The 109th birthday celebration
of Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj was celebrated with great joy and divinity
in Amdavad. Swamishri's morning puja was enriched with devotional
bhajans on Lord Swaminarayan and Yogiji Maharaj. After puja, Swamishri
paid glowing tributes to the successful efforts of children in their
20-day Deaddiction program by waving a flag and appreciating them
on World Anti-Tobacco Day.
At 10.15 am Swamishri arrived for the Diksha ceremony of 22 youths.
After the Vedic rituals and mantras Swamishri initiated 4 youths into
the sadhu-order and 18 novices into the parshad-order. In his blessings
Swamishri explained, " The greatest service in joining the sadhu-fold
is that they will inspire faith and satsang in countless people which
will liberate them from the cycles of birth and death. The sadhus'
noble service to society is their efforts in redeeming people from
addictions and vices and inspiring character. We desire that our son
becomes a social worker or a national leader or a politician or a
doctor or whatever that is a service to society. Likewise becoming
a sadhu is the greatest service to society. What greater service is
there than to transform all types of people by inspiring character
and virtues! People fail to understand this. And this work is being
done by the wish of Yogiji Maharaj..."
In the main Yogi Jayanti assembly in the evening the senior sadhus
talked glowingly of Yogiji Maharaj's saintliness and purity. Swamishri
blessed the 7,000 congregation, saying, " Like a coconut made
of sugar, where every part is sweet, Yogiji Maharaj's life was full
of sweetness, and glory of God's greatness. He never found fault in
anyone but saw divinity and goodness in all. From his young age he
was inclined towards service and love. He stayed at the mandir in
Dhari to hear discourses, perform arti and puja of Thakorji and clean
the mandir. He also meditated by the village river in the morning.
One would enjoy being with Swamishri. His love, his natural way of
talking would make anyone feel like staying with him. So his sweetness,
that is his divinity, would make any person postpone his work and
stay to avail of his spirituality and he would return with peace in
his llife. Lord Swaminarayan was present in Him..."
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