October 2008 Annual Subscription Rs. 60 - Swaminarayan Sanstha
October 2008 Annual Subscription Rs. 60 - Swaminarayan Sanstha
October 2008 Annual Subscription Rs. 60 - Swaminarayan Sanstha
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SWAMINARAYAN HISTORY: TRANSLATION: SADHU VIVEKJIVANDAS<br />
Shri Hari<br />
Cautions!<br />
Shriji Maharaj travelled to Visnagar<br />
and was pleased with the chief<br />
administrator Laldas’ change of heart.<br />
He blessed him and proceeded to<br />
the village of Langhnoj...<br />
Maharaj then travelled to Meu and<br />
on to Langhnoj. There was a Hanumanji<br />
mandir there. Its large<br />
precinct was ideal to stay. But there was a bawo,<br />
endowed with magical powers, staying there.<br />
He was young and rotund. He had a rudraksh<br />
mala around his neck and a gold bracelet<br />
adorning his arm. The youthful bawo had won<br />
the confidence of the leader and other folks of<br />
the village through his magical powers. He had<br />
fulfilled the wishes of many women by giving<br />
them charmed amulets and strings. People<br />
would wash the soles of his feet with water and<br />
drink it. Such reverence and devotion from so<br />
many had buoyed him with joy and arrogance.<br />
All this toxicity was clearly reflected in his eyes<br />
and swagger.<br />
Bhagwan <strong>Swaminarayan</strong> came to the Hanumanji<br />
mandir with his entourage with the purpose<br />
of residing there. The bawo got up and<br />
saw Shri Hari but he did not join his palms in<br />
respect. He also saw Maharaj’s sadhus, but their<br />
sterling saintliness made him flinch a little. He<br />
shot an uninviting and raw look at them. Shri<br />
Hari saw this and announced, “We cannot stay<br />
here. It belongs to the bawo with magical powers.”<br />
On hearing this the bawo felt at ease.<br />
Maharaj stayed at another place in the village.<br />
That evening many folks of the village came<br />
to Maharaj. They were naïve, unlettered and<br />
accustomed to seeing God only in those who<br />
showed extraordinary powers. They asked<br />
Maharaj, “People call you God. We will believe<br />
it to be so if you show us your divine powers.”<br />
Shri Hari simply smiled at their words and<br />
replied, “I do not perform any miracles, but I<br />
abide by dharma and inspire others to do so. I<br />
encourage whoever comes to me to give up<br />
meat, liquor, adultery, stealing and other bad<br />
habits.”<br />
The village folks explained, “Maharaj, we<br />
have a bawaji staying at the Hanumanji mandir.<br />
4 <strong>Swaminarayan</strong> Bliss ◆ <strong>October</strong> <strong>2008</strong>
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