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SPECIAL FEATURE APRIL 14, 2023 | The Indian Eye 13

TOWARDS BETTER LIVING

Wisdom from the life and talks of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s Devotion to God

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life was a testament to his devotion to God. Throughout his life, he emphasized the importance of devotion
to God in one’s daily life. One of the hallmarks of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s devotion to God was his unwavering faith. He inspired

his followers to trust in God and to surrender to His will. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s devotion to God was reflected in his life.

n the morning of September had the darshan of Bhagwan Swam-
2, 1980, the auspicious day inarayan.
Oof Janmashtami, Pramukh After the surgery, everybody in-
Swami Maharaj arrived in Boston by sisted to Swamishri that he should
road from New York. After a medi- sleep. Swamishri did not wish to
cal examination for his ripe cataracts, sleep. Still, he closed his eyes af-
Swamishri departed to return to New ter everyone left the room. But, he
York. To ease the fatigue from the couldn’t sleep. Standing at a dis-
8-hour two-way commute, Swamishri tance, the swamis had a special
accepted the sadhus’ request to sleep darshan – as if Maharaj had come
on the rear seat of the van. Thakor- in person for Swamishri! Humbly,
ji (the murti of Bhagwan Swamina- with folded hands, Swamishri was
rayan) was also placed to rest on the making gestures as if he was saying
upper berth of the van. The sun had something. Briefly, he would fold his
set. Then, while the van was traveling hands, then he would say something.
smoothly on the broad highway, a Then, he would relax his hands, and
sudden loud thud of something falling concentrate as if listening to some-
down was heard amid the darkness. thing. This continued for about
Along with the others, Swamish- His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj twenty minutes. After a few days,
ri suddenly sat up, asking, “What the secret of this silent conversation
happened? What fell down?” One murti. Such was his exemplary de- Parliament or a Nairobi City Crest was revealed. When an attendant
swami replied, “Thakorji fell down votion towards God. Such devotion presentation, a meeting with Pope swami asked Swamishri, he said, “At
from above.” The statement was is described in the scriptures, but John Paul II in Vatican City or a that time, I was having the darshan
like a jolt to Swamishri. Tearfully, he Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life was a meeting with The Dalai Lama, a visit of Thakorji in all the mandirs.” Ev-
continually stroked his hand all over living form of devotion. to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi eryone realized that Swamishri re-
the body of Maharaj while repeated- at the invitation of President of India mained constantly engrossed in Tha-
ly saying, “Maharaj, please forgive. Swamishri did not Stand Up Zail Singh or a suvarna tula honor korji even when alone and under the
Maharaj, please forgive.” It was as if On 13 June 1988, during a ses- by devotees – Swamishri always kept effect of medications.
Swamishri felt responsible for the fall sion of the Canadian Parliament, the murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan In Ahmedabad, Swamishri ar-
and that Thakorji had been injured. Hon. John Fraser, the Speaker, at the forefront, because he firmly rived at an assembly. He saw that the
Remorsefully, Swamishri started stood up to felicitate Swamishri, de- believed that the honors were first seat for Thakorji was behind his own
prostrating in the van… one…two… claring, “I wish to draw the attention to be offered to Thakorji, whereas seat. So, he immediately called one
three…five…ten…twenty…twen- of members to the presence of Pra- he was merely a medium. He often of the organizing swamis and said,
ty-five… Despite his own ill health mukh Swami Maharaj, Head of the said that whatever greatness there is, “My seat should never be ahead of
and exhaustion, he continued pros- BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in the is due solely to Thakorji. Thakorji’s seat. Bear this in mind
trating. Yet, in his mind, he was still gallery.” always. Fix it in your mind. Remem-
not satisfied. To please Thakorji, he And with thundering applause, Staunch Devotion ber this. Not just for today or for this
lovingly offered food, and afterward the members of parliament looked At Khambhala Hill Hospital place only but remember this norm
sat silently throughout the remainder up towards the VIP gallery to have in Mumbai, Swamishri had an op- forever.”
of the journey, devoutly turning his darshan of Swamishri. But Pramukh eration to remove a lump from his Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s de-
rosary. Even on reaching New York, Swami Maharaj did not stand up to thigh. When Swamishri regained votion towards God reveals how ev-
his heart remained unalleviated. receive the felicitation. Instead, he consciousness, everyone thought of ery spiritual seeker can learn the art
Thakorji had fallen was not his first made the swami who was hold- showing Swamishri the orange-sized of leading a God-centered life.
fault. But their bond was different. ing the murti of Bhagwan Swamina- tumor that had been removed. Swa-
Swamishri offered devotion and rayan stand up. mishri did not give any response, but Atmaswarupdas Swami
service to Thakorji with the firm con- Whatever the occasion, big or asked instead, “Where is Maharaj?” BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
viction that he was manifest in the small – an honor in the Canadian He put on the spectacles and first

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