ADARSH

PERSONAL SATSANG DEVELOPMENT E-MAGAZINE

NATIONAL YUVAK-YUVATI MANDAL, UK & EUROPE

Issue 2 | February 2019

VASANT PANCHAMI
The birth of the four pillars
of Ekantik Dharma
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Contents

The Four Pillars of Final Vachanamrut

Ekantik Dharma Resolution Manan Series

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The Four Pillars of

Ekantik Dharma
Vasant Panchami marks the birth of Shikshapatri,
Shastriji Maharaj, Nishkulanand Swami and
Brahmanand Swami. These four embody the
four pillars of ekantik dharma i.e. dharma, gnan,
vairagya and bhakti respectively.

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SHASTRIJI MAHARAJ
Despite great odds his mission to
enshrine the creed of Akshar and
Purushottam in beautiful mandirs
reflects Shastriji Maharaj’s divinity,
devotion, courage, forbearance and
compassion. Once Pramukh Swami
Maharaj was speaking to the sadhus
and explained that the main reason
that Shastriji Maharaj was able to
tolerate and overcome hardships
he faced was his innate sadhuta.
The word sadhuta has a very broad
meaning. It is a collection of many
saintly virtues, one of which is
Shastriji Maharaj’s spirit of tolerance.
Shastriji Maharaj faced adverse
circumstances yet he was calm and
composed.
He faced attempts to pierce large
needles into his body, burn his eyes
with chilli smoke, poison his food
and kill him by pushing him into
a burning stove; yet he remained
composed. Can a person remain
stable with only three annas in the
account while the construction
of large mandirs are in progress?
Shastriji Maharaj did.
Finding Shastriji Maharaj promoting
the Akshar-Purushottam upasana
in Vartal despite the opposition,
Vartal’s Kothari Gordhandas told
him in confidence, “The sadhus
here are up in arms against you,
with crowbars and spades to root
out your existence. So I feel restless
and anxious.” Sensing the kothari’s
affection for him, Shastriji Maharaj
told him, “If we feel we are the doer
of any activity then we will feel the
weight of it. But if we believe Shriji
Maharaj as the doer of everything,
he will see to it that we remain
unharmed.”
The Four Pillars of Ekantik Dharma
It is vital for any leader to remain
stable in difficult times. But is that
possible when the odds are heavily
against you? In such times, only
spiritual understanding helps and
Shastriji Maharaj had that wealth
of spirituality. The letter he wrote
to Nirgundas Swami at the age
of 73 reflects his calmness and
underlying spiritual understanding.
He wrote, “We cannot do anything.
Things will be done if Shriji-Swami
shower their blessings and make it
convenient. I do all that my intellect
guides me to do and when I am
faced with problems, I leave it to
Maharaj and Swami. Then the work
is accomplished. So, the works of
Shrijipura and Junagadh have been
left to Shriji-Swami. It will be done
as they wish. The mandir is Shriji-
Swami’s property, so they will take
care of it. So there is no need to
feel terribly pained. The projects of
mandirs in Gondal and Sarangpur
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were also left to them. In Bochasan,
it was the devotees’ readiness that
worked. Yet the problems were sorted
out by Shriji-Swami. I take courage
from this understanding. So, offer
worship happily.”
The presence of Shastriji Maharaj
ensured that all those who were
associated with him in establishing
the BAPS Sanstha also experienced
this sense of joy.
Renowned advocate, Hariprasad
Choksi, expresses his opinion in
a letter, “During my association
with Shastriji Maharaj, I drew great
pleasure from his discourses and
felt an intense inner calm.” Shastriji
Maharaj helped many become free
of inner turmoil and be peaceful.
He took care of both moksha and
household affairs of the devotees
of the Sanstha, thus combining
spirituality with daily life.
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NISHKULANAND SWAMI
As a prolific and proficient poet, he
composed striking verses of vairagya
easily grasped by lay people. Besides
vairagya and staunch observance
of the sadhu’s vows, his bhakti for
Bhagwan Swaminarayan has been
praised by Gunatitanand Swami in
the ‘Swamini Vato’. Endowed with
such vairagya, he declined to be the
mahant of Gadhada, opting instead
to be the mahant of a mandir in
Dholera, located in an austere and
semi-arid region.
He was a prolific and powerful
poet and ‘Nishkulanand Kavya’
and ‘Bhaktachintamani’ are two
of his eminent works. Each of
these creations is unique in its
prose and subject matter, ranging
from the supremacy of Bhagwan
Swaminarayan to the means of
attaining moksha.
The Four Pillars of Ekantik Dharma
BRAHMANAND SWAMI
He was the most versatile genius
among Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s
paramhansas. His poetic excellence
was acclaimed all over Gujarat then.
He composed 19 texts and over
8,000 padas in Gujarati, Hindi and
other regional dialects. He was also a
celibate of the highest calibre.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan entrusted
him to construct Shikharbaddh
mandirs. Despite scant resources,
he successfully constructed huge
mandirs of exquisite grandeur
in Amdavad, Vadtal, Bhuj and
Junagadh. These stone monuments,
along with his verses, today
remain striking testimonies of his
unmatched versatility.
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SHIKSHAPATRI
On Maha sud 5, Samvat 1826 CE
Bhagwan Swaminarayan presented
to mankind a scripture distilling
the essence of the Hindu dharma,
known as the Shikshapatri. This
sacred text of 212 Sanskrit verses is
considered as a manual of mankind
and infuses a virtuous life. Bhagwan
Swaminarayan describes it as
“sarvajivahitaavaha” - benevolent to
all creatures on earth.
It enjoins practical and prudent
teachings to upgrade an individual’s
life. This incorporates various
aspects of life including bhakti rituals
and festivals, personal hygiene,
ahimsa and vegetarianism, financial
habits and management amongst
other things. Further, it defines
important philosophical parameters
that a jiva needs for salvation. After
defining dharma, gnan, vairagya and
bhakti, it promotes the fundamental
belief of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s
philosophy in verse 116:
“Nijaatmaanam brahmarupam
dehatraya vilakshanam, Vibhaavya
tena kartavya bhaktihi Krishnasya
sarvada.”
“Identify one’s Atma, above the
three bodies, with Aksharbrahman
and then offer worship to Lord
Purushottam.”
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Final Resolution

