not recognise Mataji as Bhadrakali at first but then Mataji explained who she was. Bakorbhai bowed with folded hands and then said, O Mataji! I am blessed with wealth and happiness in this world and therefore do not wish for such material happiness. I wish for only one thing, that is salvation. Mataji said, In this age, I am not the deliver of such Moksha and therefore if you wish for salvation then practice devotion of Lord Nar-Narayan Dev. By doing so you will one day be blessed with the association of a great person, a Satpurusha, who will deliver you to salvation. Mataji then disappeared. After receiving such darshan, Bakorbhai awoke and saw to his daily rituals. He bought flower garlands and then went to the temple of Nar-Narayan Dev where he garlanded the deities of Nar-Narayan and Ghanshyam Maharaj. He bowed respectfully before the idols. He then did darshan of the saints and brahmancharis and received the kanthi from them after taking the Panch Vratman. After that he spent many days in service to the saints and earned their favour. He became a great and devoted satsangi, who had no pleasure in material

objects and at the end of his lifetime he shed his body of the five elements and went to Akshardhaam. Therefore Lord Swaminarayan and the deities that he installed, Lord Nar-Narayan, Lord Laxmi-Narayan etc. are sources of salvation in this age. In Gujarat, there is a village by the name of Motap. The disciple of Sadguru Mukundjivandasji of Ahmedabad, Swami Bhagwatprasaddasji arrived there along his mandal (group). The saints met with a Patidar by the name of Babaram there and made him a satsangi. Babaram lived in accordance with the tenets as outlined to him by the Swamis. Many days later, Babaram was overcome with an illness but still he was firm in his faith and continued his daily duties. Many of his family members who were devotees of Mataji began to claim that the illness was as a consequence of forgoing his devotion to Mataji and becoming a firm satsangi of Lord Swaminarayan. They and many other villagers who were devoted to Mataji said that Mataji was angered by this insolence and indeed Babaram would meet his death as a result. They even told him to shed his kanthi and come back to Mataji if he wished to live! But Babaram was adamant and said, So long as the body and soul stay intact, I will continue to wear the kanthi of Lord Swaminarayan. If you wish to forcefully remove it from my neck then you will have to sever my head! Hearing these valiant words of Baburam, they were wonder-struck and could not say anything further. At that very moment, countless saints, brahmancharis and parshads ,accompanying Maharaj sat upon his Manki Godi, came to the ailing Baburam to give divine darshan. He dismounted the horse and entered the home to where Baburam lay. He said Jay Shree Swaminarayan! and stood near him. Baburam was speechless and immediately got up from his bed as if his illness was no more and began to perform prostrations before Maharaj. Maharaj was greatly pleased and placed his hand upon the head of Baburam to bless him and said, O Baburam! Accept that your illness has now gone. Stay true to satsang always and practice devotion in accordance with our instructions. Saying this he and all the other sadhus and parshads disappeared. The family members of Baburam and all the other villagers who tried to remove the kanthi from Baburam saw this and were amazed. They saw the footsteps of Maharaj of red vermilion in the courtyard of the residence and news of this incident spread. Indeed many from afar even came to see the footprints and saw this as a divine miracle. They all now realised the divinity of Lord Swaminarayan and began to accept him as the manifest form of the Lord Supreme and so they too became satsangis by renouncing their old beliefs in Mataji. Later a large temple was built in the village so that all could experience the bliss of satsang and Swaminarayan Bhajan! Once there lived a pure and pious brahmin. He decided to perform intense penance upon Lord Shiva for purposes of salvation. Lord Shiva was pleased by his severe austerities and granted him darshan and a boon. The brahmin asked for salvation. Shiva explained that he was unable to give such Moksha as only Pragat Bhagwan was capable of giving such blessing. Shiva then blessed him by saying that the Lord is manifest at the moment in Gadhpur and to go to him and he would be granted salvation. Shiva further instructed him to go to Gadhada to meet the great saint, Sadguru Brahmchari Aksharanand Swami who would see to his meeting with the Lord. The brahmin followed the instructions of Shiva and set off for Gadhada. He arrived at the temple there and asked for Aksharanand Swami. He met Swami and told him all about the divine darshan by Lord Shiva and his sending him to Swami, who would introduce him to the Lord, who would grant him salvation. Swami then showed him the murti of the Lord and explained, This is Pragat Bhagwan! But the brahmin was not content with this and required darshan such that he could have divine darshan of the Lord and speak with him. Swami instructed him to take the Panch Vratman, wear a Kanthi, to practice devotion of Lord Swaminarayan to become a fully fledged devotee. Swami blessed him that by doing so he would one day have such darshan and all his wishes would be granted by Maharaj.

The brahmin then stayed in Gadhpur and practised single-minded devotion to Lord Swaminarayan as per the instructions of Swami. After many days, once whilst meditating and performing pradikshana of the Lord in the temple at about 2 oclock, the doors of the temple opened of their own accord and the temple was filled with a brilliant light. Maharaj then emerged from the idol of Lord Hari-Krishna Maharaj and gave the brahmin divine darshan. Maharaj placed his hand on the brahmins head to blessed him and said, I believe Lord Shankar has sent you here? The brahmin said, Yes Maharaj! Maharaj said, In accordance with what Lord Shankar has told you, I am the Lord Almighty and therefore understand this to be true. Saying this he disappeared. The brahmin was overjoyed to receive such darshan. He ran straight to Aksharanand Swami and prostrated before him. He explained joyously, O Swami! Because of your spiritual greatness and blessings I have had darshan of Maharaj, who has granted all my wishes. The brahmin decided to stay in Gadhada to serve Swami. He later received brahmchari diksha and was named Brahmchari Ramkrishnanandji. He served Swami and Thakorji with great effort through the years; at the end of which he attained Moksha.

85.Maharaj Saves the Saints, Shivram Mehta and Kudera

In V.S. 1961, in Khadir Gadhada, there lived a faithful devotee by the name of Madhavjibhai. For purposes of giving religious sermons, Swami Ramkrishnadasji of Bhuj came there along with his mandal. They stayed there for approximately ten days and then on their return, Madhavji arranged for a horse and camel and sent an Arab with these to aid the Swamis. On the way between Khadir Gadhada and Rapar, there is a desert with salty water. The Swamis walked through this dessert for about five to six miles when they came to a very dry dessert. They stopped here to rest. The Arab said to the Swamis that it was currently his Roja (period of fasting) and requested some water as he was extremely thirsty and would be unable to continue the journey without some water. However no one had any water with them and it was unlikely that they would be able to source any water in the scorching dry dessert. They decided to remember Lord Swaminarayan and began chanting his name to come to their aid. Maharaj indeed came to their saviour in the guise of a shepherd. Maharaj showed them to a pit made in a dry river bed nearby which had pure water in it. Maharaj then disappeared. The saints and the Arab drank from the pit and satiated their thirst. They decided to dine there also and rested for the night. The next day they continued their journey to Rapar and told everyone of this incident. The haribhaktas there explained that the dessert is such that drinkable water is impossible to find and that they had instead experienced a divine miracle by Maharaj who had come to save them! Shivram Mehta lived in Bhuj. He too was a faithful devotee of Maharaj. He served as a Land Administrator for the King of Bhuj. The King had a safe, which held a lot of money, which was guarded by Shivram and a number of other guards. However, once, the guards decided that they would all get together, kill Shivram Mehta and steal the money from the safe. Shivram did not know about this and during that night, Maharaj came to his rescue. Maharaj awoke Shivram and explained the inevitable and instructed Shivram to leave with him. In no time and little effort they reached Mandvi. The next day, Shivram returned to Bhuj and explained to the King, the cunning plan of the guards to kill him and steal the money! In Bhuprai, there lived many great devotees of God. In particular there was a faithful devotee by the name of Vrushban who had a son, Kudera. He too was a devout satsangi. He had a great friendship with a shepherd. Once both decided to go to the shepherds farm as tasty chanas (chick-peas) grew there. On the way there, the shepherd saw the golden jewellery that Kudera was wearing and began to think how good it would be to have the jewellery for

himself. He decided to kill him throwing him into a deep ditch and restrained the 12 year old Kudera by sitting on his chest. The 25-year-old shepherd then took a knife and began to cut the neck of Kudera. At that moment, the young Kudera decided that no one except God could save him and so he began to pray to Maharaj. Maharaj heard his prayers and came sat on an elephant with an army of twenty-five or so guards riding upon horses and descended upon where Kudera was being attacked. Maharaj cried loudly in a fearful voice to let the young child go free. They grabbed the frightened shepherd and took him back to the village where they imprisoned him in a fortress. They then went back to the boy and the elephant took the child with his trunk out from the deep ditch and sat him on top of him, in Maharajs lap. Maharaj then lovingly bandaged the wound of the knife on his neck and they all then went back to the village, to take Kudera back to his parents. The people of the village saw this divine sight of Maharaj upon an elephant and twenty-five guards upon horses. Once Maharaj had safely returned Kudera, he and all the guards disappeared from sight. Vrusbhan then came out from his house and saw his son with the bandaged wound and asked what had happened. Kudera explained everything and the other villagers who had had divine darshan of Maharaj confirmed this also. Vrushbhan was amazed. Later, he went and told the saints such as Swami Hariswarupdasji who were also astonished. They explained that the divine episode was a miracle to save Kudera.

86.Maharaj Saves Maandan Bhakta From Within the Ocean

In the state of Jalavar, near the city of Muli, there is a village by the name of Rampara. Maandan Merai, a great devotee of Maharaj resided here. Once he went to Mumbai to earn a living. He resided there for many months and accumulated an abundance of wealth. He then decided to return and boarded a very large boat to take him back. It crossed the ocean but the ocean was full of large mountains, which caused the boat great difficulty in navigating and it became unsteady through dangerous shifts in tide. Maandan and all the others on board began to fear for their lives. Even the boats helmsman said that there was nothing he could do as the boat was out of control. They lost all hope of a safe journey as they did not know where they were in the dark of night that had set in and it looked as though the boat would survive the volatile ocean. Hearing this, all those on board began to remember and ask for saviour from their own gods. Many prayed to Shiva, others prayed to Rama or Krishna whilst others prayed to Mataji. Some prayed to Ganapati while others prayed to the Lord of the Ocean to save them. In this way they remembered their own istadevs such as Surya, Hanumanji and others. They pleaded with the gods to come to their protection but it seemed hopeless as the boat continued to veer towards destruction. Maandan Bhakta then began to chant Swaminarayan as he clapped his hands. He told all the others on the boat to join in the dhunya if they wished for protection. But the others began to ridicule him by saying, What only your Swaminarayan is a true God and the others are false Gods? If he is a true God then why has He still not come yet? Maandan Bhakta explained, It is not that Lord Swaminarayan is the only true God but all the other Gods have manifested in the distant past whilst Lord Swaminarayan is manifest now. Therefore he is much more powerful now. The others then said, We will only believe your Swaminarayan to be true if he saves us now! In saying this, when Maandan Bhakta looked downwards he saw only a dry riverbed. He jumped out of the boat and began to walk. A little further he saw a palace and in that palace he saw a number of saints including Sadguru Devanand Swami singing songs of praise. He recognised Swami as he was his Guru and prostrated before him and then sat down there listing to the saints singing and playing musical instruments.

When the singing ceased, Swami asked, O Maandan Bhakta! What brings you here? Maandan explained everything and then asked, O Swami! What will happen to the boat? Swami said, O Bhakta! We have been sent by Maharaj here to save you. Go back to the boat and explain to everyone to fear not as the boat will safely reach its destination. Tell all to chant Swaminarayan. Tell the boats helmsman also not to worry and to let the boat continue of its own accord. Listening to these complacent words of Swami, Maandan returned to the boat. When he got back to the boat, all the people there were astonished to see Maandan return and asked, O Maandan! Where have you been and how have you returned without getting wet? Maandan explained everything to them as Swami had instructed. The helmsmen trusted Maandan and let the boat free to go of its own accord whilst everyone else began chanting Swaminarayan. The boat continued during the night and by the morning it had reached its destination safely. All were amazed as they had witnessed a miracle. They all accepted that Lord Swaminarayan was indeed Pragat Bhagwan.

87.Yama Tagra Ragvanand Swami Sends Yamas Fleeing

In the village of Golira, there lived four brothers who served as Gurus for the King. They were Bhima, Vishram, Raghav and Rana. They were devoted satsangis of Maharaj. Once a group of Yamdootas came to take a sinner from that village. The brothers saw them and thought, It is not right that Yamdootas enter this village whilst devotees of Lord Swaminarayan such as us reside here. It is our duty as satsangis to send them back away from here. Saying this they confronted the Yamdootas whilst in remembrance of Maharaj. They attempted to prevent the Yamdootas from entering the village but they would not listen. The Yamdootas then lifted their hand to try and harm the brothers but the brothers used the staff in their hands and struck a blow which resulted in the teeth of two of the Yamdootas Kaliyo and Dantiyo, shattering and falling from their mouths. A thunderous sound was heard when the teeth shattered and seeing the valour of the brothers, all the Yamdootas fled in fear. Out of the four brothers, Raghav and Vishram later became Sadhus and were named Ragvanand Swami and Vishvatmanand Swami respectively. They were famed in the sampraday as Yama Tagra which means those that send Yama fleeing. Once Ragvanand Swami came to Bharasar in Kutch to give religious discourse. Swami was sat in an assembly giving Katha Varta one night when the Yamdootas - Kaliyo, Dantiyo and others came to the village to take a Muslim sinner. Swami was all-powerful and with his antar-dhrishti, realised that Yamdootas were lurking. He grabbed his staff and immediately got up to confront the Yamdootas without telling anyone why he was going. Those assembled said to Swami, O Swami! Why do you leave so suddenly without telling anyone? Swami did not answer. He continued hurriedly on his way to the outskirts of the village where the Yamdootas were sat and said, O Sinners! Why have you come to this village? Do you not remember what happened in Golira village, when we shattered your teeth? Do you not feel shame that you have come here whilst I and many satsangis reside here? The Yamas tried to explain that they had come to take a sinner but Swami would not listen and prevented them from entering. The Yamas said that it was their duty to come and take the life of the sinner in accordance with Yamrajas wish. But Swami would not listen and took his staff and began to beat them! Swami beat them back far beyond the village outskirts and then returned back to the temple. The Yamas wouldnt dare return! At the temple, the assembled devotees asked once again why he had left. They had witnessed Swami raise his staff and beat someone but were unable to see the Yamdootas in their fearful forms. Swami then explained exactly what took place; how he had sent the Yamas fleeing in Golira and how he again sent the same Yamas fleeing by beating them in Bharasar. They were all astonished to hear these words of Swami.

Swami stayed for many days in Bharasar and then returned to Ahmedabad. News of this incident spread far and wide. The King of Bhuj also heard of this and went to the temple at Bhuj and asked to meet with the Yama Tagra Swami that had beaten the Yamas in Bharasar, as he wished to make this Swami his Guru. He had decided that by making Swami his Guru, Yamdootas would never even think to come to him and try and to harm him. He was told that Swami Ragvanand was the one who sent the Yamas running and he was currently in Ahmedabad. The King went to Ahmedabad where he met with Swami and received Kanthi and was initiated into the sect. He returned to Bhuj where he became a faithful devotee and practised selfless devotion always. At the end of his lifetime, Ragvanand Swami came along with Maharaj to take the King to Akshardhaam! Thus this is the nature of the saints of Lord Swaminarayan who through devotion to Pragat Bhagwan are instilled with great power and are able to free numerous souls from the clutches of hell and deliver them to salvation. Therefore by seeking refuge in these god-realised saints and having single-minded devotion for the Lord, we too are able to derive such protection and the divine bliss of Akshardhaam.

88.Maharaj Saves a Female Devotee

Once there lived a trader of Luhana caste, he was a devoted satsangi who attained the Lords Akshardhaam after shedding his body. The devotee was childless and had no other family in his village and so the wife decided to return to her parents home and village as her parents were also good devotees and so she could peacefully practice her devotion there. She hired a cart to fill with all her belongings and she and the farmer who she hired the services of the cart from, set out together. Half way through their journey, the night had set in. As there was no one about, the farmer began to have unbecoming thoughts of seizing the opportunity by deciding to kill the woman so that he could then have all of the belongings in the cart for himself. The woman saw the change in mood of the farmer with axe in hand and realised that he was about to kill her. She pleaded with him to shed the thoughts of killing her and even offered half of her belongings to persuade him. But he was not persuaded and so she offered up all of her belongings in exchange for her life. But still he did not believe her thinking that she would not let him take her belongings and would in fact tell everyone of what he had done. She finally gave in and said, If you wish to kill me then do me the favour of at least blindfolding me so that I do not have to see what is going to happen to me. The farmer agreed and blindfolded her. She then began to meditate upon Maharaj. The sinful farmer raised the axe in order to strike the neck but as he raised it, the metal blade came free from the wooden handle and landed in a bush nearby. In that bush lay a poisonous snake and when the farmer went to retrieve the blade from the bush, the snake struck and bit the farmer in his hand. He immediately met his death. The woman was blindfolded and did not realise what had happened. She said, O Brother! Where have you gone and why have you not killed me yet? I am eager to go to the Lords Akshardhaam and so cut off my head immediately! But who was there to listen? The killer had been killed by the divinity of Maharaj who had performed this miracle! She began to meditate even more deeply upon Maharaj and so Maharaj came to her aid and granted divine darshan. He took off her blindfold and then lovingly rode the cart himself and escorted her back to her parents home!

89.Maharaj Performs a Miracle For Chagan Parekh, a Brahmin of Madras and Vanik of Marvar Country

Maharaj once visited the home of his devotee Chagan Parekh in Ahmedabad. Chagan immediately got up and prostrated before Maharaj. He asked with folded hands, O Maharaj! How may I serve you? Maharaj replied, O Chagan! When I dine, it seems that there is never enough milk to drink. Therefore please arrange to bring me a good, milk-giving cow. Chagan said, Maharaj, I do not have any cows in my home, therefore where would you like me to bring one from and fulfil your request? Maharaj said, Wake up early tomorrow and wait at the door of the market place. When the door opens, you will see a person wishing to sell a cow. Purchase the cow for 25 rupees and then bring it to the temple at Ahmedabad and offer it to me residing in the idols of Lord Nar-Narayan. Saying this Maharaj disappeared. The next day, Chagan did as Maharaj instructed and everything that Maharaj had said came true. He bought the cow and offered it to Nar-Narayan Dev. He told the Mahant Swami at the temple all about Maharajs divine darshan to him. In Madras there lived a brahmin. He had understood from the scriptures that the Lord resides within idols installed in accordance with vedic rites. He decided to test this by leaving for pilgrimage for darshan of all murtis. He took with him 500 rupees and decided he would give the money to that idol which comes to life and asks for the 500 rupees. He would then serve and worship these idols. He left on the pilgrimage visiting many temples and had darshan of many idols but none satisfied his test. Later he came to Ahmedabad and stood before the idol of Nar-Narayan Dev. At that moment, the murtis came to life and said thrice, O Brahmin! How long will you continue to visit temples with the money that is destined for me! Therefore offer it unto me without delay. The brahmin hearing this was wonder struck. He realised that Lord Nar-Narayan Dev was Pragat Bhagwan and offered all his money to Nar-Narayan Dev. The parshad serving Nar-Narayan Dev at the time witnessed this and asked the brahmin about what had happened. The Brahmin explained everything. The parshad then took the brahmin to Acharya Maharajshree and narrated the whole incident to him too. All the sadhus, brahmcharis and haribhaktas learnt of this and they too were mesmerised. Similarly, in Marvar there lived a Vanik (a type of caste member) of the Jain sect. He carried with him 250 gold coins with him and toured many places of pilgrimage and temples. He too had decided that which ever deity asked for the gold coins should be accepted as Pragat Bhagwan the one true God. He also ended up in Ahmedabad after having no luck elsewhere having visited many other temples and Nar-Narayan Dev again claimed the gold coins. He realised that Nar-Narayan Dev was Pratyaksha Bhagwan and became a faithful devotee of Lord Swaminarayan.

