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BAPS Boston mandal celebrated Vasant Panchami and Shastriji Maharaj janma jayanti samaiyo in the presence of Pujya Vivekyogi Swami and Pujya Amritcharit Swami. Members of yuvak mandal performed dhoon, prathanaa and kirtans. Dhiran Shah, from Bal Mandal explained why we celebrate Vasant Panchami. Pujya Vivekyogi Swami pointed out the importance Sansakar (values), and how to make them understand value and moral of Indian culture. Remedy to preserve our culture and values is by coming to Mandir on regular basis with your young ones. Coming to Mandir with your whole family is an investment for the whole family not just for one age group. Pujya Amritcharit Swami spoke about P.P Shastriji Maharaj’s boldness throughout his life. He gave many examples from his childhood to, him leaving Vadtal to spread the true Swaminarayan Upasna. Video presentation was shown on how Brahmanand Swami composed a kirtan Taro Chatak Raagilo. At the end Bal Mandal sang India’s national anthem.
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BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Clifton, NJ celebrated the festival of Vasant Panchami in Clifton, New Jersey. The evening assembly was interspersed with several devotional bhajans and Kirtans and video presentations depicting Shashtriji Maharaj’s contribution to the society. P. B. Devendrabhai’s speech centered on why Vasant Panchami marks a glorious occasion in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. He also pointed out that the Vasant Panchami is the celebration four significant events; the advent of the Shikshapatri and the births of Nishkulanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami and Shashtriji Maharaj (Shastri Yagnapurushdas). He further elaborated how Shashtriji Maharaj constructed mandirs in Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladra and Gadhada in the face of relentless persecution by the old sampradaya, and with a scarcity of man, money and stone. The occasion concluded with arti and mahaprasad.
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Jersey City celebrated “Vasant Panchmi” samaiyo with such joy and devotion on January 25, 2004. It is a day to celebrate Shastriji maharaj, Brahmanand swami and Nishkulanand swami’s birthdays along with the great moments when Shreeji Maharaj gave Shikshapatri to the Satsang. With simple decoration of a big cutouts of Bhrahmaswaroop Shastriji Maharaj and the front page of Shiksha Patri along with a few details on the right side of the stage, sabha started with Dhoon and Prarthana. A melodious kirtan “shidne rahiye re kangal re santo” written by nishkulanand swami was sung to create the appropriate environment. A small speech on the letters written by shastriji maharaj to his devotees and by his devotees back to him gave the idea of how difficult situation he must have gone through building the Mandirs and spreading the Akshar Purushottam Upasana. Kirtans such as “tara mukhni lavanta “ and “ rang lagyo mune “ were also sung to make the sabha interesting. A video of P.P. Pramukh Swami Maharaj singing one of his favourite kirtan: “shastriji maharaj no sang” was shown on the screen. As a climax of the sabha, a great parayan was done explaining how shastriji maharaj brought true mahima of akshar and purushottam in front of world by suffering so much himself. It was a very well done Parayan with the reference of the Vachanamrut. At the end, Sabha was lucky enough to have P.P. Swamishree’s Ashirvachan shown on the screen. India’s national anthem ‘ Jan Gan Man ‘ was sung in respect of republican day. Everyone departed with the thoughts of Shastriji Maharaj’s life and work.
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The Washington DC BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir celebrated the auspicious day of “Vasant Panchami” – a birthday of Brahmanand Swami, Nishkulanand Swami, Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj, and one of the most important scripture of Swaminarayan Sampraday, the Shikshapatri. The attendees were graced with the presence of Pujya Viveknidhi Swami and Pujya Haridarshan Swami. |
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Charlotte Mandir celebrated Vasant Panchmi Samaiyo despite an unexpected snow storm. Even though there was a minimal amount of people in attendance due to the weather, there was no deficiency in the enthusiasm and excitement in all that were present. The program began promptly at 4:30pm with sthuti, dhoon and prathna. This was followed by a potpourri of kirthans ranging from satsangi tho thenere kahaiye to Shatrji Maharaj no saang. All who were present enjoyed the mini kirthan aradhna. Pujari presented an eloquent speech on the different characteristics of Shatrji Maharaj’s personality. In conclusion, he tied in how P.P. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s personality is not that different for Shartriji Maharaj’s. The program ended with a short clip of Bapa performing abhishek to the murthi of Neelkant Varni in Bharuch Mandir. Aarthi was performed and dinner was served.
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The Toronto BAPS celebrated the ‘Ekantik Utsav’ of Vasant Panchami Samaiyo on January 25, 2004. The exquisite murti of Shreeji Maharaj adorning the streamers of red and white flowers enhanced the glorious backdrop of the stage symbolizing the enticing colors of ‘Vasant’.
The program was interspersed with a captivating kirtan aradhana that gave a glimpse of the soul stirring kirtan aradhanas of Gadhada in the presence of Shreeji Maharaj.
The crowning address by Pujya JnanPriya Swami enabled the audience to realize that Vasant Panchami is undeniably and ‘Ekantik’ Utsav. He deftly defined the term ‘Ekantik’ with its pillars of Dharma, Gnan, Vairagya and Bhakti and ingeniously described the significance of this day.
It was on this day, that Dharma was born in the form of Shikshapatri. He reminded the audience that by bestowing the Shikshapatri upon us, Shreeji Maharaj indeed ushered the glorious colors of Vasant in to everyone’s lives.
It was also on this very day that Shastriji Maharaj was born who unfolded the complexities and mysteries of the Eternal knowledge of the Akshar Purushottam Upasana– Gnan.
Nishkulanand Swami, the embodiment of ‘Vairagya’ was also born on this auspicious day.
Lastly, Sadguru Brahamanand Swami, who demonstrated exemplary devotion – Bhakti- towards Shreeji Maharaj also was born on this day. Hence, all the pillars of ‘Ekantik’ celebrate their birth on Vasant Panchami and hence the appropriate name- Ekantik Utsav.
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