19 March 2004 (V.S. 2060, Fagun vud 14) Friday, Bochasan, Umlav, Sarol, Bochasan
At 5.15 p.m. Swamishri arrived in Umlav. He had performed the murti-pratishtha here 22 years ago. Today, Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha of the new murtis and then blessed the devotees.
At 8.00 p.m. Swamishri arrived in Bochasan.
Swamishri performs arti
21 March 2004 (V.S. 2060, Chaitra sud 1) Sunday, Bochasan, Borsad, Badalpur
At 6.10 p.m. Swamishri left Bochasan for Borsad, where a new assembly hall had been built. The murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and the Guru Parampara for the assembly hall were positioned on the stage. Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha of the murtis.
Murtis at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Badalpur
22 March 2004 (V.S. 2060, Chaitra sud 2) Monday, Badalpur
Today marked the 10th patotsav (mandir inauguration anniversary) of the Badalpur mandir.
At 10.00 a.m. Swamishri performed the mahapuja held to commemorate this occasion. A beautiful annakut was offered to Thakorji and at the end Swamishri performed the Patotsav arti.
Swamishri blesses the assembly
23 March 2004 (V.S. 2060, Chaitra sud 3) Tuesday, Badalpur
After Swamishri's morning puja, a special assembly in honor of Harikrishna Maharaj was held.
Blessing the assembly, Swamishri said, "Whatever one does should be to please God. Do not have any other wish. If one desires other things, one will get only that much. But, even then, those things do not come with us (after death) and perish. But if one does as per the wish of God, He gives everything. He gives worldly happiness and divine bliss. He gives peace in one's worldly duties and gives the bliss of atma and the abode of Paramatma."
At the end of the assembly, Swamishri was garlanded with an 84 inch garland of 548,400 sesame seeds, and an 84 inch garland of 6,484 elaichis and 3,484 lavings devotionally made by the women devotees of Badalpur.
Swamishri performs the murti-pratishtha arti
24 March 2004 (V.S. 2060, Chaitra sud 4) Wednesday, Badalpur, Undel, Khambhat
At 10.15 a.m. Swamishri arrived in Undel to perform the murti-pratishtha of the new hari mandir.
Swamishri has darshan of Thakorji on arrival
26 March 2004 (V.S. 2060, Chaitra sud 5) Friday, Khambhat, Nagra, Malu, Mahelav, Nadiad
In the evening Swamishri arrived in Nadiad and attended the welcome assembly. BAPS youths of Adas performed a welcome dance and BAPS youths of Nadiad honored Shri Harikrishna Maharaj. Swamishri blessed the assembly.
Swamishri performs pujan of the murtis
27 March 2004 (V.S. 2060, Chaitra sud 6) Saturday, Nadiad
At 9.25 a.m. Swamishri arrived for the yagna rituals for the murti-pratishtha of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Radha Krishna Dev and Guru Parampara for the BAPS Swaminarayan Smruti Mandir in Nadiad. The yagna had 79 yagna-pits with 555 participants. The yagna rituals for murtis for BAPS hari mandirs of South Gujarat, namely, Kolak, Siyada, Udhna, Sachin, Kudiyana and Kadod were also performed by Swamishri. Altogether, Swamishri performed murti-pratishtha rituals of seven BAPS hari mandirs. Finally, he blessed the assembly.
From 4.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. a grand procession of the murtis for the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Smruti Mandir was carried out on the streets of Nadiad with devotion and enthusiasm.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Smruti Mandir located at the Amdavadi Bajar in Nadiad - the place where Bhagwan Swaminarayan met Bishop Reginald Heber on 26 March 1825
28 March 2004 (V.S. 2060, Chaitra sud 7) Sunday, Nadiad
Swamishri arrived at the Amdavadi Bazar area to perform the murti-pratishtha rituals of BAPS Swaminarayan Smruti Mandir which commemorates the meeting of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Bishop Heber on 26 March 1825. Firstly, Swamishri unveiled a plaque and consecrated a shrine with Shriji Maharaj's footprints in the mandir compound.
Thereafter Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Radha Krishna Dev and Guru Parampara. In his blessings Swamishri described how Bishop Heber came to meet Bhagwan Swaminarayan and how he was impressed with Maharaj's works and divine personality. "Bhagwan Swaminarayan met Bishop Heber at this place. With the efforts and cooperation of all a beautiful mandir has come up here. God has been consecrated here for the liberation of countless souls. May all take the opportunity of having darshan here and become happy in life."
Thereafter Swamishri attended the murti-pratishtha assembly and blessed the devotees.
Swamishri rocks Shri Harikrishna Maharaj in the cradle to celebrate the birth of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
30 March 2004 (V.S. 2060, Chaitra sud 9) Tuesday, Nadiad; Shri Hari Jayanti
Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of the canvas murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and Shri Radha Krishna Dev for a BAPS kutir mandir in Cheri village of Valsad district.
At 9.45 a.m. Swamishri gave diskha to 57 youths, out of which 18 youths were given parshad diksha and 39 parshads were given the bhagwati diksha.
At 6.30 p.m., the Shri Hari Jayanti celebration commenced with dhun and prayers. Thereafter Brahmadarshan Swami spoke about the purpose of Bhagwan Swaminarayan's birth. The story of Joban Pagi's transformation was enacted. Atmatrupt Swami spoke about the socio-spiritual activities performed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. A drama on Devji Bhagat's faith in Shriji Maharaj was performed. BAPS youths of Vadodara performed a beautiful traditional folk dance. Ishwarcharan Swami elaborated upon the divine nature of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. This was followed by another drama 'Bhaktavtsal Shri Hari' by youths. A speech on the impact of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Guru Parampara was delivered by Viveksagar Swami. Thereafter the senior sadhus honored Swamishri with a variety of garlands. A traditional dance "Chaitra sud navami avi..." was performed by BAPS youths of Nadiad. In conclusion Swamishri blessed the assembly, "Bhagwan Swaminarayan came on this earth to redeem countless people. Today it is also the birth of Bhagwan Shri Ram. We have been blessed with the two celebrations so that we may attain Ram Rajya and Akshardham. We need Ram Rajya in our country. If we attain Ram Rajya, that is, the way in which Ram ruled our country, then there will be peace in India. And if we worship Bhagwan Swaminarayan then we will attain Akshardham and therefore eternal happiness... Bhagwan Swaminarayan gifted the Shikshapatri for the benefit of all mankind, regardless of distinction of color or religion."
At 10.20 p.m. Swamishri performed the Shri Hari Jayanti celebration arti and then rocked Shri Harikrishna Maharaj in a decorated swing.