90.Maharaj Takes Ratanbai of Gagodar to Akshardham

In this age of Kali, people have forgotten about their Dharma and are living and eating in such a way which leads them away from duty and God. The art of living, devotion to God and association with saints are seen to be futile by people and they spend their lives in content, wasting it. In a time such as this, Lord Swaminarayan had manifested for the spiritual welfare of all and instilled moral virtues of duty and devotion, whereby they could attain salvation. He continues to give divine darshan, performing miracles for his choicest devotees, who meditate upon his form always. In Kutch-Vagad, the village of Gagodar, there use to reside a satsangi by the name of Jadavji Purushottam. He was a great devotee who was true to religion by following the tenets and having firm alliance to the satsang. His wife also had such righteous qualities. They had a daughter by the name of Ratanbai who again had firm devotion for Lord Swaminarayan.

When she reached the right age she was married and went to live with her husbands family in Katariya. Even there she would awake early and see to her daily devotional rites such as pooja. She would observe the duties applicable to her during her period of menses without question and refrain from onion and the like. She would observe fasts on the Vrata days of Ekadashi and the janma-jayantis such as Ramnavmi and Janmashtmi. Seeing her strict adherence to the duties, her husbands family including her husband and mother-in-law would ridicule her and say, O Ratan! Where have you learnt these unnecessary and false observances? Ratanbai would explain that these are not unnecessary acts but are duties as prescribed to her by her istadev Lord Swaminarayan in the Shikshapatri. They enquired, What benefit is there by observing these duties? Ratanbai explained, By observing these duties one would obtain salvation and at the time of death, the Lord would personally come to escort us to his Akshardhaam. If we do not observe this code of conduct and eat onions, conceal our period of menses, drink things without serving and do not fast on the said days then it would be considered a great sin and at the time of death, Yamadootas would come to take us to the hells for aeons! There we would be subject to great torture and suffer the pains of being reborn upon this earth in the 8.4 million types of life forms. They began to ridicule her further by saying, So what, you think you are important like Bhishma Pita then, that the Lord would come to take you when you die and you would go to the Lords Dhaam? Ratanbai said, O Yes! I am sure that Lord Swaminarayan would come to take me when I die and I will definitely go to Akshardhaam! They all then asked, O so, he will come for you to take you in a golden chariot will he? Ratanbai said, Yes, he will seat me on his golden chariot and take me to Akshardhaam. This will be witnessed by everyone at the time. They ridiculed further and laughed, O Ratan! If that is true then do not forget us and let us know when Swaminarayan comes for you and we will grab hold of one of the chariots posts so we too will come to Akshardhaam! But Ratan said, Very Good! I will definitely tell you and will take whoever wishes to come with me to Akshardhaam. In this way, the unrighteous family members would often tease Ratanbai regarding her devotion but Ratanbai would always take it seriously and give an answer. Once, Ratanbai went to Gagodar to meet her parents but whilst there, she constricted a deadly fever. Suffering like this, one day her time came and Maharaj came to take her and instructed her to come along with him to Akshardhaam. However Ratanbai explained that she was ready to leave but she had promised her husband and his family that they too could come along and so requested Maharaj to pass by Katariya on the way to Akshardhaam. Maharaj agreed and so they left for Katariya. Maharaj stopped the chariot over the roof of her home. Ratanbai then said loudly, Wake Up! They all awoke and went outside to see what the commotion was about. They saw the golden chariot hovering above their home and in it was sat Maharaj, along with their daughter-in-law. Ratanbai further said, What are you looking at? Did you not say that you wished to come with me to Akshardhaam? Well here is the chariot and now we are going to Akshardhaam so grab a post and lets go! But no one was ready to go and therefore Ratanbai said to Maharaj, O Maharaj! Let us go now. In this way as the family looked on, the chariot then disappeared from sight and Ratanbai went to Akshardhaam. The family members were mesmerised and began to think, What just happened? Can this be true? Was this a dream? Thus they werent sure whether this was true or not and so the next day, two of them went to Gagodar but half way there, they were approached by a messenger with a letter and learnt that Ratanbai had indeed past away.

92. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for Fulbai In the Bundel there is a village called Dhunvo, where there reside many great devotee men and women of Maharaj. In particular there is a devotee by the name of Fulbai. Once Sadguru Swami Hariswarupdasji along with his mandal came by the village for purposes of giving religious sermons. Fulbai got ready all ingredients for a meal and clothing (as customary) for the saints and went to the temple to invite the saints to come to dine the following day. The saints accepted the invitation. Fulbai was immensely happy at the acceptance of the invitation. In the village there was brahmin by the name of Madhubhai. He was a prominent figure in the village. He was endowed with righteous qualities and he too went to the saints to invite them to dine the following day. Again the saints accepted the invitation. The brahmin was happy also to hear the acceptance of his invitation. The saints decided that they would go to the brahmins home to dine the following day and sent message to Fulbai that they could not come as arranged as they would be going to the brahmins home, otherwise he would get offended. They told Fulbai that they would rearrange to come to dine there for the day after tomorrow. That night, Fulbai departed her body and went to Akshardhaam and saw Sahajanand Swami in all his divine luminous splendour. He was resplendent amidst his muktas just as the moon is resplendent amidst the stars. Maharaj realised that something was upsetting Fulbai and so he asked, O Fulbai! What are you thinking in your mind and what do you feel that you have not accomplished? Fulbai said, O Maharaj! Saints have come to my village and I have extended an invitation for them to come to dine. But I have been unable to fulfil this as I have shed my body before then.Therefore I am thinking about this unfulfilled desire. Maharaj said, If you wish to fulfil this desire then leave now and go back to your body. Come back on the third day after telling everyone of this incident. Back in the village, the family members of Fulbai had arranged for the cremation of the corpse thinking that she had departed to Dhaam. They had tied the corpse to wooden poles and were ready to take it to the crematory when the lifeless body of Fulbai became animate and Fulbai said, Where are you taking me all tied up like this! This frightened everybody there. They freed the body. They asked, We thought you had departed to Akshardhaam. Why have you come back? Fulbai explained the reason for why she had come back. Hearing this they were all immensely surprised. The saints then came to dine at Fulbais home. A feast was prepared and offered to Thakorji first and then the saints dined. Fulbai then performed poojan of the saints with consecrated sandlewood paste and flower garlands. She then offered clothing (vastra odharva). After fulfilling the desires of Fulbai, the saints left and went back to the temple. Fulbai then offered a ghee no divo and sat in the courtyard. She announced to all, her intention to leave for Akshardhaam and invited anyone to come with her but no one accepted the invitation. In front of all the onlookers, Fulbai then shed her earthly body, took a divine body and sat in a finely decorated chariot driven by Maharaj and departed to Akshardhaam. When they saw this divine miracle they began to say, This is a great divine miracle that Maharaj has performed for Fulbai and taken her to Akshardhaam. Therefore Lord Swaminarayan is the Lord of Akshardhaam, the fountainhead of all incarnations, the cause of all causes and true! His saints, who observe Naishtik Brahmchariya (absolute celibacy), are also true. Those that do not believe this and say that they are false should be understood as wicked. Such folk are destined for the hells and an eternity of hardship. 93. Maharaj Liberates the Nawab of Junagadh

Once the Nawab of Junagadh, Bahadur Khan was sat with his ministers and advisers. A respected poet from Dehli was also present there along with the poet of the Royal Court of Junagadh. The poet from Dehli recited a poem in front of the Nawab, followed by a recital from the Junagadh poet. But whilst listening to the poet of Junagadh, the poet from Dehli shook his head. The Nawab saw this and asked the Dehli poet, O Poet! Why do you shake your head? Is there any fault in the composition? Please tell us. The poet said, O King! We are both poets and so it would not be correct of me to announce such faults in public as we are both equal in stature. Someone who is totally arbitrary in the matter and impartial could announce such faults but I am unable to. The King then thought to himself that the Swaminarayan saint, Sadguru Brahmanand Swami is one such impartial person and he is learned in poetry. He is also currently residing in Junagadh and so he decided to call Swami. He sent a messenger to bring him. Swami came immediately along with his mandal to the Royal Court. All members in the Royal Court arose as a mark of respect and touched the feet of Swami and he was then seated along with the other saints on a platform. Swami asked the Nawab the reason as to why he had been called. The Nawab explained everything to him. Brahmanand therefore requested both poets to recite their compositions. After the poets finished, Swami remained silent. The Nawab said to Swami, O Swami! Please tell us the faults of the poets? Swami said, O King! All are likely to have some faults, but if I announce these in public then the person who has made such fault is likely to get offended and that would be considered an insult in such a public assembly. Therefore it would be improper for me to say anything. The Nawab then said, O Swami! You are considered to be very liberal and impartial in these matters and therefore what you say will not offend anyone and your comments will be welcomed by all. Therefore please tell us. Swami said, If that is the case then I will announce the faults of all, be it of the poets or even yourself. Therefore I will announce if you are happy with this as I do not wish to be partial to anybody. The Nawab agreed and gave his permission as Swami was of high standing and regard to disclose the faults of all including the Nawab. Swami then explained the faults, O King! The biggest fault of the poets compositions is that they do not glorify the form of Khuddah Allah. The compositions of all poets should centrally glorify God and his form and as they do not glorify God they are with fault. Your fault O King is that listening to these compositions which glorify you, pleases you. This is a big mistake on your part as fame and glorification should be of God only and one should find pleasure in listening to this only and not in the praise of mere men. All including the Nawab and the two poets were greatly impressed and happy by hearing this. They accepted their faults and adopted Swami as their Guru. The Nawab then requested Swami to recite a composition, which praised the form of Khuddah. Swami meditated upon Maharaj and remembered the incident where Maharaj played raas with the five hundred paramhansas in Panchala and himself took on five hundred forms. He composed the following chaand, which captures that divine leela: Sar sar par adhar amar tar anusar, karkar varadhar mel karay; Harihar soor avar adhar ati manahar, bharbhar ati ura harakh bharay. Nirakhat nar pravar pravar gana nirajar, nikar mukoot shira avara namay; Ganarav pat farara garar, pad gungar, rangabhar sundar shayam ramay. All members of the assembly listening to this were greatly pleased. The Nawab showered Swami with gifts of gold, rich clothing and money but Swami did not accept this and moved back and explained that he was a Swaminarayan saint, whose duty it was to renounce such wealth and so he could not accept them. The Nawab explained that he had given these as a gift and so could not take them back. Swami then requested that the gifts be split in half and

given to the two poets. The Nawad did this but he was still unhappy that he could not in some way show his appreciation to Swami. He said to Swami, O Swami! You have not accepted anything that I have offered and therefore I have not found satisfaction. Therefore please accept something. Ask anything of me and I will give it to you. Swami said, O King! If you are pleased by me and therefore wish to give me something then I ask for your help in building a Swaminarayan temple here in Junagadh. If you wish to help then sign me over some land for the temple construction. The paperwork for the transfer of the land should be watertight such that no one can question its authenticity and all the wealth and assets of the temple should be independent from the state with no rights to it. This is what I ask of you. The Nawab was immensely happy with this and arranged for the transfer of land as Swami requested. Construction of the temple began shortly afterwards. The Nawabs Prime Minister, Rangeeldas attempted to prevent the work from proceeding but he was unable to have any effect and as a result of his actions he met his death. Because of the Nawabs great love and affection for Brahmanand Swami and Maharaj and his allegiance to them, he was blessed with two children (they had difficulties conceiving before this). When the Nawab left his mortal body, Maharaj and Brahmanand Swami along with countless muktas came to escort the Nawab to Akshardhaam. At this very time, Maharaj was in Dada Khachars Darbar, sat in an assembly. Maharaj suddenly took a handkerchief and covered his nose with it. Dada asked Maharaj why he had covered his nose so suddenly when there was no unpleasant smell in the darbar. Maharaj replied, We have just been to Junagadh to escort the Nawab to Akshardhaam but his people, as part of his last rites, had offered alcohol to him. This is the unpleasant smell that came to me and thats why I covered my nose with a handkerchief. Thus Maharaj did not forget the service rendered to him and the affection that this Muslim had for him and his saints and therefore even overlooked the undesirable qualities that he had. In similar fashion, he granted the bliss of Akshardhaam to the King of Mangrol, Vajradin; of Manavdar, Gajaan Khan and of Bhuj, Fateh Mahomud also. 94. Two Saints Come to Get the Two Brothers from Hindustan Rampratapbhai was residing in Lohaganjari near Chappaiya. One day, he along with his sons Nandramji, Ayodhyaprasadji and Thakoramji were sat dining. Naradji came there in the guise of an ascetic asking for alms. He said, O Rampratapbhai! This son of yours, Ayodhyaprasad, will shortly meet the Lord Supreme in a few days. The Lord will adopt him and inaugurate him as an Acharya, the successor to his throne. Rampratap was pleased to hear this and requested his daughter, Dhanubai, to bring some alms to offer it to the ascetic. She immediately brought some alms and offered it to the ascetic but he refused it saying that he had come not to beg for alms but to deliver the message. Rampratapbhai asked who the ascetic was and learnt that he was none other than Naradji. Rampratapbhai attempted to get up and touch Narads feet but before he could, Narad disappeared. They were surprised and told one Acharya Sandhyagiri about the incident. Narad from there left for the village of Ambaliya, where Iccharambhai was residing. Just as he had foretold the future to Rampratapbhai, he also told Iccharambhai that his son Raghuvira would also become an Acharya and successor to his throne. Iccharambhai, along with his son Raghuvira went to Lohaganjira and met with Rampratapbhai and told him all about the visit by Naradji. Rampratapbhai told Iccharam that he too had a visit from Narad telling him the same thing. They both saw this as a good omen and began to think to themselves that they should also receive news of their brother Ganshyam. Whilst this discussion was taking place, Mancharam (the son of the brothers Mama) came there with two saints, Mayajitanand Swami and Sukhanand Swami. Rampratapbhai asked

who the saints were, Mancharam replied, These saints are from Dwarika and they have come bearing news about our brother Ganshyam! The brothers immediately got up on hearing this and fell at the feet of the saints. They welcomed the saints, gave them a seat and offered a drink to them. They then asked regarding what news the saints had brought of their brother. Sukhanand Swami explained, Your brother Ganshyam Maharaj has sent his Jay Swaminarayan from Gujarat. He has written a letter to you both and sent it with us. Swami then took out the letter and gave it to the brothers. Rampratapbhai took the letter paying it great respect by placing it on his head, touching it with his eyes and embracing it with his heart. He then began to read the letter: I, the middle brother Ganshyam, write this letter from Ahmedabad in Gujarat, to my respected elder brother Jokhan Pande and younger brother Iccharam Pande residing in the great and good place of Chappaiyapur. Please accept my loving Jay Shree Swaminarayan. My reason for writing is to let you know that I am well and that I have sent Mayajitanand Swami and Sukhanand Swami to bring you in accordance to my promised to Suvasini Bhabhi that I would call you when I have rights of leadership. That day has now come and therefore please come along with these saints without delay. To give you confidence and trust in me I am narrating to you a number of incidents from my childhood days: Remember how I cut my thigh on the rough stalk of an Ambli plant and we tore the clothing of my friend Veniram and bandaged the wound. Also in the village of Pirojapur there is a Jambu tree. I, along with my friends Veni, Madhav and Prag went there to eat the fruits of this tree when the owner, a brahmin by the name of Bakasram, confronted us. He was well versed in the art of wrestling but I still broke his arm! On the full-moon day of Shravan (Rakshabandhan), the Devas came to tie a Rakhadi (a bracelet) around my wrist. Also in Targaam, the sacred thread (Janoi) was given to both me and Janakram (your brother-in-law). I gave you divine chaturbhuj (fourarmed) darshan of myself at the farm of Trikhuniya when the owl-like bird (chibri) was plucking at the kernels of corn. Remember how you prayed before me and how I then returned to my human childhood form. Also when I came with you to the lake in Manaur and saw a large cannon weapon from the time of King Dasharath, near the quay at Makhora and how I single-handedly lifted it and placed it on the cart. Therefore please do not hesitate and come with these two saints. All including the other family members were overcome with immense joy as Ramparatapbhai read this letter. Mayajitanand Swami then explained their extensive journey in search of the two brothers. He explained that they had searched for at least four months with no joy and eventually they found there way to Lucknow. Here they spend many days giving religious sermons on the Ramayana. Once Mancharam came there and met with the saints. When Mancharam asked the saints who they were and where they had come from, the saints told Mancharam all about their search. Mancharam then explained that he knew the brothers and would take the saints to them. Mancharam then brought the saints to Chappaiya, to the residence of Rampratapbhai. Rampratapbhai and Iccharam then got ready to leave with the saints to meet Ganshyam but Ramprataps daughter Sidhnabai and son Nandrambhai faced anguish as they thought that both the brothers would become ascetics just like their brother. Rampratap put their minds at rest and assured them that they would return and indeed would bring Ganshyam back with them. After a few days, Iccharam told his son Gopaldas to look after the home and the two brothers then set out with the saints. The brothers first took the saints to the janmabhoomi of Ganshyam Maharaj for darshan. As the saints performed dandvat pranam at the site, Balswarup Ganshyam Maharaj came and gave his divine darshan, after which he immediately disappeared. The residents of the village also saw this and they were all immensely pleased. Ramapratap explained to all that the saints had come to take them to their brother Ganshyam. The village residents bid them farewell, told them to offer their Jay Swaminarayan and to

