Janmashtami Ustav Atladara

HDH Pramukh swami maharaj celebrated Janmashtami utsav at Atladara. Find photos of the divine utsav.

Rakshabandhan Celebration at VVNagar 2008

HDH Pramukh swami celebrated Rakshabandahn at VVNagar. Find photos and video of the event here.

એક નારી સદા બ્રહ્મચારી

મુલાકાતો દરમ્યાન એક યુવકે સ્વામીશ્રીને પૂછ્યું : 'ગૃહસ્થાશ્રમમાં બ્રહ્મચર્ય કઈ રીતે રહે ?'
સ્વામીશ્રીએ કહ્યું : 'ગૃહસ્થને તો 'એક નારી સદા બ્રહ્મચારી.' એક પત્નીવ્રત. એણે બીજે વૃત્તિ ન રાખવી. પત્ની સાથે વ્યવહાર, પણ બીજી કોઈ પણ સ્ત્રી હોય તો એને મા ને બહેન સમજવી. અને અમારે સંતોએ અષ્ટ પ્રકારે બ્રહ્મચર્ય રાખવાનું હોય.'
યુવકે પૂછ્યું : 'મૅરેજ ન કરીએ અને બ્રહ્મચર્ય રાખવું હોય તો આ સાધુનાં કપડાં પહેરવાં જરૂરી છે ?'
સ્વામીશ્રી કહે : 'ના, એવું કંઈ નથી. ઘણા આ રીતે રહ્યા છે. પણ આ કપડાંમાં એટલું જ ધ્યાન રાખવાનું કે ક્યાંક લપસી ન જવાય.'

(તા. ૩-૬-૨૦૦૪, એડિસન)

Rakshabandhan 2008

Rakshabandhan

HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj's sevak Sadhu Narayancharan swami ask this ashirvad 2 years back on the holy day of Rakshabandan.

Pramukh Swami From where?

Place and Date : 11th January, 1988. Bombay.

Swamishri was reading a handwritten magazine produced by the children of Borivali. In it, a child had written to Swamishri asking for his address.

Narayancharan Swami on behalf of everyone present asked, "Tell us then."

"Maharaj has said so Himself; hasn't He?" Swamishri said.

"But what?" the sadhus urged.

Swamishri explained, "When Shreeji Maharaj wrote the letter to the Queen of Dharampur, He signed off with 'From Anirdesh (the 'unpointable')'. Anirdesh means Akshardham. That is Maharaj's address. And wherever Maharaj is, there we stay in His constant service."

Art of Tact

Once Swamishri was taking his lunch at the Amdavad temple. Swamishri placed a piece of amrutpaak, a milk sweetmeat, from Thakorji's thaal into his mouth. It tasted off, but Swamishri's face gave nothing away. He subtly asked his attendant Krishnavallabh Swami to taste it. He agreed with Swamishri. Sitting in front of Swamishri was the head of the Sankari temple, Prabhuswarup Swami. Swamishri gave some to him to taste as well.

He too found it odd. Then Swamishri called the bhandari, Tyagswarup Swami, and asked him taste the amrutpak. He realized there was something wrong as well. But what?

Swamishri explained polietly, "It has been made from used ghee, that's why it's tasting off. Be more careful in the future for Thakorji's thaal. Use fresh ghee every time."

It was fascinating that apart from Swamishri, not even the experienced cooks could detect the fault with the amrutpak. But more importantly, everyone learned a valuable lesson in tact. Swamishri knew straight away after tasting the amrutpak what was wrong. He could have spoken up then, but instead he suggested politely only after confirming with others.

Soft words can be hard arguments. Many times there is no need to shout - if only the right words are used. Discretion really does out-weight eloquence. The right thing, to the right person, in the right place, at the right time, in the right amount, and in the right manner, is the art of tact in Swamishri's speech.

