Monday 4 December 2023 | Kartik Vad 7, Samvat 2080
Mon 4 Dec 2023
Vasant Panchmi (Shikshapatri Jayanti ) was celebrated on Saturday, 28 th January 2012. After the Mangla Aarti at 5.30am, an Uttsav Mandal led Acharya Swamishree from Swamibapa Hall to the temple sihashan. The sponsors of the festival carried sacred pots and accompanied Acharya Swamishree as the Uttsav Mandal sang kirtans welcoming the Lord to the temple.
Acharya Swamishree offered prayers to Lord Swaminarayan and reverently bowed to Him before commencing the Shikshapatri parayan. At the conclusion of the Shikshapatri recitals, Acharya Swamishree showered goolal prasad upon the sant mandal and devotees and distributed popcorn prasad packets to everyone.
The evening congregation was the last one in Nairobi before Acharya Swamishree's departure to India. Hence, a large number of devotees had gathered for His divine ashirvad and Shikshapatri Jayanti celebrations. After the conclusion of the ashirvad, Acharya Swamishree inaugurated the just released Shakotsav Festival DVD. On this auspicious day, each devotee then had an opportunity to embrace Acharya Swamishree and the sant mandal.
Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj is the current spiritual leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan. He is the heir to Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj, and sixth in the lineage of ascetic Acharyas, which descends directly from Lord Shree Swaminarayan.