‘Our Jeevanpran ‘

According to the Indian calendar, Swamibapa performed His antardhyan leela on Samvat 2035 Bhadarva Sud 7 in Bolton – Sunday 20th September 2015 marked exactly 36 years since that day.

This day is not necessarily a sad day, but a day to remember what Jeevanpran Swamibapa did for us – the disciples of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi, for the wider Swaminarayan Faith and for the entire world.

To celebrate Swamibapa and His extraordinary presence two special video compilations were shown. The first entitled ‘Our Jeevanpran – our life and soul – An experience of the presence of God walking amongst us’, was shown on Saturday and the second ‘Our Jeevanpran – Our Swamibapa is forever with us’, on Sunday.

Saturday’s video showed rare footage of Jeevanpran Swamibapa’s international tour of UK, Europe, USA and the Middle East.  Jeevanpran Swamibapa was the first Sant of the entire Swaminarayan religion to leave the sacred soil of India and travel abroad. This feat was highly controversial at the time, perceived to be immoral and irreligious at the time, yet He faced that opposition and travelled to Kenya. No-one else had the courage to do so. If He had not started to spread the Swaminarayan Faith around the world when he travelled to Kenya in 1948, the Swaminarayan Faith would never have spread in the remarkable manner that it has. It is because of these pioneering and courageous steps, the entire Swaminarayan Faith is indebted to Jeevanpran Swamibapa.

On Sunday an hour long dhoon was performed. This provided an opportunity for devotees to remember our beloved Gurudev and all that He has done for Shree Swaminarayan Gadi. He loved and promoted the importance of meditation.  He Himself sat in continuous meditation for days on end to teach us the significance of dhyaan. So to please Him, 30 minutes of dhyaan was also performed by the congregation.

It has been 36 years since Acharya Swamishree Maharaj has been leading the Faith and giving us divine love and spiritual guidance, just as Jeevanpran Swamibapa did. Indeed, He remains present amongst us today through Acharya Swamishree Maharaj. Acharya Swamishree Maharaj often makes us think, “If we didn’t have Swamibapa in our lives, if He had not held our hand, if He had not guided us and given us His divine love…..what would be like today?”

The fortunate aspect for disciples of Shree Swaminarayan Gadir is that our beloved Gurudev Jeevanpran Swamibapa is still giving us that same love, guidance and spiritual strength, through our cherished Acharya Swamishree Maharaj.