Vachanamrut Rahasyarth Pradeepika Tika The eternal philosophy of the Supreme Lord Shree Swaminarayan, with its elucidation by Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree Part 3 Gadhada Middle Section Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj © Copyright reserved with publishers ISBN 81-89189-63-0 First Edition 1981 Second Edition (Revised) 2007 eBook Edition 2012, Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj Suvarna Mahotsav, Bhuj Graphics Shree Mukta Graphics Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Maninagar Ahmedabad 380 008 Gujarat India Artist Paresh Haribhai Soni Printing Shivkrupa Offset Printers 27, Amrut Industrial Estate, Opp. Dudheshwar water tank, Ahmedabad 380 004 Gujarat India Tel: +91 79 25623828, 25625698 Mobile: +91 98980 34799 Email: [email protected] All rights reserved. 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[email protected] SwaminarayanGadi.com Shreejibapa Swamibapa Victory to Lord Shree Swaminarayan Vachanamrut Rahasyarth Pradeepika Tika The eternal philosophy of the Supreme Lord Shree Swaminarayan, with its elucidation by Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree Part 3 Vachanamrut Compiled by: Sadguru Shree Gopalanand Swami, Sadguru Shree Muktanand Swami, Sadguru Shree Nityanand Swami, Sadguru Shree Brahmanand Swami, Sadguru Shree Shukanand Swami Rahasyarth Pradeepika Tika Compiled by: Sadguru Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swami English Translation by: His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj Sants and Disciples Published by: Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan Shreeji-sankalp-murti Adya Acharya-pravar Dharma-dhurandhar 1008 Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Suvarna Jayanti Mahotsav Smarak Trust Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Maninagar Ahmedabad 380 008 Gujarat India In celebration of Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Shatabdi (Centenary) 1907 - 2007 CE Vachanamrut page structure SwaminarayanGadi.com Sequential number of topics discussed in main text of the Vachanamrut number within section Vachanamrut Gadhada First Section, Vachanamrut 54 In Samvat 1876, Maha Vad 11 (Thursday 10 February 1820), Swami Shree Sahajanandji Maharaj was presiding on a dais, on which gadi-takiya had been placed, in the vestibule of the west-facing room in front of the temple of Shree Vasudev-narayan at the court Sequential number of Dada Khachar in Gadhada. He was adorned with a white scarf (khes). A saffron coloured cloth (reto) with tinselled borders was of questions asked draped around Him. A blue tinselled silken turban (feto) was adorned on His head. A congregation of munis and disciples from in main text of the various regions had assembled before His lotus face. Vachanamrut (1) Then, Muktanand Swami asked, (1) “Oh Maharaj! In the Ekadash-skand of the Shreemad-Bhagwat, it is stated that someone who observes the Bhagwat religion, is able to walk with his eyes shut, without falling or colliding. What constitutes this Bhagwat religion?” Shreejimaharaj replied, Sanskrut verses, translation and reference cited in Ðí¨X}æ…Ú¢ Ðæàæ}ææy}æÝ: ÜU±²æï ç±Îé: J ¨ »± ¨æ{é¯é ÜUë „æï }ææïÿæmæÚ}æÐæ±ë„}æì JJ1JJ main text Shreemad-Bhagwat Third Section Chapter 25 Verse 20 If a soul has the same firm relationship with the Lord’s disciples as he has with his own relatives, he never deviates from the path towards God [1].” [1] (2) Then, Shuk Muni asked, (2) “What are the characteristics by which one can be recognised as someone who never deviates from his religious decree, despite any adversity?” Shreejimaharaj replied, “Someone who has diligence for all of the Lord’s commands, cannot disobey any command, regardless of whether it is major or minor. Someone who has such a nature never deviates from his religious decree even when faced with adversities. Therefore, only someone who adheres to the commands is able to remain firm in his religious decree; only such a person can maintain a firm association with the Satsang [2].” [2] Gadhada First Section Vachanamrut 54 {54} Rahasyarth Pradeepika Tika Synopsis of In this Vachanamrut, there are two questions. In the first, Shreejimaharaj has stated that Bhagwat religion is defined as having the Vachanamrut same firm relationship with His disciples, as one has with relatives [1]. In the second, Shreejimaharaj has said that someone who ardently obeys the Lord’s major and minor commands, is able to maintain a firm religious decree and association with the Satsang [2]. These are the two topics. Question in Rahasyarth Q1 In Q.1, the question asked is, ‘What constitutes Bhagwat religion’? Yet the topic of Shreejimaharaj’s response is about associating with a sant. Why is this? Answer in Ans Bhagwat religion is described as