bring Ganshyam back. Rampratap agreed saying that he would bring Maharaj back and then they continued their journey. They came to Lucknow where they had spent many days giving sermons on Ramayana. There, Sukhanand Swami sent word to the Prime Minister (Swami had previously spoken to him extensively about the greatness of Lord Swaminarayan) that they had brought the brothers of Maharaj with them and were on their way to meet Maharaj. He requested the Prime Minister to come for darshan of the brothers. The Prime Minister came immediately with many of his associates and fell at the feet of the brothers and showered them with gifts at the behest of the saints. They paraded the brothers upon decorated elephants through the streets to the Royal Palace and stayed there quite a few days to give the residents of Lucknow such bliss of service. They then continued to Naimisharanya and resided there for five days receiving the bliss of darshan. They also had darshan of Revati and Baldev at the temple of Daoji as they continued on to Gokul and Mathura. Having darshan there, they continued to Vrindavan and bathed in the river Yamuna. Here they also met with Lalababu who was a great devotee of God and very wealthy. He requested to Swami that they bring Maharaj there also at any cost and he also performed poojan and danadvat of the brothers and showered them with gifts. From there they crossed over to Gujarat and entered Kathiawad, to the village of Loya. They came to Patel Sanga Suranis residence where Maharaj was residing. Both saints and brothers went for darshan of Maharaj finding immense joy. 95. Maharaj Saves Manekdhar, Nandram and Others Once, the wife of Manekdhar (Bhaktimatas sister, Vasantibais son) residing in Lakshmanpur (to the north of Chappaiya, in the state of Tarai) said to her husband, Times are hard at the moment and we do not have enough money. Why dont you got to Gujarat and see Ganshyambhai. He is being worshipped as God and Im sure he will help us as he is your brother and a childhood friend? Thus she prepared a bag of things for him to take with him and he left for Gadhpur. It took him 25 days to get to Gadhpur. Maharaj was sat in Dada Khachars darbar in a religious assembly with saints and haribhaktas when Manekdhar arrived. When he saw Maharaj, his joy could see no bound and he began to prostrate before Maharaj. Maharaj also was happy to see him and welcomed him with soothing words and immediately recognised him and called him by name. He got up from his throne and went to Manekdhar and embraced him. He sat him next to him and asked regarding how everything was in Hindustan. He narrated incidents from his childhood days, O Manekdhar! Once Vasram Mama and myself came to Lakshmanpur. We two brothers were very young then and we used to go daily to bathe at the nearby lake called Rapti with your father Baldhidhar. Also do you remember when Chandan Maasi came from her village of Gunhabaru with her son Bastibhai to visit your mother Vasantba when she was ill? I remember that in your state of Tarai there are many paddy fields. As Maharaj narrated these different incidents, Manekdhar interjected by agreeing and saying, Yes. Manekdhars wife sent with him pauwa (a rice preparation) for Maharaj and so he offered it to Maharaj. Maharaj began to praise the offering saying it was delicious and began to eat away. At this point, Nityanand Swami said, O Maharaj! It is as if you are dining Sudamas tandul (similar rice preparation)! Maharaj then sent Manekdhar to where Rampratapbhai was residing and he too stayed there for many days. He did not say even once why he had come nor did Maharaj ever asked him why he had come. One day he got ready to leave and went to Maharaj to inform him that he was leaving. Maharaj tried very much to dissuade him from leaving at that time but Manekdhar would not listen. Eventually, Maharaj bid him farewell by escorting him to the outskirts of the village, near Radhavav. Manekdhar did darshan of Maharaj and then left on his way. In a few days

he had returned to his village. His wife asked all about his meeting with Maharaj and what he had given him but Manekdhar replied that he did not ask for anything. He said, I got ready to leave and went to the assembly where Maharaj was present and thought that he would give me something but he did not and instead he escorted me to the outskirts of the town and bid me farewell. The wife replied, You travelled all those hundreds of miles and yet he did not ask about your wellbeing and sent you back just as you came? But she composed herself and added, Whatever may be, the Lord always acts correctly and thus satisfied herself in that and never spoke ill of Maharaj. Maharaj, through his antaryami shakti (all knowing power), realised this and immediately came there to give divine darshan wearing rich clothing woven with silk and gold. He said, O Manekdhar! I sent you on your way without giving you anything and yet both of you never spoke ill of me. I am therefore immensely pleased with you both and am offering you these rich clothing which I am wearing. Below this bell here, is a container with money in it. Take the money out as it is for you. I would have definitely given you something when you came to Gadhada but the return journey is difficult and there was risk of looting and therefore I did not give you anything. Saying this, Maharaj got ready to dine and so the wife prepared a thali with pauva, yoghurt and sugar. Maharaj dined this and then immediately disappeared. When they checked for the container under the bell they saw that it was full to the brim with money! In another incident, Nandram, Gopaljibhai, Sitaramji, Safarmama, Mancharam, Kanaiyaram, Karsanbhagat and Jalambhai were all returning from Gujarat to Huindustan. On there way, passing through Vindhyachal near a lake, they saw a large tribe of Barbarians. Safarmama was frightened and said to Nandram, O Nandrambhai! I know that you are a brave and immensely powerful but do not confront these barbarians as we are few and they number a thousand. They may loot us but let us agree that whatever happens it is through the will of Maharaj. Seeing Safarmama quite upset by this, Nadram began to think to himself, Maharaj, my uncle has given us rich, jewel encrusted clothing as a result of his delight with us. If these barbarians come to take these gifts in blessing, then I would want to prevent them from doing so by confronting them but Mama has stopped us from doing this. What am I to do? He decided to meditate upon Maharaj to save them, as only he was able to uphold their honour. Maharaj heard the call of his nephew and came there in divine form sat upon a horse and bearing a spear. The barbarians saw this fearful form of Maharaj as he took on countless other fearful forms and they were frightened off. Maharaj then disappeared. They continued their journey in remembrance of Maharaj and safely reached Chappaiya after many days. 96. Maharaj Saves Two Brahmins, Sitaram, Ayodhyaprasad and Raghuvira Two brahmins originally from the town of Gorakpur in Hindustan were residing in Varodara, serving the Sayajirao. They would daily go to our temple there for darshan and listen to the sermons of Sadguru Gopalanand Swami seeing him to be a performer of miracles. Many days passed and they realised that Swami was a very pure saint of lofty character. They decided to dine the saints by first offering thaal to the deities at the temple. The brahmins also took prasad to purify themselves. This resulted in their minds also became pure and lofty and they served Swami selflessly. Swami also saw them to be pure and desirous of salvation and therefore spoke to them about the greatness of Maharaj. Swami initiated them into the sect by placing a kanthi around their neck. Swami also gave them murtis to be worshipped when doing pooja and showed them personally how to perform such pooja. The brahmins then asked, O Swami! The other saints say that Maharaj is not like the incarnations of Rama and Krishna. Therefore how should we understand him to be?

Swami smiled and said, The incarnation of Rama and Krishna are likened to the Acharyas Ayodhyaprsad and Raghuvira whilst Maharaj is the fountainhead of all incarnations. He is the cause of all causes, the Lord of Akshardhaam, the highest reality. He has manifested upon this earth along with innumerable muktas for the benevolence of countless souls. Swami spoke extensively about the greatness of God in this way. After many days, time had come for them to return to their home in Gorakpur. They came to the temple for final darshan. They prostrated before Swami and said with sadness, O Swami! We regret that we have to leave now and return to our hometown. Therefore bestow your blessing upon us and come for us when we die. Swami blessed them by saying, As long as both of you stay true to satsang always and are firmly devoted to Maharaj, both myself and Maharaj will come to get you when you die. Swami then gave them three scriptures; Brahmanand Swamis poetic composition of the Shikshaptri and Brahmvilas and Vivek Chintamani and told them to read and study these scriptures daily as by doing so it would lead to their salvation. He also instructed them to go to the janmabhoomi of Maharaj for darshan first before going home, blessing them that they would see a divine miracle at the temple there. They were immensely gratified by this blessing and touched the feet of Swami with respect and left for Chappaiya. When they got to Chappaiya, they bathed in Narayan Sarovar and then went to the temple for darshan. As they did darshan of Ganshyam Maharaj they were enveloped with the brilliant lustre emanating from the murti and within it they had divine out of this world darshan of Swami also. After a little while the brilliant light disappeared back into the murti. They stayed there for many days offering their service and pleasing the Lord by preparing thaal for Maharaj. They then returned to their hometown. One of them, Ramratan, went to Calcutta and became a great officer there. Once, his time had come up and he was struck with a deadly fever. At that time Gopalanand Swami and Maharaj came to take him to Akshardhaam as they had promised. The officer however was worried that if he leaves then there would be no one to fulfil his religious duties of serving the idols given to him for daily worship. Therefore he requested Maharaj to pass by his hometown where his son, Ramudhav was residing so that he could be advised of his fathers demise and his murtis for pooja could be entrusted to him. Maharaj did as the devotee requested and then took him to Akshardhaam. On another occasion, Sadguru ParamChaitanyanand Swami and Nirgunanand Swami were sent to Chappaiya by Maharaj to bring the Dharmakul (the family of Dharmadev) to him. On their way back to Gujarat, Ayodhyaprasadji became very tired and constricted a fever. Maharaj came there upon a horse to give water to the ailing Ayodhyaprasad; this is the divine darshan that Swami had. On the second day, as they journeyed on, the heat of the sun affected Raghuvirji as he sat upon his horse. Swami Nirgunanandji had darshan of Maharaj providing shade to Raghuvira with a sun umbrella for approximately ten miles. Whilst traversing the dense forest of Vindhyachal, Sitarambhai was very thirsty but it took a long while to get to any water source. As a result, Sitarambhai fainted. The saints and other family members began to cry. Nirgunanand Swami began to meditate upon Maharaj and prayed intensely that Maharaj come to their saviour. Maharaj came to their aid immediately and even lovingly scolded them, O Saints! Why you are so saddened and are crying as a result of our Dharmakul? This Sitaram is only lying there as he is merely thirsty! Maharaj then gave some water to him and disappeared. All were immensely happy to receive darshan of Maharaj and be witness to this miracle.

After many days they all arrived safely at Vadtal where they met up with Maharaj. Maharaj said to Suvasini Bhabhi, I gave you a promise in Chappaiya when I was younger and therefore am giving you the wealth of this satsang. Suvasinibai said, O Maharaj! You are infinitely kind and whatever you say comes true as you are the Lord Almighty! Saying this, Suvasinibai touched the feet of Maharaj and whilst she did this she saw in the right eye of Maharaj, countless universes. Suvasini was immensely happy as she shed tears of joy and placed her head at Maharajs lotus feet and continued to sing the praise of Maharaj for hours on end. 97. Both Leave For Pilgrimage of Dwarika and Siddhpur Going back to when the brothers first arrived at Loya and met with Maharaj, they decided to leave for a pilgrimage of Dwarika shortly afterwards. Maharaj said to them, O Brothers! Go for pilgrimage of Dwarika but hurry back. At the temple there, you will witness a divine miracle. The brothers were happy to hear this. They left stopping at Raivatachal for five days on their way. They climbed up Mt. Girnar for darshan and bathed at Damodarkund. They gave gifts to Brahmins as per their duty during pilgrimage. They ventured further onto Prabhas and bathed at the ocean there. They stayed at a Dharmashala (travellers rest house). After staying there for many days enjoying the bliss of darshan, they crossed the ocean on a boat and arrived at Dwarika. They stayed at a rest house there for pilgrims organised by the King. There they met up with two Brahmins from Dallipur near Pragraj. They were serving the King and became acquainted with Rampratap. They were actually Dharmadevs paternal relatives. They met them with great joy and they all went to the temple of Ranchodji. When they did darshan, they were blessed with the divine miracle of darshan of Balswarupa Ganshyam Maharaj, in chaturbhooj form next to the murti of Lord Shree Krishna. Rampratap was taken aback by this and began to pray before the Lord with folded arms. The Brahmins wondered in amazement regarding who the idols were of and asked the pujari, O Pujari! Whose idol is this that is next to Lord Shree Krishna? We have been coming here for darshan for many days but have never seen this murti. As they said this, the idol of Ganshyam Maharaj disappeared. Ramapratapbhai then explained to the Brahmins the greatness of Lord Ganshyam Maharaj, their brother and narrated incidents from his childhood days. After listening thus, they too began to realise the greatness of Maharaj. On another occasion, Rampratapbhai decided to go on a pilgrimage to Siddhpur Saraswati for bathing from Ahmedabad. He took with him a number of escorts including Kubersinha and Jaalam Mota. On the way they stopped at the village of Bilia, residing at one Kaamraj Patel. The following day, Kaamrajs uncle came there and asked as to the identity of the fellow residing there. Kaamraj explained that he was Rampratapbhai, the elder brother of Maharaj and that he was on his way to Siddhpur for bathing. The uncle commented that the water had dried up there but Bhai replied, The river is the daughter of Brahma. If I go there to bathe, then Im sure she will come to accommodate my wishes! The Patel then thought to himself, Maharaj is renowned for his miracles and this is his elder brother. Let us see if he too can perform such miracles. If he does then I will wear a kanthi and become a devotee. Bhai realised what the Patel was thinking through his inner power and decided to show him a miracle. He requested the Patel to bring some butter and sugar. The Patel gladly brought these in excitement that he would see a miracle. Bhai then mixed them together and remembering Maharaj, he ate it all up! He then left. The Patel, along with his nephew Kamraj also accompanied Bhai as he left and went to a nearby lake. As he stepped into the Lake the water rushed to him! The Patel accepted Bhai as a performer of miracles also and so became a satsangi by wearing the kanthi and taking the five vows. Bhai blessed him by saying, Satsang will spread not only in your family but throughout this village!

After that they returned back to the village, where Nathu Bhatt and Lakhmichand Parekh extended an invitation to Bhai and residence was set up at Bhagwanji Chobbars place. On the next day they set off very early for bathing in the Lake Saraswati. They bathed extensively according to rites and later presented gifts to Brahmins according to their means. They then continued their journey bathing in Bindu Sarovar, Gnaan Vav and Viteshvar Mahadev and having darshan at such places of pilgrimage. Thus they spent many days travelling through such places of pilgrimage and then returned to Ahmedabad. 98. Rampratapbhais Vow to go to Jetalpur for Darshan on Every Full Moon Day and Rampratapbhais Displeasure Whilst Rampratapbhai was residing in Ahmedabad, he had taken a vow to go for darshan to Jetalpur on every full moon day (Purnima). Once on Kartik Sukla Purnima, Bhai got ready a carriage to leave straight after darshan of mangala arti of Narnarayan Dev. He was accompanied by a number of foot-guards. On their way between Aslali and Jetalpur, they noticed that a large water vessel had burst and so the road was wet and muddy. A farmer transporting some grain had got stuck in the mud and was trying very hard to get out but was unable to. He saw the strong bullocks that were pulling the carriage of Bhai and as it got closer he asked for assistance. Bhai instructed his escort, Karsanbhagat to go and help by taking the bullocks to pull the farmers cart free but Karsanbhagat commented, O Father! Even if all the people of the village got together to pull the cart out then I doubt that they would have much success! Bhai was not dejected by this and took the bullocks himself to the cart that was stuck. He connected the bullocks to this cart and saying Swaminarayan he successfully got the cart free and led it out onto a dry path. All were amazed to see this. The farmer asked who this great person was and Kubersinha explained that Bhai was the elder brother of Lord Swaminarayan. The farmer knew of Lord Swaminarayan and confirmed that Bhai was also great just like his brother who was God. He begged for forgiveness for asking Bhai to free his cart and causing him such difficulty and placed his head at Bhais feet. Jaalam Mota then requested to Bhai that they hurry otherwise they will be late for darshan at Jetalpur but as he opened the door to the carriage, he saw one form of Bhai sat in the carriage and another form stood outside. As he was about to tell Kubersinhaji about this, the form inside the carriage disappeared! They then continued their journey to Jetalpur. Jaalam Mota spoke to Swami Anandanand about this incident, who replied, O Jalam Mota! All Muktas, deities and enlightened saints have two forms. One may see such dual forms through the divine will of God and Rampratapbhai is actually Baldevji incarnate. Hearing this, Jaalam Mota was surprised and from that day he began to realise the greatness of Bhai and began to serve him incessantly. On another occasion, Maharaj visited Vadtal to celebrate Ramnavmi Utsav. Rampratapbhai was with Maharaj and therefore just as Maharajs pooja was being done and was being offered gifts, so too was Rampratapbhai given gifts and his poojan being performed. However Bhai questioned this and did not like such service, which saddened him. Therefore he left from there immediately along with Suvasinibai, for Ahmedabad. Muktanand Swami and Brahmanand Swami learnt that Bhai had left and so they went and told Maharaj what had happened explaining that it was a great injustice. Maharaj said, O Swamis! Bhai will not listen to me; therefore I think it best that you two senior saints go and make him understand and then bring him back here. He may listen to you. The saints then left hurriedly and caught Bhai up at the well near the village of Bamroli. They tried to explain to Bhai to pacify him but he would not listen. Muktanand Swami then asked with concern, O Bhai! Why do you retain such anger?

Bhai replied, O Swamis! I am filled with a hundred carts of anger. One cart was sold to the universe and therefore anger has spread to Shiva, Brahma, the devas and men. The other 99 carts are still with me, which you very well know. Therefore dont say anything to me. In one form I support the 55 crore worlds upon my head just like mustard seeds and in another form I stand before you here! In this way, Bhai gave darshan of his infamous and wonderful form of Sheshji. The Swamis were amazed, they prayed before him with folded hands and touched the feet of Bhai. They then returned to Maharaj and told him everything. Maharaj said, O Swamis! I told you that Bhai would not listen as he is a manifestation of Sankarshan and therefore his temperament cannot be predicted. Maharaj then requested his mare to be brought before him. He connected it to a carriage and instructed the valiant Amaraji of Dangarva and Umabhai of Kanbhana to take the horse and carriage to Bhai and to escort them to Ahmedabad. They went to Bhai and requested him to sit on the horse and Suvasinibai was sat in the carriage. They then escorted them to Ahmedabad as Maharaj had instructed. On the way, they came to a lake between the village of Nadiad and Mehemdabad. It was night-time and they saw a group of looters armed with knives and other weapons, sat below a tree. Umabhai was worried and looked at Rampratapbhai. Bhai understood what he was thinking and said, Do not be afraid of these looters. What will they do to us? Hearing these valiant words of Bhai, Uma was calmed and he too gained strength in these words. He said to Bhai, O Father! I am not scared but we are so few and they are many and therefore if there is confrontation then someone will surly get hurt, if not killed. As they approached closer to the bandits, the bandits saw Bhai upon the horse and thought to themselves that he looks wealthy and that the carriage must be full of gold, jewels, money etc. Therefore they decided to take advantage and raised their swords and the like and rushed to the carriage. Bhai said, O Amaraji! You will not be able to fight them off therefore give me your swords and the four of you wait here by the carriage while I go and fight them! Thus he showed his brave valiant nature by dismounting the horse and taking Amarajis sword. However Amaraji began to worry and thought to himself that if anything happens to Bhai then he would be blamed. He moved to take back the sword from Bhai but Bhai showed his wrath and with his eyes reddened he announced in a rage, Dont come near me if you want to live! Amaraji feared the wrath of Bhai and stood their frozen. The bandits came to where Bhai was and stood face to face with him. Bhai remembered Maharaj and through Maharajs divine will, he increased the strength of Bhai. Bhai then went to a nearby tree and with a kick he uprooted it and it fell to the ground crushing the bandits! After that they continued their journey reaching Mehemdabad. They took up residence at Bechar Bhatts home. All the satsangis there were told about what had happened and they were all shocked and surprised. They realise the greatness of Bhai and began to serve him with love and affection. After spending many days there, delighting the haribhaktas by accepting their service, they continued to Jetalpur and then onto Ahmedabad spending many days at each place accepting the service of the satsangis. 99. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for Rampratapbhai and Nandramji and Bhai Leaves For Akshrdhaam Once in Gadhpur, Rampratapbhai and the others decided in the early morning to go for bathing at river Ghela . However when they got there, those with Bhai advised that the waters were very violent at the moment and also the riverbed was full of stones which made it difficult to stand in the water to bathe. They advised they should all go to bathe at Lakshmi Vadi instead. They all agreed and retreated. As they did so, through the divine will of Maharaj a voice was heard. It said, O Rampratapbhai! You are none other than Lord Shankarshan therefore do not retreat but continue to bathe here by calming the water!

