Women at BAPS Mandirs across North America celebrated the birthday of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Bhagwan Ram through a cultural program themed “Akshar na vasi vahlo, aavya avni par”. It is stated in Hindu scriptures that Purshottam Bhagwan incarnates on this earth to guide souls in living a virtuous life and attaining salvation.
The program imparted the virtues of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Bhagwan Ram and showed the audience effective ways to develop them within oneself. The program’s elements stressed Sitaji’s understanding of Ram’s duties as a king and exemplar to His people, as well as Sabri’s patience and trust in her guru’s word in meeting Ram Bhagwan Himself. An ideal guru is one whose life and actions reflect the characteristics of Bhagwan as an example for devotees. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired these ideal traits to maintain harmony within the family and community and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj continues to nurture these qualities in millions of devotees around the world.
Mahant Swami Maharaj has often noted that the true meaning of extolling the virtues of Bhagwan is reflecting them within oneself. Only then can one experience the true peace and contentment gained from our association of Bhagwan. The realistic scenarios and characters in program skits provided effective ways to nurture those qualities.