Shastriji Maharaj Parva - Day 6
A Quest for Hidden Treasure
So far, in the Parva series, we have covered many Prasangs and activities. Today, we will cover the importance of our historic BAPS Mandirs; we will learn the GEMS of virtues of Shastriji Maharaj from the Prasangs of these Mandirs:
Mandirs
- Shastriji Maharaj built 5 Mandirs: Bochasan, Sarangpur, Gondal, Gadhada, Atladra. We will cover here a well-known Prasang regarding the Bochasan Mandir:
- Story behind Bochasan Mandir: It was the day of the murti-pratishtha, 5 June 1907. For the first time a Param Ekantik Sadhu like Swamishri would consecrate Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj in the sanctum of a mandir. After the yagna had finished, the sadhus and devotees lifted Shriji Maharaj’s murti and placed it in the central sanctum for the murti-pratishtha. Next, they tried to lift Gunatitanand Swami’s murti. Surprisingly, even though it weighed less, Swami’s murti did not budge. Everyone wondered to themselves, “Is Swami testing us?” Exhausted, they all came to Swamishri and related what had happened. Swamishri immediately came to Gunatitanand Swami’s murti and prayed, “Oh Swami! It is for you that we left Vartal. It is for you that we tolerate insult and persecution. Please have mercy upon us. Please reside in this mandir.” Swamishri then pushed a spike underneath the murti and, immediately the murti was lifted up and easily carried to the mandir. It was placed in the central sanctum next to Shriji Maharaj. Swamishri then performed the murti-pratishtha. The victory call of Akshar-Purushottam resounded everywhere. The promise that Shriji Maharaj had made to Kashidas Mota had now been fulfilled by Swamishri. The true upasana of AksharPurushottam was finally established in the central sanctum of a mandir
- Why did Shastriji Maharaj build these Mandirs - what are the GEMS of virtues we can pick up from the prasang above? What other prasangs do you know?
- He wanted to spread the true upasana of Akshar-Purushottam
- He built them for us - the future generation!
- The Mandirs he built are here to prosper our satsang and to bring us closer to Maharaj and Swami
- We are able to come to the magnificent London Mandir all because of him
Activity
- Get a piece of paper and your favourite colouring pens/pencils
- Pick 1 out of the 5 mandirs that Shastriji Maharaj has built
- Try to the best of your ability to draw that Mandir
- Now colour it in however you want to
- Be sure to add the GEMS of virtues in your drawing of the Mandir - e.g. writing each GEM in a diamond around the mandir, etc…
- Hang this drawing up in your room, on the fridge and use it as a reminder of what Shastriji Maharaj has done for us!