A Textbook of the Satsang Examinations Series: 10 PRAGJI BHAKTA (BHAGATJI MAHARAJ) Gujarati Text: Sadhu Ishwarcharandas Translation: BAPS Sadhus Swaminarayan Aksharpith Ahmedabad Pragji Bhakta (Bhagatji Maharaj) A short biography of Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj First Edition: April 1978 Second Edition: March 1985 Third Edition: November 1993 Fourth Edition: July 2004 Fourth Edition 1st Reprint: May 2009 ISBN: 81-7526-260-5 Copies: 5,000 (Total Copies: 13,000) Price: Rs. 25.00 Copyright: © Swaminarayan Aksharpith All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, except for brief quotations embodied in reviews and articles. Published & Printed By : Swaminarayan Aksharpith Shahibaug Road, Ahmedabad-4, Gujarat, India. Websites:www.swaminarayan.org www.akshardham.com www.mandir.org kids.swaminarayan.org BLESSINGS The youth movement established and nourished by Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj has been expanding at a very rapid pace. With a view to satisfying the aspirations and the thirst for knowledge of the youth joining the organization, and also to enable them to understand and imbibe the principles of Akshar and Purushottam expounded by Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the publications division, Swaminarayan Aksharpith, organized under the auspices of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, has produced a series of books. Through these books, it is intended to impart systematic, sustained and pure knowledge in simple language on a scholastic basis to children and youth of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is hoped that this Sanstha, established by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj for implementing and propagating the Vedic ideals propounded by Bhagwan Swaminarayan, will, through this activity, spread the ideals and noble traditions of the Sampraday and through it, the culture and heritage of the Hindu religion. It is the aim of this project to preach and spread the divine message of Bhagwan Swaminarayan to all corners of the world. We hope that all religious-minded truth-seekers of the Sampraday, and those outside of it, will welcome this activity and be inspired by its universal principles and ideals. In order to encourage children and youths, annual examinations are held based on the curriculum presented in these books. Certificates are also awarded to successful candidates. We bless Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami, Prof. Rameshbhai Dave, Kishorebhai Dave, and all others who have cooperated in preparing these books. Vasant Panchmi Shastri Narayanswarupdasji Vikram Samvat 2028 (Pramukh Swami Maharaj) (1972 CE), Atladra Jai Swaminarayan PUBLISHER’S NOTE Purna Purushottam Shri Sahajanand Swami out of compassion and grace incarnated on this earth. During his life on earth, he inspired many to attain the highest spiritual state. The lives of these sadhus, and male and female devotees serve as an example for all on how to worship God and attain his divine bliss. Shriji Maharaj’s work has been continued by the lineage of God-realized Sadhus he established. Spiritual seekers who have associated with them have also attained the ultimate spiritual bliss. This publication, Pragji Bhakta, contains the short biographies of a selection of such sadhus and devotees since the time of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. It is a translation of the Gujarati book Pragji Bhakta. The book is part of the curriculum for the fourth level of the Satsang Examinations, Satsang Pravin, conducted by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. It is our earnest prayer that all devotees, young and old, will study this book carefully and pass the examinations with flying colours and, above all, derive immense spiritual benefit and earn the blessings of our guru, His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. - Swaminarayan Aksharpith Shri Swaminarayano Vijayate *Ame sau Swãminã bãlak, marishu Swãmine mãte; Ame sau Shrijitanã yuvak, ladishu Shrijine mãte... Nathi dartã nathi kartã, amãrã jãnni parvã; Amãre dar nathi koino, ame janmyã chhie marvã...ame 1 Ame ã yagna ãrambhyo, balidãno ame daishu; Amãrã Akshar Purushottam, Gunãtit jnãnne gãishu...ame 2 Ame sau Shriji tanã putro, Akshare vãs amãro chhe; Svadharmi bhasma choli to, amãre kshobh shãno chhe...ame 3 Juo sau motinã Swãmi, na rãkhi kai te khãmi; Pragat Purushottam pãmi, malyã Gunãtit Swãmi...ame 4 * For meaning see page 70 vi CONTENTS 1. Early Childhood .................................................................... 1 2. Meeting Sadguru Gopalanand Swami ................................. 3 3. With Gunatitanand Swami at Junagadh ............................ 6 4. Recipient Worthy of Akshar Jnan ........................................ 