His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and several dignitaries paid homage to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s efforts to strengthen family unity in millions of homes around the world as tens of thousands gathered to commemorate ‘Family Unity Day: Celebrating Family Values’ at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar on 29 December 2022.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj personally visited over 250,000 homes to strengthen family unity and promoted the innovative concept of the family home assembly (ghar sabha) as an effective solution to familial strife.

To pay tribute to the unique gift of ghar sabha given by Pramukh Swami Maharaj on the occasion of his centenary celebrations, Mahant Swami Maharaj inspired a large-scale Family Unity Campaign between 31 January to 15 April 2022 to transmit the message of family harmony throughout society. Over 72,000 male and female volunteers spent 7.2 million hours personally visiting 2.4 million homes and inspiring family harmony among 6 million individuals in over 10,000 villages and cities across 17 states of India. As a result of this unprecedented campaign, 1.9 million families pledged to have at least one meal together daily, over 1 million families decided to perform daily prayers together, and over 400,000 families were inspired to conduct a regular family home assembly (ghar sabha).

This campaign built on the 2003 ‘Ideal Family Campaign’ organized on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of BAPS Children’s Activities during which 17,500 boys and girls had visited 435,000 homes to promote Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s message of family values. The campaign had resulted in 250,000 people pledging to daily bow down to their parents, 193,000 people pledging to live an addiction-free life, and 240,000 people pledging to conduct daily family home assemblies (ghar sabha).

Living by the maxim, ‘In the joy of others lies our own,’ Pramukh Swami Maharaj spent his entire life helping families overcome discontent, enmity, quarrels and a wide range of other problems, inspiring them to live happily in harmony with each other.

Evening Assembly

The special evening assembly titled ‘Family Unity Day: Celebrating Family Values’ at Pramukh Swami Nagar began at 4.45pm

Senior BAPS swami, Narayanmunidas Swami, spoke on the unique gift and innovative formula of ghar sabha given by Pramukh Swami Maharaj to society. Ghar sabha has healed many fractured family relationships, and it continues to strengthen family unity. Narayanmunidas Swami said, “Mutual affection amongst devotees is upheld as a spiritual principle in the Swaminarayan tradition. Thus, Pramukh Swami Maharaj dedicated his life to promoting unity and resolving strife within families. Even in his hectic schedule, he would personally mediate and provide solutions to family disputes.

“Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s initiative of family home assembly (ghar sabha), serves the role of social counselling where family members sit together and discuss different spiritual topics to promote family unity. On the occasion of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s centenary celebrations, devotees visited more than 2.4 million homes to spread Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s message of family unity.”

Senior BAPS swami, Swayamprakashdas Swami (Doctor Swami) reiterated Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s teachings for establishing harmony within countless families. He said, “Just as we need air to survive, we need unity to thrive. Pramukh Swami Maharaj used to stress, ‘The family that eats, prays and plays together, stays together.’ He provided a four-point formula for fostering unity in families: only if everyone in a family can tolerate others, sacrifice for others, let go for others and adjust for others can we secure harmony within a family. Indeed, family unity is the essence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s centenary celebrations. If we can progress in our family unity, we will experience the joy of this Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar at home; every day will feel like a festival.”

Many dignitaries joined His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj to pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life and work.

Jayraj Thaker, Managing Trustee of Narsee Monjee Education Trust, shared, “Seeing is believing! Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar is a reflection of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life – simple living and high thinking. I was astounded by the confidence and courtesy of the 12-year-old girl who showed us around the Bal Nagari. This, too, is a reflection of the values instilled by Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s work for children and families. I am honoured to be here and wish BAPS the best for its future endeavours.”

Popular Indian film and television actor Dilip Joshi shared, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj was truly ‘Narayanswarup’; God lived and worked through him, and hence he loved all of humanity equally. Everyone wholeheartedly believed that ‘Swami is mine!’ Pramukh Swami Maharaj selflessly met, visited and wrote to millions, with the sole aim to uplift them personally, socially and spiritually.

“I firmly believe that my successful acting career – including 14 years and 370 episodes so far of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah – is solely due to the blessing of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Without him, I would not be here. I pray for his and Mahant Swami Maharaj’s continued blessings to elevate me spiritually.”

