TEACHINGS

Mahant Swami Maharaj’s spiritual wisdom has inspired countless to lead pure and purposeful lives. Presented here are a few priceless excerpts of these profound teachings.

✿ God resides where there is unity, fraternity, compassion and humility.

✿ Only time with God and the Satpurush is auspicious. Without them, all time is inauspicious.

✿ Satpurush in Satsang is not a coincidence. Only after acquiring many merits have we been graced with his association.

✿ Fault-finding is like a termite that ravages devotees at their very core. Therefore, fear fault-finding and find the good in every devotee.

✿ One should abandon ego and possessiveness and then perform seva-bhakti. Then we will truly have made it. Otherwise, we will be nothing but sour.

✿ Remain subservient to each other. Within one’s mind, one should not believe oneself to be greater [than others].

✿ The allure of a satsangi lies in his or her niyams. One who stays within the boundaries set by our niyams is a nobleman. One who transgresses niyams is a thief.

Spirit Of Service

1997, Bochasan. Mahant Swami was scheduled to speak at a student’s convention. En route to the assembly, Swamishri noticed a dirty old bag that was stuck to the ground. Swamishri gave his case for his glasses and the notes of his speech to Harinarayandas Swami and attempted to lift the bag with one hand. However, he was unable to do so because the bag was stuck to the dirt in the ground. Using both hands, he finally prised the bag from the ground. Many insects and frogs crawled out from beneath it. He placed the bag in a nearby dustbin. Only after washing his hands with soap did he proceed to the assembly to deliver his speech. The subject of his speech was laziness. Swamishri never harbours any laziness in any seva, irrespective of its scope or prestige.

Grace Upon All

May 1987, Bochasan. At 11.00pm, Anandvihari Swami, then a yuvak, arrived at the mandir. He proceeded to clean Mahant Swami’s room. After Mahant Swami had bathed, Anandvihari Swami went inside to wash Swamishri’s clothes.

When he came out, he found Mahant Swami prostrating towards the bathroom. He asked, “Who are you prostrating to?”

Mahant Swami replied enthusiastically, “You have observed a waterless fast all day today, yet you have accepted the inconvenience of this seva. Furthermore, you have come all the way from Mumbai. Yogi Bapa used to be very happy upon seeing yuvaks and showered his joy upon them. So I was prostrating to you.”

1933

Born on 13 September 1933 in Jabalpur and named Vinubhai; Shastriji Maharaj affectionately named him Keshav

1952-1956

Completed secondary education and college education; received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture

1957

Initiated as a parshad by Yogiji Maharaj and named Vinu Bhagat

1960/1961

Initiated as a parshad again, and then as a sadhu by Yogiji Maharaj; named Swami Keshavjivandas and appointed as ‘mahant’ of Mumbai Mandir

1970

Spiritual tour of East Africa and UK with Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami; Inauguration of mandir in Islington, London

1977

Spiritual tour of North America with Pramukh Swami Maharaj

1981

Bicentenary celebrations of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in Ahmedabad, India

1985

Cultural Festival of India at Alexandra Palace, London

1986

Spiritual world tour