Pramuh Swami Maharaj: A Life of Inspiration

To think is great, to live is greater and to inspire is the greatest gift to society.

Dr. Valavanur Subramaniam of New York is the world renowned cardiac surgeon who had successfully operated on Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1998. Himself an agnostic who worshipped work and karma alone, he shared his personal experience of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s power to inspire with a fellow professional, Dr. Atul Chokshi. Dr. Subramaniam said, “You read the Gita daily, but today I’ll show you someone who lives the Gita daily, and can help you live it.” The enlightened Guru can help us ‘live’ the scriptures, primarily because he lives them himself. He is the living link, the live connection between the metaphysical and the material world.

In his book ‘Modern Man in Search of a Soul’, psychologist and psychiatrist Dr. Carl G. Jung concludes that a ‘spiritual outlook’ and a ‘real live guru’ are the necessities of our time for inner stability and peace. Citing his personal experience in his autobiography, ‘Memories, Dreams, Reflections’, Dr. Jung, who himself had guided and treated thousands, admits: “In my darkness (of mind) I could have wished for nothing better than a real, live guru, someone possessing superior knowledge and ability, who would have disentangled for me the involuntary creations of my imagination.”

With depression predicted to become the second-most common disease by 2020 and looming as one of the biggest threats to civilized society, we may not have long to wait before ‘spiritual outlook’ or a ‘guru’ becomes a biological need for human survival.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj as a real, live guru specializes in inspiring and instilling spirituality, and become a limitless source of peace and tranquility to hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world.

Emotional Stability

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s wisdom for life: Paramatma is the all-doer and provider of inner strength to cope with all controllable or uncontrollable, individual or collective crises of life.

Whether it be a depressed student or a runaway child, a collapsed businessman or a frustrated wife, a broken marriage or a loss of a job or death of a loved one, people overcome their emotional trials through Pramukh Swami’s care, counseling and wisdom.

One historic account is the Ugandan exodus in 1972, when thousands of wealthy, well-settled Indians were slaughtered, uprooted and driven out, penniless with nowhere to run. Sir Charles Cunningham describes in the foreword to ‘Life and Philosophy of Shree Swaminarayan’: “We have seen recently, in a very striking way, how this ability to draw strength from cultural and religious continuity can help in facing the unpredictable trials of modern life. When nearly thirty thousand people were suddenly expelled from Uganda and had to come, often penniless, to start a new life in Great Britain, their calmness and dignity, their readiness to accept hardship, the uncomplaining way in which so many of them who had known success and prosperity began again at the bottom of the ladder, impressed us greatly. It was evident that they had been sustained by a deep religious faith which had enabled them to accept adversity and to rise above it.”

Many of these were Swaminarayan devotees. Not only did they survive as refugees, but soon restored their wealth and status, overcame this emotional nightmare, and in 1995 built the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London, hailed as the first and the largest traditional Hindu mandir in the West by the Guinness World Records. Though architecturally, this mandir is considered a wonder of the modern world, it is a greater wonder of unflagging spiritual faith; a timeless symbol of the love, devotion and dedication of simple devotees towards their God and Guru, and their miraculous story of resilience and resurgence.

Moral Purity

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s wisdom for life: Paramatma is the all-knower generates a conscience of uprightness, honesty and unshakeable integrity.

The hallmark of a BAPS Swaminarayan devotee, whether a child, youth or adult, is his or her moral strength.

Incidents abound. From Narsinh Solanki of Ahmedabad, working as a simple electricity meter reader who refused to accept bribe to a girl in Nadiad taking her final secondary exams who declined to cheat and copy despite the fact that the rest of the class was freely copying; one wonders how teenagers like Vipul Patel, studying at Harvard, and students like Amar, Yogen and Sanjay at Oxford, Cambridge and IIT willingly stop watching films and television for life! And how officers like Prakash Mehta in the US Army and many more in multi-national corporations continue to avoid meat and alcohol despite being posted in remote outposts. Or for that matter, why educated young men, of varying backgrounds, intellects and talents are inspired to embrace the most sublime levels of morality in the form of renunciation. The answer they all give – Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life!

Social Responsibility

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s wisdom for life: Paramatma is in everyone and everything.

Focusing on this, he has groomed his devotees to respect and serve others. To accept and appreciate others. To rise above the differences of personal beliefs and backgrounds, social castes and communities and serve society with dignity and responsibility.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj has created a committed volunteer force of 55,000 selfless volunteers who serve with devotion, dedication and almost zero administrative cost. Through a worldwide network of 3,850 centers and a million members, BAPS performs over 160 humanitarian services in areas as diverse as environmental, educational, medical, tribal, social, cultural and spiritual. It is one of the select few NGOs of India that are affiliated to the United Nations for its international services.