Bhai then hurried to the river. He raised his hands and said in a commanding voice facing the river, Become steady! As he said this, the water immediately steadied and in front of him a bank was formed. He then told all to enter the river without fear and peacefully bathe. They all entered the water immensely happy in remembrance of Maharaj. When they finished bathing, they all came out from the river with Bhai last to leave. As soon as he emerged from the river, it returned to its previous violent nature! When they returned back to the temple, Bechar Chavda told Maharaj all about what had happened. Maharaj said, Bhai is indeed very great and powerful and is able to do whatever he desires. In this, Maharaj praised the greatness of Bhai. Similarly, once Nandram and Thakorram went to the village of Khurdvar. Wrestling matches took place here. In another competitive show of strength. A game was devised requiring them to lift a stick, which had 12 guns and 13 swords tied to it. Both brothers sat there in the auditorium, but none were able to lift the stick. Acharya Sandhyagiri of village Lohaganjira told Nandramji to go and lift the stick. Nandram went and as he remembered Ganshyam Maharaj, he easily lifted the stick to the amazement of all. Thus Nandram was also strong and powerful and had immense strength of the arm and hand. In another incident, four looters entered Nandrams home whilst he slept. Nandram realised someone had entered the home and so he got up and confronted the perpetrators. He grabbed two of the looters arms with one hand and the other two with his other hand and broke all their arms in one go! In Ahmedabad once, Rampratapbhai was overcome with a deadly fever. As he lay in bed, Time came to him to take him away but Bhai sent him back saying that he would not leave at that moment. He then called his son to his bed and told him that he would leave in ten days so that it coincided with Maharajs departure also. That way they would not have to pay double the costs of donations for each event in the future. Bhai instructed his son to arrange a Bhagwat Saptah (seven-day Shrimad Bhagwat Purana recital) and accordingly arrange the katha and cows for donation to Brahmins. Bhai sat during the katha taking a vow not to eat or drink anything. Many great saints and devotees such as Vasudevanand Swami, Mahanubhavanand Swami and Tadrupanand Swami, Parshad Bhaguji, Damodar Bhakta and others also came to listen to the katha. On the sixth day, Ganshyam Maharaj himself came in divine form adorned in rich clothing and sat in the assembly. On the seventh and final day of katha, poojan was performed with final arti. Gifts were given to Brahmins. Rampratapbhai bathed with gangajal (water from the river Ganges) and sat in the courtyard as he chanted Swaminarayan. He announced, Brother Ganshyam and mother and father have come for me with an infinite number of decorated chariots. Therefore I am leaving my body now and going with them. All the saints and haribhaktas performed their last darshan of Pujya Bhaishree and then Bhai left his body and he went to Akshardhaam with Maharaj. Many saints and haribhaktas witnessed this. The sky rained sandalwood paste and flowers. 100. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for Veniram of Luknow and a Wealthy Vanik from Janakpur Veniram and Parshuram were two Vaniks (members of the Vania caste) from Luknow. Veniram was endowed with great powers and would sit in a secluded area in his home meditating upon Maharaj. Once, his brother Parshuram asked him what he was doing. Veniram explained that he was meditating upon Maharaj who was God incarnate. Parshuram was curious as to where God had manifested and to whom. Veniram explained all and Parshuram decided that he too wished to have darshan of Maharaj. Veniram then, through his divine powers gave Parshuram darshan of Maharaj, sat in an assembly of saints and

haribhaktas in Jetalpur. Parshuram was immensely grateful for this opportunity and from that day he too became a firm devotee. Many days passed when one day, Veniram left for Gadhada along with his family. He performed darshan of Maharaj in Gadhpur and offered to him rich clothing and ornaments. He also performed poojan of the saints. Maharaj arranged accommodation for him where Rampratapbhai was residing and he spend many days there, performing darshan and devotion of Gopinathji Maharaj. Later he decided to return to his hometown. Maharaj offered to him as prasadi ni vastu (sanctified offerings), his paduka (wooden sandals) and many charanarvindas (prints of his feet). Whomsoever that had darshan of these prasadi items would immediately fall into samadhi (spiritual trance), where they would enjoy the divine bliss of darshan of Maharaj in Akshardhaam! On another occasion, a very wealthy Vanik left from his town of Janakpur on pilgrimage along with many people for Ayodhyapur. He performed darshan at birthplace of Lord Shree Ramchandra, Kanak Bhuvan, Hanumaan Gadhi and many other temples. He then continued on to Gokul and Mathura. He stayed here for fifteen days enjoying darshan at the many temples there. However he thought to himself, I have visited many places of pilgrimage and performed darshan at many temples but I have not received the bliss of darshan like that of the murtis in Chappaiya anywhere else! The murtis there and the way they are dressed and decorated are unique. In this way he announced his findings to everyone. On his return, he decided that he would have a temple built in his hometown such that it was an exact replica of the temple at Chappaiya. He decided to install similar ten murtis and also have a reservoir built near it just like the one at Chappaiya. Thinking thus, he took his evening meal and went to sleep. However he was struck with a sudden fever that night and left his body immediately. But at this time, his mind was firmly on the murti of Ganshyam Maharaj and therefore Maharaj came to him in the form of chatoorbhuj Shree Krishna. He explained to him that he was Lord Supreme and had manifest as Lord Ganshyam Maharaj in Chappaiya to Dharma and Bhakti and that he had come to take him to Akshardhaam. Many witnessed this incident and had divine darshan of Ganshyam Maharaj. Later, the son of this Vanik went to Chappaiya and told everyone about this miraculous incident and they became firm devotees of Maharaj. 101. Maharaj Saves a Woman, Girdhari and his Wife and a Carpenters Wife

In the village of Nimpur in Luknow, there lived a faithful devotee. However a fire broke out and because it was made from straw, it began to burn fiercely. The woman in the house had just given birth to a child and she was stuck inside with no way out. She thought she would die with her newborn child and decided that only God could save her now. She remembered Maharaj and prayed to him to come to her rescue just as he had saved the Pandavas from the burning house of wax. As she chanted Gods name she fell asleep on her bed, when Maharaj came to her saviour. He sat next to her protecting her and the child whilst the rest of the house burnt to ashes around them. When the fire subsided, the woman awoke and saw Maharaj. Maharaj gave her some water and told her not to worry. Maharaj then disappeared. A little while later, the people entered the burnt house and to their amazement saw that the woman and child were unhurt. Even the poles of the bed had burnt and yet she was unharmed. She then told everyone how Maharaj had come to her saviour. On another occasion, Girdhari and his wife, who were devout satsangis from Bamroli, were returning from their in-laws village. It was getting late so they stopped at a Rajputs (man of royal status) home overnight. However the Rajput turned and began to have lustful feelings towards Girdharis wife. The wife realised this and suggested that they leave early in the morning as it was still night-time and extremely dark but Girdhari was adamant that they

leave immediately. Therefore he led the way and the wife followed whilst in constant remembrance of Lord Swaminarayan. After walking for miles they came to a lake. They stopped here, bathed and saw to their religious daily duties. However they noticed the Rajput was coming after them on a horse with spear in hand. The wife went to the nearby temple of Shiva for shelter whilst Girdhari tried to fight him off. Girdhari was unable to stop the Rajput and fell to his death with a piercing strike of the spear to his chest. He continued on after the wife and stood at the entrance of the temple of Shiva. He told her that he had killed her husband and to open the door and come out from the temple. The wife was struck with grief thinking that his husband was definitely dead and so there was no one to save her. She therefore prayed to Lord Shiva, O Lord Shiva! I have come to seek refuge in thee. Save me from this sinner who has come to dishonour me and protect my Pativrata Dharma (duties of a devout wife)! As tears flowed from her eyes she also remembered her istadev Lord Swaminarayan and prayed, O Swaminarayan! Only you are able to help me now. If you do not help then I will kill myself but will never allow myself to be dishonoured! Where are you my Lord? Hearing this distressed plea of his devotee, Maharaj rushed to her aid and tied the Rajput up securely. Maharaj pacified the wife and blessed her, Your husband has met his death at the hands of this sinful Rajput but go and perform five pradikshanas (circumabulations) of his body whilst you chant Swaminarayan and he will awaken. Then take his horse and safely return to your village. The Rajput will not be able to harm you! She opened the door of the temple and did as Maharaj instructed. Her husband came to life and began to tell her all about the greatness of Akshardhaam. She too told her husband about how Maharaj had saved her. They then took the horse and returned back to their village and told everyone about what happened. On another occasion, a couple who were satsangis residing in Dhorigar fell into an argument. In the heat of the moment, the wife decided that she wanted to take her own life and went to a nearby well. She began to chant Swaminarayan and jumped into the water when Maharaj came to her. Maharaj told her the consequence of suicide and that she would never be liberated through such act and then disappeared from there. Maharaj then went to the womans husband and began to scold him. The husband fell at Maharajs feet and begged for forgiveness. Maharaj then told him to go to the nearby well where his wife was committing suicide. He went there along with the other villagers and saw his wife in the well safely sitting in the water and praying to Maharaj! They then took her out from the water and she told everyone what had happened. They all looked in the well and did not see anything there to support her and therefore were amazed at what they had just seen. After witnessing such miracle, many developed much deeper faith in Maharaj. 102. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for the Son of a Luhar, Hukamchand and other devotees and Bhavani Datt In Gunva village there lived a satsangi by the name of Saktubhai who was Luhar by caste. On the day of Diwali, he and his son were going to the temple in the late evening. The son was dressed in rich clothing and adorned with golden jewellery. On the way to the temple, they passed a group of looters, who saw the jewellery that the son was wearing. They safely passed them and got to the temple where they performed darshan of the deities therein and then sat in the sabha. However the child was innocently playing and as a result found his way outside the temple without anyone noticing. The looters grabbed their opportunity and took the child and went to a secluded retreat in the mountains. They took the childs jewellery and then got ready to kill him. The child realised their intentions and began to pray to Maharaj to come to his rescue as he cried. Maharaj came to his rescue just as the looters took out a sword to take the boys life. Maharaj was sat upon a

decorated elephant and he rushed to where the boy was and grabbed him to safety by sitting the boy with him upon the elephant. Maharaj took on numerous forms and tied up all the looters and took the jewellery off them. After that he returned to a single form and adorned the child with his jewellery again. Maharaj lovingly fed him and gave him water to pacify him and then took him back to his home to the safe custody of his parents and then disappeared. Everyone was wonder-struck! The boy told them what had happened. This was told to the King also, who went to where the looters were tied up. He was ready to administer the death penalty for such atrocious acts of attempting to kill a mere child when the boys father stopped the King from doing so through his compassionate nature. Once, Hukamchand and many other devotees from the village Gosaiganj near Luknow got ready to go to Chappaiya for Hindola darshan. They sat in a boat to cross the river Saryuganga in Ayodhyapuri. When they had crossed halfway through the river, the water began to become increasingly unsteady as the wind and rain began to pick up. The owner of the boat was worried that the boat would sink and so he told all onboard to remember their own Gods to come to their saviour. Hukamchand began to pray to Lord Swaminarayan to come to their saviour by saying, O Maharaj. Please help us as if you do not your respect will be diminished and we will all be ridiculed as people will say that we have met out death whilst going for darshan of Lord Swaminarayan after already having darshan of Lord Rama! Maharaj did come to their aid and granted them his divine darshan. He performed a miracle by parting the surrounding water and then instructed Hukamchand and the others to get out of the boat and to remove all the water from within it. Once they did this they sat back in and then the water came back together again and the boat began to float effortlessly and calmly. They safely crossed the river and got to Chappaiya where they told the family of Dharmadev all about this divine incident. In the village of Barai, there lived a brahmin by the name of Bhavani Datt. Both he and his wife were very elderly and extremely devout satsangis. Maharaj would often give them divine darshan and come to their home for dining. Many villagers used to also come to witness this and have darshan of Maharaj dining. Once Maharaj had finished dining and had told them, On the twentieth day, I shall come to take you both to Akshardhaam, therefore get ready! However Bhavani Datt requested, O Maharaj! We are happy to know this and will be ready but grant us the favour of coming here along with your entourage of countless liberated souls mounted upon elephants, horses, chariots and flying vehicles. May all have darshan of this also. Maharaj fulfilled their request and when the time was right, they all had the divine sight of Maharaj who had come with countless liberated souls to take Bhavani Datt and his wife. They were sat in a golden chariot along with Maharaj and were joyously paraded through the streets of the village and then taken to Akshardhaam. 103. Maharaj Performs a Miracle for an Elderly Woman of Magroli and Kaliprasad

A group of pilgrims went to Chappaiya for darshan, which included a very elderly woman who had lost most of her eyesight due to old age. When they got to Chappaiya the woman was unable to have proper darshan due to loosing her eyesight and prayed, I have had darshan of all other deities in other places of pilgrimage in my early years. O Ganshyam Maharaj! I have come here today through much difficulty and have sadly been unable to perform proper darshan. Therefore please be content in whatever darshan I have been able to perform and come to take me when I die.

As the woman was taking a lot of time to perform darshan, the others in her party had already left and retired to their utara (accommodation). As she lovingly prayed with tears flowing from her eyes, the temple auditorium was filled with light like that of Lord Suryanarayan. She happily performed darshan of the ten murtis but thought to herself, Which of these is the idol of Balswarup Ganshyam Maharaj and who are the other murtis of? As she said this, Ganshyam Maharaj emerged from his divine murti and began to tell the elderly woman, whom the murtis were of. After this, Ganshyam Maharaj returned back to his idol. Kaliprasad from Dhuvar was a brahmin of the Shakti sect. He was extremely sinful as he was involved in looting and partook in meat, alcohol and intoxicants. One day he was sat near the temple of Shiva partaking in bhang (intoxicating substance), when four Yamdootas came to teach him a lesson. He began to shout, Save Me! Save Me! as the Yamdootas beat him. His family heard him shouting and came to him and asked what was wrong. Kaliprasad explained, I am being beaten by a group of soldiers. Please save me. The family said, Chant Ram Ram as there is nothing to worry about and there is no one here anyway. So saying they pacified him and brought him back to their home. But even at his home as he lay, the Yamdootas continued to administer their beatings. News of this spread and many came to see him but Kaliprasad still maintained that he was being beaten by a group of soldiers. Everyone began to take him to be a fool who had gone insane! On the following day, a woman who was a Swaminarayan satsangi came by to see him. As soon as she entered the home, the Yamdootas fled. Kaliprasad immediately got up. He began to tell the lady how he was being beaten and how the beatings had stopped when she came. The lady thought to herself that Kaliprasad is a sinner and the ones who were beating him must have been Yamadootas who had come to take him. She thought that they must have gone away as soon as she came there, as she was a devotee of Lord Swaminarayan. She explained this to Kaliprasad and also initiated him into the sect by placing a kanthi round his neck. She instructed him to chant Swaminarayan from then on and told him by doing so, he would not be harassed by the Yamdootas. As he began to chant, they all saw the Yamdootas in their physical form running away from there. 104. Maharaj Saves a Carpenters Son, a Lady and Sankarprasad

A carpenter by the name of Kanaiyalal resided in the village of Sahapur in Luknow. He was a devout satsangi but his son however had become unrighteous through his associations with sinners. As a result the spirit of a Muslim had entered the body and taken over residing within the son. All attempts to free the son of this spirit had failed. Once, the carpenter went to celebrate Ramnavmi at Chappaiya and at this time, he told Thakorbhai, who was from the family of Dharmadev, all about his predicament. Thakorbhai requested a prasadi flower garland of Lord Ganshyam Maharaj and a kanthi and told the carpenter, Place this garland around the neck of your son. This will force the spirit out of him and then place this kanthi around his neck to make him a firm devotee. He was gratified by this and happily returned to his village. He placed the flower garland around the neck of his son, which immediately resulted in the spirit from emerging from the body of his son. The carpenter asked, Who are you and why did you reside within my son? The spirit replied, I am a Muslim and have entered your son because he had begun to partake in things which are prohibited and had abandoned from the shelter of his Guru. I did not wish to leave his body but the garland from your Guru was causing me intense pain and burning me and therefore I left. He touched the feet of the carpenter and went on his way. The carpenter placed the kanthi around the neck of his son and made him a firm devotee. Once, a group of pilgrims left the village of Bamroli for Chappaiya. On the way, they crossed a dense forest. A woman who was part of the group got left behind and took a wrong path. She called out to Girdhari, who was leading the group but there was no answer. She picked

up a little pace to try and catch them up thinking that they had hurried further down the path. By this time it had got dark and night had set in. She got very frightened realising that she was lost and would not be able to catch the group up and therefore she prayed to Maharaj to come to her aid. Maharaj heard her call for help and immediately went to the woman. She took her and escorted her to Narayan Sarovar in Chappaiya and then disappeared. Whilst this had happened, Girdhari along with the rest of the group had made there way to Makhora Ghat. He realised that the woman was missing and therefore after arranging accommodation for the rest of the party at the temple there, he and a local person traced their steps back to the forest in search of the missing woman. Their search was without fruit and so they returned extremely distraught and tired at two oclock in the morning. In the early morning, they decided to return to the forest in search of the woman along with another few locals hoping that the daylight would help them in finding the missing woman. Two days passed with no luck. On the third day, Ganshyam Maharaj came to Girdhar to give divine darshan and told him that he had already escorted the woman to Chappaiya safely and to go there now. Girdhar made his way to Chappaiya where he met the woman and learned of the miracle that Maharaj had performed. He and the rest of the party were greatly pleased to hear this. On another occasion, a devotee by the name of Bhagwandinbhai of village Chanhat near Luknow had gone for hindola darshan to Chappaiya along with his family. They stopped over at Saryuganga to bathe at Lakshman Ghat. At that time, no one had realised that Shankarprasad, the son of Bhagwandinbhai, was bathing alone and had accidentally drowned. When the father did realise, he began to worry and searched for him in the water. Many other people helped in the search for his son but it was to no avail. It seemed that only Maharaj could help now and so the mother of the son began to pray loudly, O Maharaj! We have lovingly come for darshan at your birthplace but have unfortunately met this ordeal. Therefore I beg of you to bring my son to me otherwise we will return back to our village without reaching Chappaiya and will never again come back to Chappaiya. As she said this, Ganshyam Maharaj came immediately to the woman and calmed her. He then went to where the child had drowned and pulled him out to safety at Ram Ghat. He went and told Raghunathdas at the temple that he had pulled the child out from the water and that he should be returned to his parents who are crying in wait at Lakshman Ghat. He did as instructed and safely returned the child to his parents where the child told everyone how Maharaj had saved him! They then continued their journey to Chappaiya and told everyone of this divine miracle. 105. Maharaj Gives Darshan to an Elderly Woman in the Jungle

This incident is from the time when Nilkanth Varni was travelling through the jungles. In a cave at the foot of mountains near Bengal there lived an evil demon. He would go to the nearby town and take men and women to feed on! No one was able to stop him. Once, the King along with his army went to the cave and told the demon to stop taking humans and killing them for food. He explained that he would provide him with other foods such as cattle and grains. The demon agreed to these terms but requested one human sacrifice to freshen his mouth in place of sopari! As the demon insisted on this one human, the King had no choice but to agree to it. Everyday, a cart with cattle and grains would be sent along with one human who would be picked from the kingdom from each family in turn. Once, the time came for a human to be taken from a family of good devotees of God. The head of the family was an elderly woman and she was told by the Kings representatives to have somebody ready from her family. The woman was severely distraught. At this time, by chance, Nilkanth Varni was passing through this area and he came to her home. He requested some alms and a place to stay that night.

