Centenary Patotsav of Bochasan Mandir ,
26 April 2007 (V.S. 2063, Vaishakh sud 10) Thursday, Bochasan.
A yagna had commenced in the morning for the ‘Anant Kalash Maha Abhishek’ to commemorate the centenary of Bochasan Mandir.
After completing his morning puja Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of arti and pujan of murtis for the hari mandirs in Sayajipura (near Vadodara) and Ambaliyara.
27 April 2007 (V.S. 2063, Vaishakh sud 11) Friday, Bochasan, Anant Kalash Maha Abhishek Festival.
To Celebrate The Centenary of Bochasan Mandir a maha abhishek was arranged today. Yesterday morning the yagna for the maha abhishek was performed, and from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm senior sadhus and devotees completed the rituals of kalash sthapan of 1000 kalashes under a canopy set up by the mandir steps. The 1000 kalashes contained water of rivers, lakes and wells sanctified by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Today, Swamishri performed the maha abhishek arti of Thakorji in the central shrine. Thereafter the maha abhishek rituals, in which 1000 devotees had participated, continued while Swamishri performed his puja on the nearby school grounds of Swaminarayan Vidya Mandir.
When Swamishri arrived for the maha abhishek in the mandir sanctum, mantras were chanted by Brahmin pandits. Swamishri performed abhishek of Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj and other murtis with saffron water. Thereafter Swamishri performed abhishek on the utsav murti of Maharaj and a little murti of Thakorji, and its water was channelized towards the main sanctum and released in a shower upon the main murtis. Thereafter the devotees performed the abhishek. Then Swamishri performed abhishek of the gurus in the guru shikhars.
At 10.00 am Swamishri arrived for the festival assembly that had commenced after his puja. Satyaprakash Swami had spoken about the history of Bochasan Mandir, Brahmadarshan Swarmi discoursed about Akshar-Purushottam upasana, Dr Swami explained what one should do to celebrate BAPS the centenary year and Mahant Swami spoke about God’s power and the development of BAPS through piety. Thereafter Swamishri performed abhishek of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj so that all could have darshan in the assembly. Then the senior sadhus honoured Swamishri with garlands. Then 158 kishores performed a traditional dance on the bhajan, “Akshar-Purushottam na danka digantma sambhalay chhe.” Finally, Swamishri blessed the festival assembly, “One is blessed with merits by the mere darshan of this festival. One also gets the same merits by serving physically and mentally appreciating the festival to be divine.
“Akshar Purushottam Maharaj was first consecrated here in Bochasan. On the occasion of its centenary celebration the murtis were ritually re-secrated (punah pratishtha). It is not that the pratishtha of God’s murti is done again because it has lost its divinity. God never loses his divinity and powers. If his power dwindles then we would become drained of strength. We perform this festival (of patotsav) to reinstate our own strength lost due to our lapses.
“Whatever glory we have of God will be useful to us. God’s power is infinite. By having faith in God’s powers one’s life’s works will be accomplished. Offering devotion, service and upasana to him with an understanding of his glory one attains Akshardham. One cannot achieve this through austerity, donation, pilgrimage and other means. The glory of such means has been written in the shastras. The pilgrim places have also been extolled in the shastras but their greatness is due to God. God is a maha-tirth. All pilgrim places are included in God and his sadhu. When one understands God’s glory in one’s soul then one attains the highest fruit (of Akshardham).”
29 April 2007 (V.S. 2063, Vaishakh sud 12) Sunday, Bochasan.
Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of arti and pujan of murtis for a hari mandir in Salavada in Panchmahal district.
30 April 2007 (V.S. 2063, Vaishakh sud 13) Monday, Bochasan.
Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of arti and pujan of murtis for a hari mandir in Naldhara-Dungri.
2 May 2007 (VS 2063, Vaishakh sud 15) Wednesday, Bochasan, Amdavad, Gandhinagar.
A mahapuja was arranged for the foundation-stone laying ceremony of a shikharbaddh mandir in Selvas. More than 350 devotees had come to participate from Selvas to Bochasan. The mahapuja rituals were performed in the presence of senior sadhus and devotees. Swamishri performed pujan of soil brought from Selvas and showered rose petals on and performed pujan of the foundation shilas. Finally Swamishri performed arti and blessed the devotees of Selvas.
At 11.25 am Swamishri blessed the Punam assembly, “One’s human birth is fulfilled when one understands the form of God. When the understanding that one is atma, which is our true form, is confirmed, then the bonds of maya and infatuation are dissolved. Thereafter one attains the divine abode of God. The Satpurush’s greatest service is to redeem us from ignorance, maya and base instincts and bless us with a God-conscious life. This is the wealth he gives us. He does not have any other wealth other than God.”
Centenary Patotsav Assembly ,Bochasan