It was an unforgettable day: 17 August 2016. Rainless clouds scurried across the sky. The only water that poured was that which gushed forth from the eyes of mourners. The air was filled with the sound of gusting wind and thousands weeping. The fire crackled loudly from the funeral pyre as they watched in grief. The world bid farewell to a great personality on this day. Men and women of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds flocked to Sarangpur. They all shared one common desire – to have one final darshan of Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

The love and friendship that echoed from the wide spectrum of people gives a glimpse into Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s unconditional love for others, playing an integral role in the lives he touched. It was a reflection of his suhradbhav towards all.

In the words of Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji of the Divine Life Society, there was an “aura of saintliness, brotherhood and world harmony radiating around him.” This very sentiment is reflected by Mahant Swami Maharaj in shloka 140 of the Satsang Diksha:

Yogiji Maharaj propagated the virtue of suhradbhav – fraternity – as an all-encompassing, crown jewel of spiritual endeavours. It was this quality of Pramukh Swami Maharaj which endeared him not only to his devotees, but also to individuals from many walks of life. Swamishri’s suhradbhav for all enabled him to build bridges and meaningful relationships with people of all backgrounds. With such suhradbhav he was able to serve as an ever-loving parent, caring friend, and forgiving leader.

Ever-Loving Parent

The strongest experience children have is the love from their parents. Bhaskar Mehta of Bharuch, lost his father at a young age. However, this gap was filled by Swamishri, who regularly mentored Bhaskar through important decisions in his life and showered him with fatherly love.

One such decision was his marriage. Despite Swamishri’s hectic schedule, he guided Bhaskar in planning his new future. Swamishri aided in the search of a suitable companion for Bhaskar and helped plan the wedding details. Just as a father would, Swamishri coordinated with Bhaskar and the family of his fiancée, Snehal, arranging everything from the wedding date to invitations, and the menu to marriage rituals.

However, Bhaskar faced a major hurdle – financing the wedding. Overwhelmed with tension, he met Swamishri regarding his financial challenge. Swamishri reassured him, “Don’t worry about the wedding. I am coming to Bharuch soon. I will arrange your wedding during my visit and take care of everything.” One can imagine how comforted Bhaskar must have felt upon hearing these words.

True to his promise, Swamishri instructed sadhus and devotees to assist in organizing the wedding. When the wedding day arrived, both Bhaskar and Snehal were left speechless. There was a great amount of detail paid to the wedding decoration and arrangements. Both families celebrated this memorable occasion with joy and gratitude. Swamishri, who oversaw the entire wedding, filled the void of a father for Bhaskar, who lost his father before he had learned to walk and the bride who had lost her father to a fatal accident. Bhaskar and Snehal’s eyes filled with tears as their hearts danced with joy.