Indo American News

Tag: Pramukh Swami Maharaj

  • His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj of BAPS Arrives in North America

    His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj of BAPS Arrives in North America

    Mahant Swami Maharaj with Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj
    Mahant Swami Maharaj with Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj

    HOUSTON: The spiritual legacy of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj continues with the arrival of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj in North America on June 22, 2017. Over the next three months, he will visit mandirs and inspire thousands of devotees in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Jose, New Jersey (Edison and Robbinsville), and Toronto, Canada. His visit will be filled with traditional celebrations, spiritual discourses, various seminars, and special events open to the community.

    Since the earthly departure of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Mahant Swami Maharaj now continues the lifework and legacy of Pramukh Swami Maharaj as the sixth and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was born in 1933 in Madhya Pradesh, India. In 1961, at the age of 28, he was ordained as a swami and given the name of Sadhu Keshavjivandas by His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj, then guru and spiritual leader of BAPS. Yogiji Maharaj recognized his leadership abilities and bestowed upon him numerous responsibilities including appointing him as the mahant, or chief priest, of the BAPS mandir in Mumbai, India. Thus, the name ‘Mahant Swami Maharaj.’

    Mahant Swami receiving a garland from Pramukh Swami Maharaj
    Mahant Swami receiving a garland from Pramukh Swami Maharaj

    After Yogiji Maharaj’s earthly departure, Mahant Swami Maharaj dedicated himself totally to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth Guru of BAPS. Under his guidance, Mahant Swami Maharaj relentlessly traveled to remote areas in India and abroad to inspire moral values and enlighten countless devotees. He was also called upon to be in the forefront during major celebrations and as a trusted advisor regarding critical decisions related to the organization.

    Pramukh Swami Maharaj was thoroughly pleased with Mahant Swami Maharaj’s virtues and devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his gurus as well as his affection to the devotees and care for their well-being. On July 20, 2012, in Ahmedabad, India in the presence of senior swamis of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj officially appointed Mahant Swami Maharaj as his successor.

    BAPS-in-3
    As the current Guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Mahant Swami Maharaj has led by exemplifying devotion, humility, and selflessness. He visits with devotees around the world to nurture faith in all individuals, promote family values and unity, and strengthen communities small and large. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s vision continues to be his driving force behind guiding spiritual activities and organizational efforts as well as pursuing development projects to advance youth programs.

    In the past year, he has continued his vicharan, or spiritual travels, throughout the world, and has thus far visited almost every major BAPS mandir in India and Africa. During his visit to the United States and Canada, he will attend numerous special celebrations including the ten-year anniversaries of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs in Atlanta, Toronto, and San Jose as well as a Murti Pratishta, a ritual to sanctify the murtis, for abhishekh in Robbinsville, NJ. After his three-month journey, he will continue onwards to the United Kingdom and the Far East regions.

    For more details regarding His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj’s North America visit, please visit www.baps.org/msm17na or follow #MahantSwami on social media.

    About BAPS
    The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a worldwide spiritual and humanitarian organization that is dedicated to community service, peace, and harmony. Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families, and individuals. Through various spiritual and humanitarian activities, BAPS endeavors to develop better citizens of tomorrow with high esteem for their roots and culture. Its 3,300 international centers support these character-building activities. Under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is free of addictions as well as morally, ethically and spiritually pure. For more details, please visit www.baps.org.

    About Mahant Swami Maharaj
    His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was ordained a swami by Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. As he was appointed the head (Mahant) of the Mandir in Mumbai, he became known as Mahant Swami. His devout, humble and service-focused life earned him the innermost blessings of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Mahant Swami Maharaj travels throughout the world inspiring people through his insightful spiritual discourses and disciplined conduct. His virtuous lifestyle and profound devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and gurus are ideals toward which devotees strive. Mahant Swami Maharaj became the guru and President of BAPS upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s passing in 2016.

    About Pramukh Swami Maharaj
    Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Under his leadership, BAPS grew into an international spiritual and humanitarian organization with over 3,300 centers worldwide. He dedicated his life to the well-being of others, traveling throughout the world to foster love, peace, harmony, righteousness, faith in God, and service to humanity. With genuine care and compassion, he reached out to all members of society irrespective of class, color, or age. Recognized and respected as one of India’s greatest spiritual teachers, he lived by and promoted the principle: “In the joy of others, lies our own.”