Amit Chavda, Member of Legislative Assembly Gujarat and Former State President of Indian National Congress, shared, “Upon learning from the varied thematic exhibitions on this massive 600-acre campus, I realized that it is imperative for our future to follow the footsteps of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. I express my gratitude to all the 80,000 volunteers who belong to different professions on being engaged here as volunteers to spread Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s message of better living.

“I used to visit the BAPS Swaminarayan temple at Bochasan during my childhood and was fortunate to be blessed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj on numerous occasions. His works have left a permanent imprint on my life.

“BAPS nurtures Hinduism not only through their temples worldwide, but also through the inculcation of values in the future generations. I am amazed to know there are more than 6,000 children volunteers on this campus. On seeing them, I feel that the motto of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life ‘In the joy of others lies our own’ has come alive. I would like to thank all the swamis and volunteers who have taken care of the basic amenities as well as the education of those children volunteers.”

Shaktisinh Gohil, National Spokesperson of Indian National Congress and Member of Parliament, added, “Today, I stand before you all not as a political leader, but as an admirer of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Just as a seed grows into a massive tree when nurtured, Pramukh Swami Maharaj fostered BAPS through extensive travelling and meeting common people with immense affection. When global dignitaries would be craving for a meeting with Pramukh Swami Maharaj, he would be engaged in wiping the tears of an ordinary villager in a mud-hut. When Bhagwan Swaminarayan came to Gujarat, he accepted everyone without distinction, whether it was Dada Khachar or a Muslim woman. Like Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Pramukh Swami Maharaj would never differentiate between people based on religion. I saw this first-hand when he took the service of a Muslim as one of the key patrons in the creation of London Mandir. It is not a great feat to achieve a post in the state or the national government, but to achieve a place in the heart of Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the greatest achievement of my life.”

Harsh Sanghvi, Home Minister of the Government of Gujarat, shared, “This festival has been a huge learning experience for me. It has been possible not only due to management skills but by devotion and dedication. Students of management studies should come here to learn the effectiveness of integrating faith and belief with management.

“All my visits abroad have shown me that Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s teachings have inspired youths in foreign countries. His de-addiction initiatives are a tremendous gift to society. I bow to his vision and work.”

Swami Nikhileshwarananda Ji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Ashram, Rajkot, added, “It is extraordinary that a festival site of 600 acres is open for a whole month. It is even more unbelievable to see how it is being run so efficiently and effortlessly by 80,000 volunteers. Students should come here and conduct a case study on how to manage a mega-event like this. I am confident that whoever comes here will be showered with God’s blessings and will be able to lead a successful life. It has been the biggest blessing for me to be present here today.”

Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamji, President of JSS Mahavidyapeetha and the 24th Pontiff of Sri Suttur Math in Mysore, said, “I am exhilarated to be part Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s centenary celebrations, which is an epic presentation of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life through various momentous month-long programmes.  In this expansive Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar, one sees legendary and unparalleled beauty and indescribably captivating art and sculptures imbued with the universal life, works and messages of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Pramukh Swami Maharaj and the Swaminarayan Sampradaya are household names across the globe today. As a divine incarnation of Godhead, Bhagwan Swaminarayan performed many miracles and continues to do so even today. This magnificent gathering is an example of this.

“Pramukh Swami is one of the most revered saints cutting across religious affiliations. He is a divine manifestation for bringing the celestial presence of God to the terrestrial plane through preaching, practice and demonstration. Today, over 1,100 temples of unmatched architectural magnificence across the world are an outstanding testimony of the divinity of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Swaminarayan temples are modern miracles of extraordinary beauty that symbolize the culture, art and timeless values of Hinduism meant to reform human lives.

“As the head of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has humbly served society, going from village to village to meet devotees, travelling across India and many countries around the world. His efforts have overseen the growth of BAPS from a modest beginning in Gujarat to a global phenomenon with a massive network of temples and very active charitable services run by dedicated volunteers prepared to serve selflessly. The Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s leadership in providing humanitarian aid during natural calamities before even the government could respond. He noted that the organization’s service rendered to the afflicted are unparalleled in history.

