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Introduction
Birthdays are always a time for
celebration.Yet when celebrating the divine descent of God, festivities
are further endowed with the indelible experience of spiritual joy and
devotion. And when celebrated in the auspicious presence of Swamishri,
the divinity and sublimity of such celebrations take on new heights.
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The God
Supreme, Bhagwan Swaminarayan, chose to descend upon our world
on Chaitra sud 9 - a day we all have come to know as Hari Jayanti.
This year, Swamishri celebrated the Hari Jayanti festival in Sarangpur
- in the precincts of Yagnapurush Smruti Mandir. This small, elegant
mandir stands as a memorial dedicated to Swamishri's guru and
the founder of BAPS, Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj.
The stage erected just outside the entrance way of the mandir
featured a backdrop vividly depicting the illustrious life and
work of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. |
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As the hot summer night passed
on with dances, discourses and devotional singing, the atmosphere
grew intrinsically richer with devotion.
Swamishri also participated in the celebrations by performing
a mahabhishek of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj. Thereafter, Thakorji
was placed in an ornate silver cradle, and Swamishri performed
His arti.
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The celebrations
drew to an end with sadhus joyfully singing traditional devotional
songs marking the birth of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Swamishri joined
in with the singing as the sadhus sang 'Aje Dharma-Bhaktine dwar
nobat vage re lol…'
[The drums are resounding at the home of Dharmadev and Bhaktimata…].But
since the festival was being celebrated in the precincts of Yagnapurush
Smruti Mandir, Swamishri signaled the sadhus to also sing 'Aje
Yagnapurushne dwar…'. 
As the sadhus complied with Swamishri's most appropriate and timely
suggestion, the mood intensified even further.
Swamishri's devotion to both God and Guru was now reaching a peak.
He was singing aloud, clapping energetically, and waving his hands
with exceptional vigor.
The ambience was highly charged with devotion and elation.
Even as Swamishri arose to make his way to the car, the rousing
singing and clapping continued. Swamishri couldn't help but to
dance even a couple of steps to the resounding beat of the drums
before leaving the stage.
Swamishri was clearly reveling in the divinity of the night. So
much so, he continued to repeatedly sing to himself 'Aje Yagnapurushne
dwar nobat vage re lol…' even in the car - right until he
reached inside his room. |
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The climax
of the night came, though, in the quiet quarters of Swamishri's
own bedroom. So elated was Swamishri, that - to the utter surprise
and joy of the few present - he began dancing! And singing alone
'Aje Yagnapurushne dwar nobat vage re lol…'!
The celebrations had come to a grand crescendo.
Or so everyone thought. This, in fact, was merely the setting
of the scene for the even finer events that were yet to unfold
at various locations the following day… |
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