Guru Purnima 2008

Guru Purnima - Overview

Introduction

The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh is traditionally celebrated as Guru Purnima by Hindus. Also known as Vyas Purnima, the day is celebrated in remembrance and veneration to sage Ved Vyas. He is the Adi (original) Guru of the Hindu Dharma, who classified the Vedas, wrote the eighteen Puranas and the Mahabharat. On this day, the Guru is offered Pujan (worship)by the disciples. First we shall consider the role of a Guru in life.

The Need of a Guru

The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. Only he who removes our ultimate darkness, known as Maya, and who inspires and guides us on to the path of God-realization is the true Guru. Students also refer to their school teacher or college lecturer as guru. The connotation of the word guru in this case is one who imparts temporal knowledge (Apara Vidya) and is thus accordingly offered respect.

Glory of the Guru
The Hindu shastras have hailed such a Guru immeasurably:

1. Gurubrahma Guruvishnu Gururdevo Maheshwaraha
   Guruhu sakshaat Parambrahman tasmai Shrigurave namaha
   
   Explanation: "The guru is Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva), veneration to the Guru who is Parabrahman manifest."The second line of the couplet does not literally mean that the Guru becomes Parabrahman - God, rather he is venerated as if God is manifesting through him.


2. Guru Govind donu khade, kisko laagu paay,Balihari Gurudevaki jinhe Govind diyo bataay.
   
   Explanation: The Guru and Govind -God, are present before me, to whom shall I bow down first? Glory to the Guru since he showed me Govind.

Serving the Guru

Again the scriptures guide the aspirant:

(1) Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6/23) :Advocates worship to the Guru in the same manner as the deity - God, to attain all there is to attain on the path of God-realization:
Yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau
Tasyaite kathitaa hi arthaaha prakashante mahatmanaha

(2) Bhagavad Gita (4/34) :The disciple should humbly pose questions to the Guru and please him by serving him. He will then impart the knowledge of God, so ordain the wise sages.

(3) Shrimad Bhagvatam :Bhagwan Rushabhdeva advocates his sons: Obeying the Anuvrutti - unvoiced wishes - of God and Guru is devotion.

(4 ) Vachanamrutam (Vadtal 5) :The aspirant should offer equal and intensely loving service to God and His sadhu. Then, despite being the lowest type of devotee who is destined to become a great-devotee after either two births or four births or ten births or even a hundred births, he can become a great devotee in this birth. Such is the fruit of serving God and His sadhu equally."

The phrase "great devotee" signifies moksha-salvation.

Therefore on the day of Guru Purnima, disciples introspect, and resolve to offer pujan and reverence to the Guru in mind, action and speech; implicitly obey his unvoiced wishes, commands, serving him as one would God and lauding his glory and redemptive attributes.

Every year, the Guru Purnima Festival, in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj is celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm at Bochasan Mandir. An assembly from 8.30 am to 12.00 noon is held wherein bhajans and discourses by senior sadhus emphasize and sing the glory of the Guru. The festival is finally crowned with Swamishri's blessings and darshan - where thousands offer their reverence by filing past Swamishri.

Rathyatra Celebration Video

Lets look at the video of Rathyatra celebration.

Rath Yatra Celebration with Pramukh Swami

The ancient festival of Rath Yatra was celebrated in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Sarangpur on 4 July 2008.

Thousands of devotees were present as Swamishri performed pujan and abhishek of the murti of Shri Nilkanth Varni to be consecrated in the Abhishek Mandapam in Bhavnagar mandir.

After his morning puja, Swamishri blessed the assembly, "If we give the reins of our life's chariot to God and his holy Sadhu, they will take us to Akshardham. just as Arjun discarded all his wishes and obeyed the Lord, we, too must obey the commands of God and make our life worthwhile."

Then Swamishri sat in a decorated chariot with Shri Harikrishna Maharaj. Senior sadhus performed pujan and arti of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and the the rath yatra was celebrated by circumambulating the mandir,.

At the end, prasad was distributed to all.

This article is taken from www.baps.org.

London Satsang Video: Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj

This video is compilation of Pu. Yogiji Maharaj's last trip to London in 1970 and then Pu. Pramukh Swami Maharaj's subsequent trips to London and other places.

