“Believe the Satpurush to Be My Form…”

Sadguru Nishkulanand Swami, a leading paramhansa of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, has profusely written poetry and lyrics that reflect the spirit of renunciation, detachment, morality and the glory of bhakti.

In all his works, he has predominantly focused on the glory of the Gunatit Satpurush. He sung them with enthusiasm and absolute clarity. A few examples of his literacy creations are as follows:

1. Kamdugha Kalpataru, paras chintamani char, Sant saman eke nahi, me manma karyo vichar. – (Bhaktchintamani: 2/7)

I have thought that out of four wish-fulfilling things, namely, the cow, tree, philosopher’s stone and gem; none are equal to the Satpurush.

2. Santkrupae sukh upaje santkrupathi sare kam, Santkrupathi pamiye puran Purushottam dham. – (Bhaktchintamani: 2/2)

Through the grace of the Sant one attains happiness, through his grace one accomplishes works and through his grace one attains the absolute abode of Purushottam.

3. Sant hu ne hu to vali Sant re, Em Shrimukhe kahe Bhagwant re, Sant manajo mari murti re, Ema fera nathi ek rati re. – (Nishkulanand Kavya: Purushottam Prakash, 41/9)

Referring to what Bhagwan Swaminarayan said Nishkulanand Swami explain, “The Sant is Me and I am the Sant. Believe the Sant to be My form and there is not an iota of difference between us.”

4. Ke’she sant to a bahu sara re, Khara kalian na karnara re, Etalo ja guna koi gre’she re, Te to Brahmamahole vas leshe re. – (Nishkulanand Kavya: Purushottam Prakash, 41/14)

If anyone says that this Sant is very good and the true redeemer; by appreciating this virtue he will attain Brahmamahol (Highest abode of God).

5. Sant desh pardesh fare chhe re, Sahu jivana agh hare chhe re, Ema darshan, sparsh je karshe re, Te to Bhavajal par utarshe re. - (Nishkulanand Kavya: Purushottam Prakash, 41/19)

The bona fide Sant travels to relieve the sins of all souls. Whosoever has his darshan and touches him will be redeemed from the ocean of life.

6. Dhanya dhanya e Sant sujan ne, Jenu ulati palatyu ap… Sant te swayam hari. Ap tali malya Bhagwan ma, Jena aapma Harino vyap.. Sant te swayam hari. – (Nishkulanand Swami).

Glorious is the Sant whose inner self is not mundane… (for) he is God himself. You have lost yourself and become one with God. In you pervade God…. Hence, he is God himself. 

64 Holy Places

The Annakut Festival in Junagadh had been gloriously celebrated. Pragji Bhagat was an idol of service. He had resolved to scrub and wash all the utensils used for the Annakut festival. While he was scouring the pots and pans, Gunatitanand Swami came to him. The flow of clean water touched Swami’s feet and fell into a trough. Gunatitanand Swami asked Pragji Bhagat, “Where are the 64 holy places?”

“At the holy feet of the Satpurush!” replied Pragji Bhagat.

Swami then smiled and tellingly said, “If one understands this, then one will be redeemed.”

Pragji Bhagat, out of his profuse reverence for Swami, jumped into the dirty water to sanctify himself. To others it seemed that he had dirtied himself but in fact he was bathing in nectar. 

Glory of the Satpurush

Once, Shastriji Maharaj was in Anand. Before him were devotees who had profound glory and commitment to the Akshar Purushottam creed. Shastriji Maharj asked Manibhai, “What is the glory of the Satpurush?” Manibhai was well acquainted with the Sampraday’s scriptures and thus answered with references from the Vachanamrut.

Shastriji Maharaj acknowledged what he said and added, “Say there is a dense jungle similar to the forests of Africa, where even the rays of the afternoon sun cannot penetrate. And this jungle is full of wild animals. If someone were to go there and loudly proclaim the name ‘Bhagatji’, then any living thing that hears this name will be redeemed. This is the glory of the Satpurush.”

The mere remembrance of the bona fide Sadhu or Satpurush can dissolve evil tendencies in one’s soul. Even through his direct or indirect communion, the soul is redeemed.

Realizing the glory and knowledge of a God-realized Sadhu is the essence of satsang. 

