Pramukh Swami Maharaj's absolute poise in the face of the attack on
Akshardham amazed everyone.
His appeal for peace impressed all.
Under normal circumstances
we are all calm, good, understanding and helpful. But in adverse situations
or tragic events, we break down and collapse or become violent and
explosive. The emotional turmoil throws us off balance in times of
tragedy, difficulty and even in success.
When the terrorists struck Akshardham, Pramukh Swami Maharaj's sthitpragnata
(balance of mind) was amazing. When the whole world was stunned and
shocked with disbelief, disgust and hatred at the cowardly act, Swamishri
calmly prayed and set about reinstating things to normal. He appealed
to the devotees and citizens of Gujarat to remain calm and peaceful.
He attended to those who came to offer their condolences and to those
who came to seek solace. Such resource of equanimity is not found
in ordinary human beings, but in people who are divine. The spiritual
virtues in a physically diminutive 82-year-old Pramukh Swami Maharaj
amazed all.
When the terrorists entered the Akshardham precincts at 4.45 p.m.
and went on the rampage, Vishwavihari Swami, the administrator of
Akshar-dham, was informed of the attack on the intercom telephone
system. The District Superintendent of Police, Collector of Gandhinagar
and other officials were called for help. Thereafter, Vishwavihari
Swami rang up Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Sarangpur. At that time, Swamishri
was engaged in a meeting regarding the BAPS relief and rehabilitation
projects in Kachchh. On hearing of the tragedy, Swamishri calmly informed
those before him, "Terrorists have entered Akshardham and they
have killed many people. Let us pray to God that no further killing
takes place. May the terrorists be caught." And Swamishri became
absorbed in prayer. Then he instructed Ishwarcharan Swami, Anandswarup
Swami, Brahmavihari Swami and Nikhilesh Swami who had come for the
meeting to rush back to Gan-dhinagar. Swamishri told the 250 sadhus
and 2000 devotees who had gathered for the festival of Shastriji Maharaj's
shraddh to join in the prayers.
After the prayers, Swamishri became engaged, without a hint of the
disturbance, in a meeting with sadhus and devotees of Surat regarding
the ongoing local construction of a BAPS hospital. At 7.30 p.m., Swamishri
went to the Yagnapurush Smruti Mandir and prayed by chanting the Swaminarayan
dhun while performing pradakshinas. He prayed, "May there be
no further loss of lives and the operation be resolved peacefully..."
On returning to his room, Swamishri became engaged in replying to
phone calls from people offering their condolences from India and
abroad. Many religious leaders and political leaders like the Deputy
Prime Minister L.K. Advani, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Ahmed Patel
on behalf of the Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi and the President
of India Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam expressed their personal sympathies
by phone to Swamishri.
Swamishri then held a meeting with Dr Swami, Tyagvallabh Swami, Viveksagar
Swami, Narendraprasad Swami, Gnaneshwar Swami, Narayanmuni Swami and
others to announce the cancellation of Shastriji Maharaj's shraddh
assembly the following day and transform it into a memorial meeting.
Swamishri then advised that the prasad of dudhpak that had already
been prepared be distributed to orphans and school children in the
surrounding villages. He also instructed that all BAPS centres in
India and abroad should join in prayers on the day of shraddh the
following day.
All the while, Swamishri's constant communication and suggestions
provided guidance and moral and emotional support to the sadhus in
Akshardham.
By 9.00 p.m. all the pilgrims, except those in the multimedia theatre,
had been safely evacuated. The heated exchange of fire between terrorists
and commandos and the proximity of the terrorists to the multi-media
theatre left no alternative but to keep the 85 visitors locked inside
the multimedia hall. When Swamishri was informed of this late in the
night, he enquired about provisions for drinking water and the toilet
arrangements, especially for children and the elderly. Though there
were no such arrangements available inside, makeshift provisions were
immediately set up on Swamishri's instruction. Swamishri was, at the
same time, concerned that the attack could spark off a communal backlash.
At 12.35 a.m. he got news by phone that Parameshwar Swami had become
a fatal victim of a terrorist's bullet. Swamishri grieved for his
loss and to prevent any eruption of communal violence he urgently
sent an appeal for peace and prayer to the print and electronic media.
The appeal played a major role for peace in the days to come.
For the next two days, Wednesday 25 September and Thursday 26 September,
the people of India observed a strike to mourn and pay respects to
the dead. All public services, offices and businesses were closed
in Gujarat, Mumbai and many other parts of India. The national strike
was a cause for concern for many leaders, for it could spark off violence
on a national scale. But Swamishri's appeal for peace had an overwhelming
impact. The two-day strike was observed peacefully and even in Amdavad,
a communally sensitive city, there was no incident of agitation or
violence.
Tim Sullivan, the South Asia head for Associated Press, during his
visit to Akshardham on 1 October asked a mandir official, "Whenever
something of this sort happens in Gujarat there is violence. Why has
Gujarat remained peaceful this time?" The official replied, "Due
to Pramukh Swami's appeal the people of Gujarat have remained calm.
For the last three decades people have been witnessing the socio-spiritual
services that Pramukh Swami Maharaj has been performing in Gujarat.
