who is speaking to whom
“It’s true that they are all devotees, but they are not mentioned as I turn the beads of my mala"
Maharaj to Sura Khachar
1. What did Devrambhai say to all his relatives when his wife passed away?
2. Where did Gordhanbhai Kothari tell Swamishri to build a mandir?
1. Devrambhai said, “If there is news of the death of any other relative, please tell me, so that I may bathe for them as well.”
2. He told Swamishri to build a mandir in Virsad.
All devotees should awake before sunrise.
Waking up early increases energy and mental peace. Also, it fills our mind with noble thoughts and creates a good environment to worship God.
Ap Prabhu chho ........ sath lai
Ãp Prabhu chho Dhãmnã Dhãmi, Balvantã bahunãmi Hari...Vandan...1
Jiva anantnã. mokshane arthe, Anãdi Akshar sãth lai...Vandan...2
Explain/Recite:
1. Vachanamrut Gadhada I-6
2. Prasang: Like a Favorite Son
3. Prasang: Fearlessness
1. Generally, people feel that a person who knows how to talk, eat and walk humanely, is a person who has a sense of civility and understanding; and the person who does not possess such ability is a person who has no sense of discernment. Spiritually, however, the faculty of discernment is different and is explained by Shriji Maharaj in this Vachanamrut. He explains that a person may have many flaws but they do not look at them and instead will highlight even trifle flaws in others. Supporting this, Surdas said, “Mo sam kaun kutil khal kãmi.” Meaning: “There is no one as bad, deceitful and lustful as me.” In this way, Surdas always used to focus on his own flaws. To eradicate our flaws, God or his holy Sadhu may reprimand or scold us. In those instances, do not take their avgun and understand their words to be for our benefit. Thus if one rids oneself of all ego and keeps full faith in the words of the Sadhu, one eradicates one’s own ignorance and progresses in Satsang.
2. Bhagatji Maharaj (BM) stayed in Vartal; Yagnapurushdasji (YP) stayed attached to him. Due to jealousy from others, BM only let YP attend his discourses. BM openly showed special affection for YP calling him like a son. YP inherited Shriji Maharaj’s charanarvind from Vignananand Swami. YP immediately gave the charanarvind to Ramratandas when BM asked BM praised YP’s obedience and detachment. Acharya Maharaj disagreed but BM said he would give YP the realization of Shriji Maharaj. Acharya Maharaj taught shastras; BM taught brahmavidya. YP focused on meditation, worship, and discourses, receiving BM darshan in dreams. BM disciples lived disciplined, simple spiritual lives and gained regional respect.
3. Dungar was brave even as a little kid. One night, he woke up alone and walked to the farm in the dark. People believed a ghost lived on that road, but Dungar was not scared. He walked while chanting the Swaminarayan mantra. He believed Shriji Maharaj was protecting him. Dungar said he would scare a ghost away with his stick if one came. His father felt proud of his courage. Dungar loved hearing stories about God more than anything else. He went to Vartal often to listen to sadhus talk about God. He collected old holy pages and liked reading them, even before learning properly. Everyone could tell he would grow up very wise and spiritual
“To return when they had increased to a 1,000.”
Guru to Satyakam Jabali
1. When and where Yogiji Maharaj was born? (Samvat, Month, Tithi)
2. What did continue singing Yogi Swami in prabhatiya bhajans in Ashi?
1. Yogiji Maharaj was born on Samvat 1948 (23 May 1892).
2. He sang Narsinh Mehta’s famous kirtan, “Prãn thaki mune Vaishnav vahãlã...” He continued singing, “Adasath tirath mãrã Sant ne charane, koti Ganga koti Kashi re...”
The minister’s son handed over the royal throne to the prince.
The King/minister's son’s friend, the prince, had bowed down to the new king even though he had forgotten to get the prince (prime) food and the King/minister’s son was so happy with his humbleness that he gave the prince his throne.
So patri me ........ nahi badbhag
So patri me ati bade, niyam ekãdash joy; Tãki vikti karat hu, suniyo sab chitta proy.7
Hinsã na karni jantuki, partriyã sangko tyãg; Mãns na khãvat madyaku, pivat nahi badbhãg.8
pick the correct one for the prasang Dolatrambhai told greatness of Swamishri.
(1) You have revealed the true upasana, a task for which Shriji Maharaj would have had to return to this world.
(2) Do you wish to one day rejoin Ahmedabad?
(3) In the future, your disciples will consecrate your golden murti.
(4) What is so important about this particular Swami’s Vat that you insist that they acknowledge it?
1, 2
“To me, anything that belongs to other is as useless as dust.”