The woman agreed seeing him to be an ascetic. Varni realised that something was bothering the woman during the night and so he enquired as to the cause of her distress. The woman explained everything in detail. Varni pacified her by saying, Dont worry O lady! I will go in your place. I have come here for this very reason anyway. The next morning, Varni got ready early. The Kings representatives came by there with the cattle and grain and they left with Varni. They stopped at the opening of the cave and waited for the demon to emerge and devour the offerings. The demon emerged from the cave but Varni began to mock him! The demon was infuriated and said, Most people leave their body in fright on seeing me. Who do you think you are who come here and challenge me thinking you are so mighty? I will kill you without delay! I would normally leave you till last but I think Ill make an exception in this case. Just you wait! Speaking thus, he ran to where Varni was to kill him. Varni increased his body size just as Lord Vaman had done and grabbed the demon by the feet with just one hand and began to circle him around the skies above which resulted in the demons life force from leaving his body. He then threw him crashing into a nearby mountain and shattered his body into pieces. The noise could be heard for miles around reaching the town. The towns people were frightened because of this thunderous noise. After he had killed the demon, Varni disappeared from there. The Kings representatives returned back to the town and told the King all about what had happened. He was amazed and eagerly wished to have darshan of this great person and sent a search party out to find him. They were unable to locate him and later they all concluded that the brahmchari was none other than Almighty Lord Shree Krishna! The elderly woman also was firm in her belief that he was God Supreme and began to regret that she was not able to recognise him when he came to her home. She therefore told her son to find him at all costs so that she could perform darshan that befitted him. She further vowed to not take any food or water until she had fulfilled her desire to have darshan. The son agreed but asked her mother how he would recognise God. The mother told him to look out for the visible signs of Gods divinity, namely the sixteen signs upon his lotus feet, that he would not have a shadow and the light of a candle could be seen through him. The son then set out in search of God. On the third day he came by a figure that was sat upon a mountain. It was Nilkanth Varni! Varni called the boy to him and asked, Where are you going in such hurry? The boy said, I am following the order of my mother and am in search of God. Varni said, O Child! There are splinters embedded in my feet and therefore I am unable to walk. Please remove them for me? He went closer to Varni and looked for the splinters in Varnis feet. However he did not see any splinters but instead saw the sixteen divine symbols! It was also at the time of sunset and as the sun passed behind Varni, the boy saw the sun passing through him and there was no shadow! He concluded that this was the very God that he was searching for and fell at his feet. He prayed with folded hands as tears flowed, O Lord! Please grant us the favour of gracing our home. If you do not then my mother will not partake in any food or drink and will die. I too will not be able to return home as I have been sworn not to return home without you! Varni hearing this plea decided to test the boys faith in him and concluded that he would return with him only on the condition that he passes the test of faith. Varni told the boy to place his hand in the mouth of a nearby lion! The boy decided that he would do whatever Varni requested as the Lord is the only one who was able to save him anyway. He bravely went up to the lion and placed his hand in the lions mouth. The lion did not do anything. The reason for this was that Varni had placed the lion into samadhi and therefore he was as still as stone! The boy returned to Varni and explained that he had done as instructed and therefore requested Varni to come with him back to his home. Varni was immensely happy and went along with him back to the boys home to give the boys mother darshan and fulfilled all her desires! In this way, the Lord manifests to grant all the desires of his most faithful devotees.

106. The Greatness of Acharya Maharajshree and his Achievement of Greatness through Association with Saints Once, Sadguru Nirgundasji, disciple of Sadguru Gopalanand Swami had observed that Acharya Shree Ayodhyaprasad was indeed a great individual. Once, Maharajshree had awoken early in the morning at around 3 a.m. He saw to his daily duties of bathing and then got ready for morning pooja. He sat engrossed in deep mediation of Maharaj as he performed maansi pooja. As he was doing so, a scorpion had climbed onto his shawl that he was wearing and stung Maharajshree. Maharajshree was so engrossed in meditation that he did not realise he had been stung by a poisonous scorpion. As always, he awoke from his meditation after about two hours and began to feel the immense pain of the poisonous sting. He removed his shawl and told the servant that he suspected that there was some creature that had made its way onto the shawl and stung him. When the servant looked he saw a large scorpion on the shawl. He looked at Maharajshrees exposed body and saw numerous areas of red and black bruising. The servant and others then concluded that Maharajshree had to be of great personage as he had remained unaffected by the numerous stings of this scorpion whilst engrossed in meditation for two hours, which had caused his whole body to swell up! On another occasion, the chef responsible for preparing food for Maharajshree had arranged for the preparation of dudhpak and puri. However, he had accidentally put salt into the dudhpak in place of sugar. It was then offered to the Lord and then taken in prasad by Maharajshree as always. He ate it all as always and then partook of some mukhvas. After which, others also partook of the prasad including the chef who had originally prepared the thaal. They all realised that the dudhpak was salty and indeed began to scold the chef of his mistake. The chef fell at Maharajshrees feet and begged for forgiveness, O Bapji! Please forgive me for my mistake! Maharajshree said, What mistake have you made? I am not aware of any such mistake. The chef replied, O Maharaj! Today I had mistakenly put salt in the dudhpak which was served to you, instead of sugar. Maharajshree said, No No. I was not aware of this. The dudhpak tasted as it did always but was never salty. As always it was sweet and tasty. Everyone listening was astonished. This was the greatness of Acharya Maharajshree. Those who regularly remember such great persons have all their sins burned away and achieve liberation. Once, Maharajshree was touring Jalavar country and came to the town of Vadhvan. All the devotees there warmly received him including the King and Queen. The Queen had sent word, If the Acharya of the Swaminarayan sect allows me to personally adorn a chandlo on his forehead and garland him then I will donate the village of Rampara to him. Maharajshree sent word back, I am an Acharya of the Swaminarayan sect and indeed from his family of Dharmadev and therefore I could never break a personal duty to gain even a kingdom never mind just one village. This will never happen. Even if you were to offer me this earth, the three worlds or even Lord Brahmas kingdoms of reign, I would not forgo my Dharma. The reason for this is that happiness resides only in the observance of such orders. The happiness derived from worldly things are like excrement in comparison to the happiness derived from the Lords glorious murti. In this way, such worldly objects of desire did not affect Maharajshree and he stayed firm in his duty. Acharya Shree Keshavprasadji Maharaj was famed for his anger. However through association with Swami Nirgundasji, this changed and he became docile. Swami was inflicted with some illness and therefore he chose to reside in a farmland along with his saints. Many saints and devotees used to come to where Swami would reside, for satsang and Swami would often deliver religious discourses there. Acharya Maharajshree would also come there and learn of the greatness of Shreeji Maharaj. Indeed he had developed so much affection for Swami that he would come there every morning to Swami after having darshan of Thakorji in

Mandir. Swami would in return accord him due welcome, befitting his stature. In this way, through association with Swami, he achieved greatness. Maharajshree once said to Swami, O Swami! I no longer wish to remain as Acharya after listening and associating with you. I now wish for seclusion where I can meditate upon God. If you so wish, then I will pass the satsang into the hands of Lalji Maharaj. Swami said, Lalji Maharaj is still very young and therefore will be unable to successfully take the reigns of this satsang. Therefore continue to serve the satsang as Acharya just as father Ayodhyaprasad did. There is no problem in this as Shreeji Maharaj is very pleased with you and therefore it is your duty to follow the orders of Maharaj. This will in no way prevent you from carrying out your desires of practising meditation and singleminded devotion. In this way, Maharajshree continued to serve the satsang in accordance with the wishes of Swami and would come to Swami every morning at four oclock for samagam and thus achieved divine greatness. Indeed many other saints who also associated with Swami achieved the same greatness. Therefore, we too can achieve such greatness by associating with those who are great. 107. Acharyashrees Love in Serving Saints and How God is Pleased Though Such Service Once in the temple of Vadtal, a saint was struck with a severe fever for 5 days and therefore he was unable to take any food. On the fifth day, the fever subsided a little and therefore the saint was able to eat. He requested the saint who was in his service to prepare some food, in particular he requested bajara na rotla (a bread made from millet). However, the saint realised that he did not have the required ingredients for this and thought to himself that the kitchen of Acharya Maharajshree would have these ingredients and so he went to Maharajshrees residence. On arriving at Maharajshrees residence, he saw a parshad there and was ready to ask him when Raghuvirji Maharaj immediately arose from his mala chanting in the middle of the night and came to Swami and enquired, Swami, can I get you anything? Swami explained the reason for which he had come there. Maharajshree on hearing this said to Swami, Why start a fire for cooking and take the ingredients back with you? It will take you longer to do this. Everything is ready here anyway. I will prepare the rotla for Swami immediately here. Come and take it in a little while when I have finished preparing it. Swami went to the Dharmashala and waited there. Maharajshree wore an apron, washed his hands and feet and started a fire for cooking. He placed a tavi (a baking plate) on top of the fire and then prepared the flour. He mixed the millet flour with some chick-pea flour and added some spices. He then added some water and proceeded to bind the flour. After which he rolled it out and then placed it on the tavi to cook it. As this was happening, Shreeji Maharaj resting in Akshar Bhuvan, realised through his antaryami power what was happening and got up at once and told Mukundanand Varni who was in his service, O Brahmchari! I am very hungry. Please fetch me something to eat! Brahmchari said, O Maharaj! You have only just gone to sleep after dining and therefore why is it that you are still hungry? Maharaj said, I dont know why that is but I am still hungry therefore please bring we some food without delay. However Brahmchari said, Maharaj, where will I get some food at such short notice? Maharaj said, Go to the kitchen of Raghuvirji Maharaj, you will get some food there.

 Brahmchariji followed the instructions of Maharaj and came to Raghuvirji Maharajs residence. He saw Maharajshree preparing the rotlo himself and was astonished. He explained to Maharajshree that Maharaj was hungry and so requested some food. Maharajshree told him that he had just prepared some rotla for an ailing saint and to take some for Maharaj, that he had just freshly baked. He took it to Maharaj and Maharaj enquired as to how he had been able to bring such freshly prepared rotlas at short notice. Brahmchariji explained everything to Maharaj. Maharaj was immensely happy by what Brahmchari said. After dining a little, he said to Brahmchari, Go and take this prasadi no rotlo back for the ailing saint as no doubt the saint would have come to take the rotlas for him. Brahmchari did as Maharaj instructed and the prasadi was fed to the ailing saint, which resulted in his fever from completely subsiding and he was never again inflicted by such fever! The next day, Maharaj was sat on a decorated platform in an assembly of saints and haribhaktas. Raghuvirji Maharaj came, performed darshan of Maharaj and took his seat. Maharaj spoke vividly of the incident that took place the previous night and praised Maharajshree immensely as follows, An Acharya should always be like this, who realising the greatness of these saints himself prepared the rotlo in the middle of the night. Maharaj continued to praise his other numerous qualities and thus Maharajshree had particular affection for the saints by rendering service to them. Once, Sadguru Brahmanand Swami was busy seeing to the construction of the temple at Muli in accordance with Maharajs instruction. Two saints from Gadhada arrived there for learning under the tutelage of Swami. However Swami would give them some lessons to continue with and then would instruct them to help with the construction of the temple by carrying stones etc in their free time. He explained to the two saints that if they helped in such tasks then they would surely attain the knowledge that they so desire with ease. However the saints were not convinced and thought to themselves that it was not worth staying there any longer and left for Gadhada without even informing Swami of their intention. When they arrived at Gadhada, the other saints quizzed them about why they had returned so soon. They explained how they were not able to study there, as Swami would assign them various tasks to aid in the construction. They decided to stay in Gadhada and continue their studies in Gadhada. That night the saints fell into samadhi. They went to Akshardhaam where they had darshan of Maharaj and here too, they were astonished to see Brahmanand Swami busy in service to Maharaj. They thought to themselves that Brahamanand Swami had got there before they did through such act of service and realised their mistake. They fell at Maharajs feet. Brahmanand Swami said to Maharaj, O Maharaj! Do not allow these saints to remain here as they do not wish to serve thee by aiding in the construction of your temple. Maharaj therefore said to the saints, O Saints, leave from here. If you wish to please me and attain knowledge then you will have to serve the saints and the temple by going back to Brahmanand Swami and doing whatever he wishes. They realised that in Akshardhaam, Brahmanand Swami is obeyed and even Maharaj accedes to his words! They awoke from samadhi and the very next day they returned to Muli. They fell at Swamis feet and begged for forgiveness. They continued their studies under the guidance of Swami, following his every command. Swami was extremely pleased with them and blessed them with great intellect and knowledge. At the end of their lifetime they returned to Akshardhaam. In this way, service in temples and to saints are acts of great benediction. 108. How One Will Never Again Get a Chance For Liberation After Recognising the Manifest Pragat Bhagwan. The Example of a Pandit.

 The Lord of Akshardhaam, Purna Purushottam Shreeji Maharaj had manifested upon this earth and through his divine power had liberated the countless souls that had fallen to the depths of the 684,000 forms of hell. Muktanand Swami wrote about this, sarve narakna kunda khali kariya, bhukhya yamganare kara ghasipastaya. Thus those souls that came for his shelter were granted liberation in similar fashion to the rains of monsoon which benefit all; whether they are higher or lower. Hence the Lord did not look at superiority or inferiority of these souls when administering such liberation, he took them all regardless of their position and background! Nishkulanand Swami has explained this, durabalana dukh kapiya re, na joi jata kujat; purushottam pragatire. noti dithi noti sambhari re, pragatavi evi puneet; purushottam pragatire. Thus, the compassion of Shree Hari is summarised to be far greater in this manifestation of God than any other. Those that surrender themselves to Lord Swaminarayan and ask for his shelter will definitely attain moksha (liberation) and therefore one should make this their goal as such an opportunity may not be acquired again. Once there was a brahmin who was learned in the science of astrology (jyotisha). He was wise, ageing about 90 years. One day, he was sat looking through his book of tithis when he came across a period of time which was very auspicious, such that leaves of a certain tree offered in pooja to Lord Shiva would immediately turn into gold! He thought to himself that the opportunity should be taken advantage of as such time would not return again but unfortunately through his frailness he was unable to act upon this as it would be difficult for him collect these special leaves and make it to the temple of Lord Shiva which was a fair distance away, in time. He sat there pondering on what could have been when at that time a young person came by that way and saw the brahmin who was clearly absorbed in some thought. He enquired as to the nature of his thoughts, which were clearly disturbing him. The brahmin explained everything to the young person. He enquired as to whether this benefit was open to all, the brahmin replied, Yes. The young person on hearing this news ran straight to the tree of Pimpara and broke 15 to 20 leaves from it and darted for the temple of Mahadev. He placed the leaves on top of the Shivalinga and low and behold, they turned into gold! Seeing this he became more and more selfish and therefore decided that he would take the whole Pimpara tree and convert it to gold. He decided to give the 15-20 leaves that were already converted to gold to the elderly brahmin as dakshina as the brahmin had shown him this miracle and also to keep him happy so that he doesnt inform anyone else of this. He then arranged for a number of workers to help him to cut down the tree and then they transported it to the temple of Mahadev, where they placed it on the Shivalinga. However nothing happened. The reason for this was that it had taken him so long to arrange the cutting of the whole tree that the auspicious time in which this miracle was taking place had passed. This was pointed out to him by the wise brahmin who scolded him for his foolishness and selfishness. This is a mere example to explain the fact that such an auspicious time is indeed rare and we must capitalise when we have such opportunity. Brahmas lifetime spans 100 celestial years. In the first 50 years of Brahma (his age at present), the auspicious and blessed birth of Lord Swaminarayan has taken place. Many other large manifestations of God have taken place and they number nearly 100 crore and 6000. Furthermore lesser manifestation have also incarnated and these are countless. Indeed smaller and larger other manifestations will surely take place in Brahmas remaining 50 years but you can be sure that we will never ever again be blessed with the supreme manifestation of Lord Swaminarayan that we have already been lucky to experience. Thus those sinners, miscreants and transgressors who have benefited by being blessed with salvation will never have such opportunity again and therefore those who are desirous of salvation should be ever ready in this time and lead their lives in such a way that this is their focus, to be freed from the bondage of birth and rebirth and earn themselves a place in heaven.

