Satsang Knowledge
Finish the Swami Ni Vat and explain the meaning:
"Ketlak Mane ..."
Ketlakne man ramade chhe ne ketlak manne ramade chhe. A vat nitye vicharva jevi chhe.
Explanation: There are some individuals that are being controlled by their minds, but there are also other individuals that control their minds.
Explain the prasang where Shastriji Maharaj accepted Bhagatji as his guru.
Shastriji Maharaj was eighteen years old when he became a sadhu. He had become a Shastri in Sanskrit. He was known as Shastri Yagnapurushdas. During those early years as a sadhu, he went to Surat from Vadtal. He was busy doing seva in the mandir and serving his guru, Vignananand Swami. A festival was 1 organized in Surat for the murti pratishtha of Ghanshyam Maharaj’s murti. So, Acharya Maharaj, santo, and the devotees from various places came to Surat. Pragji Bhakta had also come from Mahuva. He was quite popular. Pragji Bhakta would do katha day and night to a packed audience of santo and haribhakto. Shastriji Maharaj used to go to the seats of all the santo and listen to them. Seeing a large assembly in front of Pragji Bhakta, he also went to his seat to hear his katha. He found his katha to be different from others. While doing katha, Pragji Bhakta continued his tailor work. He would be stitching while talking. The listeners listened to him with constant attention. Shastriji Maharaj was surprised to see this. How could a person do katha, look at all the people in the audience, and stitch at the same time? He felt Pragji Bhakta was an extraordinary person. He thought to himself "How is Pragji Bhakta able to do all these activities at the same time?" Pragji Bhakta immediately read Shastriji Maharaj's mind and said, "Sadhuram! Every creature has two eyes, the learned have three, the religious have seven, but the gnani (enlightened) have innumerable eyes. So, I can see with my fingers. I can see with my back. In fact, I can see everywhere." Shastriji Maharaj was surprised all the more. He wondered: "How could he come to know of my thoughts? He must really be someone great." He was immediately drawn to Pragji Bhakta. The katha of Pragji Bhakta stayed in his heart. Shastriji Maharaj accepted him as his guru on the spot.
What is our upasanā? (Name and define it)
Our upāsanā is to become Akshararoop and worship Purushottam. Nothing can be achieved without this upāsanā.
In which city did Maharaj eat a cucumber while sitting on an elephant?
Junagadh
Which vichar does the story of the Parasmani relate to?
Explain the story as well.
Prapti-no-Vichar
To whom did Shastriji Maharaj say, "It is only for our God, Sahajanand Swami, and for Gunatitanand Swami that we have suffered countless hardships."?
Thakor Saheb of Limbidi
What 3 principles are to be understood in upasana?
1. Bhagwān Swāminārāyan is sarvopari, sākār, kartā, pragat (SSKP) (supreme, possessing a divine form, the all doer and forever manifest)
2. Gunātitānand Swāmi is Mul Aksharbrahma
3. Pragat Satpurush (Mahant Swāmi Mahārāj) is the gateway to moksha.
What was the name of Bhagatji Maharaj’s mother ?
Maluba
A horse had a dream in which its leg was broken. When it awoke, it stood as if the leg is really broken, and would not put it on the ground. Then it was shown to the vet, who said, ‘This horse’s leg is not broken. It is not ill. It has had a dream so it is standing holding its leg up.’ Then someone asked, ‘What should be done?’ The vet said, ‘Prepare 200 horses and fire cannons and guns. When it is startled, it will forget its dream.’ Similarly, people have been confused by the words of the scriptures, so when we continuously bombard like this, it will clear up the confusion.
Who pulled out the posts of the Bochasan Gate only to find drops of blood on the ground?
Dhanji Matadar
NOT Bechar Bhagat!!!
What are the three ways of progressing in satsang?
Shraddhā, khap and samāgam
In which village did Maharaj celebrate the Fuldol Utsav?
Vartal
Explain the analogy of bav Sandalwood and its principal.
“Once a devotee left worldly life and came to become a sadhu. Swami called him and said, “There was a woodcutter who used to bring bundles of wood to sell. Then, one day, a piece of special bāv sandalwood came from the Hemgopal Forest. Without realizing its value, he burnt it in the stove and its scent was noticed by a rich businessman. Then, the businessman asked, ‘Who is so wealthy in this village that he burns bāv sandalwood?’ Then everyone said, ‘A woodcutter lives in this village.’ So the businessman went there and took what little unburnt sandalwood was left in the stove and offered it daily to Shri Vishnu. And when he died he went to the abode of Vishnu.
That is the analogy and its principle is that Hemgopāl represents this Bharatkhand and the bāv sandalwood represents the human body. Without realizing its value, it is burnt up for women, wealth, sons, daughters, the world, pleasures and the body
Give the dates for the following:
1. Gunatitand Swami's Birth
2. Gunatitanand Swami's Diksha
1. October 17th, 1785
2. January 20th, 1810
What are the three qualities of a staunch satsang? Extra points if you can the Vachnamrut as well. (Hint SS19)
Niyam, nishchay and paksha
G II-61: Niyam, Nishchay and Paksha
Over whose head did the snake make a hood like an umbrella?
Sachchidanand Swami
Finish the following Swami Ni Vat, explain its meaning, and give a prasang that relates to it. (Not a personal prasang):
"Karod Kam ..."
Karod kam bagadine pan ek moksha sudharvo ne kadapi karod kam sudharya ne ek moksha bagadyo to tema shu karyu.
Explanation: we should aim to secure our Moksha even if that means ruining millions of other tasks in the process.
Explain the prasang about Shastriji Maharaj and Shriji Maharaj's Footprints.
Shastriji Maharaj’s guru, Vignanand Swami had given him a pair of invaluable, holy footprints of Shriji Maharaj. A sadhu named Ramratandasji wanted them and asked Bhagatji Maharaj to get Shastriji Maharaj to give them to him. So, Bhagatji Maharaj asked Shastriji Maharaj to give them over to the sadhu. Shastriji Maharaj immediately did. Those footprints were very valuable. The Acharya Maharaj found about this, and became very upset and puzzled by this. He yelled at Bhagatji Maharaj, “Don’t you know the rules of Satsang? The footprints should be given to the guru of the group so that the others in the group would obey him!” Bhagatji Maharaj calmly replied, “Don’t you worry, I shall 2 give him Shriji Maharaj, the maker of the footprints Himself so that many sadhus will love to stay under him.” Bhagatji Maharaj clearly showed the love he had for Shastriji Maharaj.
What is Yugal Upasana? Name the Vachnamrut as well that talks about this. Hint: It's Vartal
The belief that one should worship God along with his ideal devotee. Vartal 5: Similar Service
In which city did Swamishri mixed up his slippers?
Philadelphia