Acharya Swamishree Departs

After a month and a half of touring United States and Canada to spread the glory and supreme philosophy of Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj's 2015 North American Vicharan came to an end on Tuesday, August 5, 2015, when Acharya Swamishree departed for the United Kingdom to continue his vicharan there. From June 30 through August 5, Acharya Swamishree performed several patotsav ceremonies across the continent, inspired parayans, delivered countless ashirwads, performed padhramanis at many homes and businesses, and inspired the first-ever Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan North America Convention, which was a remarkable success with Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and Acharya Swamishree's blessings. 

The Subhechha Samarambh program was held at Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey on Tuesday, August 4, 2015, the day before Acharya Swamishree departed. Around 5 PM, everyone gathered inside the temple prayer hall, and sants performed kirtan-bhakti. Afterwards, Acharya Swamishree performed sandhya aarti, and everyone recited daily niyams. Once niyams concluded, Acharya Swamishree showered His divine blessings upon the entire congregation for the last time during His 2014 North American vicharan. Honorable guests were blessed by Acharya Swamishree, disciples offered garlands to Acharya Swamishree and sants to bid them farewell until next time, and many disciples and Swamibapa Pipe Band members were then honored for their outstanding seva to the temple as a part of the annual seva recognition awards at Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey. Acharya Swamishree then blessed all of the disciples and gave everyone His divine darshan before the program concluded.

Acharya Swamishree performed His last aarti of the vicharan at Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey around 4:30 PM on Wednesday, August 5, 2015. He blessed disciples inside the temple one last time before exiting. He was then seated inside His car outside the main entrance of the temple, and a police escort led the car from the temple to Newark International Airport. 

Acharya Swamishree's flight to London departed around 7:30 PM, and His 2015 North American vicharan came to an end. Acharya Swamishree will continue to elucidate the Lord's teachings in the United Kingdom before returning to India in September.

Chaturmaas Niyams

Monday, July 27, 2015, marked the commencement of Chaturmas, a four-month auspicious period of religious vows dedicated to Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. Acharya Swamishree, sants, and disciples took their auspicious vows in front of Lord Shree Swaminarayan, Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree, and Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa at Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Secaucus, New Jersey. This year, Chaturmas concludes on Kartik Sud Ekadashi on November 22, 2015.

The purpose of Chaturmas is to take on additional vows, as described by Lord Shree Swaminarayan in the Shikshapatri, Holy Book of Commandments, sloks 76 - 78. Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa urged disciples to include three elements in their vows: penance, scripture recital, and meditation. 
Suggested Chaturmas Niyams: 

• Dharna parna - Oopvas on one day and one meal on the next day for 15 days, 1 month, or entire Chaturmas
• Ek tana - One meal a day for 15 days, 1 month, or entire Chaturmas
• Oopvas - On Ekadashi days for the entire Chaturmas
• Dhyan - Perform at least 5 minutes dhyan every day during Chaturmas
• Scriptual Recital - Choose a scripture (Shikshapatri, Swaminarayan Gadi Granth, Bapashree ni Vato, Vachnamrut, etc.) and complete the reading of it during Chaturmas
• Kirtans - Learn a number of kirtans during Chaturmas
• Extra Mala - Perform extra mala during your pooja for the duration of Chaturmas
• Extra Pradakshina - Perform extra pradakshina during your pooja for the duration of Chaturmas

New Jersey Arrival

After touring the Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, as well as Toronto, Canada, Acharya Swamishree Maharaj and sants made it to their last stop on 2015 North America Vicharan: Shree Swaminarayan Temple - Secaucus, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 26, 2015. A welcome sabha was held in the temple after daily sandhya aarti and niyams. Acharya Swamishree and sants were escorted into the temple by Swamibapa Pipe Band and then garlanded by disciples. Secaucus Mayor and friend to the temple, Mr. Michael Gonnelli, came to the temple for Acharya Swamishree's darshan and expressed his heartfelt welcome and happiness to the congregation.

Kentucky Patotsav

From July 9th through 10th, 2015, Acharya Swamishree and sants toured the Louisville, Kentucky, area of the United States. On Sunday, July 12, 2015, Acharya Swamishree performed the second patotsav ceremony of the Hari Mandir in Louisville, Kentucky. Annakut items were offered to Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, scripture recitals were performed, Acharya Swamishree showered His divine blessings, and disciples performed a devotional dance to please the Lord and celebrate the occasion.

Tennessee Patotsav

On Saturday, July 11, 2015, Acharya Swamishree performed the second first patotsav ceremony of the Hari Mandir in Columbia, Tennessee. Annakut items were offered to Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, scripture recitals were performed, Acharya Swamishree showered His divine blessings, and Acharya Swamishree and sants were adorned in special garlands to please the Lord and celebrate the occasion.

St. Louis Vicharan

During their time in North America, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj and eminent sants toured various parts of the continent to give disciples their divine darshan, perform padhramanis, hold sabhas, perform ceremonies, and elucidate the divine philosophy of Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. From July 6th through 8th, 2015, Acharya Swamishree and sants toured the St. Louis, Missouri area. A special sabha was also held on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, during which all disciples from the area gathered in a community hall, and Acharya Swamishree showered His divine blessings upon all.