To cite a recent example: in hours after the Gujarat earthquake near Bhuj on 26 January 2001, Pramukh Swami was amongst the first to send in volunteers and supplies. Over 6,500 volunteers reached 409 affected villages, rescuing victims, distributing hundreds of tons of relief supplies, serving 1.8 million hot meals, finally constructing 49 schools for 15,000 students and rehabilitating 15 villages by building and rehabilitating 4,190 houses. Over 91,000 patients were provided free medical treatment while 2,500 were given employment assistance. It is regarded as perhaps the largest and most humane social responsibility shouldered by a socio-spiritual NGO.

One of most magnanimous and exemplary act of restraint and responsibility by Pramukh Swami Maharaj and his satsangis, was the calm, controlled and peaceful response to the inhuman terrorist attack on Akshardham on 24 September 2002. It helped dissolve fuming hatred, diffused the haunting threat of mass riots and violence and restored peace and equilibrium in Gujarat.

On 2 October 2004, Deepal Trevedie wrote in The Asian Age: “Gujarat Regained: Akshardham has restored Gujarat’s pride in itself. The Swaminarayan sect and the various swamis associated with it provided solace in a manner befitting their vocation. Pramukh Swami is an influential figure and everyone, from President Abdul Kalam to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, spoke to him within an hour of the attack… He kept stressing on the need for peace. The Swaminarayan saints stress that philosophy and spiritualism have to be grounded in social realities... The Akshardham tragedy has instilled a fresh sense of confidence that Gujarat need not burn at every spark that is ignited.”

Spiritual Continuity

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s wisdom for life: I am atma, and Paramatma is eternally with me.

Realizing oneself as atma, which is not born and does not die, and offering devotion to Paramatma creates an exalted spiritual state that is far beyond the momentary experiences of meditation, visions, and well-being. Through satsang and spiritual endeavors people rise above worldly desires and fears! Even beyond the fear of death.

Bhagwanji Mandavia, was a dynamic business administrator in Toronto. Active in the Indo-Canada Federation, and guiding the Gujarati community, he was enjoying success at its best. Then in 1985 he was diagnosed as having blood cancer. Not disclosing it to anyone except a close friend or two, he continued with his life. All throughout, his satsang with Pramukh Swami Maharaj had strengthened him beyond belief. By 1988, he was hospitalized for a bone-marrow transplant. All the pains and pressures of loneliness, illness, depression and death were upon him. Still, his smile never lost its luster nor did his voice lose its vibrancy. No wonder, while he phoned his friends, almost dying on his bed, they still thought Bhagwanji was in office! His inner strength and stability is spelt in the reply he wrote before his death to his brother in India who had expressed great grief about his terminal illness! “Physical pain comes to one and all. So one must never worry about disease and death. One must never leave the refuge of a saint like Pramukh Swami Maharaj in whom God resides. Our faith in God and Swamiji should remain unshakeable.”

In the Joy of Others Lies Our Own

Pramukh Swami Maharaj is 94 years old and until the past few years, he has continued to travel from home to home, hut to hut, not resting in one place, meeting, counseling and addressing thousands daily. Through schools, hospitals and hundreds of social projects, he serves humanity day and night. He lives by the words he often speaks, “In the good of others lies our own, in the progress of others lies our own.” He lives for others, not for himself.

In 1980, Bob Kaplan, solicitor-general of Canada, in his letter to Pramukh Swami emphasized his importance in this present world, “You are good pious people. If the whole world took you as an example it would be a better place, free of crime, of war and self-destruction. I believe you have valid answers to life’s toughest questions.”

On 8 February 2004, the President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam in his public address recounted how Pramukh Swami Maharaj had guided him to include a spiritual component in the five areas of development. Then he narrated his personal experience of meeting Pramukh Swami: “I have met (and visited) in India almost all the religious places and religious leaders. Every religion I visited looked like a beautiful orchard. But when I came out of the religion, from the orchard, I found that the orchards are all like islands. Each orchard, each religion is beautiful but is an island. But, how do we connect the religions? Compassion and love! A bridge we need. When I met Pramukh Swami Maharaj... I got a feeling, here is a Swamiji, a spiritual soul, who has got compassion and love and spiritual force he was radiating from himself to others.”

Inspiration in all aspects of life is Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s greatest gift to mankind.

Deep Compassion

Through personal meetings, letters and home visits, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s compassion has consoled countless people throughout the world. Whenever someone is in a difficult situation or drowned in grief, his compassion heals and rejuvenates.

When Harshad Chavda, a youth who had been serving in the BAPS for many years, met with a car accident, Pramukh Swami Maharaj wrote him a 20-page letter to express his serious regret for not being able to serve him personally: “The news (of your accident) brings me much pain. I am praying to God for your speedy recovery. I am praying for you in my morning puja as well. I also feel the pain you are suffering. I should be serving you in your time of need, because you have always selflessly served with great understanding and enthusiasm, and without concern for your health, hunger or thirst, or time of day. I can never serve you enough to make it up! The fact that I cannot serve you now is causing me immense sorrow.”

