Shree Sadguru Din (Amaas)

At Shree Swaminarayan Gadi, this day when there is no moon (amaas) each month is referred to as Shree Sadguru Din. Sadguru Shree Ishwar Bapa left his mortal appearance on the day of amaas and in his memory we celebrate his life and works.

Adya Acharya Pravar Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa began the observance of Shree Sadguru Din on Vikram samvat 2006, Jeth vad amaas, (1949).

Sadguru Bapa and Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree were particularly fond of Dhyaan (meditation), dhoon (chanting), kathaa vaartaa (religious discourses and discussions) and kirtan bhakti (devotional singing) and on Sadguru DIn these are all practiced.

Jeevanpran Swamibapa says that Sadguru Din should be used as a barometer for one's own self-assessment of how much progression has been made during the previous month, in the devotion unto the Supreme Lord Swaminarayan.

Jeevanpran Swamibapa says, "Be honest with yourself. Have you increased in devotion since the last Sadguru Din, or remained just the same. Have your attachments to worldly affairs decreased? Whilst in dhyaan, how much were you able to concentrate on the murti of God?" Jeevanpran Swamibapa says that you should pray to the merciful Lord Swaminarayan, that a constant increase occurs, but never a decline.

As a finale to the day, a devotional prarthna (prayer) is sung - the Sansmaran (remembrance) kirtan. Jeevanpran Swamibapa wrote this prarthna the day after Sadguru Bapa left his human appearance (on Vikram samvat 1999 ashaad sud 1 - 1942). Jeevanpran Swamibapa performed the ceremonial agnisanskaar vidhi (cremation ceremony) on the murti of Sadguru Bapa and that very afternoon He left Amdavad and returned to Kadi where He was residing at the time. It was new years day and the train was virtually deserted. Jeevanpran Swamibapa sat in the empty carriage in deep meditation, contemplating and reminiscing about the love that He had experienced from His Gurudev Shree Ishwar Bapa. Tears streamed from His netra (divine eyes), and His hoth (divine lips) were muttering a prayer to Sadguru Bapa, which He had spontaneously composed.

He Sadguruji, He Sadguruji,
Jem kaheso tem karsoo, jodi haathaji.

This is the sansmaran kirtan that is sung as the finale to each Sadguru Din.