Bhagwan Swaminarayan: Through Thick and Thin
And so he walks along the seemingly endless beach, careful to step in one of the two pairs of footprints. As he treads the path once travelled while holding hands with God, he relives various instances of his life. There were instances of happiness and pain, success and disappointment, harmony and strife. After some time, he comes to an abrupt stop; he notices that on his path during all of life’s happy moments there were two sets of footprints: his own and God’s. But, when the waves got rough; when living seemed a greater burden than death, there was only one set of footprints: he was all alone. He turns and growls to God, “Where were you when I needed you the most?” As he pours out his frustrations, God listens with a knowing smile. He looks up at God and sneers, “What are you so happy about?”
God answers with motherly softness, “You were not alone; it was then that I had picked you up, held you in my arms, and carried you forward.”
It is God who carries us when getting up, let alone walking, seems hopeless. Shriji Maharaj’s life is filled with moments in which he carried his devotees through life’s turbulent waters. Samvat 1869 (1813 CE) would bring shivers to those who lived through its testing times. The famine had hit Gujarat hard. People were often found scavenging for a morsel of food and drops of water. Shriji Maharaj’s devotees were among those who suffered.
However, Maharaj carried them when they needed him the most. Jesangbhai from Vaso came to Vartal wearing torn, soiled clothes. Maharaj immediately asked, “How many grains do you have left?” Unable to hide his embarrassment, Jesang admitted, “Eleven maunds stored in a large container.” Maharaj placed his hand on his shoulder and instructed, “Seal the container from the top and take however many grains you need from the small hole at the bottom. As long as you keep the lid sealed, the grains won’t run out. Sell the grains to buy ghee, sugar, clothes, and whatever else you need.” Maharaj provided for his devotee when he was unable to stand on his own feet.
It is comparatively easy to give food to a hungry man, but fulfilling someone emotionally is much more difficult.
Affluent devotees often brought Shriji Maharaj exquisite delicacies in decorated golden and silver plates when he stayed in the mansion in Jetalpur. Jivan Bhakta, a devotee from a modest home, also wished to offer Maharaj a thal. However, whenever he came with his thal, he would become embarrassed when he saw what the other devotees offered Maharaj. He couldn’t afford tasty delicacies. He couldn’t even provide a decent plate that wasn’t cracked or worn at the edges. He kept thinking, “Why would Maharaj ever accept my thal?” For eighteen straight days, Jivan Bhakta brought his thal and took it back home without offering it to Maharaj.
Then, one day he mustered the courage and approached Maharaj. Shriji Maharaj eagerly reached for the thal, and began eating the half-cooked rotlo. With his mouth half full, Maharaj exclaimed, “I find this rotlo to be the most delicious delicacy.” Jivan Bhakta’s apprehension vanished and his face lit up; God had accepted his devotion.
Shriji Maharaj’s love for his devotees was so great that he often forgot his own needs when it came to fulfilling his devotees’ wishes.
In Samvat 1886 (1830 CE), Maharaj’s health deteriorated severely. He was barely able to stay awake, let alone walk. He would remain in bed all day, occasionally getting up to eat only a few morsels of food. Dada Khachar’s entire darbar had turned ghostly ever since Maharaj announced that he would soon return to Akshardham. Sobs replaced the joyous chirping that once resonated from the tree in the middle of the courtyard. With each day, Maharaj’s condition worsened.
One day a letter arrived from Kakabhai, a devotee from Rojka. He stated that he would not live long and requested Maharaj to grace him with his darshan. As soon as Maharaj read Kakabhai’s letter, he rose from his bed and gave orders to have his horse prepared; he would be going to Rojka. His attendants stood in disbelief, wondering, “Is he serious?” Just a few minutes before he could barely speak, and now he wants to go to Rojka on a horse. Before they could voice an objection, Maharaj effortlessly mounted his horse and was on his way.
When he saw Maharaj, Kakabhai’s eyes welled with tears. Trying his hardest to hold back, he expressed his gratitude in an unsteady voice, “Please free me from this body, and keep me forever in your service.” Maharaj held his hand and comforted him. This was one of the reasons why he had come to earth. He was here to carry his devotees, even if it meant putting his own needs aside. Afterwards, Maharaj returned to Gadhada and resumed his illness.
Even when devotees had lost direction and their will to walk; when they’d lost faith and their will to serve God, Shriji Maharaj had carried them to the right path.
Vasta Khachar had decided to stay for the night at Jiva Khachar’s darbar in Gadhada. Maharaj asked him not to go, and that if he must, then not to pay attention to what he would hear. Vasta went, and throughout the night, Jiva Khachar and Budho Dhadhal slandered Maharaj. They accused Maharaj of coaxing Dada Khachar to give him control of his darbar, and claimed that Maharaj’s concern for Vasta was aimed at taking control of Vasta’s three villages. Vasta not only heard, but also began to believe their toxic accusations. The following morning he went back to Kariyani visibly upset, without even meeting Maharaj. Maharaj sensed that there was something wrong and immediately set off for Kariyani. When he arrived, Vasta Khachar’s face had transformed into a spiteful scathe. Maharaj understood and began to explain, “Why would I want your three villages, when Kushalkuvarba was ready to give me her three hundred?” Vasta’s expressions softened. Maharaj continued, “And when I was travelling as Nilkanth Varni, a Nepali king offered me his two daughters and his entire kingdom…” By the time Maharaj had finished, Vasta was sobbing at Maharaj’s feet asking for forgiveness. Even when it seemed as though they had lost faith in Maharaj, Maharaj never lost faith in his devotees.
Shriji Maharaj remains with his devotees when they need him the most. This is his greatest gift to us — his unceasing love. He does not abandon us during difficulties, but rather carries us through them.
Sadhu Aksharananddas, Sadhu Uttamshlokadas, Sadhu Yoginayandas
Swaminarayan Bliss | Mar 2010
