Honored Yet Humble

CONTRADICTORY VIRTUES

Kalidas, the classical Sanskrit author, in his epic poem, Raghuvansha, describes unique qualities of King Dilip in Sarg 1, verse 22:

“Gnãne maunam kshmã shaktao, tyãge shlãghãviparyayaha.” [“Knowledgeable, silent, able to forgive, strong, charitable, above self-praise.”]

Instead of just a simple list of virtues, Kalidas informs the reader that King Dilip brought together contradictory qualities. He was knowledgeable (gnãne), but without the desire to let everyone know it. Rather he was blessed with modest silence (maunam). In addition, the king was powerful (shaktao) and capable of inflicting punishment on criminals, but he often chose to forgive (kshmã). His charity and detachment (tyãge) were free from self-praise (shlãghãviparyayaha). King Dilip exemplified virtues that seemingly could not coexist.

Similarly, in shloka 313 of the Satsang Diksha, Mahant Swami Maharaj describes two contrasting virtues that Pramukh Swami Maharaj brought together effortlessly.

Vishvavandya vinamrãya gurave Pramukhãya cha. [“Pramukh Swami Maharaj who is revered throughout the world, yet is ever humble.”]

Pramukh Swami Maharaj was praised by both politicians and paupers, royalty and religious leaders, tribesmen and technocrats. Yet, despite such widespread praise and honor, Swamishri was always humble and deflected the tributes towards God and guru.

REVERED AND RENOWNED WORLDWIDE

Measuring the praise Swamishri received is as futile as measuring the water in the ocean with a mere cup. However, the experiences of others give an insight into how Swamishri’s life touched people from different backgrounds all over the world in multiple ways.

The Solicitor General of Canada, Bob Kaplan, said, “If the world learnt from Swamishri, then it can become a place free of crime, war and terrorism, and become a more peaceful place to live.”

Jain Acharya Pujya Muni Sushilkumarji hailed Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s leadership, proclaiming, “He is not only the leader of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya… not only Hindu Dharma, but of all Indian society.”

Head of the Ramanuj Sampradaya, Pujya Varad Yatiraj Jeer Swami, said, “By the presence of such a Sadhu, all of humanity is uplifted.”

Pujya Swami Chinmayanandji, of the Chinmaya Mission, lauded, “Pramukh Swami Maharaj is a God-realized sadhu. His presence rids people of their materialistic desires.”

Such was the world’s exalted opinion of Swamishri’s spotless character, selfless service to society and spirituality. Just as Kalidas described King Dilip as a confluence of opposing qualities, Mahant Swami Maharaj highlights that though Swamishri was praised by all, he remained ever humble.

EVER HUMBLE… SHUNNING PRAISE

The craving for praise is intrinsic in all. Sadguru Nishkulanand Swami summarizes this in Bhaktachintamani chapter 110:

“Evã nar najar na ãve, jenã manne mãn na bhãve.” [“I cannot find a single person, whose mind does not crave praise.”]

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, however, was not just anyone. On countless occasions throughout his life he shunned any acclaim that came his way and deflected it to others.

After Akshardham, New Delhi, opened in 2005, many lauded Swamishri for building such a breathtaking monument. Instead of accepting this, Swamishri, adamantly attributed all the achievements and glory to guru Yogiji Maharaj.

A Sanskrit verse very eloquently describes Swamishri’s dislike for praise:

Adyãpi durnivãram stutikanyã vahati kaumãryam; Sadbhyo na rochate sã santastasyai na rochante.

The verse highlights the situation of an unmarried woman. Everyone wishes to marry her, but she harbors no desire to marry anyone. However, the one person she does wish to marry, does not desire her. Here, the young woman represents fame. Everyone chases fame, but she does not desire any of them. However, fame follows great sadhus such as Swamishri wherever they go. However, they do not desire it at all.

UNPHASED BY UNIVERSAL ACCLAIM

Despite receiving so many accolades, Swamishri remained untouched by them. Just as fruit-bearing branches of a tree bow due to their weight, Swamishri, too, remained ever humble. The following incident illustrates this perfectly.

Once, the famous artist Mr. M. Pandit, expressed a desire to paint a portrait of Swamishri. At Paramanandbhai Patel’s residence in Mumbai, he was photographing Swamishri and requested, “Swami, please puff out your chest?” Swamishri replied instinctively, “I have never puffed out my chest.”

Although the incident is simple and casual, it sheds light on the extent of Swamishri’s humility and the absence of pretense in his every act. He always shunned praise; but when it came it did not affect him, nor did he accept that he was responsible for the sort of acclaim he received. Therefore, Swamishri was able to reply immediately that he had never puffed out his chest in a show of ego.

In the Mahabharat (Dhrona Parva 76.25), Shri Krishna Bhagwan explains to Arjun that great sadhus possess this unique quality:

Dhruvã sãdhushu sannatihi. [“Great sadhus remain forever humble.”]

PRAISING OTHERS

The Vishnusahasranam shastra describes Shrihari as ‘Mãnadaha’ — one who bestows praise onto others.

Swamishri’s humility was of tremendous depth, because not only did he never desire the accolades and was not affected by them, but he was able to effortlessly congratulate those around him. Just as the roots of a tree send water and nutrients to each leaf through the trunk, branches, twigs and leaves, while themselves tolerating the dark underground, Swamishri tolerated untold hardships, while praising and nurturing those around him.