GLORY OF SADHU – GEM 1

“A Sant with such a conviction is so highly respected by Me that even I place the dust of his feet on My head. In My mind, I am afraid of harming him, and I also long to have his darshan.” (Vachanamrut: Gadhada I – 37) 

GLORY OF SADHU – GEM 2

“…by seeking the refuge of the Satpurush, regardless of how terrible a sinner a person may be, he becomes extremely pure.” (Vachanamrut: Vartal – 14)

GLORY OF SADHU – GEM 3

“If a person develops conviction in the guru – who is the manifest form of God – in the same way that he has conviction in the non-manifest demigods, then, as a result, he attains all of the arthas* which are decribed as attainable.” (Vachanamrut: Gadhada III – 2).

* Here ‘Arthas’ should be understood as ‘Purusharths’ – Dharma, Artha, Kam and Moksha.

GLORY OF SADHU – GEM 4

“ What are the characteristics of a Sant who is worthy of being worshipped on par with God? Well, such a Sant suppresses the actions of Maya’s gunas – the indriyas, the antahkaran, etc; but he himself does not get suppressed by their actions. In addition to this, he only performs activities related to God; he is staunch in his observance of the five religious vows; and believing himself to be brahmarup, he worships Purushottam Bhagwan. Such a Sant should not be thought of as a human being, nor should he be thought of as a demigod, because such behavior is not possible for either humans or demigods. (Vachanamrut: Gadhada III – 26)

Dhun - Ram Krishna Govind jay jay Govind

by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

Bhagwan Swaminarayan - English Trailer -

A Divine Life depicted through Paintings

Embodiment of Moral Disciplines

In 1986, Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited the home of Kanubhai Khachar, the descendant of Dada Khachar, in Gadhada. After initiating two children by placing kanthis around their neck, Swamishri asked their names. On replied, ‘Saurabha’ and the other ‘Devkuba.’ On hearing the latter’s name Swamishri realized that he has initiated a girl. He did not say anything than, but after leaving he instructed the driver to take the car to the river Ghela. There, Swamishri bathed in the holy waters and then returned to the mandir. When it was time for dinner, Swamishri refused to have anything and fasted because he has touched the four-year-old girl, Devkuba. He strictly adhered to the principles ordained by Bhagwan Swaminarayan, even in spite of having touched her unknowingly. Swamishri thereafter did not even drink a drop of water nor did he take his medicines.

Today, one sees the cardinal vows of Sadhus prescribed by Shriji Maharaj in the life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Swamishri’s steadfastness in morals is a beacon of inspiration for hundreds of thousands who strive to remain resolute in their morals.

Abhaysinh’s Steadfastness

Abhaysinh Darbar of Lodhika was a bona fide devotee of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He strictly adhered to the five cardinal moral vows prescribed for householders.

Once, he went to the Jamsaheb of Jamnagar for some administrative work. The palace of Jamsaheb was a venue for evening bouts in binging. When Abhaysinh entered, the guests were intoxicated with liquor and ego. The Jamsaheb, too, was drunk and entertaining himself with jokes with his men.

Abhaysinh Darbar sat quietly, showing the least interest in the drunken revelry. Then the darbars offered a glass of liquor to Abhaysinh. But Abhaysinh refused, saying, “ I am a devotee of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. I do not drink liquor, or eat meat.”

Some of the darbars loathed Swaminarayan, so they decided to force Abhaysinh to break his pledge. They then instigated the Jamsaheb, “Abhaysinh refuses to drink liquor. Even if you offer him yourself, he will still refuse to touch it.”

The Jamsaheb got up and went up to Abhaysinh wih a glass of liquor. He insisted that he accept the glass, but Abhaysinh remained unflagging in his resolve. After undue pressure, Abhaysinh pulled out his own sword and gave it to the Jamsaheb. “Bapu, take this sword and behead me. Than you can pour as much liquor as you wish in my throat. But as long as I am alive and I have the kanthi of Bhagwan Swaminarayan around my neck, I shall never drink liquor.”

The lion-like resolve of Abhaysinh jolted the Jamsaheb from his intoxication. He embraced Abhaysinh for his steadfastness.

A true devotee remains morally resolute even in the face enticements or peer pressure. 

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BY H.D.H. PRAMUK SWAMI MAHARAJ