As part of the ‘1,000 Nakkar Vidwan Mahotsav’ organized by BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute Australia, a grand celebration was held in the divine presence of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj to honor 1,465 individuals who had memorized the 315 Sanskrit verses of the Satsang Diksha shastra. Devotees from across Australia and New Zealand were present to pay tribute to the time, effort, and unwavering dedication of each scholar.
The event began with the Grand Felicitation Ceremony, in which Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami and Anandswarup Swami presented each Nakkar Vidwan (scholar) with a certificate, trophy, and memento, all previously sanctified by Mahant Swami Maharaj. Devotees honored each Nakkar Vidwan by showering them with flower petals. Thereafter, the scholars participated in a group photo session.
In the evening assembly, the scholars, teachers and parents narrated the transformation in their lives by engaging in this scriptural study. Also, youths presented speeches on verses from the Satsang Diksha, explaining how they have imbibed those virtues in their lives. In addition, youths presented a discussion highlighting that the values in Satsang Diksha are universal and can be useful to every person in the world.
Mahant Swami Maharaj participated in a special Shalaka Spardha. In the first activity, Swamishri selected a shloka and then children recited that shloka and the next three shlokas. In the second activity, he selected a number and the children would recite that shloka. At the end, Swamishri said that his favorite shloka was 108 and the entire audience recited that shloka in unison. Swamishri praised the children for their efforts and guided them on progressing in their lives.
For many individuals, the journey was transformative. Some cultivated the discipline to study the shastra daily, while others learned to balance their time by prioritizing spiritual study over worldly distractions. Friendships flourished through shared study, with individuals supporting each other in their spiritual journeys.
The ‘1,000 Nakkar Vidwan Mahotsav’ reminded everyone of the importance of passing on sacred knowledge across generations and how this brings together individuals from all backgrounds to collectively experience spiritual growth.