After his quintuple bypass operation on July 7, 1998, Swamishri recuperated in Westchester, New York. Every day, Swamishri would visit the nearby Pepsico Park, where he could walk in the fresh air and late evening sun. On the evening of August 30, a small group of sadhus was seated with Swamishri. Discussing Yogiji Maharaj’s many virtues prompted Swamishri to praise Ishwarcharan Swami for authoring Yogiji Maharaj’s six-part jivan charitra. He then commended all the sadguru sadhus by commenting, “All the sadgurus are experts in their fields.” One by one, Swamishri extolled the qualities of each:

“Look at Mahant Swami. He is quiet. His saintliness. Constantly engaging in spiritual talks. His ability to tolerate hardships. Doctor Swami never tires of spiritual talks. Viveksagar Swami is an all-rounder! He is talented at everything. Spiritual talks, kirtan, padhramani, sampradayik knowledge. Tyagvallabh Swami is the image of renunciation. Kothari Bapa is ideal saintliness.”

Swamishri then remembered sadhus from each mandir: Mumbai, Selvas, Sankari, Surat… and began recalling their virtues. His mind travelled thousands of miles to India and remembered each sadhu and his virtues. He praised Yogicharan Swami’s diverse talents; he admired Yagneshwar Swami’s considerable efforts in spreading satsang in South India; he exalted Jnaneshwar Swami, Narayanmuni Swami and Aksharcharan Swami for the attention they give to training young sadhus in Sarangpur, and acclaimed Atmaswarup Swami and all the sadhus in London, UK.

Swamishri continued unabated for a staggering 70 minutes! It was only when the sun set that the sadhus realized it was time to go, but still there was no dampening Swamishri’s unrelenting enthusiasm. The conversation continued as they drove back to his residence.

Swamishri remembered so many sadhus and recalled all their virtues in such detail. Even the sadhus he remembered may not have been aware of how high a regard Swamishri had for them. After all of this, Swamishri still felt he had not said enough.

Not only sadhus, but Pramukh Swami Maharaj was able to praise his devotees. In 1985, at the conclusion of the grand 59-day bicentenary celebrations of Gunatitanand Swami, all praised Swamishri’s ability to execute such a remarkable festival.

On the final day, during the concluding volunteers assembly, Swamishri said to the 15,000 volunteers, “Nothing is achieved by one person. This festival was a success because of all of you. Everyone contributed in their own way. We are truly blessed by God and guru. Your efforts have made this all possible. All I did was just sit on this chair…”

Swamishri praised the devotees for their selfless service and sacrifice, and claimed to have done nothing himself. However, the previous two years leading to the bicentenary celebrations highlights the depth of Swamishri’s humility.

On February 5, 1983, in Sundalpura, near Vadodara, Swamishri suffered a serious heart attack. All vicharan was immediately cancelled, and Swamishri rested in Vadodara until May 15. Doctors advised Swamishri to avoid any form of exertion, speak only for short periods and eat at regular times. However, Swamishri’s journey for the next two-and-a-half years show that with nothing less than derision for his own fragile health, he broke every one of the regulations on a daily basis to prepare for and promote the bicentenary celebrations of Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami.

On May 15, 1983, Swamishri travelled to Mumbai. Soon after, his vicharan continued throughout Gujarat for the remainder of the year. In 1984, Swamishri travelled to Africa, then to UK and Europe. He then crossed the Atlantic and touched down in New York. For the next 125 days, Swamishri’s relentless vicharan took him across the USA and Canada. He then crossed the Pacific and visited devotees in Fiji, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore.

After returning to India, Swamishri continued his hectic schedule. In March 1985, Swamishri visited the Middle East for 25 days and then returned to India. Then, in June, he left for a 44-day stay in London. Thereafter, Swamishri returned to India for the 59-day bicentenary celebrations of Gunatitanand Swami from 19 October 1985 in Ahmedabad.

In this period of 888 days (from May 15, 1983 to October 19, 1985), Swamishri visited a dizzying 737 villages, towns and cities worldwide. This ranged from cosmopolitan cities such as London and New York, to villages in Gujarat, such as Dangra and Bhilpura. He travelled in everything from a bullock cart to international flights. The physical difficulties Swamishri endured defy belief. During his vicharan, there was only one certainty — that nothing was certain. His rest and meal times were erratic. The 20 padhramanis scheduled in the morning would become a 100 in the blink of an eye. Just as a flag flies in the direction of the wind, Swamishri’s vicharan was determined purely by the wishes of his devotees.

During this time, Swamishri travelled a staggering 133,404 km. To put this into context, in 888 days, Swamishri, circled the globe more than three times!

Such was Swamishri’s humility that despite his immeasurable efforts, he could openly praise his devotees for the outstanding success of the festival.

ALL THE PRAISE IS NOT ENOUGH…

There was not an aspect of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life that did not touch someone. Some were impressed by his humanitarian work, while others were moved by his spotless character. His mandir-building or how he inspired youths to renounce worldly ambitions astounded many. Others were left speechless when they witnessed his devotion to God and his gurus. The mountains of praise Swamishri received bears testament to this. Amidst this, he remained untouched by ego, in fact he shunned the tributes, and was even able to shower praise on everyone else. His life was a pinnacle of humility.

Sadhu Paramsetudas, Sadhu Akhandananddas, Sadhu Kaushalnidhidas
Swaminarayan Bliss | Jul — Aug 2021