1 January 2008 (V.S. 2064, Magshar Vad 9) Mumbai
With the doctors’ instruction for Swamishri’s health check-up in Mumbai Swamishri departed from Ahmedabad airport at 5.00 pm. On landing in Mumbai Swamishri went to the Dadar mandir for Thakorji’s darshan. Thereafter Swamishri left for Jaslok Hospital.
2 Janruary 2008, (V.S. 2064, Magshar Vad 10) Mmbai
In the morning Swamishri’s ECG and echo-cardiogram were taken. Thereafter at 11.05 am Swamishri was wheeled into the cath-lab with the murti of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj. At 11.55 am Dr Ashwinbhai Mehta, who was going to perform the angiography, Dr Fayaz Shawl, a leading expert in critical angioplasty from Washington DC, and Dr Bhattacharya, a renowned heart surgeon of India, arrived. From 11.00 am sadhus and devotees at all Satsang centres in India and abroad had started saying prayers and dhun. The angiography was completed by 2.00 pm. The doctors were satisfied with the condition of Swamishri’s heart vessels. Later when Swamishri was asked as to what he was doing, he replied, “Bhajan.” He recalled the day when Shastriji Maharaj gave him diksha. The next day Swamishri returned to Dadar mandir for recuperation. Every morning, Swamishri performed his morning puja in his room and thereafter went for Thakorji’s darshan. On returning, Swamishri would give darshan to all devotees. From 8 January, Swamishri started his daily rounds in his wheelchair on the mandir terrace. The doctors had advised him to have half-hour daily exposure to morning or evening sunlight. During the day Swamishri read and replied to devotees’ letters, rested and walked briefly on a treadmill.
ABSORBED IN GOD AND GURUS
2 January 2008, Mumbai
After his angiography Swamishri was asked, “Were you under tension?” Swamishri replied with great ease, “I was engaged in bhajan and darshan of Harikrishna Maharaj.” Then Swamishri revealed, “While the angiography was going on, I was engaged in Harikrishna Maharaj’s darshan. Then I distinctly recalled the occasion when Shastriji Maharaj gave me diksha as a sadhu. At night Harijivandas (Swami) talked to me (about taking the sadhu diksha). After I consented, Shastriji Maharaj embraced me and instructed me to tell Yogi Bapa to perform the (next day’s) mahapuja later (than normal) in the morning. When (Swami) was giving me diksha in (Akshar Deri) Yogi Bapa was before me. Shastriji Maharaj told Yogi Bapa to bless me so that I would receive virtues like him. I recollected everything. I offered prostrations to him. I remembered all this clearly, and was also chanting the name of Swaminarayan. My eyes were closed, and when I opened them I would have darshan of the murti of Harikrishna Maharaj.” During the tense medical investigation Swamishri was unworried and absorbed in God and the memories of his guru.
9 January 2008, (V.S. 2064, Pos Sud Padvo)
The day marked Swamishri’s 69th diksha anniversary. Sadhus sang bhajans and shloks in praise of Swamishri during his morning puja. Before Thakorji an ambience of a diksha ceremony had been set up. When Swamishri arrived on a platform to give darshan to the assembled devotees, Kothari Swami tied a nada-chhadi on Swamishri’s right wrist to celebrate the occasion and Viveksagar Swami offered a garland.
12 January 2008, (V.S. 2064, Sud Choth)
Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of pujan and arti of the murtis for the BAPS hari mandir in Ashi. Thereafter he blessed the devotees.
13 January 2008, (V.S. 2064, Sud Pancham)
For convenience of devotees the Uttarayan-Jholi festival was celebrated today. After Thakorji’s darshan Swamishri hailed the jholi mantra, “Narayan Hare Sacchidanand Prabho…” before the devotees. Then Swamishri blessed all, “Jai Swaminarayan. Blessings to you all that Maharaj keeps you happy in body, mind and wealth, and that satsang becomes firm in your soul.” In the evening the Uttarayan festival was celebrated at Bhakti Park in the presence of senior sadhus and 12,000 devotees. Swamishri conveyed his blessings by telephone, “Our Indian festivals are our traditions. Shriji Maharaj celebrated Diwali, Annakut, Fuldol and other festivals. That tradition is alive today. Festivals are associated with God. Through bhakti, spiritual discourses and kirtan our faith and values are strengthened. They give peace and happiness in one’s life. Peace lies in listening to the divine incidents of God.”