As the revellers of this vibrant

merriment struggle to comprehend
their thoughts and navigate basic
movements, desperately seeking a
place of silent rehabilitation, a few
hundred metres away, a very serene
atmosphere pervades and captivates
the mind and senses.

An ocean of bliss and tranquillity that

emanates from the presence of God,
showering rays of divinity upon those
who are fortunate to have found
themselves before him. As his holy
footsteps walk towards the captivated
souls, every fibre and pore of the
recipient vibrates with an experience
of intense and unfathomable happiness,
and yet a feeling of complete, total
and unparalleled fulfilment.

His hands fold together; his warm,

loving smile warms the inner
recesses of the heart. He beckons a
young child towards him, placing
his hands upon his head and gifting
him, on the first day of the New Year,
with a lifetime of memories.

His magnetism may have drawn

one from becoming a dishevelled
1 January 2019, 4:15am, Mumbai. My heart was beating with reveller only a stone’s throw away,
anticipation, excitement and indescribable happiness. As but it is his love which has kept us
from becoming a permanent fixture
I walked with my little boy towards the entrance of Dadar
on the compass of the intoxicated
Mandir, revellers from the night before were stumbling crowds. It is this disparity – intangible
desperately to find a place to recover from their merriment. in thought and infinite in measure
Our paths crossed – we were awaiting our first glimpse of – which truly provides the context of
the New Year experienced in Mumbai.
the Satpurush on the first day of the New Year – they were
waiting for their first moment of rest and recovery…it was a Let us pledge to make one final
moment of unfathomable contrast and disparity… resolution so that countless others
need not be made and broken. Let
The bells ring across the continents of the world. A year increments by us ensure that our year, and our life,
one, heralded with a fusion of colour, sound and euphoric celebrations. begins today as an embodiment of
The month and date resets and reflective individuals across the length and what he wants so that we remain on
breadth of the earth introspect on their successes and failures of the year the right side of the spiritual spectrum,
past, and resolve to make improvements for the year ahead. and he remains forever in our hearts.

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Vachanamrut
Manan Series
In the January 2019 issue, Vachanamrut Vartal 5 was selected and
specific questions set out for you to find the answers to.

