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March-April 2013 Annual Subscription ` 80/- Thousands of Youths Participate and Attend BAPS YOUTH ACTIVITIES 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj 1 Top: Swamishri greets devotees during the Uttarayan festival, Ahmedabad (14 January). Bottom: Swamishri presides over the Vasant Panchami celebration assembly, Ahmedabad (15 February). 2 Contents March-April 2013 4 First Word Vol. 36 No. 2 6 Jhinabhai Darbar’s Resolve 9 Yogiji Maharaj’s College of Brahmavidya 13 BAPS Youth Wing Timeline: 1952-2012 SWAMINARAYAN AKSHARPITH 16 60th Anniversary Celebration of BAPS Youth Activities In April 1978 Pramukh Swami Maharaj 35 From the Celebration Stage inspired and inaugurated the first issue 39 Stars of BAPS Youth Wing of Swaminarayan Bliss in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The bi-monthly magazine 42 Golden Anniversary Celebrations, Ahmedabad serves to enlighten BAPS youths, seniors and well-wishers about the 54 Dental Health: Hygiene and Complications, Part 1 glory of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the Akshar-Purushottam philosophy and 56 Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s Vicharan the Gunatit guru parampara. It also seeks to inspire the universal values 58 Living with Swamishri and traditions of Hinduism to pursue a 59 BAPS News happy and peaceful life by serving God and humankind. Founder: HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj Editor: Sadhu Swayamprakashdas Contributors: Sadhu Vivekjivandas, Sadhu Amrutvijaydas Designer: Sadhu Shrijiswarupdas Published & Printed by: Swaminarayan Aksharpith, Shahibaug, Ahmedabad - 380004. India SUBSCRIPTION RATES Outside India (By Air Mail) India Rupees Pounds US Dollars Rupees 1 Year 630 9 14 80 2 Years 1300 18 28 150 3 Years 1900 27 42 220 FIRST WORD A Glimpse of BAPS Youth Energy t was a historic occasion on Sunday, 6 On one side was this spiritual spectacle January 2013. A vast concourse of youths and on the other was the hustle and bustle of Iassembled at the Sardar Patel Stadium, the world. not far from the banks of the River Sabarmati The world is passing through a crisis. in Ahmedabad. They were drawn from different Materialism tethered to creature-comforts is corners of India and the world. The sun was edging the entire world away from spiritual preparing to set. It was the height of winter. The values. This is the main cause for the current warmth of the youths’ devotion to their guru unrest. What is the condition of India which and the discipline instilled by dedicated sadhus has been described as a cultural millionaire? was visible despite the chilly atmosphere. To be The country finds an entry in the index of those specific, there were over 60,000 youths of both states beset by unrest and violence. Any cultured genders in the arena. They symbolized character- Indian will be surprised at the figures of the building and bhakti in this materialistic age. It National Crime Records Bureau. In 2010 there was indeed a heart-warming sight. The festive were 6,750,748 crimes on the register. During atmosphere was energized by divine energy. It the last 40 years, crimes have gone up to such only proclaimed their guru bhakti. The ambience an extent as to surprise any law-abiding citizen: raised momentary surprise as to whether the there has been 873.3 percent increase in rape scene belonged to the 21st century or a spectacle cases. This is apart from instances of murder, straight out of an ancient gurukul. looting, cheating, etc. More surprising is that The occasion was the 60th anniversary most of the culprits have been youths. of BAPS Youth Activities. The arrangements What is the solution? Police? Law? from parking to eating were planned with Law courts? meticulous care. Nothing was left to chance. Not only in India, but this question is Every eventuality was visualized and solutions plaguing other parts of the world. Wherever worked out to be implemented, if and when there is unemployment, this problem is cropping necessary. The veteran sadhus and volunteers up. were constantly on their feet. In this situation, the work being done by The main feature of the whole show was BAPS yuvak mandals is awe-inspiring. the all-pervading youth power – represented Six decades ago the path shown by by thousands of satsangi youths inspired by Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj comes to mind. Pramukh Swami Maharaj. This created an He had given a clarion call for the activities of abiding faith in the future. the BAPS Youth Wing. His golden way was to 4 Swaminarayan Bliss u March-April 2013 endow youths with moral values to build their YEAR-LONG SPECIAL YOUTH ACTIVITIES character. This, he emphasized, should be done from childhood. The little lamp lit by him has TO CELEBRATE ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY proved to be the beacon for all times to come. Different events were held to mark the The BAPS Youth Wing has grown into a banyan 60th anniversary of the BAPS Youth