Prasang 26
Swami Vignāndāsji’s Oneness with Bhagatji Maharaj
Girdharbhāi of Thāsrā was the nephew of Vartāl’s Kothāri (chief administrator), Shri Gordhanbhāi. From an early age, he was deeply spiritual and had many saintly qualities. His constant thought was, “If I could find a great and elevated Sadguru, I would become a swami and stay with him to attain Brahmastithi (spiritual enlightenment) in this very life.” From Vachanāmrut Vartāl 19, he had learned that true liberation is only possible by meeting Bhagwān or a realized Sant connected to him. With this understanding, Girdharbhāi made a firm resolution to seek such a Satpurush and associate with him. Determined in his pursuit, he set out on a journey through the Satsang to find such a Sant.
He stayed with Mānā Bhagat in Gadhadā for three months, with swamis in Kotdā for two and a half months, and in Junāgadh, he associated with Mahāpurushdāsji and Raghuvirdāsji. However, he still did not find inner peace. He then stayed with Nirgunadāsji in Ahmedabad for two months, but even there, he was not fully satisfied. Later, he spent two and a half months with Achyutdāsji in Bhuj, who was known for his unwavering spiritual vision of the ātmā. Yet Girdharbhāi’s heart remained unsettled. Exhausted from his search, he returned to Vartāl, resuming his sevā in the mandir’s kothār (storehouse). After completing his duties, he would stand on one foot before the murti of Harikrishna Maharaj, turning the mālā and praying fervently.
Pleased by his intense bhakti and determination, Shriji Maharaj finally granted him divine darshan. Overcome with joy, Girdharbhāi, with a choked voice, prayed, “O Maharaj! Bless me with uninterrupted bliss of your murti and reside eternally in my heart.” In response, Shriji Maharaj, pleased, said: “Bhaktarāj! Such a state is attained by serving a truly Ekāntik Satpurush (God-realized Sant). At present, such a Satpurush is Pragji Bhakta—go and serve him.” Saying this, Shriji Maharaj disappeared.
Girdharbhāi was surprised. He thought, “Maharaj did not point me toward a great Sadguru but instead directed me to Pragji Darji, a tailor who spends his entire day stitching in the mandir sabhā hall!” His mind wavered between belief and doubt. To resolve his inner conflict, he resumed his rigorous penance. After a month of such intense austerities, Maharaj again granted him divine darshan, smiling as he said: “Bhaktarāj! The true Ekāntik Satpurush in the present time is Pragji Bhakta. Beneath the guise of a tailor, he constantly beholds my divine form, has mastered Ekāntik Dharma, and is a truly great soul. Give up the bias of caste and status and surrender to him—only then will you find peace.” Assuring him of this truth, Shriji Maharaj vanished once again.
For Girdharbhāi, this divine confirmation was enough. Without any further hesitation, he surrendered at the lotus feet of Bhagatji Maharaj, dedicating himself to his sevā with body, mind, and speech. Seeing his unwavering faith, Gordhanbhāi realized that Girdharbhāi was ready for renunciation, and so he was given dikshā and renamed as Swami Vignāndāsji. As Vignāndās Swami deepened his association with Bhagatji Maharaj, his renunciant virtues blossomed further. Through Bhagatji Maharaj’s divine connection, he became singularly devoted to Shriji Maharaj’s murti. He firmly believed, “Bhagatji is my very ātmā.” Shedding all bodily consciousness, his mind, speech, and actions remained entirely immersed in Bhagwān. He achieved a state where, in all three states—waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—he perceived only Bhagwān.
Such intense bhakti, however, was not always understood. People ridiculed him, calling him ‘Bandiyā...Bandiyā...’ (a taunt mocking his bhakti), but he remained undeterred. His divine mission was clear—to unite sincere seekers with Bhagatji Maharaj and reveal the profound greatness of the Ekāntik Satpurush. Wherever he went, he passionately glorified Bhagatji Maharaj, inspiring countless seekers. Soon, Bhagatji’s name resounded everywhere in the Satsang.
In an attempt to curb this growing influence, Vignāndās Swami was transferred to the distant region of Khāndesh. It was an unfamiliar place, where people had little knowledge of Satsang, the regional language was different, and the local customs and way of life were foreign to him. Yet, undeterred, he diligently cultivated Satsang in Khāndesh. He spread Bhagatji Maharaj’s divine glory so widely that soon, shiploads of devotees began traveling from Khāndesh to Mahuvā to seek Bhagatji Maharaj’s association. Even today, the Satsang in Khāndesh honors and cherishes the unparalleled contributions of Vignāndās Swami.
Vignāndās Swami’s intense yearning for liberation, his unwavering and immense love for Bhagatji Maharaj, and his relentless dedication to revealing the Ekāntik Satpurush will continue to inspire generations to come.
