Sharad Purnima
7 October 2006 (VS 2062, Aso sud 15) Wednesday, Mumbai; Sharad Punam & Patotsav
The 221st birthday anniversary of Gunatitanand Swami was celebrated in the mandir hall. The celebration assembly was themed on the importance of Gunatitanand Swami’s presence on earth. Speeches on Gunatitanand Swami as an ideal sadhu, an inspirer of God-realization in devotees, and the promoter of supreme upasana were made by sadhus. Thereafter a drama, “Abhaysinh’s Resoluteness”, was performed in Swamishri’s presence. Viveksagar Swami discoursed about the eternal presence of the Gunatit Sadhu. Then the youths of Mumbai performed a traditional dance.
Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly, “Shriji Maharaj said that he had come on earth with his abode, Gunatit. He brought his abode with him because he wanted all to attain the gunatit state – free of all desires – and liberate them from root-ignorance. It is because of body-consciousness (dehbhav) that one remains ignorant. Till one does not realize one’s original form (i.e. atma), one remains ignorant. One must perform one’s worldly duties, but one’s mind should be engaged in God.”
At 7.45 pm Swamishri performed the celebration arti.
15 October 2006 (VS 2062, Aso vad 9) Sunday, Mumbai
The evening satsang assembly was themed on the yoga-yagna niyams under the auspices of the BAPS Centenary Celebration year. Swamishri inspired the congregation with his blessings, “You should take the niyams as per your time constraints and personal suitability. There is no point in pledging all the niyams and then fulfilling none of them. If you have time then subscribe to all of them. The important thing is that whatever you do it should be done to please Shriji Maharaj. Without entertaining any worldly desire or expectation, one should nourish pure feelings of pleasing God. While observing the rituals one must give up all worldly thoughts and solely become focussed. By making spiritual efforts one gets the grace of God. Do not do it for show or that others may praise you, because you will not benefit thereof. Do it to please God, to gain peace of mind, and that you be blessed with Akshardham.”
The devotees placed their yoga-yagna pledges into a joli as they filed passed after Swamishri’s darshan.
Swamishri blesses the satsang assembly
16 October 2006 (VS 2063, Aso vad 10) Monday, Mumbai, Youth Day
In the evening assembly the youths of Mumbai mandal performed three skits to inspire pride for BAPS. The first skit showed that though the parents were good satsangis the traditions of Satsang were not followed by their children. The second skit depicted the situation where the kids followed the satsang niyams but were not respectful and obedient to their parents. And the final skit portrayed the effect of bad company (kusang) in childen. Finally, Swamishri talked about values, respect to parents and the importance of doing satsang and staying away from kusang.