Mahant Swami Maharaj Praying for an End to the Coronavirus Pandemic May–June 2021 F Swaminarayan Bal Prakash F 1 2 (See page 11 for Chintan’s prasang) Story Giving Respect Earns Greatness Shivaji and Parvatiji had two sons – Kartikeya and Ganesh.One day, the two C o n t e brothersn begant tos argue about who was the greatest. Vol. 18, Issue 3 They took their argument to May–June 2021 their parents. 1 My Maharaj Parvatiji said, “Whoever 4. Thieves In A Fix is the first to complete seven rounds of the globe is the greatest.” Kartikeya jumped 6. Children’s National Satsang on his peacock and was off Diksha Mukhpath Felicitation to a great start. Assembly, Nenpur, India 2 Picture Story Ganeshji was upset. He had small feet and a big Then GunaƟ tananad Swami took down his Swaminarayan Bal Prakash (Bimonthly) Being very closejoli friends, hanging from the the bee wall onceand showed said, it to theswim. They both dived into the water. The 8. Giving Respect Earn Greatnessstomach. Plus, his vehicle Mahant of Tarnetar. There were no valuable commiƩ ed a crime. We came to your garden “Why do you live initems the or muck?any metal Comegoods in it.visit Even mythe stencil bumblebee then climbed on the worm’s Founder: HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a mousegarden – not that a fast is full Swamiof beau used to� fulmake hisowers. Ɵ lak was madeYou’ll of wood. back and pushed its head underwater. Water to steal jack fruits, but our hands got stuck to The garments he wore were made of coarse peacock! Butbe soon, thrilled wise by their cloth. fragrance!” The Mahant of Tarnetar was astonishedrushed into the worm’s nose and mouth Date: 10 October 2003 (Samvat 2059, the fruits. So we cannot get down from the The worm thoughtto see theto Mahant itself, of such“I’ll a biggo mandir visit live soand made it gasp for air. This forced out the Good Habits, Bad HabitsGaneshji came up with a simply. In his heart, he realised that this Swamiji Aso sud 15 Sharad Purnima) plan. He askedthe hisgarden, parents but whatwas truly if living there’s in a higher nothing spiritual state. to smelly mess that was blocking the worm’s tree. Please set us free and forgive our sin. eat there?” To be onGuna theƟ tanand safe Swami side, then it explained,rolled “Ournose. The bee quickly picked up the worm to sit together and began sadhus renounce women and wealth, therefore 10. WeSpeak will never N stealo anythingEvil again.” up balls of dirt andby following plugged such themvalues, our into Mahantship its andis returned to the rose. sustained.” On hearing this, the Mahant of to walk seven times around nostrils. The bumblebeeTarnetar also feltwas like livingunaware such a pure of life, and “Breathtaking! The scent of the rose is Publisher, Printer & Editor, Listening to their tearful plea, Ghanshyamthem. this. The worm climbedasked Guna Ɵonto tanand Swamiits back to bless and him for thewonderful!” The worm praised the owers they ew off to therest garden of his life. where the air was endlessly. Publication and Ownership: gave their hands a look. At once, their hands Jay Rajgor (Mumbai, India) 3 11. Little Boy – Big Deeds sweet with fragrance. The bee so� ly placed The bee scolded his friend, “The fragrance were freed. Both thieves then got down, the worm on a rose and asked, “Well, what was always there, but it was you who chose Kiran Pithwa bowed down to Dharmadev, Rampratapbhai8 F Swaminarayan do youBal Prakash think Fof September-October the fragrance?” 2015 not to enjoy it. You had stuff ed your nose The worm was not impressed at all and with muck!” Swaminarayan Aksharpith andGuru Ghanshyam Parampara and once again fell on their retorted, “Nothing special. I don’t smell This is what happens when people come knees and begged to be forgiven. Ghanshyam anything diff erent!” to the divine atmosphere fragrant with the Shahibaug Road, The bee was very confused and wondered, goodness of God, but have secretly lled their 12. told“One them, “DoWho not steal Serves any more. Stealingis Mahant” is “Why doesn’t my friend enjoy the fragrance?” hearts and minds with wishes for worldly Ahmedabad - 380 004, India. a grave sin.” So saying he picked two ripe jack On taking a closer look, it found two � ny balls things. It is only when our enlightened guru fruits and gave one to each one of them. He of dirt stuck up the worm’s nostrils. The bee Pramukh Swami Maharaj splashes us in the Game On: thought of a plan to remove them. ocean of wisdom and cleanses us free from Printing address: then gave them his blessings and asked themLessons