Shastriji Maharaj Parva - Day 2

A Quest for Hidden Treasure

Throughout Shastriji Maharaj’s life he created many mandirs. However, in 1907 he opened the FIRST EVER mandir with Akshar Puruhottam Maharaj in the central shrine marking the beginning of what is now the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. 

On the journey to this momentous occasion, Shastriji Maharaj and the other santos and haribhaktos had to face many challenges yet they continued to persevere to attain their goal of spreading Akshar Purushottam upasana to the entire world!

 Today we will be discovering the gem that Shastriji Maharaj gave us …

Challenge: 

To discover the gem you must:

Answer the following 15 questions. 

(Answers will be at the end - Don’t cheat) Some answers can be found in the Shastriji Maharaj book

Depending on what you think the answer is you must cross out the box with the image that represents your answer in the grid below. 

The last box remaining will reveal the hidden gem!

1. Who was Shastriji Maharaj’s Guru?
2. From where was Shastriji Maharaj forced to leave?
3. Who taught Shastriji Maharaj Sanskrit?
4. What did Shukhanand Swami do for Dungar Bhakta?
5. For how many years was Shastriji Maharaj Guru?
6. Where was Shastriji Maharaj born?
7. How many Mandirs did Shastriji Maharaj build?
8. Who was Dhoribhai?
9. When was Shastriji Maharaj born?
10. When was Dungar Bhakta initiated?
11.  On what date did Shastriji Maharaj go to Akshardham?
12. What happened on Shastriji Maharaj’s 85th birthday?
13.  How many siblings did Dungar Bhakta have?
14. Who was Shastriji Maharaj’s successor?
15. How old was Shastriji Maharaj in 2015

Congratulations, you found the gem! 

Shastriji Maharaj’s deep faith allowed him to build magnifi­cent mandirs in Bochasan, Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladara and Gadhada .

 

To find out the value of the gem, read this note:

 

Despite harassment from the opposition, the groundbreaking ceremony for the mandir was carried out without any trouble. Now, they started to dig the foundation. Everyone, including Swamishri, joined in with this seva. Many devotees lent their oxen and carts for the mandir cause, thereby putting aside their livelihood for up to six months.

Once, while digging the foundation, some devotees found a pot of gold treasure. They told Swamishri about it. Swamishri at once exclaimed, “In this mandir, we will consecrate the murti of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. She will bring wealth from all over the universe. So, let this wealth remain buried.” Swamishri then had the treasure buried in the foundation. He was determined to rely only on God and the seva of God’s devotees to build the mandir.

Those who opposed Swamishri tried to win over Hirabhai with five thousand rupees to oppose the mandir’s construction. Hirabhai had already been won over by Swamishri so bluntly refused, “I am honoured that a mandir is being built in my village. Swamishri has already given me wealth in the form of a new life. He has uplifted me, making me a human. He is my guru. I will use this money for whatever purpose he instructs. If you agree, then give me the money. But, I will not betray my guru by accepting a bribe to oppose him.” Leaving everyone speechless, Hirabhai continued, “If anyone opposes the mandir’s construction, I will surely take revenge. If you are brave enough, only then come forth.” Hearing Hirabhai’s threats, Swamishri’s opponents lost whatever courage they had left. 

The day of the murti-pratishtha, 5 June 1907 (Vaishakh vad 10, Samvat 1963), quickly approached. For the first time Swamishri would consecrate Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj in the sanctum of a mandir. The preparations for the festival were proceeding in full force. As a precautionary measure, Hirabhai stationed two thousand of his men to guard the site. They stood on all four sides to deter anyone who dared to disrupt the construction. 

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. 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 Akshar-Purushottam was finally established in the central sanctum of a mandir.

Wow! What an inspiring history. Despite all of the challenges/ temptations/ distractions that Shastriji Maharaj and the haribhaktas faced while trying to establish Akshar Purushottam they continue to stay firm in their belief and aim to please Maharaj. 

1. What challenges/temptations/distractions do we face while trying to do our bhakti towards Maharaj and Swami?
2. How can we remind ourselves to stay focused on satsang everyday?
3. Shastriji Maharaj put so much effort into building mandirs which had Akshar Purushottam Maharaj in the central shrine so that we can learn that knowledge and attain liberation. 
   1. In your life how has having a mandir helped you?
   2. Where would you be without the mandir and what would you have missed out on without it?

 

Atladra Mandir: A miracle

Swamishri returned to Atladra to perform the murti-pratishtha. The auspicious day of 12 July 1945 (Ashadh sud 3, Samvat2001) had been decided for the consecration ceremony. Two days before the pratishtha was to take place, heavy rains began. How could the murti-pratishtha be done in such rain? Worried, everyone approached Swamishri and prayed. Smiling, Swamishri said, “This is Maharaj’s work. So, when the time comes, the rain will stop. Do not worry.” The following day, it stopped raining. The remaining work was completed on time. The next day, a magnificent yagna took place. Swamishri ceremoniously consecrated the murtis of Shriji Maharaj, Gunatitanand Swami, and Gopalanand Swami. Swamishri exclaimed, “This Atladra mandir will become the greatest of mandirs. At present, it is far from Vadodara. But, one day it will be near Vadodara. Atladra will become a suburb of Vadodara.” Today these words have proven true. 

 

 

Answers:

The gem is Bochasan Mandir  - the mandir that led to the creation of more than 1100 mandirs worldwide!

1. D4
2. A2
3. D1
4. C1
5. B1
6. C3
7. D2
8. B2
9. B4
10. A1
11. D3
12. A3
13. C2
14. A4
15. C4

 

Activity 2: optional

Now that we have looked at a few mandirs, are you able to recognise them?