Saturday 30 September 2023 | Bhadarva Vad 1, Samvat 2079
Sat 30 Sep 2023
His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree visits Nairobi's National Park and Arusha, Tanzania.
On 8th December 2003, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree accepted the humble wishes of His disciples and visited Nairobi's National Park. The park's animals and birds were granted the divine darshan of Acharya Swamishree. The park officials requested Acharya Swamishree to go into the cheetah enclosure and shake hands with the young cheetah puppies. Although they are wild animals and have not been trained in any manner, they became mesmerised by Acharya Swamishree's divine presence and obediently lay down at Acharya Swamishree's feet.
In the first few years of Lord Swaminarayan's darshan upon this earth, the wise sage Markandeya Rishi used his knowledge of astrology to forecast the Lord's future. Markandeya Rishi gave the Lord a name, Krishna , which means that He will attract all souls towards Him, just as a magnet draws irons towards it. This very same Lord gives darshan today through Acharya Swamishree and due to this quality of "Krishna", numerable souls, of all races and creeds become attracted to Acharya Swamishree. A young African child became fascinated by Acharya Swamishree and asked his parents if he could take a photo with Him. The merciful Acharya Swamishree granted the child His darshan and gave prasad to him.
On 9th December 2003 , Acharya Swamishree travelled to Tanzania. The devotees of the country came to the border to welcome Acharya Swamishree to the country. After an entire days' travelling, Acharya Swamishree reached Arusha at approximately 5 pm. Even the native Tanzanians living in the Temple vicinity were eagerly awaiting Acharya Swamishree's arrival. They all stood with joined hands and proclaimed that the "Mungu" (God) has arrived.
Acharya Swamishree immediately performed aarti to the supreme Lord SwaminarayanBapa Swamibapa and then held an assembly during which scripture recitals of Bapashree ni Vato were held. In His divine Ashirwad, Acharya Swamishree narrated the importance of abiding by the religious decree and morality.
On 10th December 2003, Acharya Swamishree and His Sant Mandal visited a picturesque riverside location, about 2 hours drive from Arusha. As it was approaching 4pm, the Sants prepared fruits to offer Shree Harikrishna Maharaj. Acharya Swamishree then distributed prasad to all. Some of the Sants swam in the river. Acharya Swamishree too went down to the river and sprinkled the water over all, and thus made the location a divine place of pilgrimage.
Accepting the humble wishes of Arusha's disciples, Acharya Swamishree visited their homes and factories during this short stay and then returned to Nairobi during the evening of 12th December 2003 .
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.