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Click to read: [Bhagatji Maharaj Chapter 29 (pg 61-64)]

Discussion Points:

Group 1: (6-9yrs)

The power of following Aagna: 

1. Revelation of Divinity:
   1. Let’s first recall all the prasangs in this chapter where Bhagatji Maharaj reveals his divinity: 
      1. Crossing the flooding river Shetrunji in 1914
      2. Healing the devotee that was bitten by a dog 
      3. Narsinbhai’s poison biter is relieved due to the chanting of the Swaminarayan Mahamantra
      4. When the devotees were first red by the thorns and stones on the road, Bhagatji Maharaj made them hold each others toes and pray with their eyes shut. When they opened their eyes, they were in Gadhada. 
      5. When devotees followed his Aagna to offer oil to the Hanumanji murti sanctified by Shreeji Maharaj their cholera was cured.
      6. In his final illness, despite being very ill, Bhagatji used his yogic powers and got out of his bed rest and walked to do darshan on the day of Annakut.
   2. What do these miraculous incidents reveal about Bhagatji Maharaj? 
      1. On the surface, we see that Bhagatji Maharaj has a control over nature and unique healing abilities. 
      2. But in our Sanstha, miracles have never been the basis of understanding our Guru’s greatness. Our Gurus are Aksharrup. This means that they are above maya and infinite universes revolve in each pore of their body! For a person as powerful as this, performing miracles on this earth is nothing but child’s play. Its like how easy it is for a year 4 student to answer a year 1 Maths question. The real way we can understand their greatness is by looking at their Sadhana. 
      3. What does Sadhana mean? 
         1. Sadhana means following a strict spiritual path involving putting your own wants and needs to one side. Following Aagna is doing Sadhana as you have to be disciplined and follow your Guru’s words to the T. 
         2. For example, the Bal Balikas who completed their Mukhpath of 315 shlokas did Sadhana! They followed their Mahant Swami Maharaj’s Aagna and had to have a lot of discipline to learn and memorize the shlokas. 
      4. Think back to the previous chapters of Bhagatji Maharaj’s life to understand the Sadhana he did: To do this, flick back to the previous chapters and fill in the gaps:
         1. Bhagatji Maharaj followed Gunatitanand Swami’s Aagna and called mount ——- 
         2. Bhagatji Maharaj understood Gunatitanand Swami’s wish and gave water to the ——— mango trees 
         3. Bhagatji Maharaj churned —— stone at the risk of becoming —— to please Gunatitanand Swami. 
      5. From the above Prasangs we can see how Bhagatji Maharaj did Sadhana, by strictly following Gunatitanand Swami’s Aagna. 
   3. How does performing Sadhana relate to being able to show such miraculous abilities: 
      1. we should remember that these abilities are such a secondary and less important byproduct. 
      2. Bhagatji Maharaj always followed the Aagna of his Guru Gunatitanand Swami. Due to his firm binding to his Guru’s Aagna, both Gunatitanand Swami and Shreeji Maharaj were happily bound to Bhagatji. This discipline of following Aagna allowed him to be a pure vessel through which Shreeji Maharaj could work. The miraculous incidents we see in this chapter are examples of this.

Group 2: (10-13yrs)

