Final Day of the Mahotsav
Monday 11 May 2009, Samvat 2065 Vaishak Vad 2

The main day of the Golden Jubilee had arrived. Exactly 50 years to the day, had passed since Jeevanpran Swamibapa installed the Murtis in the original Mandir in Vrushpur. Today, due to the prayers of Acharya Swamishree, the supreme Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa Himself would come to preside in the new Mandir.

The rituals for the Murti Pratishtha ceremony commenced immediately after the Mangla Aarti. The Murtis were then carried by Sants from where the Havan ceremony took place to the Mandir. As the Murtis were carried into the Mandir, the Sants sang Sadguru Shree Bhumanand Swami’s composition, ‘Sarve Sakhi, Jeevan Jovaane Chaalo re.’ The Murtis were installed into the grand, golden sinhasan by Acharya Swamishree. The Pratishtha ceremony was then concluded and Acharya Swamishree, Sants and disciples performed Aarti to the supreme Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. Annakut was then offered to the Lord. A ceremonial cake was cut by Acharya Swamishree and offered to the Lord. The flag of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan was flown on the grand domes on the Mandir.

After being blessed with the divine darshan of the Lord’s Pratishtha Ceremony, all the disciples went to the assembly marquee. Acharya Swamishree was taken on a chariot from the Mandir to the stage by the benefactors of the main scripture recital during the festival. The concluding ceremonies of the Rahasyarth Pradipika Tika Sah Vachanamrut scripture recital was held, after which the divine blessings of Jeevanpran Swamibapa were heard.

During His blessings, Acharya Swamishree said:

• The almighty Lord Swaminarayan, Jeevanpran Bapashree and our entire Guruparampara have presided in the new Mandir today. The flags on the Mandir domes are fluttering due to the joy of this event. The gateway to eternal salvation has been opened for everyone to experience. The merciful Lord has made it possible for all His faithful disciples to attain the elite status of Anadi-mukta and forever remain within His Murti.

• During the festival, disciples have offered their time, effort, skills and their contributions. The worth of all these disciples needs to be acknowledged. In the Vachanamrut, the Lord asks Muktanand Swami and Brahmanand Swami, “One disciple adheres to his vows of renunciation and remains distant from everyone. He never causes even any manner of harm to anyone. Another disciple continues to serve the Lord and the Lord’s disciples but he may sometimes hurt others through his words. Of these, which is superior?” The two eminent Sants replied, “The disciple who serves the Lord and His Sants and disciples is superior, even though he may hurt others through his words. The person who adheres to his renunciation and does not harm anyone is not serving the Lord in any manner, therefore he is an incompetent person.” Shreejimaharaj agreed that the answer was correct. He then continued, “It is a grave mistake to perceive faults in a person who has such devotion and who firmly follows the Lord’s commands. Someone who perceives faults of this manner will unquestionably find faults in God; he will also perceive defects in the great disciples of God. Therefore, someone who perceives such faults should be known as someone with devilish intelligence.” In order that you do not develop such devilish intelligence, and are instead, given the opportunity of serving God, we have held this festival.

• Even if you offer something very small, but with true faith and enthusiasm to please the Lord, the merciful Lord will accept it, and in return, give you back many times more. Your sole aim should be to please the Lord. Ensure that you remain for the rest of your life at Shree Swaminarayan Gadi, pleasing the almighty Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. And then, He will ensure that you are rewarded with His divine, lustrous Murti.

After the divine blessings, Acharya Swamishree presented disciples with a momento of the festival. Acknowledging the immense grace and divine inspiration of Acharya Swamishree for holding this festival and creating the new Mandir, the disciples of Vrushpur placed a golden momento at the lotus feet of Acharya Swamishree.

The festivities then concluded. With splendid memories of the festival, and having appreciated more the glory of Lord Swaminarayan, Shree Abji Bapashree, and our divine Karan Satsang, Shree Swmainarayan Gadi and Acharya Swamishree, disciples from all over the world departed from Vrushpur.