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Q&A’S FOR VACHANAMRUT VARTAL 5: ONE SHOULD NOT PERCEIVE The Vachanamrut title and
MĀYĀ IN GOD; PERFORMING SIMILAR SERVICE related questions for the month
of February 2019 is:
1) Give your answer in one sentence
VACHANAMRUT
Who should you understand to be above maya? GADHADA II-7:
A POOR MAN
A person who attains me transgresses my māyā.
We request everyone to read this
Vachanamrut and do manan
2) Give your answer in short by attempting to answer the
following questions:
What type of devotee has transcended maya? Despite this, how do they
behave amidst maya? What understanding do they keep? 1) Give your answer
in one sentence
One who has the firm conviction of God - i.e., who has realised God
completely by believing that there are no māyik qualities in His form and Whose favourite Vachanamrut
that that God transcends māyā and the products of māyā, the three gunas was Gadhada II-7?
- has transcended God’s māyā. Despite the fact that he has within him the
products of the gunas of māyā - i.e., the bhuts, the indriyas, the antahkaran 2) Give your answer
and their presiding deities, each of which carries out its respective activities in short
- he is still said to have transcended māyā. This is because even though
the products of māyā are within him, he still realises that the incarnate Despite not wanting to keep
form of Shri Vāsudev Bhagwān, who is worthy to be worshipped by him, inappropriate swabhavs, why
transcends the gunas of māyā; thus, he himself should also be known to do they still remain?
have transcended māyā.
3) Give your answer
in bullet points
3) Give your answer in bullet points
When can vicious natures be
a. Describe the characteristics of one who has refuge of God? eradicated instantly?

• ‘Abandon all other forms of dharma and surrender only unto me.’

• ‘I shall deliver you from all sins, so do not lament.’

• One who has such a firm refuge of God, even if he were to experience
pain equivalent to that of final dissolution, he would not believe anyone
else to be his guardian against such misery except God.

• Moreover, whatever happiness he wishes for, he seeks to attain only

from God.

• Moreover, he behaves only according to the wishes of God.

b. Describe how one can become the highest level of devotee from the
lowest one in this very birth?

• Just as one performs the mānsi pujā of God, if one also performs the
mānsi pujā of the ideal Bhakta along with God by offering him the
prasād of God;

• Just as one prepares a thāl for God, similarly, if one also prepares a thāl
for God’s ideal Bhakta and serves it to him;

• Just as one donates five rupees to God, similarly, if one also donates
money to the great Sant…

• By performing with extreme affection such similar service of God and

the Sant who possesses the highest qualities, even if he is a devotee of the
lowest type, he will become a devotee of the highest calibre in this very
life.

Vachanamrut Manan Series

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What’s on 2019
Important dates for your diary
VASANT PANCHAMI
AT BAPS SHRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR LONDON

AT BAPS MANDIRS AND CENTRES ACROSS THE UK AND EUROPE

Wherever you are in the UK and Europe, there should be celebrations at a BAPS Swaminarayan mandir or centre
not far from you. Please watch out for local announcements for details.

INAUGURATION OF NEW YUVAK-YUVATI PARASABHAS IN KINGSBURY AND WATFORD

We cordially invite all Yuvaks and Yuvatis to attend these sabhas, where learned sadhus from BAPS Shri
Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden will share satsang gnan through katha and ghoshti.

KINGSBURY HIGH SCHOOL QUEEN’S SCHOOL (NORTHSIDE) NOWER HILL HIGH SCHOOL
Bacon Lane, Kingsbury Aldenham Road George V Avenue
(Entrance from stag lane NW9 9AE) Watford Pinner
London NW9 9AT WD23 2TY HA5 5RP

Friday 8 March 2019 Friday 22 February 2019 Friday 1 March 2019

Mahaprasad: 7.00pm | Sabha: 8.00pm

For further information, please contact your local ACO

Adarsh E-Zine © 2019 BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. All Rights Reserved.

Published by: Personal Satsang Development Team – BAPS National Yuvak Mandal Office, UK & Europe
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, 105-119 Brentfield Road, Neasden, London NW10 8LD
T: +44 (0)20 8965 2651 E: becomeadarsh@uk.baps.org W: becomeadarsh.org