 109. Shreeji Maharaj is the Fountainhead of All Other Incarnations Sadguru Gopalanand Swami has written extensively on the nature of avatar (manifest form) and avatari (supreme source of incarnations). He has explained, Upasna or devotion should be pure and never should one lapse in devotion. The forms of devotion and their categorisations are due to allegiance and therefore scriptures may teach an avatar to be the avatari or vice-versa. Lord Swaminarayan was the avatari, the fountainhead of all other incarnations and the swami or Lord of these incarnations. Once I was blessed with divine darshan. In this vision I saw Shree Krishna, Ramchandraji Bhagwan and Narnarayan Dev all in service to Lord Swaminarayan. Furthermore, Maharaj has granted vision to Vyapkanand Swami, where all the 24 incarnations have merged into Maharaj. Parvatbhai used to regularly have darshan of the 24 incarnations as he prayed to Maharaj. When he first began samadhi prakran he used to grant his devotees the sight of all his manifestations and they would then merge into Maharaj. What is the difference between Maharaj and all the other incarnation? We can understand the difference when we compare the differences between; an arrow and the one who shoots the arrow, an absolute Emperor and a mere King of a country; and between the sun and the suns rays. Thus the difference between avatar and avatari is immense. In Nagarka, Maharaj once said to the assembled saints and devotees, In the past we have seen Rama, Krishna and other such incarnations. Indeed many more manifestations will happen. All these incarnations and even all the presiding deities of the different heavens emanate from Pragat Purushottam Narayan who is the source of all and above all. That Purushottam Narayan is me. When beginning to write the Satsangi Jeevan, a question arose regarding how great Maharaj should be understood to be. Many compared him to Krishna and others compared him to Rama but Nityanand Swami stepped in to say, How can we liken him to other manifestations? Which other incarnations have shown us the merging of all incarnations into themselves or through samadhi have offered darshan of their ishtadev to devotees? Sahajanand Swami is therefore the fountainhead of all incarnations he is Purna Purushottam. Maharaj confirmed this to be the truth and instructed all to worship him in the way Nityanand Swami did. When Maharaj first began his samadhi prakran, Muktanand Swami was not happy by this but later Ramanand Swami came to Muktanand Swami in divine form and informed him of the supreme greatness of Maharaj. Muktanand Swami realised his mistake in doubting Maharaj and then composed the famed aarti of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and he himself was first to perform the aarti to this composition. Indeed many compositions of Muktanand Swami glorify the greatness of Maharaj in this way, recognising him to be the Supreme Lord. 110. One Should Not Liken God to Mere Man Often there is certainty or conviction in our understanding but if such certainty is devoid of the understanding of glory and majesty then such certainty can change to uncertainty. Maharaj has explained this, Those whose certainty is devoid of the understanding of glory and majesty often think to themselves that they have met or realised God but will he grant me liberation or not? However those who have properly realised god and his mahatmaya do not have this worry as they think to themselves that from the day that they have met God, their liberation is decided. Those that are devoid of such knowledge are plagued with thoughts that God is mere man and therefore the forms which he worships and prays to are also understood by him to be man-like and the realisation of the Lords divinity is

objective. Therefore, how can such a person achieve liberation when his understanding of God is clearly flawed? When we talk about having understanding of God as man-like (manushya bhava) we are saying that God is also with the qualities associated with man. These are the attributes of the mind such as anger, lust, avarice, delusion, intoxication, pride, desire etc. They are also the qualities associated with having a body; namely having bones, skin, excrement, birth, death, youth, old age etc. Hence likening God to man is to effectively say that God also has these qualities listed above. Such understanding is flawed, as the Lord is wholly divine and always devoid of such human characteristics or traits. When a spiritual aspirant becomes fully realised in the nature of God, he becomes the repository for the supreme qualities to lead one to salvation, which are inherent in the divine form of God. Only a person such as this can be understood to have the necessary closeness to God. Similarly even a great devotee of God such as a saint should also not be likened to such human traits, as they are great also and beyond such human qualities. 111. One Should Realise the Difference in Correct and Incorrect Essence of Scriptures The teachings of the scriptures as composed by Veda Vyaas are correct. However often, some scrupulous people even in the guise of Sadhus, amend these teachings for personal gain and convince others of their twisted interpretations. An example of this is narrated: A Pandit was reciting the Bhagwat Katha. A widow came to listen to the katha as she did always and along with her came another widow from her neighbourhood. This lady was very different, in that she never used to come to listen to katha herself. The day she came, the Pandit was narrating details about Yampuri (hell) and the tortures that are inflicted there. The Pandit explained the consequence of adultery, that they would be forced to repeatedly embrace an iron form of a man/woman which has been heated so that it is burning hot. After hearing this she became extremely frightened as both she and the Pandit had been having a relationship and therefore she began to fear that the Yamdootas would come for her! She immediately got up and returned to her home and locked herself in. She vowed that she would not let the Pandit in that night. A little while later, the Pandit had finished narrating the katha and so he came to the home of the widow. As he tried to open the door, the widow began to shout from inside, I will not let you in tonight. I came to listen to katha today and heard of the tortures of hell! I am unable to tolerate such beatings. The Pandit then replied, How much of the katha did you listen to? The widow replied, I listened to the description of Yampuri and then left. The Pandit then said, After the narration of Yampuri, God became very angry and punished the Yamdootas and sent them on their way. He then closed the hells! This was what was narrated in the next episode. The widow was pacified by this and said, O thats very good then, and opened the door to let him in! Thus it is very easy to be fooled and convinced into the fabricated teachings of scriptures and so one should always be vigilant in these circumstances. 112. The Sufferings Tolerated by the Foetus During Pregnancy

 The foetus is created by union of the mothers egg and fathers sperm and the soul enters the foetus at this point. As days pass the foetus grows and he resides in the mothers womb upside down. Below the head burns the jatharagni, through it the foetus matures and develops. He grows by sucking the foods that the mother eats. As the mother eats various foods, which are sour, salty, hot and acrid, this falls upon the body of the foetus, causing it to burn. The worms in the stomach sting the foetus. He has to live in his own urine and excrement. His hand and legs are unable to move. The pain and suffering is intense but who can help him? He lives like this for months and then in the tenth month, by the grace of God, he remembers his previous births. He remembers all the sin that he has committed. He thinks to himself, I have been reborn an infinite number of times in the 8.4 million species and when through the grace and infinite kindness of God I have been granted human form, I have been foolish by not listening to the instructions of saints. I failed to associate with God and his saints but instead became absorbed in worldly pleasures. Thus he receives the knowledge of his previous one-hundred births and his failures in these. He therefore now prays to God, O Lord! If you allow me out now then I will definitely become devoted to you and will act such that I would never again have to experience the sufferings of birth. I have sinned but promise I will do so no more and therefore I beg you to save me as the sufferings that a foetus is subject to during gestation is far superior to even that of the 684,000 hells! This was confirmed to Veda Vyaas by his son Sukhdevji who explained, O Father! I will never return to be born again as the pains of such birth are immense. Thus in this way, the foetus cries for help praying to God. God then replies, O Jiva! How many times have you fooled me like this? You will have to give me something in surety. Thus all the deities residing in the various parts of the body are invoked and asked to stand in as surety but not of them agree. The Jiva pleads with God and promises that he will live a righteous life. Hearing this, Yamraja decides to stand as surety as long as he stays true to his word. If not then Yamraja would inflict severe pain on him. The Jiva agrees to this and therefore Yamraja stands as surety but conditionally. Thus an agreement is made between the Jiva, God and Yamraja. He is then born into this world and as he does so all the knowledge that he had is gone through the effects of maya. 113. Bhulabhai is Born in the Home of Jiva Kaka. When the child is born, the mother and father are elated and congratulations are sent from family relations far and wide. A brahmin is asked to look up the janmakshar the letters that the childs name should begin with. On the sixth day he is christened and a name is given by the foi. He is given a rich garment to wear and Yamraja comes daily to check whether he has kept his word or not! As he becomes older and is very playful, the mother teaches him his first words and explains to him, This is your father, this is your brother, this is your house and these are your clothes. Thus he is taught these obstructions to selfrealisation from early on. God is not remembered at all and is cast aside. At the age of eight, he meets a saint who reminds him of his promise and asks, Will you devote yourself to God?. But he responds, O Maharaj! I am still young and am busy playing and therefore I do not have the time at present. The saint listening to this leaves. A longer while later, he is ready to marry and again a saint comes to him and asks whether he will now be devout. But again he responds explaining that the time is not right as he has yet to live and enjoy himself through women, intoxicants and wearing rich clothing. He explains that there is a lot of time for devotion to God later. The saint leaves again but returns when he is about 50 years old. But again he makes an excuse saying that he is busy as he has to marry off his daughter yet. The saint finally returns when he is 60-70 years old and pleads with him, Now you are free to devote yourself to God are you not? Your sons will look after

everything in your absence and so you should take up the mala in hand and chant Narayan Narayan. But listening to this he angrily says, I have sons but they are useless and foolish. They would not be able to do anything without me and therefore there is still time for me to practice devotion later! In this way he reaches old age. He cannot hear and he is loosing his sight. His body is frail and his back is bent. He is unable to hold his head up high, his skin is rough and his hands and feet do not work anymore. He is a burden on his family as they begin to scold him with harsh words. It is now that he looks back on his life and what he did for his family but today they scold him! He realises his mistake in spending his life in self-indulgence and for his family and so prays to God, O Lord! How foolish I am! I have not spent anytime in propitiation of thee even though your saint had come to me repeatedly! What will happen to me now? He thus spends his days in this thought, which leads to further deterioration to his self and body. The family cast him aside and feed him leftovers. When his last days arrive, news spreads that Bulabhai is about to depart and his family quickly arrange for his cremation rites. As he looks on and the moment to leave arrives, he sees a group of Yamdootas that have come for him. He is overcome with fright but is unable to speak. His wife even scolds her with harsh words blaming him for lying there when there is work to do! He remembers his unfulfilled promise as the Yamas advance towards him. The Yamas stand guard at the 12 orifices of the body and then one of the Yamas enters him. The Jiva runs hither and dither inside the body within the 999 nerves and 72 parts of the body to escape the Yama but he is unable to loose him. The Yamas from outside beat him with clubs and this is visible to all as he coughs, breathes heavily and splutters. He runs to the orifices to escape the body but on seeing the Yamas guarding these exits, he run back in, in fear but as he does so the Yama chasing him captures him and ties him up in shackles. The Yama then brings him out and as he does so the body becomes quiet of the shortness of breath. The family members standing around the body now accept that Bulabhai is no more! The body is wrapped in cloth and taken to the crematorium by the sons. The rites of the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th days are followed. The whole village is fed with rice and siro. Meanwhile, the Yamadootas take the Jiva to Yampuri, where they devour the Jiva. But as they are nearly finished eating his whole body they miraculously restore it so that they can repeat the process and administer more beatings! He realises all his faults and begins to cry profusely. But the Yamas feel no sympathy and instead they have metal rods heated so that they are burning red-hot and then torture the Jiva by driving it through his body repeatedly. He pleads for them to stop confessing that he is a great sinner but yet again they do not have any mercy and continue to torture him by removing the skin from his body and ringing all the blood from out of him. The children of the Yamas then come and tear off parts of his body to devour. This is merely an extract and small example of the severe tortures that are inflicted in Yampuri. The true and extensive tortures that go on have not been written. He is then taken to Yamraja after nearly 12 months of tortures. His family members at this time make special donations and feed brahmins. At this time he is brought in front of Dharmaraja, he is asked what sins he has committed but the ignorant Jiva replies that he has not committed any. Dharmaraja then requests the Jivas account book listing all the sins that he has committed. These were compiled by the various presiding deities of his bodily senses. Yamraja then explains to him all his sins and as a result he is told that he must continue his tortures to nullify the sins. He is thus punished and is placed into the care of the 14 crore Yamas. Yamraja then retired to his quarters. 114. The Methods of Meditation Upon the Tilas (Moles) and Cheens (Marks)

 Those who wish to counteract the effects of maya (the association with the body) and who are desirous of salvation in this world should meditate upon the very form of God including each and every limb. Such meditation should be performed in a secluded and trouble-free place whilst sitting on a clean prayer matt facing either north or east. He should first identify himself as the eternal soul, independent of the three types of body (sthool, sukshma and karana) and three types of conditions or states (jagrat, swapna and sushupti). So believing, he should abandon his association with the body by merging it into Gods own physical form, which is of three types (virat, sutratma and avyakruta). Thus the sthool body should be merged into virat, sukshma in sutratma and karana in avyakrut. Similarly our states should be merged into Gods states of sthiti, utpati and pralaya respectively. Furthermore, the whole universe should be placed into a state of dissolution, whereby the earth consisting of all the gross and subtle bodies, sthavar-jangam (immovable objects such as mountains and movable objects) being merged into its sense of smell. Similarly smell is merged into water and water into its sense of taste; taste is merged into fire and fire into its sense of sight; sight is merged into wind and wind into its sense of touch; touch is merged into the space and space into its sense of hearing. Hearing is then absorbed into Tamas Ahamkar; the ten sense and cognitive organs such as hands, feet etc., the ten vital forces and intellect all merge into Rajas Ahamkar; and the presiding deities of each of the eternal elements, senses, sense objects, cognitive organs and antahakarana (consisting of mind, intellect, consciousness and ego) are merged into Satvik Ahamkar. These three Ahamkars are merged into Mahattatva. Mahattatva is merged into Pradhan Purusha (Primordial being) and Pradhan Purusha is merged into Mula Prakruti (nature). Mula Prakruti is then merged into supreme cause of countless universes, Maha Purusha. Maha Purush is merged into Aksharbrahman. Within Aksharbrahman resides the lustrous form of Purushottam Narayan who is Lord Sahajanand Swami. He is surrounded by countless muktas (liberated souls) who all meditate upon the visible form of Maharaj. Thus, we too should meditate upon the visible form of Maharaj. First we should meditate upon the lotus feet of Maharaj which are beautiful like rose petals. Those who do are blessed with single-minded devotion. The aspirant should mediate on each of the sixteen cheens (marks) upon Maharajs lotus feet. They are as follows: Ashtakon: Those who meditate upon Ashtakon (the Octagon) are able to overcome the influences of the eight types of obstructions or difficulties (ashta avarana). They are able to visualise their soul in its lustrous form. They achieve a state of Brahman. Urdhvarekha: Those that meditate upon the lines upon his feet are blessed with a place in Akshardhaam. Swastik: By meditating upon Swastik, one is able to have darshan of Purushottam Narayan in his divine Sakaar (with-form) state. Jambu: One who has once tested the benefits of meditating upon Jambu (black berry) mark loses interest in everything else and feels that all worldly affairs are worthless. Jav: Those who meditate upon Jav (the barley grain) attain supreme knowledge and understanding of the greatness of God. Thus he achieves a state of nirvaran (spiritual greatness) and is able to derive the bliss of worshipping God as his most obedient servant. Vajra: Those who meditate upon Vajra (the mark of thunder bolt), overcome the inner enemies and the effects of kala (time), karma (action) and maya (illusion) whereby they achieve a state ready for Akshardhaam. Ankush: represents our adherence to the instructions of the Almighty and thereby achieving his blessings and favour. Ketu: By meditating upon this flag mark, one attains a divine body at death. Padma: As the lotus remains undefiled in the water, those meditating upon the mark of Padma (Lotus) remain pure and unchanged by the world around us. Trikon: Those who meditate upon the triangle shape are freed from the three kinds of miseries (trividh taapa) namely aadhi, vyadhi and upaadhi.

Kalash: Just as the Kalash (kumbh, the holy pot) is placed upon the sikhar (tower), those who meditate upon it are placed in the highest of heavens, Akshardhaam. Gopad: Those who meditate upon Gopad (the foot print of the holy cow) are able to swim through the ocean of worldly life and are able to have darshan of God in all animate and inanimate objects. Dhanushya: Those who meditate upon this bow mark are freed from the influences of the inner enemies. Meen: Meditation upon Meen (fish mark) results in the whole body having joy in the Lords murti. Ardha-chandra: Meditating upon Ardha-chandra (half-moon) results in the achievement of the supreme qualities and greatness of God. Vyoma: One who meditates upon Vyoma attains the supreme bliss derived through the darshan of Gods murti. Furthermore there are other cheens on his feet and all over his body, which are worthy of meditation. There is a dark friction mark (shyam cheen) caused by his wooden sandals on his big toe and two toes next to it. Those that meditate upon this attain blissful peace. There is also a dark friction mark caused by sitting in a yogic posture on his shin. Both calves of his legs are extremely rounded and beautiful. His knees also have dark friction marks caused by sitting in a yogic posture. There is a small mark around his knee. His thighs are also wonderful of which on the right thigh there is a large mark resembling the stalk of an Ambli plant. His hips have dark friction marks caused by wearing the dhoti. His stomach resembles the leaf of Pipala tree, small at the top but large and wholesome at the bottom. His navel is round and deep, it resembles a wasp and is extremely attractive. The area around the navel is also very attractive and at the mouth of the navel, to the right, there is a tila (mole). His chest is great and wonderful and stands out. It is slightly red in colour and to the right is the mark of a half-moon (ardha chandra). In the area where his heart is, there is a mark of hair by the name of Shirvatsa and in the middle of the chest there is a mark named Vingunhar. His breasts are round and are surrounded by tiny hairs and could be mistaken for two dark jewels! On both breasts there are impression marks (chhaaps). Similarly there are impression marks also at a distance of three inches below where the upper arm and shoulder meets. There are dark friction marks on both his elbows. In the inside of his arms at a distance of eight inches to the upper, there is another impression mark. The palms of his hands are red in colour whilst the lines are slightly darker. His hands have tiny hairs on them. The nails on his fingers are extremely attractive and his wrists are strong. His shoulders are outstanding and his neck is resplendent resembling a conch. On his chin and below his lip there are tiny hair marks. His face is brilliant and round like the moon. His lips are beautifully red. On the right side of his face, on his cheek there is a dark mark. His tongue resembles the leaf of a flower. On his tongue there is also a dark mark. His nose is sharp and beautiful. It bends slightly resembling the beak of a parrot. It has many small spots (Siri na cheen). His eyes are large and great and are full of compassion. They are beautiful with their red lines. There are tiny wrinkles to the top and bottom of his eyes. To the right of his nose, there is a large mole. Both cheeks are large, round and reddened. His ears are fine resembling jalebi. In the inside of his left ear there is a large mole. Similarly there is another mole on his right ear, in the lower part. Both ears are pierced and therefore have left marks on his ear. His forehead is large and wonderful and stands out. He has three half-moon marks running across his forehead and two, which run from top two bottom. The Lords head is round and beautiful. The roof of his mouth also has a mole on it. Thus, in this way, one should meditate upon each of the parts of the Lords body. Such form of meditation is known as Saang Dhyaan and is considered to be the best method of meditation. Meditation of the Lord adorned with his dress and ornaments is known as

Upaang Dhyaan. Similarly meditation of the Lord along with his countless Muktas in Akshardhaam is known as Saparshad Dhyaan. Meditation upon the Lord along with his devotees casually enjoying himself merrily in his pastimes is known as Salil Dhyaan. These are the different types and methods of mediation. By meditating in these different ways, one is able to destroy the worldly desires of the causal body. One may try to destroy such desires through other numerous means but their efforts will be futile. Such is the teachings of Lord Swaminarayan and all other scriptures. For this reason, one should make great effort to meditate in such way by firmly fixing the self upon the Lords glorious Murti. Those that do will definitely be rewarded with a place in Akshardhaam. 115. Non-Observance of Period of Menses Results in a Brahmins Wife Being Reborn as a Dog and Her Husband Who Ate Foods Prepared By Her to be Reborn as a Bullock Shreeji Maharaj in the Shikshapatri has prohibited the non-disclosure of a woman during her period of menses. Those that keep this secret are committing great sin, which will result in intolerable punishment in Yamapuri and rebirth as an animal. To highlight this, there is an incident narrated from the Puranans: Long ago, during the age of Satya, there lived a brahmin by the name of Sumitra in the country of Vidarbha. His wife was Jayshree. The brahmin worked as a farmer and was very pious. However, his wife did not observe her period of menses once and continued to see to the household duties of cooking and such like. She prepared the foods and offered it to her husband. The brahmin had a son by the name of Sumati and his wife was Chandravati. When both the brahmin and his wife past away, they were reborn in the same house of their son and daughter-in-law as a result of the sin of non-observance of their duties during the period of menses. Sumitra was born as a bullock and Jayshree as a dog. As the calf grew and became older, he was put to work in the fields. Thus he would spend all day tending to the fields enduring hardships. One day, Sumati said to his wife, Today is the anniversary of the death of my father. Therefore as an offering to them, prepare sumptuous foods and dine five brahmins. I shall continue with my daily duties of tending to the fields and will return later this evening. Saying this he left for the fields. The wife then continued to prepare the sumptuous foods such as puri, dudhpak, ladu and the like and got it ready. She then saw to her other household duties. However whilst the food was unattended, the dog observed a snake squirt his poison into the dudhpak. She thought to herself, The foods have been prepared for my husbands shraadh (ceremonial offering) and as it has been poisoned it would surely kill the brahmins that would dine it. Thus great misfortune would befall us in addition to the suffering that we already have to endure as a result of our past sins. When will we ever be freed of such sin should the brahmins dine and meet their death? She therefore decided that she would spoil the foods by going into the kitchen and putting her paws and tail into the food. As she did this, Chandravati saw the dog and began to scold it with harsh words and ran after it with a stick and began to beat it. She beat her so aggressively that she broke the dogs back! The dog began to whine vaoo, vaoo, vaoo! But Vao (daughter-in-law) did not listen. Chandravati then cleansed the dishes throwing away all of the old preparations which were contaminated with poison and began to prepare new foods. The dog continued to whimper saying vao, vao, vao for the rest of the day. Sumati who had gone to the fields to tend to the crop had been very busy that day and had pushed Sumitra in the form of a bullock very hard. He did not even have time to give the bullock any food or water. They both returned from the fields late that evening tired and Sumati tied the bullock up giving him some grass and water to feed on. However, as Sumati was tired and in a hurry to get some sleep, he forgot to remove the mouth-guard of the bullock.