“Many people have gained faith and had their lives transformed through their interactions with BAPS swamis and devotees in BAPS temples. Thus, BAPS is at the forefront of disseminating the priceless wisdom of the ancient spiritual tradition of Hinduism across the world.”

In his blessings to the assembly, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj explained, “To maintain and increase family unity, Pramukh Swami initiated the family home assembly (ghar sabha), from which millions of families have benefited and attained peace. Pramukh Swami Maharaj said that the increased individualism of modern life causes people to go about their own affairs without interacting with family members. This lack of meaningful family interaction leads to misunderstandings and discord. Consequently, the home, which should be a haven of love and peace, becomes a place of strife and sorrow. But by doing ghar sabha, our mutual affection increases, and miscommunications, tensions and discord decrease. While people may doubt the effectiveness of a small thing like ghar sahba, the results are true. Ghar sabha fosters positivity and virtues and if continued with faith, the whole family benefits over time.”

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and several dignitaries paid homage to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s selfless service to millions around the world as tens of thousands gathered to commemorate ‘Seva Day: Celebrating Selfless Service’ at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar on 28 December 2022.

A glimpse into Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s relief work:

Gujarat Drought of 1987

• Operated cattle camps for 8 to 12 months
• Saved the lives of more than 10,000 cattle
• Over 3 months between March and May 1988:
  • Buttermilk distributed to over 12,757,000 people across 195 towns
  • 223,800 kg of food grains disturbed across 13 districts
  • 31,295,000 kg of hay distributed
  • 18,000 kg of sukhadi sweets distributed
  • Education assistance provided by distributing books and waiving fees at Gondal Gurukul
    

Bhuj Earthquake of 2001

• 40,000 meals served daily for 45 consecutive days; 1.8 million meals served in disaster-affected areas
• Construction and rehabilitation of 15 adopted villages, including a total of 4,190 homes constructed
• Re-construction of 49 destroyed schools benefiting more than 15,000 students
• Supplies freely distributed to 91,000 disaster-affected victims
• Relief materials provided to 409 villages
• 2,500 people helped with employment

COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020-21

• Over 180,000 PPE kits distributed
• Over 200,000 villagers treated through mobile clinics
• Over 250 hospitals supported at various levels in India and abroad
• Over 1,000 hospital beds donated
• Over 5,000 litres sanitising solution donated
• Over 3,000,000 people benefited physically, mentally and spiritually from specially created online satsang platforms
• Over 256,000 people provided with comfort and guidance through phone calls
• Over 11,000 volunteers served at various levels in this relief work
• Cryogenic tanks with 132 metric tons of liquid oxygen provided
• Oxygen cylinders containing a total of over 7.8 million litres of oxygen distributed
• Over 1,300 oxygen concentrators distributed at multiple areas

Evening Assembly

In an assembly of tens of thousands at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar on 28 December, several leaders and dignitaries joined His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj to pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s tireless and selfless services to society around the world. Pramukh Swami personified his own universal teaching, ‘In the joy of others lies our own’.

Adarshjivandas Swami, the biographer of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, narrated episodes from the life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in his series ‘Pramukh Charitam’.

A video presentation visually depicted Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s selfless, compassionate works both in India and abroad.

Many dignitaries joined His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj to pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s divine and selfless life.

Renowned director and producer Arvind Babbal shared, “In my first encounter with Mahant Swami Maharaj, I felt as if I was in the presence of my father. The loving way he held my hand was such that I did not need to say a single word. It was a profound moment that I will cherish as long as I live.”

Dr. Afroz Ahmad, Member of the National Green Tribunal of India, said, “I was with the Narmada Control Authority for thirty years, and this was a big challenge for me as there was vehement opposition to allowing Narmada to enter Gujarat. I was stressed as to the outcome because politically and legally there was massive opposition – not just nationally, but internationally. When I came to Gujarat, I was told to meet Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Every hurdle we faced was solved through Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s blessings. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s words have led to the upliftment of society, helping eradicate poverty and further democracy. He blessed me that I would be a judge one day and today I am pleased to state that I have been appointed a judge at the National Green Tribunal.”

