Removing an Imposter
After performing the foundation-stone laying rituals of a mandir in Vadtal Shri Hari arrives back to Gadhada…
A MOUNTAIN OF MAGNET
While Shri Hari was in Gadhpur devotees flocked in large numbers for his darshan. Despite the fact that they had previously done Maharaj’s darshan many times during festivals, his visits to their villages and other places; their thirst for his darshan was insatiable. Shri Hari smiled appreciatingly at their love for him. The devotees knew he was the means to attaining Akshardham — by developing absolute faith in his supremeness and profound love for him.
On seeing this unabated attraction for Maharaj, Gunatitanand Swami often remarked, “A mountain of magnet is here, thus the whole nation is drawn to him.” Many were unable to understand Swami’s words, so they asked him, “What do you mean?”
Gunatitanand Swami explained, “A small mountain of magnet attracts a little amount of iron, but when a big mountain of magnet falls on earth it pulls the iron of the entire country. Similarly, devotees and aspirants from all parts of the country are drawn to Maharaj today.”
MULO RAJGOR DRESSES AS NAR
During this time a devotee from the port of Diu came to Gadhada for Maharaj’s darshan. After offering prostrations he sat before Shri Hari. Maharaj asked him, “Why did you have to come here suddenly?”
The devotee respectfully explained, “Maharaj, an imposter has come to our village. He claims that he is the incarnation of Nar and that Narayan, who is Sahajanand, is my brother. He knows the names of all the sadhus of our sampradaya. Furthermore, he rattled off the moral vows followed by our sadhus and devotees. Subsequently, the gullible have fallen for his words. He says that sankhya-yogi women and other women should not listen to the discourses of sadhus and neither should they touch them. Then he cunningly added that there was no restriction in listening to his talks and serving him. Thus the satsangi women have started serving him. But Maharaj, I know that things will go awry as a result. I recently came to know that he is a Brahmin from Rajula named Mulo Rajgor.”
Shri Hari was intently listening to the devotee. When he finished talking, Maharaj asked, “For how long has he been in your village?”
“Oh, it’s been about a month,” the devotee replied. “Since Diu is under Portuguese rule, no one can enter without official permission. This is why our sadhus do not visit it. As a result, no one knows about the niyams of Satsang.”
Shri Hari asked, “Earlier, Mulo Rajgor had duped Premabai, yet none of you recognized him?”
The devotee explained, “Maharaj, he takes on different disguises and speaks in different dialects. That is why we failed to recognize him initially. However, after a while I realized that he was Mulo Rajgor. So, I have come to inform you and to seek your help.”
Maharaj reassured the devotee, “Don’t worry! I’ll send a message to Krupanand Swami and Purnanand Swami, who are travelling in the Valak region. They will go to Una, and from there Hansraj Sheth will take them to Diu. When the charlatan sees them he will take to his heels.”
“But Maharaj, the Portuguese official will not allow Hansraj Sheth to enter Diu.”
“Rest assured. A person called Haribhai Valand, who lives in Diu, is well-known to and trusted by the Portuguese. He had also once served me. Mention my name and tell Haribhai to go to Goghla and bring Hansraj Sheth and the sadhus to Diu. He will acquire the permission for the sadhus to enter Diu.”
The devotee felt peaceful on hearing Shri Hari’s words. He got up and took leave from Maharaj. Maharaj told him, “Before you depart have your meal. When you reach Diu tell the women about the deceptions of the fraudster, or else he will perpetrate immorality.”
Shri Hari sent a messenger on horseback with the instruction to the two sadhus to meet Hansraj Sheth at Una and then proceed to Diu. When the sadhus got the message they met Hansraj Sheth at Una and proceeded towards Diu. When Mulo Rajgor came to know that the Swaminarayan sadhus had arrived in Diu, he ran away without meeting anyone. He hurriedly boarded a passenger boat and left for Mumbai.
THE SINFUL IMPERSONATE GOD TO INDULGE IN SENSE PLEASURES
Krupanand Swami and Purnanand Swami stayed in Diu to address the devotees. They explained about the do’s and don’ts of Satsang and the niyams to be observed by male and female devotees. They revealed, “Sadhus observe eight-fold celibacy and also abstain from touching and keeping money. Women should remain aloof from them. Additionally, other than their close male relatives, they should not associate by sitting and talking with male devotees. Widows and sankhya-yogi women should abstain from touching males. Shri Hari’s brothers, Rampratapbhai and Ichchharam, have recently come into Satsang from Ayodhya. They, too, staunchly follow the discipline prescribed by Shri Hari and thus do not even talk to other women. So, charlatans like Rajgor, under the pretext of doing satsang, dupe the devotees and engage in illicit relations with women disciples, who out of their spiritual reverence fail to recognize a moral transgression.”