This includes the relief and rehabilitation services after the Kachchh
earthquake and the Orissa Cyclone, and services in the field of health,
education, etc. People know that he has been contributing for peace
and betterment of society, and that is why people have observed his
appeal for restraint and peace."
"Is it only because of Swami's appeal that there has been peace?"
Tim asked. The official replied, "Other religious and political
leaders have appealed for peace but Pramukh Swami Maharaj's appeal
has carried more weight because the incident took place on our own
premises."
The leader of a popular Hindu organisation told Swamishri, "Swami
if you had only signalled otherwise, then things would have been different.
There is peace in Gujarat and Bharat because of your appeal. Through
your powers of austerity and goodness there has been peace."
A social thinker lauded Swami's peace appeal, "Swami, you have
saved Gujarat from another chapter of violence."
The attack on an exquisite religious place like Akshardham and the
killing of innocent men, women and children was unbearable and intolerable
for all. For those deeply dedicated to Hinduism and all apostles of
humanitarism it was a heart-wrenching incident. In such circumstances
how could one bear and tolerate such pain and injustice! But Swamishri's
voice resonated with words of peace, "It is a time to maintain
peace and unity and offer sympathy. Pray that such violence never
occurs to anyone, in any part of the world."
The kshatriyas of a village in Saurashtra came to Swamishri in Sarangpur
and told him about a condolence meeting arranged by them. Swamishri
advised, "Talk about peace and make sure there are no angry and
inflammatory speeches…"
Swamishri's composure was appreciated by all. A TV channel anchorman-cum-educationist
said, "Leading members of the intelligentsia are impressed by
Pramukh Swami's call for peace. If something like this had happened
in one's own place, then the person concerned would have given statement
after statement to become popular. However, Pramukh Swami and his
sadhus, rather than issuing statements or reacting with anger, have
remained silent and engaged in the service of the victims. And to
add more, instead of becoming emotionally paralysed, the entire Sanstha
was actively engaged in service. This is a congratulatory approach."
Swamishri remained in Sarangpur for another four days after the tragedy
due to ill health and instructions from the state police. To look
after the situation in Akshardham, Swamishri had sent Dr. Swami and
Ishwarcharan Swami. Under their guidance, Anandswarup Swami, Vishwavihari
Swami and other sadhus handled the post-attack responsibilities. On
Swamishri's instruction, the hospitalised victims at the Civil Hospital
in Amdavad and their relatives were provided with meals and fruits
from the BAPS mandir in Shahibaug. Dedicated doctors of BAPS, Dr.
Bajadia, Dr. Harshad Joshi, Dr. Bharat Panchal and others offered
their services with the doctors of the Civil Hospital in Amdavad.
At the Civil Hospital in Gandhinagar the patients were under the care
of Dr. Mangalbhai Patel (a devotee) and other doctors.
The rush of media reporters and dignitaries from Wednesday 25 September
onwards was satisfactorily attended by Brahmaprakash Swami, Vivekjivan
Swami, Brahmavihari Swami, Aksharvatsal Swami and other volunteers.
BAPS sadhus personally consoled the relatives of those who had died
and sent them condolence letters on behalf of Swamishri.
In this way Swamishri actively guided and inspired the sadhus and
volunteers to offer their services during and after the attack.
On Sunday 29 September, Swamishri travelled from Sarangpur to the
Civil Hospital in Amdavad and personally blessed and consoled more
than 24 injured commandos, policemen and visitors being treated in
different wards. The victims and their relatives were moved by the
compassion and strain taken by Swamishri.
In a letter to the editor's section of The Times of India on 8-10-02,
Kaushik Joshi wrote, "In the wake of the attack on Akshardham,
Pramukh Swami has shown magnanimity by not indulging in any blame
game and imputing motives. Akshardham is his most priceless, splendid
and wonderful creation. Yet, he has been calm. His saintliness is
very touching. His heart bleeds for the helpless victims of the barbaric
act…"
A renowned Jain acharya, Pujya Shri Chandrashekharvijayji, wrote a
letter to Swamishri, "An idol of patronage, gem among saints
and the highest devotee of God Swamishri Pramukh Swamiji,
"My heart is intensely shocked at the terrible turmoil that broke
out on Akshardham. To ask you what pain must have afflicted you is
improper because you are a saint who lives on a sthitpragna level.
You console devotees who come in tears to offer their condolences.
This is the high level of saintliness you have."
In the Shrimad Bhagvat Gita, Arjun enquires of Shri Krishna as to
how a person with a steady mind (sthitpragna) speaks, behaves, etc.
Shri Krishna replies, "Sukhe-dukhe same krutvã lãbhãlãbhau
jayãjayau…" A sthitpragna person is one who is undisturbed
in happiness and misery, in gain and loss and in victory and defeat.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj's unwavering steadiness and calmness in the
midst of the carnage at Akshardham and his appeal for peace thereafter
is a living proof in our contemporary times of the highest Hindu wisdom
prescribed in our scriptures and of the great souls that lived in
the past. As long as we have sthitpragna souls like Pramukh Swami
Maharaj there will be sanity, peace and redemption in our world.