P.K. Laheri (IAS), Former Chief Secretary of Government of Gujarat, added, “For over forty years, I have had many opportunities to meet, travel with and learn from Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Words fall short of describing his true greatness. The key thing that touched me from his life was that in all situations, he calmly accepted God’s will and saw himself only as God’s instrument. His heights of spirituality were such that despite fully engaging in solving the problems of the hundreds of thousands of people who came to him, he was ever calm and blissful because he was absorbed in God.

“He devoted himself to accomplishing the Narmada Dam project. He would proactively help in the coordination work and on other fronts. The deaddiction campaigns he inspired were another exemplary social contribution of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. He always looked to uplift others during the course of his entire life.”

Sudhanshu Trivedi, Member of Parliament and Senior National Spokesperson for BJP, shared his sentiments. “Tulsidas has said that the hardest thing to do is serve with the purest intentions, but serving like this was natural for Pramukh Swami Maharaj. I feel that his ideals of service, his pure thoughts and sentiments are still alive. Pramukh Swami Maharaj had immense compassion for all of society, and so he worked his entire life to nurture family unity. His inspiration to countless people led them to live with love with their family, which was not just beneficial for the family but for the prosperity of the nation. Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired the entire world to imbibe Hindu values and perform selfless service. I am confident that due to his inspiration, India will rise in the 21st century, not to dominate the world, but to motivate the world.”

Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Member of Parliament and President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, shared, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar seems to be a dream constructed by the gods. Thousands of people like me take inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but today at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar, I have come to the source of inspiration for great leaders like him.

“Some time ago, upon visiting the seminary for the training of swamis in Sarangpur, I realized that BAPS was fostering a revolution of service, virtues and spirituality. Today, I have seen so many successful professionals who are serving here as volunteers. I saw doctors, CEOs, engineers are offering their service, which is an indication of the messages taught by BAPS in India and across the world. I was impressed by their enthusiasm as well as their discipline and commitment. The art of developing civil societies on the foundation of strong values should be learnt from BAPS.”

In his blessings, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj said, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s entire life was dedicated to the service of others. He did not spend a second of his life devoid of service. He might appear to be sitting calmly, but his thoughts were always focused on how to serve others and help them progress.

“Pramukh Swami Maharaj served with the purest of intentions. He would explain, ‘We must not serve with the expectation of public acclaim, but to do concrete work that positively impacts society. We should not limit our service to our own circle, but we must expand it to encompass everyone, such that our entire life is immersed in service.’ In this way, Pramukh Swami Maharaj served society sincerely and without distinction.

“Pramukh Swami Maharaj saw service as devotion to God and his gurus. This is an element of service that is forgotten. We should serve with the intention to please God, not to gain accolades. Pramukh Swami Maharaj often said, ‘God recognizes our service, so whether others recognize it or not does not matter. We must serve with the firm conviction that God sees our service. We should not just superficially serve to show others. Pramukh Swami Maharaj embodied these ideals of pure and true service, without any thought of public acclaim.”

Dignitaries and Baba Ramadevji pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s tireless spiritual travels in uplifting society

In an assembly of tens of thousands at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar on 27 December, national leaders and dignitaries joined His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj to pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s incessant travels over 45 years to ignite spirituality in people’s lives around the world. Pramukh Swami personified the ancient scriptural message, ‘A sadhu is someone who travels for the benefit of society.’

Pramukh Swami Maharaj travelled tirelessly to 51 countries and 17,000 villages, towns and cities, visited 250,000 homes, and personally counselled over 800,000 people. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s travels were beyond comprehension. For example, in 1975, he visited 645 villages; in 1976, he covered 728 villages; in 1977, he reached out to 663 villages!

Even a heart attack in 1983 and bypass surgery in 1998 did not deter Pramukh Swami Maharaj from continuing his relentless travels for the benefit of society.