 The dog made his way to where the bullock was and began to complain to her husband about the beatings she had received and that she had not been given any food that day also. The bullock asked the reason why and she explained to him the reason. The bullock became cross with her explaining that it was because of her sins that they were in that position in the first place and also began to tell her of the difficulties he had endured during the day without any food and water only to come back home unable to eat or drink as his mouth-guard had not been removed! Thus he too was hungry and thirsty! As the dog and bullock were thus conversing, Sumati heard them discussing and was able to understand them. He explained all this to his wife realising that they were in actual fact their parents. Thus from that day they began to serve them with love and care giving them food and water on time. He told his wife to take care of them and he himself left for the forests. In the forests he met a Maharshi by the name of Sarvatapa and asked him why his parents had been reborn as animals and how they could be liberated. The great Maharashi began to meditate upon God and was able to narrate to Sumati the reason why, that his mother had once not observed her period of menses and that his father had dined foods prepared by her during this time. He also informed him of the method of intoning such sin in order to liberate his parents. He instructed, On the next day of Bhadarva Sukla Panchmi (Rushi Panchmi), invite the enlightened seven saints; Vashista, Kashyap, Atri, Bharadwaj, Vishvamitra, Gautama and Jamdagni to your home and offer due worship to them and dine them with sumptuous feasts. Satiate them and gain their blessing by offering dakshina. On that day, both of you should observe a fast or falahar (dine fruits etc. only). Afterwhich, perform Udhyapan (conclusion ceremony to the Vrata) and offer all the fruits of the said deed to your parents. Thus through such benediction they will achieve liberation. Observance of the period of menses should be practised always as it has been given to women at the instruction of Brahma as representative of one-quarter of Indras sin of killing a brahmin. As a result, she is subject to the menstrual cycle every month when she is endowed with the sin of Brahmhatya. On the first day she is impure like a Chandali, on the second a Brahmhatyari, on the third a Dhobarni and on the fourth day she is cleansed of all such sin and impurity after bathing. For such reason she should never hide her period of menses and for three days she should not tend to household duties by touching clothes, kitchen utensils nor other people. If such things have been touched by accident, then the sin of such action can be removed by observance of Rushi Panchmi Vrata. After listening to the wise words of the Rishi, Sumati returned to his home and explained everything to his wife. Both observed the Rushi Panchmi Vrata as instructed by the Rishi and by touching the feet of their parents, they gave the fruits of the Vrata to them. By so doing, both their parents left their bodies immediately and sat on a chariot taking them to the heavens. Therefore the period of menses should always be observed along with Rushi Panchmi Vrata and the Vrata Katha should also be regularly listened to. Those that do will attain the heavens along side their husband. Indeed generations of their family of past, present and future will also attain liberation. 116. Accidental Observance of Ekadashi Vrata Results in the Liberation of Their Parents Shreeji Maharaj has instructed that all his devotees respectfully observe all Ekadashi Vratas. Indeed Dharma Shastras have also advocated this explaining, On days of Ekadashi, one should prevent the inner enemies of lust, anger and avarice from entering the mind. Furthermore, one should refrain from sinful acts. Thus the scriptures teach the control of ones senses by preventing the satiation of the sense objects through objects of enjoyment

during this most pious of observances. Those that act contrary to this do not please God. Those that observe this vrata by passing their time in devotion to God by singing his praise, listening to his pastimes and by staying awake during the night are correctly observing the vrata. Only such persons will be freed from a lifetime of sin and enjoy the bliss of the heavens at the end of their lifetimes. Observance of such a vrata will bring happiness in this life and liberation in the afterlife. Indeed, one who even accidentally receives the fruits of the observance of this vrata will be liberated from the hells what then needs to be said further about the liberation of one who observes the vrata himself! A story from the Puranas his being narrated here to exemplify this: Once there was a brahmin who lived with his wife, son and daughter. He would provide for his family through bhiksha (begging for food). However, sometimes he would take food without permission and therefore was committing the sin of stealing. His son and daughter had observed this and thought to themselves that this was dishonest and that such act would only cause suffering in this world and in others. They explained this to their father, highlighting that such sin would earn him a place in hell where he would have to suffer intolerable punishment at the hands of the Yamadootas. However, the father did not listen and so the son and daughter decided that they would secretly leave their home as to continue to stay would only bring on suffering. Early the next morning they left home without telling anyone. As they continued their journey, they passed through a frightful jungle. The sun began to set and shortly afterwards it was pitch dark. They had had nothing to eat that day and fearing the carnivorous animals roaming the jungle, they decided to climb a tree and spend the night in safety there. Later during the night, both were very hungry and the sister could not tolerate the starvation any more and so the brother decided to go to a nearby town to get some food. Telling his sister to wait in the tree, he made his way to the town. He got to the main entrance to the town but the gate was shut. He therefore sat there in wait for someone to open the gate. The King of the town had suddenly met his death that same night without an heir to the thrown. The Kings advisors and ministers decided that the Kingdom would be left without an heir and therefore would leave it open to mutiny by others. This was not in the best interest of the Kingdom. They therefore decided to take the first person that entered the gates of the town and install him as the new King. In accordance with this, the Kings men made their way to the gate and on opening the gate they saw the young brahmin and took him back to the palace. The young boy was then informed of what had happened and installed as the new King. It was nearly 3 or 4 oclock in the afternoon by the time they had finished performing the last rites of the previous King. He then summoned the guards and instructed them to retrieve his sister from the jungle, who had been hungry and thirty from the previous day. In this way both lived happily in the kingdom in a position of Royal stature. Many years passed, by which time the sister had come of age and therefore was ready to wed. The King wondered to himself who he would have her betrothed to. The advisers to the King gave an answer to this and said that she should be married to the first person to enter the gate to the town the following day. In accordance with this, Dharmaraja Yama was first to enter the gates and therefore she was given to him in wedlock. She was called Yamni. Thus Dharmaraja then took his wife Yamni to Yampoori to reside there. Once Yamaraja took Yamni for a tour of all the hells and their pits. In one of the pits was Yamnis mother who had fallen to hell as a result of past sins. Her mother recognised Yamni and began to cry out to her to save her. Yamni was overcome for compassion for her

mother and pleaded with her husband to save her mother and free her from the clutches of hell. Yamraja said, She can be saved only if the fruits of the observance of Ekadashi vrata are given to her. Yamni inquired, Where shall I get such benediction? Yamraja answered, The fruits of Ekadashi vrata are with you! The day that both you and your brother left your home was the day of Ekadashi. As you did not eat that day, unable to locate any food you observed a fast. Therefore offer this Tulsi Patra to her as a mark of offering your benediction and she will be liberated from this hell. In accordance with this, Yamni offered a leaf of Tulsi to her mother and immediately she was pulled out of the pit and placed in a divine chariot and taken to heaven! After many years, Yamni again observed her father in one of the pits also and so asked that he too be liberated from the hells. Thus she was advised by Yamraja to arrange for the fruits of her brothers observance of Ekadashi to be given to their father. Yamni went to her brother and explained everything. She returned with the fruits and offered it to her father. Again, he two was liberated from hell and sat in chariot to be taken to the heavens. This is the divine greatness of the vrata of Ekadashi. Lord Swaminarayan in addition to the 24 Ekadashis has instructed the observance of vratas of Vaman Dvadashi, Krishna Janmashtmi, Ramanavmi, Shiva Chaudash and Narshi Chaudash. Only those that observe these 29 auspicious days are truly considered to be a Vaishnav (a devotee of Lord Vishnu) by our scriptures and will definitely attain liberation. 117. One Should Never Take Any Items Without Their Owners Consent Incidents of a Brahmin and Parvati Highlighting This Shreeji Maharaj has instructed in the Shikshapatri that one should never commit the act of stealing nor take any items such as wood, flowers etc. without the owners consent. Those that act otherwise are committing sin and will surely have to bear the consequence of such act in future births. Once a pious brahmin committed such sin by taking only two handfuls of wheat from a farm without the owners consent. When the time of death came unto him, he was taken and placed in the presence of Yamraja. Dharmaraja said to the brahmin, O Vipra! You have an abundance of benediction (punya) through righteous acts and there is the one incident of sin (paap) when you took some wheat without the owners consent. Therefore which is it that you wish to bear first and foremost sin or benediction? The brahmin decided to bear the sin first and leave the benediction till later so that he can enjoy it in peace. Therefore, Dharmaraja sent him back to be reborn as a bullock in the same farm that he stole from to serve and tend to the fields for another twenty years! After many years, the owner of the farm had left for another town to see to some personal business and he had left an elderly woman to safeguard a pile of wheat. She was one of the workers and therefore trustworthy. However, all alone with no one to say anything to her, she began to have adverse thoughts and decided that she would take some of the wheat for herself and deliver it to her home such that it would not be obvious that it was taken. As she began to shovel the wheat from the pile, the bullock that was tied up nearby began to wail, Maa, Maa, Maa! The elderly woman began to wonder where the cry was coming from but could see no one. Therefore she continued again to fill the wheat into a container but again the bullock cried out Maa, Maa, Maa! She could only see the bullock nearby and wondered if it was the bullock that was crying out. She began to shovel for a third time with her eyes on the bullock and low and behold, she realised that it was the bullock that was crying out each time she attempted to fill the sack. She went to the bullock and asked who he was. The bullock replied giving all details about his sin committed and subsequent rebirth. He explained to her that this was as a result of taking only a handful of wheat whereas she

was ready to take bucket loads and therefore such sin would be difficult to nullify. So saying, his ability to speak was retracted and when the owner of the farm returned, the elderly woman explained what had happened. At the end of bullocks lifetime, he left his body to take a divine body and then taken to the heavens. Thus in this way one should always be careful and not take such items without permission. Even the righteous have had to suffer the consequences of committing the sin just once! Once on the day of Makar Sankranti, thousands of people flocked to Kashi Gangaji for bathing and other rites. Shankar and Parvati also came from Kailash to witness the event and gave everyone their darshan and blessings. On their return they passed by a farm where some millet grains from the field had attached themselves accidentally to Parvatis anklet. They stopped a little while later for some rest where Parvati noticed the grains and began to eat them. Shankar noticed this and asked what she was eating and where she had got it. Shankar realised immediately that Parvati was at fault for taking without owners consent and began to scold her with harsh words. Shankar insisted that she would have to intone for such sin by going back to the farm and serving the owner for a full year. She did this and owner of the farm took her in. In this way, Parvati worked with great effort seeing to all the needs of the owner and farm by working in the home, fetching water, washing up and working in the fields! The owner was extremely pleased with Parvati as she saw to their every need. Ten months passed and the owner and his wife decided that the workload at the time was slow and therefore it would be a good time to go for pilgrimage. They therefore entrusted everything to Parvati and left for pilgrimage. Parvati stayed and continued her service there until the end of her twelfth month and left. Shortly after the owner and his wife returned from their pilgrimage only to find that their servant had left. They searched for her hither and dither but it was fruitless. They missed her dearly and wondered to themselves why she had left so suddenly without taking any payment for her services rendered. They therefore decided that they would not take any food or water until such time that she returned. Shankar realised this and therefore instructed Parvati to return as if she didnt and they continued to fast and die then the sin of such action would befall upon Parvati. Parvati returned to the farm and explained everything to the owner and told them her real identity. Such is the sin of stealing. Therefore one should always be careful in such situations. 118. One Should Practice Devotion to God Along With Dharma Those who desire to be free from the suffering of worldly life in favour of the salvation of Gods Dhaam, should practice devotion to the Lord along with Dharma (duty), Gnaan (knowledge) and Vairagya (renunciation). The Dharmas as prescribed for ascetics, householders, women etc., outlined in scriptures such as Shikshapatri, Dharmamruta and Nishkam Shuddhi by Lord Swaminarayan should be observed. How should one understand Dharma? The Shikshapatri answers this succinctly as Dharma is the right conduct as authenticated by Shruti and Smruti (Shikshapatri 103). Shreeji Maharaj also explains Gnaan, Gnaan is comprehensive understanding of Jiva (soul), Maya (illusion) and Ishwara (God) (Shikshapatri 104). Furthermore Vairagya is nonattachment to everything except Lord Shree Krishna (Shikshapatri 104). Thus one should practice Bhakti or devotion along with these three. Bhakti is defined as; Bhakti is profound love for God coupled with knowledge of the majesty and magnificence of Lord Shree Krishna (Shikshapatri 103). Nine-fold devotion has been stipulated: Shravanam Kirtanam Vishnoha Smaranam Padasevanam Archanam Vandanam Dasyam Sakhyamatmanivedanam | ||

(i) Shravanam - Shravana or hearing is essentially listening to the talks upon the excellencies of God by holy men and so in the true sense is possible only in holy company. (ii) Kirtanam - Kirtan is singing aloud and chanting Gods name and compositions on his deeds. It is often in the company of several other devotees. Music or dance may accompany it. (iii) Vishnoha Smaranam - is the remembrance of Vishnu. The earlier two disciplines are often done in company where as Smaranam is performed alone. It is performed silently in meditation. (iv) Padasevanam - literally means Service of His feet. The feet or Pada here are symbolic of other manifest things. For example the earth is considered his feet and so service of all beings is propounded. Any work done as an offering to God is Padaseva - such as helping in temples in some way. (v) Archanam - this is idol worship or more popularly known as Pooja. It is in a way unique to Hinduism as it accepts image worship - extolling Gods Sakaar (with form) nature. (vi) Vandanan - literally means salutation and takes the form of full prostration before the image signifying complete surrender at the feet of God. It means honouring the presence of a deity, person or thing. (vii) Dasyam - is serving God as his most obedient servant. (viii) Sakhyam - is love for God. (ix) Atmanivedanam - complete surrender of the self to God. Dharma has been illustrated as the head of Bhakti, Gnaan as its heart and Vairagya as its feet. Practice of Bhakti along with Dharma, Gnaan and Vairagya is known as Ekantik Dharma or Bhagwad Dharma. Thus those who practice such devotion are fondly known as Ekantik or Bhagwad Bhakta. Such devotion is obtained only through Satsang. What is Satsang? Satsang is knowledge of the form, nature, divine greatness and goodness of Purushottam Narayan the fountainhead of all incarnations. Satsang is the reading, listening and obeying of scriptures which portray these divine qualities of God, his pastimes and the duties pertaining to his Ekantik saints. It is also association with these Ekantik saints and conformance to their every command. Satsang is an understanding of divine powers of God and listening to the greatness of the heavens such as Goloka, Vaikunth, Swetdweep and Brahmanpura. It is an understanding of the creation, maintenance and destruction cycle and the listening to Katha of the incarnations of God such as Rama and Krsihna. Such Katha will ultimately lead to the cultivation of Bhakti, which should be practised in association with Dharma, Gnaan and Vairagya. Such a devotee is known as an Ekantik Bhakta. Should such aspirant face difficulties in practice of the other three whereby their devotion is lessened, then he should forgo these in favour of practice of Bhakti alone. Thus practice of Bhakti should be foremost. Vachanamrit explains this, Those who practice the most supreme devotion to God, automatically receive the other limbs of Dharma etc. These limbs can also be acquired through three-fold service (with the mind, action and speech) to Ekantik saints. Should Bhakti be practised devoid of the knowledge of the divine greatness of God then it will surely suffer and eventually lead to its downfall. Therefore one should always practice devotion to God along with the knowledge of divine greatness of God. Upasna or worship should be pure. One should always accept that the form of God worthy of worship is always Sakaar (with-form). One should practice devotion of the fountainhead of all incarnations and meditate upon him, chant his name, be in constant remembrance of him and sing of his glories and pastimes. Maharaj advises upon the strengthening of ones worship in Loya Vachanamrita 14: Beyond all is the brilliant light within which there is a grand seat on which resides Purushottam Narayan Bhagwan. He is surrounded by countless Muktas (liberated souls) who perform his darshan. This is the vision that I have and when I do not have such vision I am distressed. Although I have constant vision of the lustrous light, I am neither satisfied nor elated by this. I find happiness only through sight of the Lords divine murti. I therefore worship this Purushottam Bhagwan that has been explained by Ramanuja Swami as beyond Kshar and Akshar.

In Panchala Vachanamrit 7 he explains, One should never forsake the glorious sweet sugarlike murti of Purushottam Bhagwan, the cause of all who is always with divine form. One should always meditate, worship and practice devotion of the form or murti of God that they have seen but never something otherwise. When identifying the Lord with a human body, this should be understood as merely an illusive act of his. God and his liberated devotees are with a form which is illuminated by countless suns and moons. Only those who have such firm belief are able to realise this. Such Purushottam Bhagwan who is illuminated with the brilliant divine light, manifests upon the Earth in human-like form along with his divine qualities and powers to offer salvation to the masses by cultivating nine-fold Bhakti within them. Those that understand this accept that the form of God in Akshardhaam is identical to his manifest form on this earth. Thus they do not believe that there is even the minutest of differences between them. Those with this understanding have understood every facet of God and have overcome Maya. Only he is a Gnaani and an Ekantika Bhakta. Such person would surely be liberated even if he were to transgress the code of conduct through association with the sinful or the like. Such salvation is difficult for those who do not have such understanding even though they may be a faithful Naishtika Brahmanchari practising considerable renunciation. Such a realised soul is adamant in his belief that the Lord is with form and never changes his belief that the Lord is without form (Nirakaar) even though he may be led to believe it by others. Therefore he believes that it is through the Sakaar form of God that he manifests as Rama, Krishna and others. Such person is of Paripakva Nishta (firm absolute faith). Gadhada Madhyam 39 explains, Those that believe God to be Nirakaar are committing sin far greater that even the five great sins. There is no such Prayaschit (method of retracting sin) for such sin. Belief in Gods Sakaar form will save oneself at the time of death. Gadhada Pratham 61 explains further, The time of death is like a vast ocean. Therefore at such time, one is not aided by Atmanishta (knowledge of the self as being distinct from the body) but instead he will need the aid of a boat in the form of worship to God to cross the ocean. Therefore one should affirm his worship and devotion for God before the time of death. Vachanamrita 36 further explains, For purposes of consolidating ones worship, one should seek the association of an appropriate Ekantika Satpurusha (enlightened person/saint). Vadtal Vachanamrit 4 explains, By associating with a saint who has the thirty righteous qualities, one is able to gain all the tools for salvation by this one single act. 119. Realisation That God Is The Creator And Destroyer Of All Things Is The Source Of Atyantik Kalyan (Liberation) Gadhada Madhyam 21 explains, The tool for Atyantik Kalyan is knowledge of the fact that God is the creator and destroyer of all things. Those that understand the greatness of the manifest Lord and his saints never falter from the path to salvation. Furthermore Gadhada Madhyam 35 explains, One is not able to obtain salvation through mere knowledge of the self. He would be required to be faithful in accordance with ones Dharma, have firm faith and worship for God, listen to the pastimes of Gods incarnations and incessantly chant the name of God. These four methods will deliver one to salvation. Therefore, just as one is fond and possessive of his body, he too should be fond of God and his saints; such method will deliver peace so that he would not face any difficulties in his path to salvation. Thus one should always seek association with a Satpurusha (holy man), as through him, one is able to realise the true knowledge of the Lords form. Similarly one is able to distinguish between justice and injustice, righteousness and unrighteousness, a saint and a false saint and the like through him. One is also able to understand the eight Satshastras and other scriptures written by the saints of the order through these Satpurushas. Similarly one is able to understand properly the great scripture Shreehari Vakya Sudha Sindhu (Vachanamrit) through great saints such as Gopalanand Swami who have the 30 desirable qualities as outlines by scriptures.

