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700 BAPS Sadhus, Gondal, India

27 May 2003

Rangoli: "Bapa, your wish to have 700 sadhus initiated is being accomplished today."

Swamishri observes the rangoli of Yogiji Maharaj and himself done by a youth before the Yogi Smruti Mandir

Swamishri reverentially offers flowers at the shrine of Yogiji Maharaj in the Yogi Smruti Mandir

Swamishri performs arti of Yogiji Maharaj in the Smruti Mandir

An annakut of 700 items was arranged before Yogiji Maharaj. Swamishri prays and blesses the sadhus

Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami, Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Shri Gopalanand Swami

Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj adorned in chandan

Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Swamishri performs arti of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj...

... and then performs arti of Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Swamishri absorbed in darshan and prayer in Akshar Deri

Devotees during Swamishri's morning puja

Swamishri performs his morning puja

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj

Performs morning puja while sadhus sing bhajans in praise of Yogiji Maharaj

Swamishri inaugurates Swaminarayan Satsang Darshan video cassette on the murti-pratishtha festival in New Delhi and VCDs on past festivals

Rituals being performed for the bhagwati and parshad dikshas

Sadhaks engaged in the parshad diksha rituals, with their parents besides them

Parshad diksha rituals

Swamishri on stage besides the animatronic murti of Yogiji Maharaj

Swamishri performs rituals during the diksha ceremony

Performs the janoi ritual

Swamishri gives diksha-mantra and initiates a parshad into the sadhu-fold

A youth being initiated into the parshad-fold. First he receives a new kanthi from a senior sadhu ...

.. then a gatariyu

... a pagh is placed on his head

. and finally Swamishri smears chandan on his forehead, chest and arms and gives him the diksha-mantra

Then the parshad and his parent stand with folded hands besides Swamishri

Newly initiated parshad, a BS Computer Science graduate from USA, and parent with Swamishri

Swamishri initiates a Nepali youth

Swamishri gives the janoi to a balak