who is speaking to whom
“To return when they had increased to a 1,000.”
Who: Satyakam Jabali’s guru
Whom: Satyakam Jabali
When: Satyakam Jabali went to his guru’s ashram to study brahmavidya. The guru
gave him 400 cows and told him to return when they had increased to a 1,000.
Obeying the guru’s command, Satyakam sincerely served the cows. When they had
increased to a 1,000, the brilliant lustre of the knowledge of Brahma shone on his face.
When and where Yogiji Maharaj was born? (Samvat, Month, Tithi)
Yogiji Maharaj was born in the village of Dhari in Samvat 1948 (May 23 1982).
The minister’s son handed over the royal throne to the prince.
The prince noticed a shop sign that said “For sale – intellect”, and gave away his ring. In exchange, he received a piece of paper that said one should bow to one’s junior in case they are raised to a position of power. When he left the town, he noticed that the minister’s son was sitting as king on the king’s procession, at first he was angry, but after recalling the words on the note, he bowed down and paid salutations to the new king, and seeing this, the minister’s son handed over the throne to the prince.
So patri me ........ nahi badbhag.
Manasyekam ........ duratmanam.
So patri me ati bade, niyam ekãdash joy;
Tãki vikti karat hu, suniyo sab chitta proy.
Hinsã na karni jantuki, partriyã sangko tyãg;
Mãns na khãvat madyaku, pivat nahi badbhãg.
Manasyekam vachasyekam karmanyekam mahãtmanãm;
Manasyan-yad vachasyan-yad karmanyan-yad durãtmanãm.
“To me, anything that belongs to other is as useless as dust.” (14-15)
Who: Sagram’s wife
Whom: Sagram
When: Sagram’s foot hit shiny silver ornament. However, as he was a devout satsangi,
the thought of picking it up did not cross his mind. However, since times were hard, he
became concerned that his wife may be tempted to take it. He quickly kicked some
dust over the ornament to hide it from view. His wife noticed Sagram occupied with
something on the road. She asked about his behavior. When Sagram explained what
he was doing, his wife says this.
What should one discard before the ekantik sadhu?
When we approach an ekantik sadhu we must discard ego and become humble and have faith that he
will grant us moksha.
Purnanand Swami left Shriji Maharaj and walked away.
When there were no seats left in the assembly, Puranand Swami remained standing instead of taking a seat. Maharaj pointed him out and said that this was ego personified, and the Swami, who should be living humbly, was expecting respect. On hearing this, the Swami was insulted 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.
“I find his words to be as sweet as sugar crystals.”
Who: Gordhanbhai
Whom: Kothari Khushal Bhagat
When: Gordhanbhai and many sadhus of Vartal would sit and listen as Swamishri gave discourses. No one was happy to see Gordhanbhai support Swamishri so openly. One day, Kothari Khushal Bhagat rudely addressed Gordhanbhai, “You too are a bandia? Why have you joined Yagnapurushdas?” That is when Gordhanbhai says this.
Which shikharbaddh mandirs did Yogiji Maharaj consecrate?
Yogiji Maharaj consecrated the Gadhada, Ahmedebad, and Bhadra mandirs.
1. Swamishri’s studies came to an end.
2. Many influential sadhus anxiously waited for someone who would carry forward noble mission in the sampradaya.
1. With time, Swamishri received more and more recognition within the Sampradaya. Many sadhus, who found this intolerable, complained to Acharya Maharaj. Acharya Maharaj had no choice but to keep Swamishri near him. He called him back to Vartal from Rajkot. Swamishri’s studies in Rajkot thus came to an end.
2.
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? Would the murtis of Shriji Maharaj and Gunatitanand Swami ever be consecrated? Many influential sadhus had tried in the past to do so and had failed in the face of fierce opposition. Thus, these sadhus continued to pray to Shriji Maharaj.
Write the meaning of the two verses of the ‘Godi’, Sant Samagam Kije....
Associate with the Sant [Satpurush] day and night..
Shed one’s ego and drink the nectar of [divine] love from the Satpurush..
Shed one’s inner deceit; surrender the mind to him...
Worldly miseries and sinful deeds are destroyed; all actions become fruitful
Brahmanand Swami says: make your life worthwhile by associating with such a Satpurush...
In this world, the Satpurush is our greatest benefactor...
He takes us towards God and frees us from material illusions..
He is compassionate towards every living being; he takes away away all suffering..
He is above the three gunas; his ways are different from those of this world..
Brahmanand Swami says: the association of such a Satpurush is like meeting manifest God...
“The kothari has issued a ban. No one is allowed to go there.”
“He hasn’t yet completed the required one year as a parshad.”
Who: People
Whom: Yagnapurushdasji
When: Jibhai declared that no one should visit Jaga Bhakta’s seat or listen to his discourses. He also banned Jaga Bhakta from coming to speak in the general assembly. News of the ban soon reached Yagnapurushdasji in Rajkot so he rushed to Junagadh. After darshan of Thakorji, he headed straight for Jaga Bhakta’s room. That is when people warned him about it.
Who: Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj
Whom: Vignananand Swami
When: Vignanand Swami requested Viharilalji Maharaj to initiate Dungar as a sadhu. Viharilalji Maharaj, however, wanted an assistant who was as skilled and clever as Dungar. Since initiating him as a sadhu would ruin any chance of convincing Dungar to stay with him, Viharilalji Maharaj initially refused Vignananand Swami’s request and said this.
Which boon did Shriji Maharaj grant to Jhamkuba?
Shriji Maharaj blessed her with the boon that he will take her to his divine abode at the time of her death.
In Mahuva, Bhagatji placed his hand on Yagnapurushdasji’s head.
In Mahuva, Yagnapurushdasji explained how Pragji Bhakta is the Ekantik Satpurush as described in the Vachanamrut. His voice and his ability to cite exact references from the Vachanamrut convinced all of Bhagatji’s saintliness. Bhagatji too was very pleased with Yagnapurushdasji’s ability to explain the basis of the shastras and placed his hand on Yagnapurushdasji’s head and blessed him.
Explain: Vachanamrut Gadhada I-6
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.
“It’s true that they are all devotees, but they are not mentioned as I turn the beads of my mala.”
Who: Shriji Maharaj
Whom: Sura Khachar
When: Once, when Shriji Maharaj was doing mala in the assembly, Sura Khachar
asked out of curiosity, “Maharaj! When we do mala we chant your name, but whose
name do you chant when you do mala?” To everyone’s surprise Maharaj answered, “I
chant the name of my devotees.” “Which devotees?” asked Sura Khachar. It is then
when Shriji Maharaj says this and gives an example of Devjibhai as one of his
devotees whose name he chants while doing mala.
What did Devrambhai say to all his relatives when his wife passed away? (75)
A: According to social customs, his relatives asked him to take a purification bath on
receiving the news of the death of his wife. Devrambhai consented, and said, “If there
is news of the death of any other relative, please tell me, so that I may bathe for them
as well.”
All devotees should awake before sunrise.
Waking up early in the morning increases energy and mental peace. Also, rising
early fills our mind with noble thoughts. In this peaceful atmosphere we experience
great joy in meditation, worship and recollection of the divine incidents of God.
Therefore, all devotees should awake before sunrise.
Ap Prabhu chho ........ sath lai.
Ãp Prabhu chho Dhãmnã Dhãmi,
Balvantã bahunãmi Hari...Vandan
Jiva anantnã. mokshane arthe
Anãdi Akshar sãth lai...Vandan