1. Revelation of Divinity:
   1. Let’s first recall all the prasangs in this chapter where Bhagatji Maharaj reveals his divinity: 
      1. Crossing the flooding river Shetrunji in 1914
      2. Healing the devotee that was bitten by a dog 
      3. Narsinbhai’s poison biter is relieved due to the chanting of the Swaminarayan Mahamantra
      4. When the devotees were first red by the thorns and stones on the road, Bhagatji Maharaj made them hold each others toes and pray with their eyes shut. When they opened their eyes, they were in Gadhada. 
      5. When devotees followed his Aagna to offer oil to the Hanumanji murti sanctified by Shreeji Maharaj their cholera was cured.
      6. In his final illness, despite being very ill, Bhagatji used his yogic powers and got out of his bed rest and walked to do darshan on the day of Annakut.
   2. What do these miraculous incidents reveal about Bhagatji Maharaj? 
      1. On the surface, we see that Bhagatji Maharaj has a control over nature and unique healing abilities. 
      2. But in our Sanstha, miracles have never been the basis of understanding our Guru’s greatness. Our Gurus are Aksharrup. This means that they are above maya and infinite universes revolve in each pore of their body! For a person as powerful as this, performing miracles on this earth is nothing but child’s play. Its like how easy it is for a year 4 student to answer a year 1 Maths question. The real way we can understand their greatness is by looking at their Sadhana. 
      3. What does Sadhana mean? 
         1. Sadhana means following a strict spiritual path involving putting your own wants and needs to one side. Following Aagna is doing Sadhana as you have to be disciplined and follow your Guru’s words to the T. 
         2. For example, the Bal Balikas who completed their Mukhpath of 315 shlokas did Sadhana! They followed their Mahant Swami Maharaj’s Aagna and had to have a lot of discipline to learn and memorize the shlokas. 
      4. Think back to the previous chapters of Bhagatji Maharaj’s life to understand the Sadhana he did: To do this, flick back to the previous chapters and fill in the gaps:
         1. Bhagatji Maharaj followed Gunatitanand Swami’s Aagna and called mount ——- 
         2. Bhagatji Maharaj understood Gunatitanand Swami’s wish and gave water to the ——— mango trees 
         3. Bhagatji Maharaj churned —— stone at the risk of becoming —— to please Gunatitanand Swami. 
      5. From the above Prasangs we can see how Bhagatji Maharaj did Sadhana, by strictly following Gunatitanand Swami’s Aagna. 
   3. How does performing Sadhana relate to being able to show such miraculous abilities: 
      1. we should remember that these abilities are such a secondary and less important byproduct. 
      2. Bhagatji Maharaj always followed the Aagna of his Guru Gunatitanand Swami. Due to his firm binding to his Guru’s Aagna, both Gunatitanand Swami and Shreeji Maharaj were happily bound to Bhagatji. This discipline of following Aagna allowed him to be a pure vessel through which Shreeji Maharaj could work. The miraculous incidents we see in this chapter are examples of this.
         
          
2. Extension for those who want to build their knowledge! 
   1. In Vachanamrut Gadhada I 27, Shreeji Maharaj explains that the biggest miracle we see is that Aksharbrahma, who like we said, is has infinite universes revolving in his one pore has taken on a human form. He is incredibly powerful, but his greatness lies in the fact that he can tolerate hardships and remain in the constraints of the physical body that he takes on. 
   2. He does this so that we can easily follow his actions and live an ideal life. 
   3. How does this relate to Bhagatji Maharaj?
      1. In this chapter, we saw Bhagatji Maharaj’s powers. He was able to cross a flooded river, heal people with cholera and undo the effects of poison. But that same Bhagatji Maharaj tolerated many insults and hardships despite being Aksharbrahma. 
      2. On top of this he followed a life of strict discipline following the commands of Gunatitanand Swami. 
      3. So Bhagatji Maharaj is the exact Aksharbrahma Maharaj was referring to Gadhada I 27 and this same Aksharbrahma is present before us today through Mahant Swami Maharaj. 

 

Activity - My Personal Sadhana

Learning from Bhagatji Maharaj, let's try to do some Sadhana in our life: 

• Think of one thing you want to improve on in Satsang: 
  • Satsang Reading
  • Ahnik 
  • use of phones/ipad 
  • watching TV and films 
  • eating sweets/ drinking fizzy drinks
• As Shravan Mahino has also started, try to take one niyam that you will follow through with discipline for the month. 
  • you could take a niyam to read your Satsang exam book for next year (a chapter a day) 
  • improve the way you do puja. If you don't do Mansi you can try to do Mansi, and if you don't do a chandlo/tilak chandlo you can try doing so for one month) 
  • you could limit your screen time to an hour a day 
  • you can quit eating one of your favorite items 
• Remember, consistency is key for discipline! It is best to take one small niyam and follow through for a month rather than take 3-4 and only stick to them for 1 week. 
• All the best!