HINDOLA – THE SWING

Dear reader, in the holy month of Shravan rock our Lord in a Hindola in the temple or at home. Let all children enjoy this religious ceremony too. While rocking Shree Hari in Hindola, you may sing the following song by Shree Premanand Swami . . .

Jhulat hidoreme Roop nidhan,
Dharmkuvar Harikrushna Mahaprabhu, sakal shobhaki khan.

On the Hindola rocks Dharmakunvar, Harikrishna,
Supreme Lord Who is the storehouse of beauty and mine of all charm.

Vishwakarma rachyo saras hindoro, sakal chathuri aan;
Hira manek ratna khachit bahu, farakt kanak nishan.

Vishvakarma, the architect of gods, created the Hindola with all skill and
Studded it with diamonds, rubies and jewels and furling golden flags.

Chandan kashtko banyo he hindoro, sohat manu viman,
The mahi rajat param poojya Hari, Sahjanand sujan.

The Hindola is made from the sandalwood and shines like Viman,
In it shines most revered Hari, Sahajanand, the well-versed.

Prem magan hoy gavat jhulavat, munivar par vigyan,
Premanand Ghanshyam Nath chabi, nirkhi hot gultan.

While singing with love, the great learned Muni rocks the Hindola,
Premanand Swami forgets himself while looking at Lord Ghanshyam.


THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SWING

When Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan had completed 32 days after His manifestation upon the earth, His parents Dharmadev and Bhaktimata celebrated the festival of Dolarohan (i.e. placing the child for the first time in a cradle and rocking the cradle). It was the eleventh day of the bright half of the month Vaishakh. The cradle was tastefully and luxuriously decorated.

The cradle was rocked fondly by all the members of the family.

This tradition of rocking the cradle later on was transferred to the tradition of rocking the swing (Hindola) for a holy person, an incarnation of God or God Himself. The Hindola is hung on a beam of wood and the rope or the chain is profusely woven with multi-coloured and fragrant flowers. At times the Hindola is box-type with many doors. This Hindola is also tastefully painted and coloured.

Such a Hindola of wood was skillfully made by Shree Nishkulanand Swami. It was painted with artistic designs. It had twelve doors. It was brought to Jnan Baug at Vadtal. A strong wooden beam was supported by two mango trees. The Hindola was hung by ropes. The Hindola had twelve doors. The ropes and the Hindola were tastefully decorated with flowers. A silken thread was tied to the Hindola and Shree Muktanand Swami was first to gently rock the Hindola while singing an appropriate song composed by him. Thousands of devotees had gathered and all of them wanted to see Shree Hari and to offer garlands. So, Shree Hari assumed twelve forms and appeared at all the twelve doors at the same time. It was too difficult for all the devotees to garland Shree Hari personally. So Shree Hari stretched His stick on which He accepted the garlands!

Like many of the Hindu festivals, this festival is symbolic. The Hindola signifies Maya or our worldly life. The supporting wooden beam signifies Ishwar. Smd. Bhagwad Gita says that Ishwar runs this wheel of the well of life. The Hindola is hung by four ropes signifying Dharma, Artha, Kama and Mokahs, the fourfold activities of human life. These ropes are hung from two metallic rings which signify Purusha and Prakruti. The base of the Hindola signifies the earth.

The twelve doors are symbolic of the twelve months. The fragrant and colourful flowers signify virtues and good conduct in life. Hindola when swung goes up and down, signifying the ups and downs in life. If one occupies the Hindola of worldly life and rocks it for a longer time, one gets giddiness, falls down and has fractures.

But one really enjoys the Hindola of life only when Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan sits near him as Narayan or one realizes the fact that Shree Hari is in his heart as Antaryami.

The silken thread is the thread of Prana. If pulled slowly and softly one enjoys Hindola of life but pulled to extreme means catastrophe!

Shravan is the holy month when light, occasional showers make the atmosphere very pleasant. The crops are almost ready in the fields, filling the hearts of farmers with delight. They now want to please God for His grace. And what would be a better way of expressing gratitude than to rock Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan in a Hindola!

After all, the festival of Hindola inspires us to rock our beloved Lord Swaminarayan in our heart!

Designed by : Jnan Baug, Vadtal. www.harismruti.com