The devotees were pacified and got a rightful understanding through the discourses. Many women were enlightened and felt if the sadhus had not explained the moral disciplines for men and women they would probably have become mired in perversions.
Krupanand Swami and Purnanand Swami stayed for a few days in Diu. Thereafter they returned to Goghla with Hansraj Sheth and travelled back to Una. Hansraj Sheth wrote a detailed letter to Shriji Maharaj describing about what had happened. Maharaj had the letter read in the satsang assembly and stated, “People gratify their material desires by even taking on the guise of God. But eventually they have to face the fate of suffering the torments of narak for their improprieties. Thus, when God comes and claims he is God, one should check his divine attributes and then accept him. He is known through his redemptory virtues of truth, compassion, dispassion, etc. Through his association and grace one is redeemed of mundane desires and experiences inner peace. So, while doing satsang one must be sharp-witted and not naïve and gullible.”
DHARMA REMAINS FIRM THROUGH DISCIPLES WEDDED TO SELFLESS SERVICE
One evening, behind Akshar Ordi, a Baniya forgot to snuff out the flame of his lamp before closing his shop. Later, the lamp fell and the merchandise of cloth caught fire. Shri Hari was startled awake intuitively in the middle of the night. He awoke the parshads, saying, “Quickly douse the fire or else the adjacent shops will catch fire.”
The parshads hurriedly filled pots of water, climbed onto a nearby corrugated roof and splashed water onto the burning shop. After a lot of effort they put out the fire, but the Bania’s shop had been reduced nearly to ashes. The Baniya felt thankful for Shri Hari’s alertness and the efforts of his disciples. He realized that Maharaj had instilled the spirit of philanthropy in his disciples. And he thus felt that because of disciples wedded to selfless service and charity religion remains forever.
Whenever storms, droughts and other calamities assailed society Shri Hari and his sadhus always helped out. Maharaj had never encouraged differences of caste and creed in his disciples. They strived to help all and for the liberation of all.
A WELL WAS DUG IN THE DARBAR
The next day, Shri Hari called Dada Khachar and the senior sadhus and parshads. Maharaj told them, “The fire that destroyed the Bania’s shop made me think that we should have a perennial source of water for the safety of all. This time we used all the water stored in the darbar to douse the fire. However, in future, if such an accident occurs, we will not face difficulties if there is a permanent source of water nearby. Therefore we must dig a well here.” Then Maharaj told the elderly Yoganand Swami, “You are knowledgeable in this matter. Show us a spot from where we can get sweet water.”
Yoganand Swami immediately revealed a spot. The next day Maharaj initiated the excavation work for the well. After digging ten arms’ length, a spring of sweet water emerged. Maharaj filtered it and drank the water, commenting, “The water is sweet like that of Ganga.”
At that time, Devraj, a mason from Gondal, was living in Gadhada. Maharaj called him and instructed him to consolidate the well by making a stone wall inside it. The stones for the well were transported in a bullock cart driven by Gova Patel, a devotee of Mandavdhar. A few days later the inner part of the well was fully cladded with stones. Then, Shri Hari sat on the edge of the well and took a bath. The subsequent water that trickled down from Maharaj sanctified the well water.
MAHARAJ SAYS ‘HARE’ WHILE EATING
Shri Hari celebrated the Bhim Ekadashi festival of 1822 (A.S. 1878) in Gadhpur. During his stay there he would listen to the katha of Moksha Dharma read by Pragji Dave. Maharaj loved listening to katha and he also inspired others to do so. Whenever the katha was being read he always said, ‘Hare, Hare’ to encourage and keep the reader and listeners attentive and awake. Sometimes, out of habit, he also said ‘Hare’ while having lunch or dinner. Mukundanand Brahmachari often laughed and remarked, “Why are you saying ‘Hare’ when no katha is being read now!” Shri Hari smiled and said, “Because of the joy from listening to katha my mind remains engaged in God. And when the mind is engrossed in God one remembers him even while having lunch and at the same time remains indifferent to the taste of food.”
Shri Hari’s ways were truly unique and transcendental. All his actions were exemplary.
Translated from Gujarati text of Bhagwan Swaminarayan by Shri H.T. Dave
Swaminarayan Bliss | Jan / Feb 2016