A personal meeting with a person from a tribal community was as important to him as his appointments with world dignitaries. Establishing a meaningful and direct connection with every individual and inspiring them to live a pure and virtuous life was a priority for Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s spiritual travels were like that of the gushing River Ganges, constantly and selflessly flowing to purify and liberate all who came in touch with him. Overlooking the constraints of time, facilities, adversities and even his physical health, Pramukh Swami Maharaj happily travelled for decades on end without a break. Through his travels, he dissolved the sorrows of thousands, consoling and rejuvenating them with spiritual love and wisdom.

Evening Assembly

The occasion of ‘Vicharan Day: Celebrating Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s Spiritual Travels’ at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar started with a devotional symphony at 4.45pm.

Adarshjivandas Swami, the biographer of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, narrated episodes from the life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj on the faith he fostered in society through his travels. He mentioned, “Even through the most difficult of times, his unwavering faith in God and gurus ensured that all his projects saw success. For example, securing the land for the Akshardham mandir in New Delhi took 32 years of constant efforts by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, but his faith in the words of his guru never wavered.”

Viveksagardas Swami, a senior BAPS swami who has witnessed Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s unprecedented spiritual travels for over four decades, shared his experiences, describing the epic and liberating impact of the travels. “Pramukh Swami Maharaj had taken an oath before guru Shastriji Maharaj that he would foster faith in God and guru without care for his body, and he upheld this oath for all 94 years of his life. His travels were always for the benefit of others. He moved incessantly from tribal huts to foreign lands, putting immense strain on his body. To please devotees and satisfy their wishes, he would endure great difficulties. His visits to people’s homes would continue late into the night. He would travel in rikshaws, tractors and old jeeps without a thought of his own comfort, with the singular thought that our gurus have endured such hardships.

“In addition to reaching every heart during his travels, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s heart remained forever centred on God. Wherever he went, he kept Thakorji with him, serving him with care. Amidst all of his travels, which alone could have taken up all his time, he oversaw 162 humanitarian activities, created more than 1,200 mandirs, initiated more than 1,000 sadhus, organized many large-scale festivals, and read and replied to over 700,000 letters from people seeking guidance.”

A video presentation visually depicted Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s unceasing travels.

Many dignitaries joined His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj to pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s divine and selfless life.

R.S. Sodhi, Managing Director of Amul, said, “Dr. Verghese Kurien had great reverence for Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and had often said, ‘What Pramukh Swami Maharaj did for society is so immense that my work appears negligible.’ Of the many facets of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s leadership, I have been most impressed by his ability to connect with everyone, especially today’s youth. He made the impossible possible – whether it be in the form of building temples or doing relief work.  He transformed lives. I have learned that he enabled swamis of BAPS to become experts in fields of architecture, Sanskrit and many more without any formal education or training. He helped people live addiction-free lives. Pramukh Swami Maharaj was calm and stable no matter the situation. Where any leader would have been destabilized by the horrific Akshardham terrorist attack, he kept society calm through his own equanimity.”

Meenesh Shah, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board, said, “BAPS, Amul and the National Dairy Development Board work for the social and financial upliftment of ordinary people, villagers and farmers. We have sustained the friendship that Dr Kurien and Pramukh Swami Maharaj had. Today, we were part of a workshop in Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar in which 300 scientists and 700 farmers came together to apply modern technology in agriculture to benefit all the farmers of the nation.”

Ajay Umat, Editor-in-Chief of the Shayona Times Group, said, “President APJ Abdul Kalam called Pramukh Swami Maharaj his ultimate teacher. Pramukh Swami Maharaj brought about the perfect union of science and spirituality. He was the spiritual leader of the world because he never believed in denigrating others; he never looked at anybody’s faults or spoke about the same. Promoting and maintaining peace was his primary goal and this is evident from the manner in which he calmed people during the Akshardham terrorist attack. Today, his method is known as the ‘Akshardham Response’.”

Swami Ramdevji Maharaj, Yogacharya of the Patanjali Yog Peeth, said, “We are witness to a revolution in the form of this unforgettable Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebration. I have seen three Kumbh Melas, but this festival is a Mahakumbh! This 600-acre site is the pride and embodiment of Hinduism. This festival is the perfect example of how an effective and inspiring event can be organized. There is no professional mind at work here; it is the divine power of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

“I had taken Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s blessings thirty years ago in Surat, when I was a nobody. Today, when I am known globally, I still yearn for the blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. All those who surrendered to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, found their life attaining great heights. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is not just the pride of BAPS or the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, but of the entire Hindu faith.

