1 || Shri Nijanand Sampradaya || || Ea`I inajaanaMd samp`adaya || SEVA POOJA saovaa pajaaU A Book of Daily Prayers and Worship for Sundersathji With English Explanation and Hindi Text 2 2005 A.D. 2061 Vikram Samvat 326 Buddhji Saka Inspirer: H.H. Jagni Ratan Pujya Sarkar Shri (1925-2000 AD) Scriptural Advisor: Pujya Shri Vindhyachal Maharaj Pujya Shri Baluraj Nijanandi Shri Nijanand Ashram, Ratan Puri and Vadodara Editors: Narendra R. Patel and Sanjiv K. Patel, NJ, U.S.A First Edition: 1,000 copies Publishers: Nijanand Foundation, Int., USA 71 Heather Lane, Colonia, NJ 07067 Phone: 732-968-6336 Shri Nijanand Ashram, Ratan Puri, Via: Khatauli Dist: Muzzafar Nagar, U.P. India, 251201 Phone: 1396-28-2222 Shri Nijanand Ashram, Vadodara, Near Ajwa Nimeta Chokdi, N.H.# 8 By Pass, Sayaji Pura, Vadodara, Guj. India, 390019 Phone: 265-257-2843 Hindi Fonts: Jashubhai Patel, NJ, U.S.A E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nijanand.org All Rights Reserved. No part of this Seva Pooja Book may be reproduced in any form, or by any electronic or mechanical means, without permission in writing from the publishers. 3 Dedicated in the Lotus-Feet Of Our True Master Shri Shyamaji Swaroop Shri Nijanand Swami Whose Divine Grace is Awakening All Souls In Their Original State of Perfect Blessedness Which We Call ‘Nij-anand’ On The Auspicious Occassion of The Annual Bhandara Mahotsava, October 2005 at Shri Nijanand Ashram, Ratan Puri, U.P., India 4 Seva Pooja: saovaa paUjaa Dear Aatam Sambandhi Sundersathji! ‘Seva’ means offering selfless services and ‘Pooja’ is the performance of worship with utmost devotion. While Seva and Pooja can assume many different forms, in their ultimate sense, they lead to Nij-anand, in which the soul becomes an integral part of the divine pastimes (leela) of her ultimate abode, the Aksharateet Paramdham. In practical sense, in Seva Pooja, the aim is to get engaged in the Kuljamic process of involving and aligning our speech (kaul), action (feil) and mind (haal) to attain ultimate divinity. Kuljamic process is the one which is prescribed in the Holy Kuljam Swaroop. The practising soul develops constant awareness about the reality of her True Self, her Lord, her Paramdham and the leela therein. Such a soul also becomes an instrument for the wellbeing of all. While performing Seva Pooja mentally (Mansi) is of prime significance, the most complete form of Seva Pooja involves all the four aspects of Kuljamic devotion: 1. Performance of Kuljamically correct karmakand or rituals, 2. Performance of Kuljamic Upasana or worship method, 3. Receiving Kuljamic Gyan or knowledge and understanding, and 4. Realization of Kuljamic Vigyan or the ultimate science concerning True Self and One True God. When done this way, i.e., when we involve these four aspects, our Seva Pooja brings three-fold benefits: 1. Success, peace and happiness in our worldly life; 2. Eternal freedom (akhand mukti) from the cycle of birth and re-birth for our Jiva, and 3. Awakening of our Atman in her mool Par-atman swaroop (original divine form). Regular and well-understood performance of Seva Pooja brings spiritual enrichment to our family life. It serves the purpose of a security system for the entire family by guarding us from the negative influence of maya. Seva pooja raises every family member’s awareness with regard to one’s true spiritual nature and the most intimate nature of relationship with God. One major obstacle in getting on track with Seva Pooja is our disbelief in Paramdham. These questions often arise in our mind: Is Paramdham real? If yes, where is it? Even if it is, how does that belief really matter to me as a sundersath? The Holy Wani answers these and many other related questions. But, we do not take time to read and understand Shri Rajji’s Words. According to our Lord Shri Prannathji, “the invisible Paramdham, its beauty and glory, and our divine existence, are all real. It is real (sat), ever conscious (chitta) and eternally blissful (anand). While it is not at all physical in nature like this world, it isn’t formless (nirakaar) either. Our senses cannot reach there. It is infinite (ananta), non-dual (adweita), without beginning or end (anadi), is supremely divine (noori or sukra-mayi), and with twenty-five sectors (pakshas) as menifestation of the purest joy emanating from Shri Rajji’s heart. As opposed, this visible and 5 real-appearing phenomenal creation is unreal.” Such a realization is the beginning of our spiritual awakening. Developing such an attitude allows us to be free from the pain and sorrows of this earthly life. Having realized the temporal nature of this creation, we begin to experience joy in every life situation. Another important