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A Spiritual Travelogue of Pramukh Swami Maharaj
   
 
     
  16 to 30 August 2007  
  
 
   
 
Atlanta (16 to 30 August 2007)
 

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  • 17 August 2007, Edison (Mp3 5,433 KB)
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    • 16 August 2007 (V.S. 2063, Shravan sud 3) Edison, Atlanta
      At 9.10 am Swamishri departed from Edison and landed in Atlanta at 12.13 pm. As Swamishri’s car entered the precincts of Atlanta mandir, devotees and volunteers welcomed him with proclamations of ‘jais’, and the youths performed a ‘bhangda’ dance.
      In the evening the Mayor of Lilburn city, Hon. Jack Bolton, honoured Swamishri with a Key to the City and a proclamation. The Chief of Police, Mr John Davidson, also warmly welcomed Swamishri. In the assembly Mayor Jack Bolton said,   “We have watched with awe as this beautiful mandir has risen from the ground. We cannot help but be inspired by the beauty, the artistry, and the craftsmanship that has gone into this structure. We commend the BAPS for their hard work and dedication to the task that has resulted in this magnificent mandir being opened in just eighteen months. To commemorate this day, we would like to present a proclamation to His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj from the city of Lilburn.”
    • 18 August 2007 (V.S. 2063, Shravan sud 5) Saturday, Atlanta; Kishore-Kishori Day
      The evening satsang assembly was themed  ‘Trust – the World’s Breath’. When Swamishri arrived in the assembly the kishores  performed a welcome dance. After a kirtan related to youths, a poem on trust  was read. In conclusion Swamishri blessed all, “In this world (samsar) one studies and attains material progress, but this does not help one at the time of death and to attain God’s divine abode. For that one needs to  have trust in God – that he is the all-doer. It is because of him that all things are accomplished. Today we find that all countries of the world have progressed. And we believe that this progress achieved is due to our planning, effort and research. But if one thinks profoundly then one will find that it is due to God that everything is accomplished. The reason  is because he resides within us. He resides in all, in all living things – this trust one must develop in life.”
    • 19 August 2007 (V.S. 2063, Shravan sud 6) Sunday, Atlanta; Bal-Balika Day
      In the evening assembly a drama on ‘Vande Mataram’ was performed. Thereafter Swamishri blessed the special Bal-Balika Day assembly, “In today’s times we feel troubled  about our children and  teenagers. There is a big problem about how to impart values to them? Along with your job or business if you do not take care of your children, who are equal to wealth, then you will not be happy with the money you earn. Today people forget values  because of their wealth and luxuries. Because  of no cultural values taught in schools the lives of teenagers have become strange and odd. Eating habits, love relationships and marriage without consulting parents take place. So it is the great duty and responsibility of parents not to forget their values and culture.”
    • 22 August 2007 (V.S. 2063, Shravan sud 9) Wednesday, Atlanta; Vastu Pravesh
      Prior to the vastu pravesh ritual ceremony (sanctification of mandir) Swamishri performed pujan of the kalashes and flagstaffs and then  showered rice grains and flowers and performed arti. Thereafter the vastu pravesh rituals were performed beneath the mandir done by Tyagvallabh Swami, Ishwarcharan Swami, Viveksagar Swami and senior devotees.
     
       
     

          How to Become 'Thorn-Proof'

    • 18 August 2007, Atlanta
      Two teenage satsangi boys prayed to Swamishri, “Bapa, give us such slippers to wear so that no thorns of this world can pierce through.”
      Swamishri replied, “That’s right. But if you see television programmes then stop it, otherwise the thorns will pierce you. Do not eat meat, and food in hotels and restaurants. If you observe this much then no thorns will pierce you. But when you indulge in all things and then come and say the ‘thorns’ (have pierced through and) are hurting you – then what else can be done!”
      For spiritual progress and happiness observance of niyams are essential and indispensable.
     
         
       
         
     

    To please Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj children, youths and senior devotees perform austerities, pilgrimages or other devotional means. The spiritual endeavors performed by the devotees during Swamishri's visit to the local centers are congratulatory and worthy of recognition. It also reflects Swamishri's divinity for inspiring such spiritual efforts in children, teenagers and devotees.

         17 August 2007, ATLANTA

    • Jyotsnaben Patel of Perry has been taking only one meal daily since 2006 for Swamishri’s good health. 100 yuvatis of the Southeast region observed 100-hr liquid fasts.

         21 August 2007, ATLANTA

    • Shailesh, Amit and Ravi of Atlanta have been offering their voluntary services for the mandir festival and observing liquid fasts for the last three months.

          22 August 2007, ATLANTA

    • 84 women devotees of Tampa mandal have been observing  chain-fasts since the celebration of Swamishri’s 84th birthday (2004).

           25-31 August 2007, ATLANTA

    • During Swamishri’s breakfast and meal times brief reports on satsang activities were presented by volunteers from different centres: Rome, Chattanooga, Florence, Columbia, Birmingham, Augusta and Orangeburg.