November 2008 Annual Subscription Rs. 60 Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Ahmedabad, September 2008 November 2008, Vol. 31 No. 11 CONTENTS FIRST WORD 1. Swaminarayan History Diwali and New Year celebrations are the A Proposal to Build a Mandir ..............4 The British invite Shri Hari to Ahmedabad... crown of all festivals in the Hindu calendar. 2. On Life They not only usher in a spirit of joy, divinity, What’s in a Name...? ............................7 love and celebration but instil a new zest for What one values most... success and transformation in life. Both festi- 3. Personality Development vals empower us with spirituality; awakening Step-by-Step or Giant Leaps? ...............9 all that is positive and good within. The best way to improve?... Amidst all our daily burdens and responsi- 4. Bhajan History Nirvikalp Uttam Ati Nischay bilities it is important to be optimistic. Opti- Tav Ghanshyam... ...............................11 mistic people have more chances to succeed 5. On Life and be happy not only because they believe Aim for Success..................................13 Setting life’s targets... that things will turn out right, but because 6. Discourses their positive thoughts make them strive hard- Igniting the Light Within ...................15 er and be mentally accommodative. 7. BAPS News Another aspect of today’s life is that our ener- Europe Karyakar Milan 2008, gies are dispersed in too many things, some of Engelberg, Switzerland ......................17 which are unnecessary, wasteful and harmful. Family Activity Centre Opens at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan The result is that we fail to be outstanding in Mandir, Lilburn, GA............................17 anything. We need to decide and learn to con- Open House London...........................18 centrate on a definite aim, purpose or vision National Vidyarthi Shibir, London .....19 All-India Karyakar Adhiveshan, that is important in achieving something sub- Bochasan & Ahmedabad ....................19 stantial in life. Swaminarayan Akshardham: Guinness The third element for upgrading ourselves is World Records ....................................20 the willingness to work hard. We should buoy our Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 88th Birthday Celebration .................22 minds for hard work. Through hard work one Website: www.swaminarayan.org acquires not only outward success but one learns E-mail: [email protected] about oneself that which idleness never reveals. Founder: HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj Editor: Sadhu Swayamprakashdas The fourth point is discipline. Without disci- Contributors: Sadhu Vivekjivandas, Sadhu Amrutvijaydas pline we cannot hope to achieve enduring Designer: Sadhu Shrijiswarupdas Published & Printed by: Swaminarayan Aksharpith, happiness and joy. Shahibaug, Ahmedabad–380 004. India. And lastly, faith in God is the panacea of all SUBSCRIPTION RATES Outside India (By Air Mail) India our ills and the source of eternal bliss. Rupees Pounds US DollarsRupees May Diwali and New Year celebrations help 1 Year 400 6 10 60 2 Years 800 12 20 110 kick-start a higher and happier life. 3 Years 1200 18 30 160 A Happy Diwali and New Year! ◆ SWAMINARAYAN HISTORY: TRANSLATION: SADHU VIVEKJIVANDAS Shri Hari arrives in Ahmedabad amidst a warm welcome by the British administrator, Mr. Heron, his officials, and the local devotees and citizens. Mr Heron requests him to stay and build a mandir... otera had become a holy place due relief. Shri Hari said, “One who is drowning will to Maharaj’s association. Purushot- drown another, but one who can swim will save Mtamdas Patel and Bhudardas Patel, another.” A sadhu replied, “But an eddy pulls in the local devotees, welcomed and honoured even the best of swimmers.” Maharaj smiled Shri Hari on his arrival. They offered a feast for and added, “Through my association even an Maharaj and his entire entourage. Thereafter eddy gives up its deathly swirls and becomes Maharaj proceeded ahead towards the river normal.” Then Maharaj explained, “A tornado Sabarmati that flowed on the outskirts of asked someone, ‘Have you seen the wind?’ Pat Ahmedabad. On seeing its clean waters Maharaj came the reply, ‘Give up your swirls and you expressed a wish to have a bath. He got off his will become the wind.’ Similarly, because of a mare, Manki, and advised all, “Look, the river turbulent nature the wind becomes a tornado has deep currents in the middle, producing and water becomes an eddy.” Shri Hari’s telling eddies. Don’t swim that far. Only those who can words oozed with wisdom. swim should enter the waters while the rest can It was dusk when Maharaj arrived at the city bathe by the banks.” Then Shri Hari entered the of Srinagar (Ahmedabad). He was festivally water and swam to the deep middle part of the welcomed by Mr. Heron, the British administra- river in spite of everyone having told him not to tor, his officers, and the local devotees and citi- do so. Then Maharaj went under water. Every- zens. Maharaj met Mr. Heron. He doffed his one held their breaths anxiously. Some started hat and offered namaskar. Then he shook hands chanting dhun for his safe emergence. When with Shri Hari and welcomed him spoke in bro- Maharaj broke the surface all breathed a sigh of ken Hindi, “Please stay here and make a mandir. You have chosen the land next to 4 Swaminarayan Bliss ◆ November 2008 Navavas, for which your disciples have made for the proposed mandir. He called Kubersinh the required application procedures. I have and told him, “We want to also acquire the already sent the papers with my recommenda- open land around this proposed mandir plot. tion to London. Once the approval arrives I will Make a further application for it and the obtain give you the land with its official documents.” the necessary documents thereafter.” Shri Hari was pleased with him, and blessed Kubersinh informed, “My younger brother, him with garland. Thereafter Mr. Heron and his Nanabhai, was thinking similarly to what you’ve officers departed. said.” Maharaj called for Nanabhai and blessed Shri Hari entered the city through the Delhi him with a garland round his neck and said, gate. What a grand joyous welcome it was. He “Once the land officially becomes ours first had not visited Ahmedabad since the day the construct residential quarters for the sadhus.” Suba had ordered him out ten years ago. The Then Maharaj showed him the extra land he devotees were simply overwhelmed at Maharaj’s desired to have and said, “Make the documents arrival. The streets were clean and decorated in on my name.” his honour. The English band marched and Shri Hari then visited and sanctified the played a string of welcome tunes. Several homes. Motiram the sentry told Maharaj, “Mr. groups of musicians sang and played the cym- Heron has great respect and admiration for you. bals and dhols heralding Shri Hari’s arrival. The He wishes to invite you to his residence. At your sadhus too sang bhajans. At intervals the loud consent I shall inform him.” proclamations of ‘Swaminarayan’ rent the air. Maharaj told Motiram to do so. All this arrested the attention of residents and Mr. Heron had made all the arrangements passersby. Many came out onto their galleries for Shri Hari’s arrival. He sent his men to escort and verandahs to see the divine spectacle. The Shriji Maharaj, Muktanand Swami, Nityanand devout showered flowers to honour Maharaj. Swami, Brahmanand Swami, Anandanand The procession arrived at Manek Chowk by the Swami, and devotees: Nanabhai, Kubersinh mansion of Himabhai Sheth. His mother and Chopdar, Hirachand Choksi, Damodar Patel, family members honoured Maharaj by shower- Prananath Shukla, Narbheram Shastri, Daha ing gold and silver flowers. They felt blessed by Khachar, Sura Khachar, Somla Khachar, Vasta Maharaj’s darshan. Khachar, Amra Khachar and others. Shriji Soon the procession terminated and Shri Maharaj rode on his Manki and the devotees Hari arrived at Navavas. Here he sat on a seat were astride on their horses. The sadhus were arranged beneath a neem tree in an open walking ahead singing bhajans while many ground. Maharaj talked about the annakut fes- devotees were following at the rear of the group tival that he had celebrated at Adaraj. Then he singing the Swaminarayan dhun. The residence added, “Tomorrow is Praboodhini ekadashi. It is of Mr. Heron was by the Three Gates (Teen Dar- also the birthday of my father, Dharmadev. Thus waja). On arriving there they were led to Mr. tomorrow is a sacred day. Everyone shall Heron. Mr. Heron held Maharaj’s hand and led observe a waterless fast. To restrain our five him to an ornate chair. After exchanging formal- senses from their respective ‘foods’ is the ities and courtesies Maharaj stated, “God is essence of the ekadashi celebration. Therefore pleased upon one who has morality in life. One all should observe it with faith and devotion.” who abides by dharma in his administrative Everyone agreed to abide by Shri Hari’s com- duties and in life becomes ever victorious and mand. successful. But when one transgresses dharma The next day Maharaj saw the plot of land one loses one’s wisdom and becomes socially November 2008 ◆ Swaminarayan Bliss 5 devastated.” Then Maharaj added, “I like the “Then on whose behalf have you offered all open space near Navavas and we have as yet to this?” Maharaj enquired. apply for it.” Mr. Heron happily gave his con- “Maharaj, it all belongs to the widow of Mr. sent and garlanded Shri Hari. Then he offered Parekh – the latter was a renowned wealthy baskets of paan, cloves, cardamom and expen- person of Ahmedabad and Vadodara. She is a sive cloth to Maharaj. He then applied perfume Vaishnav by faith. And through the discourses of on Shri Hari’s hand and offered an expensive Ajubhai, a devotee who lives at Karali near shawl.