Environment Awareness Rally By BAPS

SURAT: In recognition of World Environment Day, BAPS Charities organized a children's Environmental Awareness cycle rally to highlight some of the environmental issues and concerns that countries and communities face across the world.

The rally was held in southern Gujarat in Surat. It saw over 2500 young participants reach out far and wide to draw attention to climate change, conservation, pollution, toxins and waste management. Braving the sweltering heat, the participants weaved their way through the streets of the city.

The rally also had cycles equipped with microphones and speakers which broadcasted messages about environmental protection and what steps everyone can take to help tackle the issues. The volunteers of the organization have launched many environmental projects, including "Plant a Tree", an initiative that planted over 1.5 million trees.

Other environmental projects include initiatives on paper and aluminum recycling, with over 91 tons of foil collected for the latter. Its water conversation projects have also benefited various communities through the installation of trickle/drip irrigation systems. Most recently during "Earth Day", BAPS Charities participated in the Annual Earth Day festivities in Chino Hills, CA.

Over 30 volunteers planted and watered a total of 134 trees. Beyond its environmental projects, BAPS Charities community centers are constructed using environment friendly materials. The buildings utilize power saving LED lighting and employ management practices to ensure energy consumption is kept optimal and efficient.

On World Environment Day, BAPS Charities pledged to continue to highlight and bring awareness about environmental issues through community based projects, education and healthy construction practices.

Dar es Salaam's Kisutu Street is now Pramukh Swami Street

Famous Kisutu Street in the Dar es Salaam city centre, now apparently going by the name of ’PRAMUKH SWAMI’, Yakoub (The Deputy Mayor of llala Municipality) said his office received requests and suggestions for the new name from the Kisutu Ward development committee early last year, and in December the municipal council permitted the change of name. 

He conceded that many people are wondering how come the old ’Kiswahili’ name of Kisutu had been changed to the predominantly Indian name of ’PRAMUKH SWAMI’, but reiterated that all procedures were followed before the municipal council gave its approval. 

’’Since most of the people dwelling in ’PRAMUKH SWAMI’ (formerly Kisutu Street) are of Indian origin but still Tanzanian citizens, they have every right to bring their request for such a street name change, and if the request is sensible then the municipal council may grant it,’’ said Yakoub. 

Work under way on £2m BAPS temple in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire

A new £2m Hindu temple could be opened within 12 months.Work has already started on the impressive domed building in the heart of Wellingborough, which will serve followers of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism.

Community leaders believe the temple in Mill Road will allow volunteers to serve a growing as 12,800 new homes are built in the town under the Core Spatial Strategy.
Eager to see how the new temple will benefit everyone, councillors could travel to the Neasden Temple in London to see how a similar building in Wellingborough might operate.
Castle ward member Shashi Dholakia, who has helped arrange a potential visit for later this year, said: "This is really bringing about community cohesion on a much larger scale.
"Wellingborough is expanding and this will be a focal point, being situated in a central part of the town. It will be really important once it's built."

Vice-chairman of Wellingborough Council's community committee Bob Patel said: "It is going to be just right for Wellingborough and wider Northamptonshire. People will be coming from as far as Daventry, Coventry and Northampton."
The old, house-based Hindu temple in Wellingborough has already been knocked down to make way for the more traditional structure.
After a planning application was approved last year work has started on constructing the outside shell of the temple, which will be made of marble imported from India.
The outside is set to be completed in six months' time and it is estimated that the inside of the building, which will contain prayer areas and rooms for community activities, will take another six months to complete.

The £2m building is being funded by the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir central organisation in London. Community leaders are keen to stress it will not just benefit Hindus.
Cllr Patel said: "As far as the community is concerned fundraising and activities will be done for lots of different people."

It is hoped that a visit to the Neasden Temple will give councillors a better understanding of Hindu culture, which is a major influence in Wellingborough because of a high Hindu population.
A report for today's community committee meeting at Wellingborough Council said: "The trip is about strengthening understanding of the temple project."

Earlier this year the council was criticised by the Audit Commission for its poor understanding of diversity issues.