All other scriptures are like milk whilst the Vachanamrit is like cream. No other scripture even comes close to the greatness of Vachanamrit as by reading and studying this one scripture, one is able to acquire the knowledge of all scriptures. Those that live their lives in accordance with the Vachanamrit are guaranteed salvation; such is the greatness of this scripture. Thus one should readily listen to and study it under the guidance of an enlightened saint. The Vachanamrit is the ocean of excelsior in the form of statements flowing from the Lords mouth. One is not able to swim this ocean through the might of his arms but instead is able to cross this ocean through the blessings and shelter from a Satpurusha. One is able to truly understand the scripture when he has listened to (shravan), pondered over (manan) and deeply contemplated (nidhidhyasa) the Vachanamrit. After such progressive study, one is firm in his belief and is victorious always even when challenged by the greatest of intellects. Once in Samvat 1964, the Shankaracharya by the name of Madhava Tirtha decided to prove the Uddhavi Sampradaya as false. He arranged a debate in Kashi and invited the greatest of intellects of the Swaminarayan Sampraday from all over to this debate. The debate continued for eight days but Madhava was unable to argue his case sufficiently to prove the Sampraday wrong. He therefore asked another question, Just as Shree Krishna Paramatma has often said to Arjuna in the Gita that he is God. Has your Swaminarayan said that he is God in the Vachanamrit anywhere? In response to this, Ahmedabad Vachanamrit 7 was cited where Maharaj has said, I went to Akshardhaam, which is beyond everything and wherein I also resided as God. I saw none there who was greater than I was. I am the source of creation, maintenance and destruction of all universes. After listening to this, the Shankaracharya admitted defeat and proclaimed Victory to Lord Swaminarayan! Therefore the Vachanamrit is truly great and above all other scriptures as the statements are from the Lord himself. Many of these statements are difficult to understand and the deeper meanings of these are extremely difficult to grasp. It is the likes of the great Sadguru Gopalanand Swami who are able to truly understand these. Therefore one should seek to associate with such enlightened saints to fully understand these difficult messages, as one would be unable to grasp these messages by any other means such as self-enlightenment. 120. The Greatness Of Vachanamrit

Just as the Lord has created the oceans for the good of mankind, Maharaj has created the ocean-like Vachnamrit for the beneficial welfare of those righteous souls upon this earth desirous of salvation. The ocean-like Vachanamrit has 273 waves. Pure worship of God is in the form of the wind, which causes these waves to rise and increase. Just as the fourteen jewels came forth at the time of milking the ocean, jewels of various kinds that are of great benefit to mankind which are capable of delivering salvation also come forth from the Vachanamrit. Just as the moon came from the milking of the ocean, Dharma arises from the Vachanamrit. Similarly just as Laxmi was born from the ocean so to is born single-minded devotion and husband-like worship for Lord Sahajanand Swami in the Vachanamrit. Just as divine nectar was brought forth, so too is born knowledge in the supreme greatness of God and belief that he is the cause of all causes. Just as the cow Kamdhenu was brought forth, so too is born absolute celibacy. Just as the elephant Airavat was brought forth, so too is born renunciation. Just as the conch Panchjanya was brought forth, so too is born spiritual discourse and songs of praise through the Vachanamrit. Thus all these qualities are born in the hearts of those who read the Vachanamrit. Just as the moon sustains the eighteen types of plant life such as trees etc, Dharma sustains a Satsangi (one belonging to this faith). This Dharma has been outlined by Maharaj in the Shikshapatri and Satsangi Jeevan. By observing these duties as outlined for the person pertaining to his class and caste, he is able to devote himself to God and worship him at peace. He never allows himself to transgress this code of conduct. The luminosity of this

Dharma dispels any darkness of ignorance, which may be evident in his heart. Thus all the inner enemies such as lust, anger, avarice, delusion, pride, envy etc are all destroyed. Therefore such a person who follows Dharma is illuminated like the moon and those who associate with these persons either knowingly or unknowingly are also illuminated in their hearts dispelling the inner evils. Those that are plagued with suffering as a result of the three forms of afflictions (trividha taap), are removed of such suffering through Shreeji Maharajs compassion should he choose to follow the path of Dharma. He then attains peace of mind and is satiated just as a thirsty person is satiated of his thirst after drinking water. Just as a murti that is installed and charged with the divine force of God through Vedic Mantras is worthy of worship, those that observe Bhagwat Dharma are charged with the divine force of God residing within the hearts of such person. Such person is then fit to be respected and indeed worshipped. Therefore one should always follow the path of Dharma and practice Bhakti along with Dharma. Just as the divine call of the Panchjanya conch, liberated countless souls from hell by shedding their ghostly forms to take up demigod forms, Raja Parikshit shed his mortal body to gain a divine body and a place in Gods heaven by listening to Gods katha (pastimes), kirtan (hymns) and nectar-like spiritual discourse. Indeed he attained great fame through such deed. Similarly even the most sinful of sinners such as Dhundhukari achieved liberation through listening to Gods katha. In similar fashion even today, countless souls are redeemed through the grace and favour of Shreeji Maharaj, by listening to his katha, kirtan and amrutvani (through Vachanamrit). Their lives are enriched with great happiness, luxuries and fame and after leaving their mortal body are granted a place in his Akshardhaam where they enjoy the bliss of service unto thee. Countless realised souls have attained such greatness even whilst in human form such as Sadguru Shatanand Swami, Sadguru Vyapkanand Swami, Sadguru Swarupanand Swami, Govardhan Seth, Parvatbhai, Doso Yavan, Rajobhai, Rajbai, Jivubai, Ladubai, Sadaba, Karaniba, Ladhibai, Surajbai and Chagbai. Therefore one should cultivate fondness for katha and kirtan. Thus Vachanamrit is full of wisdom which will cultivate such fondness for God and many other desirable qualities. It covers details such as Panchvratman (five vows); Niyam (practices), Nischaya (faith) and Paksha (allegiance); tools for liberation; Atmanishta (knowledge of the self as being separate from the body), Pativrataparnu (husband-like devotion to God) and Dasatvaparnu (servant-like devotion to God). Therefore the contents of the Vachanamrit are truly great and understood by Lord Swaminarayan or his fully realised saints and devotees such as Sadguru Gopalanand Swami. 121. The Lord Has Brought Forth A Ship In The Form Of This Satsang

For the purposes of liberating countless souls in this age of Kali, Maharaj has brought with him from Aksharshaam, this Satsang (fellowship) which is in the form of a Ship. In this Ship there resides many things (in the form of qualities). At the helm of this Ship are the saints such as Sadguru Gopalanand Swami, Sadguru Muktanand Swami, Sadguru Nityanand Swami, Sadguru Brahmanand Swami, Sadguru Sukanand Swami, Sadguru Shatanand Swami and other great saints. To protect this ship, he has established the two Acharyas, his two adopted sons. The travellers on this ship are of four types; Mukta (liberated), Mumukshu (desirous of salvation), Pamer (helpless) and Visheyi (servant to his senses). There are eleven ports for this ship to pass through to allow travellers to board or disembark. These are Bhuva Loka, Swarga Loka, Mahar Loka, Jana Loka, Tapa Loka and Satya Loka for those who are Sakaam Bhaktas (those who are expectant of rewards) and Badrikashram, Swetadweep, Vaikunth, Goloka and Akshardhaam for those who are Nishkaam Bhaktas (do not expect rewards).

Thus this is the Satasang in the form of a Ship that Maharaj has brought with him. Those who do not shelter in the shade of this Satsang are subject to great displeasure in the salty waters that is Sansar (worldly life), even though he may be a great intellect or Yogi. Indeed at the end of his lifetime he faces great misfortune. Therefore, those who are desirous of happiness in this world and in others should shelter through Satsang by associating with a true Satpurusha (holy person) as such act will lead to peace. Such peace is comparable to the peace that Veda Vyaas attained through association with Narad Muni. Vyaas had composed seventeen Puranas but still did not attain peace. Narad then came to Vyaas and advised him to compose the Bhagwat Purana which finally brough him the peace that he longed for. Similarly it was through the association with Sadguru Muktanand Swami that the Pandits of Varodra also found peace, realising the greatness of Satsang and Shreeji Maharaj. The great intellects of Mathura never had associations with a Satpurusha. They had pride in their own learning and when the childhood friends of the Shree Krishna came for foods to take back for Krishna they ridiculed them and sent them on their way empty handed. After their wives, who were endowed with loving devotion for Shree Krishna had gone to give the foods personally, they then realised their own shortcoming and their deficiency in Bhakti and began to scorn themselves. The reason being is that these intellectuals had derived knowledge from scriptures but they did not however properly understand and grasp the inner meanings of the contents of these scriptures which is attainable only through association with a Satpurusha. Therefore Maharaj has said in the Shikshapatri, Even though a person may be a great intellectual, if he is devoid of Bhakti and Satsang for Shree Krishna he will surely face downfall. Therefore it is imperative that even though one has great learning and intellect, he associates through Satsang with a Satpurusha. It is only then that he has truly understood Satsang and after which he will be able to overcome his senses. Overcoming ones senses is the basis of Ekantik Dharma. Thus one can become an Ekantik Bhakta only after associating with other such Satpurushas who have overcome their own senses, who have truly understood God and who act in accordance with every command of God. He is not however able to attain such lofty heights through mere reading of scriptures. There is a distinction in the type of person that is able to understand Satsang. One who is termed a Daivi Jiva, who has many righteous qualities, is able to fully understand Satsang. However, one who is an Asuri Jiva, who does not have righteous qualities even though he may be part of Satsang will never understand the significance of Satsang and therefore will never become a proper Satsangi. Satsangi is termed here, as one who has realised and identified with the true forms of ones Atma, a Satpurusha and Paramatma. Such high level knowledge is understood only by those who are Daivi but those who are Asuri are not able to understang this. Indeed such knowledge should only be given to those who are Daivi and never to those who are Asuri. Such knowledge is evident in the Vachnamrit and other such scriptures. 122. The Reasons For Maharajs Manifestation Upon This Earth And Maharajs Departure Parabrahman Paramatma Lord Shree Swaminarayan who is also known by countless others names such as Shree Krishna, Purushottam, Narayan, Vasudev etc., resides in Akshardhaam along with innumerable other liberated souls called Muktas. Through his divine will he creates, sustains and destroys countless universes. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva worship the Saguna (with qualities) form of this Supreme Being through the forms of Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Shankarshana. These three great Gods are forever chanting His name and singing His praise. They once prayed, O Lord! At thy divine will, thou manifest countless times upon this earth. These manifestations are of three types, Karavatar (endowed with artistic skills), Anshavatar (a part-manifestation of the Supreme Being) and Vibhutiavatar (endowed with super-human or divine powers).

Thou manifest in various forms such as Mach, Kach, Varaha, Nrusinha, Vaman, Parshuram. Ramchandra, Shree Krishna and others. After they have completed the task that is the purpose of their manifestation and at the same time bestowing liberation to those souls that have come into contact with them, they return to Akshardhaam to once again become one with or merge with thee who is the source of their mainifestation. In this way, it is thou that reside in countless heavens and regions through thy various forms. It is thou that is the source of all other manifestations and the cause of all causes. But we ask that that thee with all thy majesty and glory have pity on us and manifest upon this earth just once, along with all your Muktas to grant liberation to the countless other souls! The Supreme Lord gave his promise, I have manifest upon the earth countless times in various lesser forms for various reasons, but I will manifest myself in all my majesty only once. I will manifest when Brahma and this universe has span half a lifetime. Accordingly, on the first day of Brahmas fifty first year, after 5000 years into the 28th Kali yuga cycle the Supreme Lord decided that it was time to manifest upon the earth. It was a time when unrighteousness and sin was rampant and when the sinful were inflicting treadful suffering to those that were righteous, brahmins and cows. The Supreme Lord used the curse of Sage Durvasa upon Lord Narnarayan along with Dharma and Bhakti at Badrikashram as a means to himself manifest along with all his Muktas of Akshardhaam. He was born in the northern region of Kaushal Desh to a family of Samvedi brahmins, to parents Dharmadev and Bhaktidevi in Samvat Yeat 1837, Chaitra Sud 9 in the village of Chappaiya. He resided in Chappaiya for his childhood years to give pleasure to his parents, friends and family through his Bal Charitra (pastimes of his younger days) and then he left home wandering through the mountains and jungles of India and places of pilgrimage rooting out evil and establishing Dharma. Those souls that came into contact with him were immediately liberated. In Samvat 1856, Shravan Vad 6, he came to Lojpur where he met Muktanand Swami and remained with him. Through his divine leelas (pastimes), he attracted and liberated many righteous souls. Afterwhich in Piplana he met Jagatguru Shree Ramanand Swami and accepted him as his Guru. He was initiated by Ramamand Swami into the sect and was given the names Sahajanand Swami and Narayan Muni. Later in Jetalpur, Ramanand Swami announced Shree Hari as his successor and annointed him accordingly by seating him on his throne. Ramanand Swami shortly afterwards left his mortal body in the village of Fareni to return to Akshardhaam. Thus Shree Hari was born to Dharma and Bhakti and remained with them for 11 years, 3 months and 1 day. He then left for pilgrimage and wandered in the jungles for 7 years, 1 month and 11 days. He stayed in Lojpur with Muktanand Swami for 10 months and 6 days. He then stayed with Ramamand Swami for 1 year, 5 months and 16 days. For the remaining 28 years, 5 months and 27 days he developed the satsang revealing his true spiritual powers. Therefore he wandered on this fortuitous earth, purifying it in total for 49 years, 2 months and 1 day and liberated the masses through his divine charitras. Furthermore he arranged countless festivals and yagnas on a grand scale at Gadhpur, Vadtal, Dabhana, Jetalpur, Ahmedabad, Kariyani, Sarangpur, Loya, Bhujnagar and other places. He himself wandered through the villiages and towns of Kutch, Kathiwad, Jalavar, Bhala, Dandhai and Gujarat along with his band of saints of the highest calibre and gave spiritual bliss to all through his divine charitras. Those that were witness to these miraculous charitras were immediately attracted to the Lord and became part of Satsang, firmly devoted to Maharaj. Indeed some even undertook the most strictest of disciplines by accepting Vaishnavi Diksha (initiation into the sect as an ascetic) by renouncing everything. They lived a life of pure conduct and discipline which was difficult in even Satya Yuga never mind

in the obtacles of Kali Yuga! These Brahmcharis, Sadhus, Parshads and Sankhyogi women accepted the strictest of renunciation and detachment and observed eight-fold celibacy in accordance with Maharajs strictest of disciplines and wishes. In this way he attracted the masses of India who became his devotees observing a code of conduct in agreement with scripture and elevating them to a spiritual altitude equalled by those living in Swetadweep. Indeed this stream of excellence in humanity and their liberation will continue to flow until such time of the disolution of the universe. For the purposes of liberation of future generations, Maharaj arranged for scriptures to be written both in Sanskrit and Prakrit (Gujarati etc). Satsangi Jivan, Satsangi Bhushan, Hari Gigvijay, Bhaktachintamani and others have been produced through the saints of the order and additionally Maharaj himself has written the Shikshapatri and spoken forth the Vachanamrit for the beneficial welfare of mankind. He arranged also for grand temples to be built at Ahmedabad, Bhujnagar, Vadtal, Junagadh, Gadhpur, Dholera, Dhorka, Muli and other places and installed murtis of himself within these temples. For purposes of looking after these temples and the saints he established the Acharyas from his own family of Dharmadev. He annointed Ayodhyaprasad and Raghuvira as his spiritual successors and commanded to all his followers saints and householders thus, These Acharyas have been placed upon my seat and are my very form. You should all serve them and follow their every wish. Furthermore you should follow the tenets as laid out in the Shikshapatri and Satsangi Jivan and to practice devotion (Bhakti) by observing the Panchvratman (five fundamental vows to refrain from addictions, meat, thievalry, adultery and sensual pleasures). If you act in accordance to these my wishes, then I will definitely come to take you to Akshardhaam, there should be no dispute in this. If however, you do not act in this way then understand that you are separate from me and arent my Satsangi! Know this to be the truth. That which I had set out to do whilst in Akshardhaam and therefore manifested upon this earth to undertake has now been accomplished. There is nothing left for me to do. I therefore wish to take leave of this world now and I urge you all not to be saddened by this news. Nor should any of you hastily fast due to the pangs of seperation from me but instead I implore that you have patience and continue with your single-minded devotion for me. After addressing the followers thus by instilling patience in them, on Vikram Samvat 1886, on Tuesday Jyesta Sud 10, he summoned his adopted sons to come to him after bathing, wearing only the white clothes traditionally worn during pooja. They came holding the hands of Gopalanand Swami to the main courtyard where Maharaj was waiting. Maharaj was sat on an asan of sacred grass (darbha) and sesame seed (tal) where the ground had been purified. Gopalanand Swami and Nityanand Swami took positions standing before Maharaj whilst the Acharyas stood to the side of Maharaj. Maharaj then began to meditate upon his form and left his mortal body to again take his place in Akshardhaam. At that moment, the Muktas of Akshardhaam came in chariots according to his will. They performed poojan of Maharaj using sandlewood paste, flowers and tulsi and then sat him in the decorated chariot. Shiva, Brahma and other devas also came to welcome Maharaj and performed his poojan. They sprinkled flowers, sang his glory and began to play musical instruments. In this way, Maharaj took leave of this earth, completing his Manush Leela (sporting as a Man). Gopalanand Swami then arranged for Maharajs adopted sons to perform the last rites such as cremation of Maharajs body. Thus Purushottam Narayan Shree Sahajanand Swami, the cause of innumerable universes and the Lord of Akshardhaam, after manifesting upon this earth and liberating the masses, returned to Akshardhaam. The source of all incarnations, the cause of all causes, Shree Hari Sahajanand Swami had given me divine darshan twice and intructed me to compose a book detailing Sarvopari Upasna (best method of devotion and worship of God) as well as narrating the divine

incidents performed by him in Bhuj, Dhmadka, Khokhra, etc. I however did not feel that I had neither the necessary scholarly intellect nor the literacy to compose such a masterful scripture. Never the less, through associations with Mahant Sadguru Swami Shree Aksharjivandasji and my Guru Swami Shree Ramkrushnadasji, I was able to attain the necessary knowledge and skill. I then, plucking enough courage together and with Maharajs instruction in mind, I decided to compose this scripture. The divine episodes and miracles of Maharaj are innumerable; this is merely my small offering in accordance with my abilities. In this scripture I have detailed a number of divine episodes from the lifetime of Shree Hari as well as a number of divine miracles performed by him. Those righteous souls desirous of salvation, that read or listen to this scripture will immediately become great satsangis. Those satsangis and saints that read or listen to this scripture will unconditionally be blessed with loving devotion (Premlakshana Bhakti) for Maharaj aided by supreme knowledge (Mahatmyagnaan). I pray that all those reading this scripture are pleased with me, that is my only wish as a servant. (Sadguru Swami Nandkishordasji) ||Iti Shree Parabrahman Charitra Sarsangraha Granth Samapta||