    CONTACT:
    media@na.baps.org

  • HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 96th Birthday Celebration

    HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 96th Birthday Celebration

    baps-in-3

    INDIA: An 11-day celebration on the occasion of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 96th birthday was held at Swaminarayan Nagar, Surat. For ten days, the 400-acre celebration site became an attraction for all eyes primarily because of the extraordinary exhibitions and evening cultural programs. The cultural village was the creation of volunteers from all over India – 18,000 male and female volunteers offered their services day and night. Pramukh Swami Maharaj passed away on August 13, 2016, in Sarangpur.

    Volunteers put in their best to pay homage to their beloved guru in the creation of the cultural village.   The festival hosted over 1.5 million visitors as well as 60,000 students and 2,000 teachers from 125 schools. The festival ground included a large entrance gate, a grand Mandir made from fiberglass and eight exhibitions showcasing Indian culture, heritage and values.  Each evening, a spectacular light and sound show on the mandir itself revealed the social and spiritual significance of mandirs in our modern world. The 11-day celebration also featured a women’s cultural program, blood donation camp as well as an anti-addiction drive. During the celebration, 44 youths were initiated into sadhu-fold.  

    baps-in-2

    The culmination of the festivities was the celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 96th birthday on December 7, 2016. The programs focused on Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s grand and divine social and spiritual works. Through skits, video shows, cultural dances and speeches, the program portrayed Swamiji’s tireless travels for the uplift of mankind, creation of mandirs like Swaminarayan Akshardham and disaster-relief programs conducted by BAPS. Pramukh Swami Maharaj traveled from large cities to remote villages to foster love, peace, harmony, spirituality and faith within individuals – irrespective of race, class, creed or color. His inspiring call, “In the joy of others, lies our own…” reflects the spirit of his life and work. The birthday celebration was a celebration of his life and work as a humble servant of society who spent his life using the power of his inner goodness to lift others up. The birthday celebration was also unique in itself. The date (December 7), day (Wednesday), Tithi as per Hindu calendar (Magsar Sud atham) and Nakshetra at the time of his birth in 1921 matched exactly today.

    The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijay Rupani, praised the personality of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and his mammoth contributions for the welfare of Gujarat. He also announced that the upcoming International sports stadium in Palanpur area of Surat would be named as Pramukh Swami International Stadium. Shri Amitbhai Shah, President of BJP, spoke glowingly about how he had experienced peace whenever he met Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

    baps-in-1
    To commemorate the universal works of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the Government of India paid tributes by releasing postage stamps of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Swaminarayan Akshardham.

    Thereafter, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, blessed the congregation of 200,000, saying, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj lived a universal life. He worked for the all-round betterment of all, regardless of the background. His humility was unparalleled; he respected all and cared for people of all classes and denominations. He emphasized unity and family cohesion for a progressive and happy society.”

    In conclusion, a grand aarti was performed by the 200,000 devotees and well-wishers offering respect to Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Grand celebrations for his birthday have been planned across North America on December 11 and December 18.

    All readers are invited to the celebration. More details on www.baps.org  

    About BAPS
    The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide socio-spiritual organization in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, is dedicated to community service, peace, and harmony.  Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families, and individuals. Through a number of social and spiritual activities, BAPS endeavors to produce better citizens of tomorrow who have a high esteem for their roots – their rich Hindu culture.  Its 3,300 international centers out of which over support these activities of character-building. BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and spiritually pure, and free of addictions.

    About Mahant Swami Maharaj
    His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was ordained a swami by Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. As he was appointed the head (Mahant) of the Mandir in Mumbai, he became known as Mahant Swami. His devout, humble and service-focused life earned him the innermost blessings of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Mahant Swami Maharaj travels throughout the world inspiring people through his insightful spiritual discourses and disciplined conduct. His virtuous lifestyle and profound devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and gurus are ideals toward which devotees strive. Mahant Swami Maharaj became the guru and President of BAPS upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s passing in 2016.

    About Pramukh Swami Maharaj
    Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Under his leadership, BAPS grew into an international spiritual and humanitarian organization with over 3,300 centers worldwide. He dedicated his life to the well-being of others, traveling throughout the world to foster love, peace, harmony, righteousness, faith in God, and service to humanity. With genuine care and compassion, he reached out to all members of society irrespective of class, color, or age. Recognized and respected as one of India’s greatest spiritual teachers, he lived by and promoted the principle: “In the joy of others, lies our own.”