Prabhashankarbhai Pandya of Ahmedabad, an elderly devotee from Shastriji Maharaj’s time, recalls a moving incident to illustrate Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s compassion: “Once, I arrived in Atladra for the Vasant Panchmi festival at around 2am. Everyone was asleep, and there was no place for me to sleep. I decided to rest at the foot of the steps leading up to the assembly hall, using my bag as a makeshift pillow. At around 5:30am I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Pragat Bhagat, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s attendant. I saw a blanket wrapped around my body. “Who covered me with this blanket?” I asked him.

Pragat Bhagat replied, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj had come in the middle of the night and covered you with his blanket.”

Pervasive Peace

R.K. Laxman, the renowned cartoonist of The Times of India, is a close friend of Dr Abdul Kalam. After the opening of Akshardham in New Delhi in November 2005, President Kalam repeatedly suggested that the Mumbai based political cartoonist visit the newly opened complex. Laxman visited Swaminarayan Akshardham for two days and then came to meet Pramukh Swami Mahara and was mesmerized by his darshan, commenting, “If I hadn’t accepted his (Dr Kalam’s) invitation, I would have missed out on the chance of a lifetime. I don’t have words to describe it. I will never forget this experience.” Tears trickled from the corner of his eyes, reflecting the deep emotional impact Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s presence had made on Laxman in that brief meeting. Everyone was amazed to see the nation’s boldest critic in tears! He managed to says just three words, “Nothing to say. Nothing to say.” Leaving the room after having Swami Maharaj’s darshan, he said, “It feels like I was swept in a whirlwind of peace and stability.” The experience changed R.K. Laxman, and his wife was the first to notice, “I have never seen my husband so amazed, so touched. It is a miracle.”

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s truthfulness is highlighted by his transparency and straightforwardness. Once in Bochasan (the birthplace of BAPS in Gujarat), he had told the swamis seated in front of him. “If there is one thing I dislike, it is deceit and manipulation.”

Thousands of local devotees and people flock to get a glimpse of Pramukh Swami Maharaj when he is in a particular city or town. Hundreds line up to meet him and receive his blessings everyday. After one such exhausting day, Janmangal Swami decided to amuse Pramukh Swami Maharaj. He said, “Didn’t you get tired of blessing five thousand devotees individually? Putting your hand on each one is a physically straining task. You should consider using a wooden hand attached to a motor and blessing every devotee that comes to meet you with that!”

Pramukh Swami interrupted, “Why would you want to deceive the people? I don’t like fake things.” Though the incident seems trivial, it highlights Pramukh Swami’s honesty and transparency.

Always Thinking of God

In 1993 Pramukh Swami Maharaj was in Kolkata. Unexpectedly, he started having dizzy spells. He was immediately brought to Mumbai for a medical checkup. The neurosurgeons recommended that an EEG and a BERA scan be performed.

During the BERA test Pramukh Swami Maharaj was told to lie face-up on the examination table, and clear his mind. An array of sensors and wires were attached to his head and around his ears. After 15 minutes, the technician told the attendant swami, “I am not satisfied with the readings. Please request Pramukh Swami Maharaj to relax and calm his mind.”

The attendant explained the instructions to Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The second attempt yielded the same results. The technician again asked Pramukh Swami Maharaj to remain calm and free of thought. The technician tried a third time. Again, the readings were not satisfactory. Pramukh Swami Maharaj then returned to the mandir after the incomplete test.

As Pramukh Swami Maharaj was retiring to bed that night, the attendant swami explained that the physician had called and said he needed to do that test again. Pramukh Swami Maharaj immediately refused. Swamishri explained, “I was calm the whole time. I was imagining myself sitting in the Akshar Deri in Gondal, meditating upon Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Is that not serene and calm enough?”

Pramukh Swami Maharaj can never be free from this thought, since God is forever etched in his mind.

Purity of Character

Pramukh Swami Maharaj has transformed the lives of thousands of people around the world, and they are a testimony to his contributions in purifying society.

A tribal devotee from the village of Uber described his first darshan of Swami Maharaj, which changed his life, “I first had your darshan in Atladra. I didn’t think it was ever going to happen, but it did. It was like a miracle. With your blessings, my entire family has stopped eating meat, smoking and drinking. We have been able to bring our tempers under control. It has been eight months now, and now I can say that we feel 100 percent purified! My adulterous behavior has also gone. I feel privileged to have received your blessings.”

On 18 July 1996, a youth came to meet Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Dallas, Texas. In 1994, he had promised Pramukh Swami Maharaj that he would quit drinking and eating meat. He fell at Pramukh Swami’s feet and described his success, “Swami, though it seemed impossible, your blessings made my wife’s dream a reality. I have given up eating meat and all other addictions. In fact, I don’t even get angry any more. I never thought it would be possible, but you made it happen.”

Only one who is clean, pure and spotless can transform the lives of others. Thousands of individuals have developed inner purity through Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s blessings and many more are in the process of achieving it.