(A historical perspective and the meaning of the appellation)
There was a largely attended condolence meeting of holy associates from various far-flung regions at the village Faneni, on the ascension to Akshardham of the great guru Shree Ramanandji. Dolour ruled the atmosphere. All the members at the meeting were waiting with anxious eyes for the arrival of Shree Harikrishnanarayan alias the Episcopal head Shree Sahajanand Swami.
At the mourning Shree Hari donned white vestments, ever favourite with Him, but the aged disciple Swami Ramdasji disapproved of this and got the white vestments removed. He dressed Shree Hari, with valuable vestments and ornaments, worn by Shree Hari on the day of His ceremonial installation as the episcopal head of the Holy Fellowship, now as a sign of termination of the bereavement; and while doing so he said, “My Lord, You are God in human form. Sadguru Ramanandji used to declare that you are always unattached. So play your role in totality and brightening the hearts of the holy associates bring bliss to them.”
All the disciples used to worship Sadguru Ramanandji as the incarnation of Shree Krishna. So, when Bhagwan Shree Sahajanand Swami was adorning the episcopal seat, tears welled up in the eyes of all. Shree Sahajanand Swami was touched by this silent expression of devotional love of the holy associates. Love is self-luminous; it needs no speech to express itself.
Merciful Bhagwan Shree Harikrishna commenced to speak in sober tone, “The Creator has created nothing that remains for ever. God Himself assumes an incarnation and allows the body of the incarnation to be disintegrated. It is the body, and not the soul that is disintegrated.
Our Gurudev had assumed the incarnation at the will of God for the spiritual welfare of people and he left the world at the will of God, for which bereavement would serve no purpose. So give up your sorrow and discontinue your tears, return home and spread Holy Fellowship and true religion.”
And the meeting started reciting Ramanandi Dhoon (a holy musical line): Ramkrishna Govind Hare Narayan. Shree Hari too joined to sing with them. After a short while He signaled for the termination of the Dhoon. Then raising His voice Shree Hari said:
Karoumi Yadyad Sakalam Parasmai |
Narayanaaiva Samarapayami ||
Beloved holy associates, from today all should pray thus every morning: I dedicate to Shree Narayan all that I will do, eat, drink or serve. Remember, the best name of God is Narayan. He is the same Rama, the same Govind, and the same Hari-Narayan. He alone is the Lord, god of us all. So, with open hearts say loudly – JAI SWAMINARAYAN...
The hearts were, as if unlocked. There was the fusion of the visions of all at the eyes of Shree Hari. The heart of each one pulsated with novel dynamism. There spread unprecedented wave of bliss in the assembly. The sad atmosphere was metamorphosed.
Shree Harikrishnanarayan further said in sober tone, “Dear devotees, the fourteen syllabled Mantra – Ramakrishna Govind Hare Narayan - given by Gurudev is now hereby changed to the six syllable Mantra – Swa–Mi–Na–Ra–Ya–N.
SWA–MI–NA–RA–YA–N. This Mantra contains the essence of all the four Vedas. All the six Darshans (six schools of philosophy); the scriptures are contained in these six syllables of SWAMINARAYAN. Just as thousands of lamps are insignificant before the Sun, all the Mantras are void of light before this Mantra. Make sure within your mind that millions of starts merely sparkle. The moon alone dispels the massive darkness. Only the Mantra SWAMINARAYAN will dispel the darkness of thousands of earlier births. SWAMINARAYAN is not only a Mantra but it is a supreme Mantra. Don’t give up this Mantra till your last breath. Then only you will be certainly released from the cycle of life and death and attain Moksha.”
Before the last word of Narayan Muni was over, all the holy associates made sky-rending proclamation of the victory of SWAMINARAYAN.
Nice Murti of Lord Swaminarayan...!
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