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A photo of Delhi Gate shortly after the time ofBhagwan Swaminarayan. He passed through thisGate countless times and devotees in largenumbers often gathered for his darshan.Bhagwan Swaminarayan often sat in the roomatop the gate and held assemblies there.Shri Hari. Gulal filled the atmosphere. The roadswere filled with colour and flowers. The beautyof the roads was enhanced by the gardens of treesand fruits and the singing of birds on both sides.In each garden was a bungalow. People stood fordarshan on the rooftops. In this way, Shri Hari’sprocession entered the city through the decoratedDelhi Gate.” 30The sampradayic texts and devoteesdescribe that Shri Hari sanctified a mangogrove on numerous occasions. He heldassemblies, delivered discourses and rested therecountless times.30. Ibid. pp. 78-80.By personally contacting and discoursingwith sadhus and devotees from BhagwanSwaminarayan’s time, Brahmaswarup ShastrijiMaharaj identified and authenticated thissanctified mango grove. He said, “The groveof mango trees in Shahibaug where BhagwanSwaminarayan sat and conducted assemblies, iswhere we want to build a mandir.”He acquired that land and in 1948 ce blessed,“A grand mandir will be built here.” He alsoinitiated the necessary arrangements. Today,the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir standsresplendently on that land. 31Many stories of Shri Hari’s divine exploitsin Shahibaug are recorded in the sampradayictexts. The following is a small selection.u In 1806 ce (V.S. 1862), when Shri Harivisited Ahmedabad, Raghunathdas, aformer disciple of Ramanand Swami, wascausing trouble. So, for five days Shri Haristayed amid the trees at Shahibaug. Here, atthe Shahi Mahel Ghat and Narayan Ghat,he would bathe in the River Sabarmati andoffer puja at the Mahadev Mandir on thebanks. 32u In 1806 ce (V.S. 1862), Shri Hari visitedAhmedabad twice, both times arrivingfrom North Gujarat. The second time healso visited Shahibaug. 33u After Uttarayan in 1809 ce (V.S. 1865), ShriHari visited Ahmedabad and then departedto Motera via Shahibaug. 34u In 1811 ce (V.S. 1867), when Shri Haricame to Ahmedabad from Motera, agrand procession was organized in hishonour from the mango grove towardsDelhi Gate into the city. During this visit,31. It is worth noting that even in contemporary maps,the sanctified land identified by Shastriji Maharajwas depicted as a garden or mango grove. For details,see maps on p. 17.32. Ibid. 28, pp. 84-85.33. Ibid. p. 86. The road from North Gujarat to enterthe city passes through Shahibaug.34. Ibid. p. 89.14 Swaminarayan Bliss u May-June 2013
Shahibaug: 1856564321Shahibaug: 19064321Shahibaug: 19285136Bhagwan Swaminarayan visited and sanctified Shahibaug onnumerous occasions. The route Shri Hari took from Delhi Gate toShahibaug and from Shahibaug to Delhi Gate is shown in the mapsby the number 2. Sometimes, when he went to the Shahi Mahel heused route 4. Until 1906, both of these routes were full of densetrees. In particular, the orchard of tamarind and mango trees wherehe often rested and from where the welcome processions startedis the triangular area depicted by the number 3. The 1856 and1928 maps also show this area to be a garden. Maps from between1830 and 1928 show that from Narayan Ghat (number 5) and ShahiMahel (number 6) towards Delhi Gate, there is only one mangogrove. Brahmaswatup Shastriji Maharaj confirmed the sanctity ofthis place and decided to build a mandir on this land. Today, theBAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir stands on this land sanctified byBhagwan Swaminarayan.May-June 2013 u Swaminarayan Bliss 15
Page 1 and 2: May-June 2013Annual Subscription `
Page 3 and 4: May-June 2013Vol. 36 No. 3SWAMINARA
Page 5 and 6: BHAGAVAD GITA: Gujarati: Sadhu Bhad
Page 7 and 8: the words, ‘ØÌÌô sïçÂ ·¤
Page 9 and 10: At the spot where he haddefeated As
Page 13: was the best place to visit in Ahme
Page 17 and 18: the throng of devotees may damage t
Page 19 and 20: murtis of Nar-NarayanShriji Maharaj
Page 21 and 22: Sabha Mandap and BethakSabha Mandap
Page 23 and 24: Rang Mahol and Sacred WellDuring th
Page 25 and 26: Bhagwan Swaminarayan praised the Sa
Page 27 and 28: Dudheshwar GhatThis Ghat (above) li
Page 29 and 30: visits to Lake Kankariya.“Kãnkar
Page 31 and 32: Chandola LakeChandola Lake (above)
Page 33 and 34: of Ahmedabad. Whenever his processi
Page 35 and 36: Mohanlal Sheth’s HomeMohanbhai wa
Page 37 and 38: Ambaba’s HomeAmbaba was a female
Page 39 and 40: Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and oth
Page 41 and 42: Delhi Darwaja (Gate)To exit the old
Page 43 and 44: (Contd. from pg. 7)very speciality
Page 45 and 46: darshan at these mandirs to bless t
Page 47 and 48: Nilkanth Mahadev MandirAsarva villa
Page 49 and 50: Mahalakshmi MandirThe mandir lies i
Page 51 and 52: 1948, pp. 140-141).The report state
Page 53 and 54: at Akshar Bungalow in Shahibaug. Th
Page 55 and 56: far more significant in the develop
Page 57 and 58: tor to review your medication and t
Page 59 and 60: 12, Saturday; Swamishri’s 73 rd B
Page 61 and 62: Living with SwamishriJanuary-Februa
Page 63 and 64: BAPS NewsPushpadolotsav Celebration
Page 65 and 66:
each of the 73 youths. Blessing the
Page 67 and 68:
ful, rigorous yet supportive awards
Page 69 and 70:
National Seminar on Shri Sahajanand
Page 71 and 72:
1 2341. Newly initiated sadhus with
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