question that puzzles our sundersathjis is: Who do we really worship and how? The answer to this is very simple , but has been unnecessarily confused by our selfish or ignorant leaders who are afraid to lose the support of the majority. According to the Holy Wani, None other than Lord Aksharateet Par-Brahmn alone qualifies for Seva Pooja by sundersathji. (Fer fer mool swaroop chit mein lijiye…mool swaroop se na kadhey najar…) In essence, we worship swaroop (original divine noori form) and not the roop (the appearance chosen by the swaroop to acomplish certain objectives in this world and in Yogmaya. Today, sundersathjis are misled in the worship of Shri Rajji’s roops. Without proper study and faith in the Holy Wani, many regard Shri Krishna as swaroop; whereas, Shri Krishnaji is also the roop exactly like Prophet Muhammad, Shri Devchandraji and Shri Meherajji. As a matter of fact, the glory of the Lord’s work through Shri Meherajji is far greater than that through Shri Krishnaji. Therefore, as you do Seva Pooja, allow the formation of Wani-based images of Shri Raj Shyamaji and Paramdham in your heart and mind. Experience that you are being immersed in the ocean of eternal bliss and pure joy. You may keep earthly images or photos of temple seva, three - dhams, Satguru or Shri Mehrajji or a guru any where in your house, but NEVER in your temple seva or home altar. Even if you bring them up initially on your mental screen, allow them to pass or disappear as you intensify your focus on the pure divine Swaroops of Paramdham. Worldly images or idols (murti) may appear comforting at first, but they become a major obstacle in ultimate Kuljamic realization. The practice attains perfection when our hearts and minds and souls are soaked in the joy of eternal pastimes, which are constantly enacted directly through Shri Shri Raj Shyamaji’s heart. As you practice, keep your heart as soft as one of a Momin (pure soul). Leave the doors of your mind and heart open so you may receive new meanings and joy from the same prayers. Find a comfortable, private and silent place and practice it. Then also learn to be prayerful even in the most chaotic environment you may be. Make commitment to make your life prayerful in Shri Raj Shyamaji. Invite Shri Raj Shyamaji's spirit into every situation for guidance. Ask Shri Rajji to remove all thoughts from your mind that are not His. Ask Him to show you the love and innocence among all. Ask that only His purposes be served in every situation. Our Seva Pooja is worthless if it lacks honesty, humbleness and seriousness as we talk to Shri Rajji. While doing this at home is the best option, you do not have to be at home round the clock to do it, as long as you have incorporated in your daily routine. Just let this practice become an automatic mental 6 process. Dear sundersathji! Merely doing this without understanding and doing it just because our parents, Guru or our tradition requires it, does not bring the true joy. Now is the time to begin to experience the joy of praying—not the pressure of praying. As you pray, your heart must say: "I love to pray…. I really love praying. " Therefore, choose what exactly fits into your lifestyle. Watch how your daily practice is enabling you to climb your spiritual ladder. The Holy Wani says: Eahi apni Jagni, jo yaad aavey nij sukh | Ishak yahin saun aavhin, yahin saun hoiye sanmukh || Kijey yaad milap dhani ko, aur sakhiyon ke sneha | Raat din rang prem mein, vilas kiye hei jeh|| (KS: Parikarma: 4/7, 4) ehI ApanaI jaaganaI, jaao yaad Aavao inaja sauKa | [skx yaahIM saaoM AavahIM, yaahIM saao hao[e sanamauKa || kIjao yaad imalaapa QanaI kao, AaOr saiKayaaoM ko sanaoh | rata idna rMga pa`oma maoM, ivalaasa ikyao hOM jaoh || “When our hearts are soaked with the true eternal joy of Paramdham, that’s the sign of Spiritual Awakening or Jagni. Through the remembrance of these eternal pleasures, comes the experience of Ishak. Exactly the same way, can we be face-to-face with our Lord. Therefore, O Soul! Spend every moment of your life in the remembrance of those joyful days and nights in Paramdham, which are filled with totally transparent and harmonious interactions, which are saturated with peace and love, and which are nourished by perfect divine wisdom and a sense of highest intimacy to produce the all-colorful grace. O Sundersathji! This is the only way to be in constant awareness or to be mindful of our Nij-Anand.” I pray to Lord Prannathji for everyone’s Spiritual Awakening. May every moment of sundersath life become prayerful or Seva-Pooja mayi. Hearty Pranam Baluraj Nijanandi Dharmopadeshak, Shri Nijanand Ashram, Vadodara 7 Foreward Prayers heal body, mind and soul when said sincerely and faithfully.