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.

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.

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.