practising auspicious activities that are associated with God, through one’s mind, speech and body. Rahasyarth Such religiousness can only be attained by associating with a Mukta. Therefore, an instruction has been given that one should associate with a Mukta. Rahasyarth Pradeepika Tika 54 2 Rahasyarth Pradeepika Tika 54 Theological or philosophical term Rahasyarth number within with no direct English translation entire Vachanamrut SwaminarayanGadi.com Title of Vachanamrut Gadhada First Section, Vachanamrut 54 Image relating to topic in Vachanamrut Shree Premanand Swami sings devotional songs about the Murti of God. Hearing these, Shreejimaharaj becomes extremely pleased Caption for image Rahasyarth Pradeepika Tika 54 3 Gadhada Middle Section SwaminarayanGadi.com Gadhada Part 2 Shreejimaharaj often held assemblies under the neem tree, in the court of Dada Khachar. That neem tree was first planted in the village of Umed. Once, Ebhal Khachar went to Umed and remained in a farm belonging to Lakha Ahir. He was told that there was a special tree on that farm under which it was sure that the supreme Lord Purushottam-narayan would preside in the future. Ebhal Khachar requested Lakha Ahir to give him that tree, which he planted in the centre of his royal court. Ebhal Khachar looked after the tree well because he was sure that God would come to his home in the future and sit under that tree. Fulfilling the prophecy, Shreejimaharaj came to Gadhada, where He often sat under the tree. From that moment, Ebhal Khachar became convinced about the identity of Shreejimaharaj. Many of the assemblies retold in the Gadhada Middle Section of the Vachanamrut were held under that special neem tree. Due to their immense love for Shreejimaharaj, the entire family could not endure remaining apart from Him. They requested Shreejimaharaj to remain forever at their home. This was not possible as Shreejimaharaj had to look after the entire Satsang. Consequently, Shreejimaharaj had an idol made, which He ceremonially installed in the centre of Ebhal Khachar’s room. The idol was named Vasudev-narayan. Shreejimaharaj promised the family that He would fulfil all their wishes through that idol. In Samvat 1881, Shreejimaharaj went to Surat. As they had to remain apart from Shreejimaharaj for a long period of time, Dada Khachar and his entire family stopped eating or drinking. Accepting their heartfelt prayers, Shreejimaharaj travelled back to Gadhada, and imparted spiritual teachings to them all. That episode is summarised as GMS.62. Three of the discourses of the GMS are held in Laxmi-vadi, the farm on the outskirts of the village. Shreejimaharaj went there often and presided under a borasali tree that Premanand Swami had planted. On one occasion, Shreejimaharaj danced with thousands of sants and disciples in that farm and to fulfil the desires of them all, Shreejimaharaj appeared in as many forms as there were sants and disciples. It was on this farm that Shreejimaharaj’s cremation ceremony was performed. The second instalment of discourses held in Gadhada contains 67 individual Vachanamruts. 3.4 SwaminarayanGadi.com Gadhada Middle Section, Vachanamrut 1 In Samvat 1877, Jeth Sud 15 (Friday 15 June 1821), Swami Shree Sahajanandji Maharaj was presiding in the vestibule of the west-facing room in front of the temple of Shree Vasudev- narayan, at the court of Dada Khachar in Gadhada. He was adorned with a white scarf (khes) and a white blanket (chadar) was draped around Him. A white turban (pagh) was adorned on His head and He was wearing a garland of white flowers. A congregation of a group of munis and disciples from different regions had assembled before His lotus face. The paramhansas were singing before Him, with the accompaniment of cymbals (zanz) and a drum (mrudang). Shreejimaharaj said to the singers, “Now stop singing, and hold a session of questions and answers.” With joined hands, Muktanand Swami bowed and asked (1) Shreejimaharaj a question. (1) “Oh Maharaj! What is infatuation (moh)? What are the means of becoming devoid of infatuation?” Shreejimaharaj thought for a short while and then said, “Infatuation is the disorder that occurs within the mind. When infatuation increases within a person’s heart, the disorder in his mind also intensifies. The discernment between what is appropriate and inappropriate does not then remain. Just today, when I awoke in the middle of the night, I was thinking about the reasons for why infatuation arises. I was lying down facing North. I saw the Dhruv star and realised that it was the North Dhruv star. I then recalled that the South Dhruv star is mentioned in the scriptures, so I wondered where it was. I looked in that direction and also saw the South Dhruv star. I then saw the large reel that exists between the two Dhruv stars.