7 5. Request for Akshar Jnan ...................................................... 9 6. Do or Die for the Guru .........................................................10 7. Sixty-Eight Places of Pilgrimage at Thy Feet.....................14 8. Art of Saintliness .................................................................17 9. Bananas on a Cactus ...........................................................19 10. Realization ...........................................................................20 11. Key to Akshardham Lies with Pragji ..................................23 12. Akshar Jnan Proclaimed .....................................................25 13. The Path of Thorns ..............................................................27 14. Discord in the Fellowship ................................................... 29 15. Excommunicated..................................................................32 16. Manifestation through Pragji Bhagat .................................34 17. Acceptance in Satsang .........................................................35 18. Guru of Shastri Yagnapurushdasji .....................................38 19. “I Am Possessed by Swaminarayan” ...................................40 20. Trouble for Bhagatji’s Sadhus .............................................41 21. Bliss in Solitude ...................................................................44 22. End of Exile ..........................................................................47 23. Satsang with the Diwan of Vansda .....................................48 24. Jnan Yagna in Ahmedabad .................................................50 25. Bhagatji’s Magnetic Personality .........................................53 26. Jal-Jhilani Celebration at Gadhada ....................................56 27. Grand Reception at Junagadh ............................................58 28. The Last Phase ....................................................................64 29. Divinity Revealed.................................................................66 Glossary ................................................................................70 PRAGJI BHAKTA (BHAGATJI MAHARAJ) Pragji Bhakta leads his friends in singing devotional songs by the shrine of Hanumanji 1 1. EARLY CHILDHOOD A group of children was chanting the Ramdhun in the mandir courtyard. In the middle a handsome little boy was dancing while singing devotional songs. All those visiting the mandir to offer their prayers were deeply impressed by the child’s ardent love towards God. They forgot everything else and stood there like statues watching this little boy dancing and singing in praise of God. When the children stopped singing, the people discovered that the leader of the group was Pragji, known as Bhagat, the son of Govindbhai of Mahuva. Pragji Bhakta regularly visited this Lakshmi- Narayan mandir with his friends. It was here in front of the small shrine of Hanumanji under the pipal tree, that Shriji Maharaj had stayed for three days when He was travelling as Nilkanth Varni. The child Pragji Bhakta always served the murti of Hanumanji. Mahant Suryabharathi was greatly pleased with the devotion of the child. Pragji Bhakta served the mahant and attentively listened to the story of Shri Ram and pondered over the high ideals exemplified by the great characters of the Ramayan. In the luscious green seaside town of Mahuva in Saurashtra, this child devotee was born to a tailor family on the full moon day of the bright half of Fagan in V.S. 1885 (1829 CE). The child was very beautiful and luminous and was loved by all. The child devotee was sent to the local school, but he was too active to remain within the walls of the school. Often, he would run away with other schoolboys to the river Malan that flowed along the outskirts of Mahuva. He would sit in the dry areas of the riverbed and talk to his friends, “I have studied everything. I have come to worship God and make others worship God.” Young 2 Pragji Bhakta Pragji Bhakta engages his school friends in worshipping God children always stayed in his company and everyone had a natural attraction towards Pragji Bhakta. Once, a festival dinner was arranged at Pragji’s house. Pragji Bhakta went to his mother and said, “Mother, I am terribly hungry. Please give me something to eat.” However, his mother refused to give any food as she had not yet sanctified the food by offering it to God. But, when she went out to do some work, Pragji Bhakta entered the kitchen and ate all the sweets, weighing 3½ kg. Then he climbed up into the loft and slept. On returning, his mother was shocked to see the sweets missing. She asked everyone in the house about them. She thought that perhaps some stray dog might have eaten the sweets. But, then, Pragji Bhakta called out from the loft, “l have