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12 February 1999, Friday, Nadiad, India: Launching Bicentenary Celebration
of the Swaminarayan Maha-mantra.
An all-day dhoon programme was launched at Nadiad in the presence
of Pramukh Swami Maharaj as part of the Bicentenary Celebration
of the Swaminarayan Maha-mantra. Swamishri himself inaugurated the
programme after his morning puja by chanting the dhoon for 7 minutes.
197 years ago, Lord Swaminarayan announced the Swaminarayan mantra
for His devotees. To celebrate its Bicentenary, the sanstha has
arranged a three-year program. The announcement of the programs
was to be made in Swamishri’s morning puja. The backdrop had a banner
and the name ‘Swaminarayan’ written in different colours. During
Swamishri’s puja, the sadhus sang bhajans glorifying the Swaminarayan
mantra. Pujya Viveksagar Swami spoke on the glory and history of
the Swaminarayan Mahamantra. Today, a 24-hour programme of chanting
the Swaminaryan maha-mantra was to be launched by Swamishri. The
occasion was inaugurated with the lighting of a lamp by Swamishri
and then he addressed the gathering, "Bhagwan Swaminarayan came
on earth with His divine abode, muktas and divine powers. And when
Ramanand Swami passed away he declared the ‘Swaminarayan’ mantra
for all. The glory of this mantra is unique. By saying it one becomes
free of physical and mental illness and ultimately one becomes blessed
with God’s divine abode. Whenever any national or social problems
arise, Yogiji Maharaj used to chant the Swaminarayan mantra. "This
mantra has been given to us by Bhagwan Swaminarayan, therefore we
should chant it to please God. We should engage ourselves according
to our suitability and degree of faith. Now let us chant the Swaminarayan
mantra..." And Swamishri, with eyes closed and absorbed in the God,
began chanting Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan. The devotees chorused
the mantra and the atmosphere was charged with divinity. For seven
minutes Swamishri chanted the mantra. Announcement Lord Swaminarayan
announced the Swaminarayan mantra on the thirteenth day after the
demise of Ramanand Swami in 1802. To celebrate its Bicentenary,
Pramukh Swami Maharaj has announced a programme of personal and
group participation. The Swaminarayan mantra can be, (1) written
repeatedly in a book (2) chanted while doing the rosary (3) chanting
the mantra in an organised morning procession on the local streets.
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