Page 14 - The Indian EYE 041825

SPECIAL FEATURE APRIL 18, 2025 | The Indian Eye 14

Bhagwan Swaminarayan: A Legacy of

Compassion, Spirituality, and Social Reform

Celebrating His 244th Birth Anniversary

hagwan Swaminarayan was a torchbear- personal lives and character of thousands of
er of Hinduism who ushered in a moral people in a very lawless period. Members of
Band spiritual renaissance in 19th centu- martial and criminal tribes gave up meat and
ry Gujarat. Through his travels and spiritual drink; they renounced the use of opium and
charisma he liberated thousands from the mire tobacco, to both of which most of them were
of vices and superstitions. His unique contri- very much addicted.”
butions for the uplift of society together with A Timeless Message for Modern Times
the spiritual uplift of his followers ranks him as
one of the leading spiritual lights of India. His Sir Charles Cunningham,
legacy is still vibrant today through mandirs, British historian, reflected:
sacred texts, celebrations, social services and “In the 19th (sic) century India into
the lineage of Gunatit gurus like His Holiness which He was born, traditional and mor-
Mahant Swami Maharaj. al standards in many cases had been aban-
doned; crime and violence were common.
s we reflect on His 244th birth anni- His teaching was directed to the reversal of
versary, recently celebrated on April 6,
A2025, we revisit His extraordinary leg- these trends... May we not have something
acy through the eyes of respected historians, to learn from the record of Shree Swamina-
rayan’s life and faith?”
national leaders, and historical journals. These
accounts offer a rare and profound glimpse The Moral Architect of Gujarat
into the life and message of Bhagwan Swam- K.M. Munshi, historian and
inarayan.
legislator, stated:
The One Who Radiated Compassion “Sahajanand Swami arrested the irregu-
larities of caste and Dharma from society and
Gujarat’s historical gazetteers record:
“Wherever Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan propagated the precepts of knowledge and
travelled, he radiated benevolence – digging morality... By His life and work He consolidat-
ed the salient features of Gujarat’s culture.”
wells and constructing stepwells and lakes for
public welfare. He established gaushalas, path- A Dawn of a New Era
shalas, community kitchens, and charitable insti- Kavishwar Nanalal, 19th-century Gujarati poet,
tutions to uplift lives. By eradicating superstitions proclaimed:
and addictions, he dispelled societal darkness.” state of the country compared to its condition previously, “Bhagwan Swaminarayan was the dawn-
will speak volumes for Him…”
The Guardian of Vedic Tradition ing sun of a new era.”
The Torchbearer of Transformation
Renowned historian Shri M.C. Parekh wrote: The Pride of Gujarat
“At India’s historic crossroads, Bhagwan Mahatma Gandhi once reflected:
Swaminarayan elucidated the true essence of “The work Bhagwan Swaminarayan accomplished sin- Chandravadan Mehta, Gujarati scholar, wrote:
“If Sahajanand Swami had not existed,
Sanatan Dharma. While carefully preserving gle-handedly in Gujarat could never be achieved by state then we would not have seen the pride of Gu-
Vedic traditions, he propagated Bhagavata power – not then, nor ever.” jarat that we speak of today... The contribu-
Dharma in its purest form.”
Prostration to the Mountain of Equality tions of Sahajanand to morality, nonviolence
The Peacemaker and virtuousness in Gujarat cannot be said to
The Asiatic Journal (1823) recorded during His lifetime:
Renowned 19th-century historian Henry George “The great principle of Swaminarayan appears to be be of the ordinary.”
Briggs documented: that the souls of all mankind are equal.” An Advancing Sect of Purity
“The extraordinary teachings of Bhagwan
Swaminarayan not only revived Hindu wor- One Journey, Countless Transformations! Sir Monier Williams, Oxford professor of San-
skrit, shared:
ship but created a peaceful Gujarat by giving Freedom fighter Shri Kishorlal Mashruwala noted: “What I saw of their whole system con-
thousands renewed hope and purpose!” “For nearly 30 years, Bhagwan Swaminarayan travelled vinced me that the Swaminarayans are an en-
tirelessly through Gujarat, uplifting people and directing
A Voice of Social Reform and Upliftment ergetic body, and their sect an advancing one...
them towards a path of purity. Among the many great per-
Henry George Briggs further observed: sonalities of His era, Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan stood this sect has done and is doing much good.”
“The genius of Sahajanand Swami was not tallest — as a preacher of forgiveness, a founder of purity May the life and teachings of Bhagwan
confined simply to the rigid re-establishment and of righteousness.” Swaminarayan continue to guide us—foster-
ing compassion in our actions, clarity in our
of Hindu worship in virgin integrity—it was A Reformer in a Lawless Age beliefs, and courage in our service.
also directed against the irregularities of the
age… vast hordes reclaimed to honest and in- Pryns Hopkins, British author, wrote: Lenin Joshi
dustrious pursuits… the present undisturbed “Yet His message had a revolutionary effect on the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

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