Murti-Pratishtha in Vartal
In Vartal, Kashidas was overjoyed when Shri Hari told him that the murtis of himself and his ideal devotee (Aksharbrahman) would be installed in his village, Bochasan. Thousands of devotees had arrived to witness Shri Hari install his own murti in the newly built mandir in Vartal…
THE SANT WHO IS MY FORM SHALL DO IT
Kashidas was happy with Shri Hari’s words. He expressed his joy, “Maharaj, your abundant grace overwhelms me. But when will this happen?”
Shri Hari replied earnestly, “I am above all limitations of time. It will be done.”
“But Maharaj, will the murtis be installed with your hands?” Kashidas asked excitedly.
Shri Hari looked up to the skies. Then he uttered softly, “Kashidas, I am the all-doer. When my true glory becomes known I will accomplish this task through the Sant who is my form. Then, true victory of the Sampradaya will be celebrated. You are most blessed because this task will start from your village.”
[According to Shri Hari’s wish, Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj consecrated the murtis of Shri Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj in the central shine of a grand shikharbaddha mandir in Bochasan in 1907 ce (Samvat 1963). He thus established the pathway of true upasana.]
While Shri Hari spoke Brahmanand Swami, Aksharanand Swami, Anandanand Swami and Gunatitanand Swami were listening. At that time, Brahmanand Swami felt that though he had completed the enormous task of building a mandir in Vartal it seemed to be incomplete in Maharaj’s view.
Shri Hari told Kashidas, “Leave for Bochasan now and bring the murtis of Lakshmi-Narayan.”
Kashidas agreed, “Very well Maharaj. I repose my trust in your words and leave for Bochasan.” Shri Hari smiled. Kashidas read Maharaj’s gesture as a sign of his pleasure upon him.
Shri Hari proceeded towards Vasan Suthar’s home where his stay had been arranged. Here, he took a bath. Then he sat down for his meal. Thereafter, Maharaj called Brahmanand Swami and told him to make a list of Brahmins who would be conducting the murti-pratishtha yagna. Brahmanand showed the list, from which Maharaj selected the names of Brahmins who would perform the rituals at the main yagna pits.
MY ASSOCIATION WILL LIBERATE ALL
Shri Hari told Brahmanand Swami, “By tomorrow the murtis of Lakshmi-Narayan will have arrived from Bochasan. Also, the murtis of Dharmadev, Bhaktimata, Vasudev-Narayan, Krishna and Radha will be present.”
Brahmanand Swami replied, “Maharaj, all the murtis have already arrived and are ready for the consecration ceremonies. Your murti is also ready to be consecrated in the first shrine.” Then Brahmanand Swami informed, “Maharaj, debates about you consecrating your own murti are going on in public. Some are happy and some are discontented about it.”
Shri Hari spoke in a solemn tone, “Swami, a person’s intellect is such that in spite of doing satsang he cannot give up the resolves of his mind. As a result, he perceives human traits (manushyabhav) in Bhagwan’s human form. However, by meditating on my murti, believing it to be Bhagwan and singing my glories, one will attain spiritual liberation.”
Aksharanand Swami, Nityanand Swami and other senior swamis were also seated before Shri Hari and listening to him. Shri Hari had decided to install his own murti because by worshiping him the devotees and aspirants would gain ultimate moksha. He had no aspirations that others should worship him, but without doing so aspirants would not attain moksha. The senior swamis fully accepted his words and assured, “Maharaj, your words will be fulfilled.”
After a little while Shri Hari said, “Tomorrow, install the murtis in the yagnashala. After the yagna is over carry out a procession of the murtis. Thereafter, install them in the mandir sanctums and then the murti-pratishtha rituals will commence.”
Brahmanand Swami agreed, “Yes, Maharaj.”
Then, Maharaj asked, “Have you decided which devotees will install the golden pots and flags on which shikhars?”
Brahmanand Swami showed the list of names to Shri Hari. Then, Brahmanand Swami revealed, “Maharaj, there is a quarrel between the devotees of Vadodara and Surat about hoisting the flag on the first shrine.” Shri Hari said, “If you think it right then explain to both the groups of devotees that the murti of Vasudev-Narayan is my form and the murti of Harikrishna is also my form. They should not understand them to be different.” Brahmanand Swami understood and agreed with Maharaj’s words.