Sagram’s wife to Sagram
1. What should one discard before the ekantik sadhu?
2. What is the true upasana?
1. We must discard ego and become humble so we can have faith that he will grant us moksha.
2. True upasana is to become aksharrup and worship Purushottam.
Purnanand Swami left Shriji Maharaj and walked away.
Purnanand Swami felt publicly insulted and embarrassed when Shriji Maharaj criticized him in front of the assembly for having ego and expecting honor. Hurt by this rebuke, he left the assembly and walked away.
Translate the Shlok:
Ganga papam ........ mahashayaha.
The [River] Ganga destroys sins, the coolness of the moon drives away the heat and the kalpataru tree abolishes poverty. The Satpurush, however, destroys all three – sins, grief and poverty.
pick the correct ones for the prasang Swamishri spoke about the importance of Akshar Deri.
(1) This will be the greatest location in the entire universe.
(2) Everyone’s wishes will be fulfi lled here.
(3) The golden elephant’s will be swing.
(4) Big ministers and professors rushed his head force
1, 2
“I find his words to be as sweet as sugar crystals.”
Gordhanbhai to Kothari Kushal Bhagat
1. Which shikharbaddh mandirs did Yogiji Maharaj consecrate?
2. When was the murti-pratishtha of Atladara mandir? (Samvat, Month, Tithi)
1. Yogiji Maharaj consecrated the mandirs: Gadhada, Ahmedabad, and Bhadra.
2. The auspicious day of (Ashadh sud 3, Samvat 2001).
Swamishri’s studies came to an end.
Swamishri received more recognition within the Sampradaya. Many sadhus, who didn’t like that, complained to Acharya Maharaj. Acharya Maharaj had to keep Swamishri near him. He called him back to Vartal from Rajkot. Swamishri’s studies in Rajkot thus came to an end.
Write the meaning of the two verses of the ‘Godi’, Sant Samagam Kije....
Associate with the Sant [Satpurush] day and night...1
Shed one’s ego and drink the nectar of [divine] love from the Satpurush...2
Shed one’s inner deceit; surrender the mind to him...3
Worldly miseries and sinful deeds are destroyed; all actions become fruitful...4
Brahmanand Swami says: make your life worthwhile by associating with such a Satpurush...5
Pick all the correct answers for the prasang Who got out of the building in Vadodara?
(1) Kishorbhai
(2) Motibhai
(3) Gordhanbhai
(4) Jay Shankar
2, 4
1. “The kothari has issued a ban. No one is allowed to go there.”
2. “He hasn’t yet completed the required one year as a parshad.”
1. People warning to Yagnapurushdasji
2. Viharilalji Maharaj to Vignananand Swami
1. Which boon did Shriji Maharaj grant to Jhamkuba?
2. What did Yagnapurushdasji decide to do to become a true disciple to his guru?
1. Shriji Maharaj blessed her with a boon: “I will take you to my divine abode at the time of your death.”
2. He wanted his guru to be welcomed back into this same Junagadh mandir with unprecedented honour and glory.
1. Many influential sadhus anxiously waited for someone who would carry forward noble mission in the sampradaya.
2. In Mahuva, Bhagatji placed his hand on Yagnapurushdasji’s head.
1. Many senior sadhus firmly adhered to the Akshar-Purushottam upasana. However, deep in their minds, a doubt lingered: Would this upasana ever be enshrined in the sanctum of a mandir?
2. idk
Manasyekam ........ duratmanam
Manasyekam vachasyekam karmanyekam mahãtmanãm;
Manasyan-yad vachasyan-yad karmanyan-yad durãtmanãm.
1. Meeting of the Ganga and the Ocean:
From Gondal, Swamishri returned to Gadhada. The sadhus here requested that he build a sant-nivas. Swamishri agreed to do so. The house of Jiva Khachar was purchased.
2. Not Different from This Mandir and Satsang:
Everyone approached Bhimjibhai. Bhimjibhai directed them to Shastriji Maharaj. Shastriji Maharaj sent them back to Bhimjibhai. They went back and forth five times, but neither gave them a straight answer.
3. Hundreds of Thousands of Salutes to Shastriji Maharaj:
Swamishri was taken to the Sabha Mandap. Holding their breath, the devotees did kirtan of Maharaj. They chanted the Narnarayan mantra and requested to Shriji Maharaj.
1. From Rajkot, Swamishri returned to Sarangpur. The devotees here requested that he build a mandir. Swamishri agreed to do so. The house of Pitha Khachar was purchased.
2. Everyone approached Gordhanbhai. Gordhanbhai directed them to Acharna Lakshmiviharji. Acharna Lakshmiviharji sent them back to Gordhanbhai. They went back and forth four times, but neither gave them a straight answer.
3. Swamishri was taken to the Rang Mandap. Holding their breath, the devotees did darshan of Maharaj. They chanted the Swaminarayan mantra and prayed to Shriji Maharaj.