for LifeTaking the worm to a pool of water, the mess of this world that we truly enjoy to leave. the bee off ered the worm the chance to the Oncehappiness during of the God. Ɵ me of the Swaminarayan Mudran Mandir 14. Lost In A Maze Mahabharat, thereMeetal was aPavadra boy (Nairobi, Kenya) named Eklavya who lived in the Shahibaug Road, forest. He was a tribal boy who by Karishma Dolabh (Perth, Australia) really wanted to learn how to Ahmedabad - 380 004, India 15. Bal Satsang Exams Toppers do archery but he did not know of anyMay-June teachers 2015 Swaminarayan who Bal Prakash could 11 teach him the skill. He was For Articles Contact: walking through the forest one Vat of the Month day when he saw an amazing Bal Prakash Central Office, sight. He saw a guru named Dronacharya who was teaching Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, 16. Bhagwannu Sukh Nathi Avtu his students archery. He Shahibaug Road, became very excited because January-February 2014 Swaminarayan Bal Prakashhe thought 5 this was his chance Ahmedabad - 380 004, Gujarat, India Story to learn. Eklavya excitedly walked email: [email protected] up to Dronacharya and asked 18. Eklavya’s Persistence him, “May I learn the skill of archery from you? I would love Subscription Enquiries Prakash-Patrika God’s Work Subscriptions Department 20. The Sun May-June 2014 Swaminarayan Bal Prakash 21 Swaminarayan Aksharpith, Ahmedabad - 380 004, Gujarat, India 22. Fun Gujarati Words Email [email protected] Puzzle: Word Search Website 23. Pramukh Varni Din http://kids.baps.org Let’s Learn Vol. 18, Issue 3, May–June 2021 24. National Symbols Of India English (Bi-Monthly) 22 Swaminarayan Bal Prakash May-June 2014 Year India USA UK Activity 1 ` 100 $ 9 £ 5.50 2 ` 190 $ 18 £ 11 26. Fun With Family 3 ` 280 $ 27 £ 16.50 I Heart Mom And Dad Gujarati (Monthly) Year India USA UK 31. Love Is A Fun Thing To Express 1 ` 70 $ 10 £ 6.50 2 ` 135 $ 20 £ 13 Amazing Facts 3 ` 200 $ 30 £ 19.50 32. The Holy River Ganga 34. Laughter Express / Answers May–June 2021 F Swaminarayan Bal Prakash F 3 My Maharaj Thieves in a Fix There was a garden at a short distance from Ghanshyam’s house that was owned by Dharmadev. Once, Ghanshyam and Rampratapbhai decided to grow a jack tree for its jack fruit. Time passed and one night two thieves came and, cutting a hole in the wall, entered the garden. Silently they walked up to the jack fruit tree, which was now fully grown, and climbed it. They thought, “The fruits are all ripe. Let us pick them. We shall carry them in bags and earn a lot of money by selling them.” But, what’s this?? As soon as they touched the first jack fruit both their hands got stuck to the fruit. They tried very hard, but could not free their hands. While they were struggling, day dawned and soon it was morning. Dharmadev, carrying a water pot in hand, came to the garden for brushing his teeth. The two thieves saw him and quickly repented their wrong doing. In the distance, Rampratapbhai and Ghanshyam were coming towards them. The thieves were panic-stricken. When Rampratapbhai saw the thieves on the tree, he wanted to beat them with a stick but Ghanshyam stopped him. He went near the jack fruit tree along with his father. With tears in their eyes the thieves begged for forgiveness, “Oh Dharmadev, we have committed a crime. We 4 F Swaminarayan Bal Prakash F May–June 2021 came to your garden to steal jack fruits, but our hands got stuck to the fruits. So we cannot get down from the tree. Please set us free and forgive our sin. We will never steal anything again.” Listening to their tearful plea, Ghanshyam gave their hands a look. At once, their hands were freed. Both thieves then got down, bowed down to Dharmadev, Rampratapbhai and Ghanshyam and once again fell on their knees and begged to be forgiven. Ghanshyam told them, “Do not steal any more. Stealing is a grave sin.” So saying he picked two ripe jack fruits and gave one to each one of them. He then gave them his blessings and asked them to leave. by Karishma Dolabh (Perth, Australia) May–June 2021 F Swaminarayan Bal Prakash F 5 Children’s National Satsang Diksha Mukhpath Felicitation Assembly, Nenpur, India This was a train ride with a difference. A fulfill ‘Mission Rajipo’, that is, please Swamishri, special, memorable virtual 2-hour journey with and secure their seat on this historic journey, guruhari Mahant Swami Maharaj. The price overrode all distractions they encountered of a ticket? Memorize the 315 shloks of the and it is a testament to their determination Satsang Diksha to book your place.