Wing. On from the seed he had planted. This was his 6 January 2012, Pramukh Swami Maharaj panacea for peace. In this way BAPS gifts the lit the lamp to inaugurate the celebrations world with thousands of youths endowed with at Mumbai. The following are some of the character. highlights of the year-long celebrations: Bhagwan Swaminarayan manifested on this Declaratory Function earth and gave to the world the philosophy Functions were arranged in every village and worship of Akshar-Purushottam. In and town to inaugurate the anniversary. order to further his message Brahmaswarup Pledge-taking Ceremony Shastriji Maharaj founded BAPS Swaminarayan Assemblies were held in which youths took Sanstha 105 years ago in 1907. From 1951, pledges to lead a moral life. Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj was given the Padyatra spiritual reins of the organization and he started 808 youth forums organized padyatra, the youth activities to inspire the youths in covering 3,039 kilometres. In all, 25,000 Bombay. This momentous event took place in boys and girls participated in the padyatras. 1952 in Bombay. Youth Adhiveshans The yuvak mandal was started in Mumbai 78 Inter-zonal Youth Adhiveshans were by Yogiji Maharaj with just six youths. From held in which 24,320 boys and 22,364 that humble beginning it has grown to massive girls participated. Of these, 3,900 boys proportions. The love and affection that Yogiji and girls qualified for the National Youth Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj bestow Adhiveshan at Sarangpur. on youths is well known. These sadhus have Similar adhiveshans were held at Jaipur dedicated their whole and soul to the uplift of and New Delhi; and also in England, youths. The latest festival is but a commitment African countries and Australia. to the furtherance of the noble ideals inspired Self-awareness Campaign by them. The programme was telecast live by 875 youths toured 350 villages to spread Aastha Channel and shown live through webcast the message of Satsang. They visited 4,455 by the Multimedia Unit of BAPS for the benefit households and freed 2,584 individuals of devotees and interested viewers worldwide. from addictions. This issue of Swaminarayan Bliss gives glimpses Village Satsang Vicharan of the 60th BAPS Youth Activities Celebration In every zone young men and women orga- and of the Golden Jubilee of the Swaminarayan nized village satsang tours; 25,000 youths Mandir in Shahibaug, Ahmedabad. Both from 47 centres participated in such tours. functions had one thing in common – the divine Yuvati Mahotsavs presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad Let us bow at his feet and offer our gratitude and six other metropolises witnessed such for showering his abundant blessings, guidance festivals where the glory of India’s culture and wisdom. u was highlighted by the yuvatis. March-April 2013 u Swaminarayan Bliss 5 SWAMINARAYAN HISTORY: Translation by Sadhu Vivekjivandas JHINABHAI DARBAR’S RESOLVE After celebrating the Shakotsav in Loya, Shri Hari performs another lila... A COPY OF NARAD PANCHRATRA wish to call my family for your darshan. It The next day Shri Hari called will give them inner joy and satisfaction. I Nityanand Swami and said, “In stay in Ambaliya, a short distance from Junagadh someone should be where Rampratapbhai lives. I live having the Narad Panchratra separately from Rampratapbhai shastra. Go there personally because of his wrathful nature. and have it copied.” You may In Ambaliya, the community of leave after lunch and take the Sarvariya Brahmins are coura- sadhus in your group with you.” geous and have good respect Maharaj took lunch and gave for me and my family.” the sanctified thal to Nityanand Shri Hari smiled at Swami. After having the prasad Ichchharam’s words and said, “You Nityanand Swami came to may return home to bring your take leave of Maharaj. He said, family here. Let Rampratapbhai “Maharaj, Rampratapbhai (Maharaj’s come later.” Shri Hari told an elder brother) wishes to go on a attendant, Kanji parshad, to pilgrimage to Dwarka. We are taking him with bring a mature camel and a short us to Junagadh and will make the arrangements horse for his brother. Sura Khachar gave for him from there. I have appointed Kalidas, some clothes to Ichchharam and cash to spend a Brahmin, in his personal service and Rathod on the journey. Nana Sukhanand Swami and Dhadhal and Kalo Makwano for his hospitality Gumanji parshad escorted him till Vadodara. and seva.” Sura Khachar gave some money to FESTIVAL OF MAHA SHIVRATRI Rampratapbhai for his expenses and spendings. The festival of Maha Shivratri arrived. The latter was pleased with the generosity and Shri Hari instructed the sadhus and devotees goodwill shown to him. to undertake a fast. He, too, did the same. Maharaj wished to promote respect for all the MY ENTIRE PILGRIMAGE IS INCLUDED AT YOUR divine incarnations and devas. On that day he HOLY FEET held a Maha Rudra abhishek ritual performed Shri Hari asked Ichchharambhai, “Don’t you by Brahmins.