“I experienced profound peace in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s divinity, and whenever I meet Mahant Swami Maharaj, I feel like I am meeting Pramukh Swami Maharaj.”

Praful Patel, Former Union Minister of India, said, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj was not a mere Hindu swami; he was a form of God manifest on earth for all. He nurtured Hinduism not only in India, but throughout the world through BAPS mandirs. Today, when I see this extraordinary campus with 80,000 volunteers serving selflessly, I am convinced that the divinity of Pramukh Swami Maharaj is at work. Pramukh Swami Maharaj has made this organization such that it will continue to prosper until the end of time.”

Honourable Vajubhai Vala, Former Governor of Karnataka, said, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj embodied the qualities of Brahma as the creator, Vishnu as the sustainer and Mahesh as the destroyer of sins and vices. Pramukh Swami Maharaj had an innocent laugh and loving compassionate eyes which I cannot forget. Pramukh Swami Maharaj has lit 1,100 lamps in the form of swamis that inspire thousands of others.”

Balkrishna Shukla, MLA and Chief Whip of BJP Gujarat, said, “I am confident that the main inspiration for India’s celebrations of 75 years of independence will come from here. BAPS is the best school to learn management. Even Prime Minster Narendra Modi often says that if you want to learn management, go to BAPS for six months. This festival is a testament to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s and Mahant Swami Maharaj’s inspiration.”

Justice N. V. Ramana, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, said, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a true visionary whose driving force can be found in his maxim, ‘In the Joy of others lies our own’. His selfless service and all-accompanying love touched many lives and transformed local communities. We must take inspiration from the work of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in how to live harmoniously with each other and ensure the welfare and happiness of all in society. Through his calm and forgiving response to the Akshardham terrorist attack, he set an example of peace across the nation.”

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Business and Commerce, shared, “As soon as I arrived at this nagar, I saw the great sculpted image of Pramukh Swami Maharaj radiating divine light and immediately felt that he was watching over all of us. It is my greatest fortune that I have been in his close company many times. I am also blessed to have visited the Neasden Mandir in London several times. All the BAPS mandirs built around the world have been inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Devotees have created these mandirs with intense devotion and faith. The BAPS mandir in Abu Dhabi will be historic and beyond our imagination. I could not contain my excitement upon seeing the allotment letter for land given in the UAE.

“Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired millions to serve selflessly. He combined devotion towards God and country, and gave a new ray of hope for India. I clearly remember the relief work after the Bhuj earthquake when Pramukh Swami Maharaj rebuilt homes, schools and hospitals. That reformation and restoration is a chapter I will never forget. He truly brought happiness to people’s lives, exemplified by his teaching ‘In the joy of others lies our own’.

In his blessings, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj said, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj often said that as swamis travel through society, people’s spirituality is nourished and devotees are pleased. It is said that flowing rivers and traveling swamis benefit society. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s travels for the benefit of society were unprecedented and unparalleled. He never stood still. Even when appearing to rest, his thoughts remained constantly focused on elevating devotees and society.

“Once, in the blazing summer heat, I was walking with Pramukh Swami Maharaj through the dusty lanes of the village of Bamangam. As he struggled to climb up a hill, I thought, ‘Why is he putting himself through so much strain when he can delegate such tasks to others?’ Pramukh Swami Maharaj immediately turned to me and said, ‘Our gurus Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj have climbed these hills countless times to visit the people.’ From this, I realized that Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s focus premained firmly on his gurus, who were the inspiration for his unrelenting travels.

“While his travels were matchless in their scope and difficulties, his presence remained forever loving, compassionate and gentle, granting peace to millions. The mere mention of his name granted peace to millions of hearts. He never saw any distinctions of high or low. He remained ever-focused on attaining the spiritual outcomes that he had set as his goals. It is impossible for us to fathom the vastness of the divine sentiments he had for society.”