MURTI-PRATISHTHA IN VARTAL
The next morning, Shri Hari went to the yagnashala. The main murtis to be installed in the sanctum sanctorum along with the other murtis of Hanumanji, Ganapatiji, Suryanarayan, Nrusinhji, Sheshnarayan, Varah and Matsya were installed in the yagnashala. The main yagna priest applied chandlo and rice grains on Shri Hari’s forehead and worshiped him. Shri Hari also did pujan of the main priest and tied a nadachhadi on his wrist. Then, the principal priest started chanting mantras while Shri Hari performed pujan of all the murtis. The other Brahmin priests began chanting Vedic mantras to commence the yagna rituals. The women devotees were singing auspicious bhajans. The tunes of the shehnais and the sound of drums augmented the spiritual ambiance. By Shri Hari’s grace divinity permeated in the entire yagnashala. The devotees present did darshan of the murtis.
Shri Hari ritually worshiped all the deities by doing pujan. Maharaj’s divine touch infused divinity in the murtis. Then the devotees witnessed the divine manifestations of all the deities merging into Shri Hari’s human form. All felt that Shri Hari was indeed the cause of all the deities and the supreme Bhagwan, and by worshiping him they would attain ultimate moksha.
On the day of ekadashi the Brahmin priests engaged Shri Hari in performing puja of the murtis, mandir and the small stone pedestals on which the murtis would be installed in the mandir sanctums. Thereafter, Shri Hari stated, “After having done puja of the mandir, pedestals and shikhars the mandir will exist for hundreds of years and will dissolve the sins of all people who come for darshan. Such is the glory of mandirs.”
In response, Nityanand Swami said, “Since the murti of the supreme Bhagwan will be installed how great the glory of the mandir will be!”
On the twelfth (as per the Indian calendar) Shri Hari came to the yagnashala. Today, the murtis were going to be carried in a procession. Maharaj said, “Circumambulating the murtis around the mandir would be equivalent to having carried out a procession. The hundreds of devotees who have arrived will have darshan of the murtis. The murtis, too, will cast their divine gaze in all the directions, so that the protectors of all the directions (dikpals) will be pleased and there will be no obstacles in this event.”
All the murtis were placed and carried around in palanquins. The Brahmin priests chanted Vedic mantras. They were followed by swamis chanting mantras from the Gita and Upanishads. Following behind them were the male devotees and, lastly, the women devotees were singing auspicious songs. The procession moved ahead with the auspicious sounds of dhol and shehnais permeating the festive air. Shri Hari added, “On this auspicious occasion the chanting of mantras from the Vedas, Gita and Upanishads and the reading of the Purush Sukta should be carried out. When the pratishtha rituals begin let the band play a tune.”
After the procession circumambulated the mandir five times the murtis were then installed on the pedestals of the mandir sanctums. Then, the Brahmin priests chanted mantras while Shri Hari performed the nyas rituals (ritual infusion of the divinities into the murtis). The devotees watching the rituals were astonished to see Shri Hari take as many forms as the number of murtis to perform the nyas vidhi at the same time.
He invoked the particular deity in each of the murtis. Shri Hari’s display of divinity, by taking multiple forms, consolidated the faith of the devotees in him.
Thereafter, Shri Hari took lunch and returned to the yagnashala.
INDIAN CULTURE’S SEEDS LIE IN BHAGWAT DHARMA
The foundations of Indian culture lie in dharma. And dharma depends on one who embodies it. At that time, the murti of one who embodied dharma was consecrated by himself (Shri Hari). This epoch-making event was forever etched in the history of spirituality. Parabrahman Purushottam Narayan himself installed his own murti (or form) on earth, which would remain for ages to come. In doing so, he alluded to the importance of offering upasana to Purushottam Narayan, which destroys adharma within oneself and also without. In addition, to consolidate pure upasana, Shri Hari decided to continue his presence on earth through his param bhagwat Sant and thus keep the doorway to Akshardham open forever for countless spiritual aspirants.
Translated by Sadhu Vivekjivandas from the Gujarati text of Bhagwan Swaminarayan authored by Shri H.T. Dave
Swaminarayan Bliss | November / December 2019
