From Dross to Gold

Lord Swaminarayan distributed wheat for grinding among the people of Jetalpur in preparation for a yagna. A prostitute, Laxmi, was also inspired to grind the grains. She kept awake the whole night and ground the wheat with her own hands. As a result, boils showed up on her palms. When, in the morning, she brought the ground flour, the people simply could not believe their eyes. Her sincere and devout efforts won for her the grace of Lord Swaminarayan, which cleansed her immoral heart. Thus dross became gold in the spirit of the Bhagavad Gita. No wonder Kishorelal Mashruwala says, "Lord Swaminarayan, like Buddha, deserves the highest laurels for the sea of transformations brought about by Him among the people. He created spiritual regeneration en masse by fostering devotional fervor in their hearts and by eradicating addictions and immoral habits from their lives."