Prasang 52
Ideal Gurubhakti
Swami Yagnapurushdasji (later known as Shastriji Maharaj) was studying in Rājkot. It had been nearly a year since he had met Bhagatji Maharaj, and he eagerly longed for his guru’s darshan. Meanwhile, in Samvat 1953, the festival of Janmāshtami was to be celebrated in Junāgadh, where Acharya Vihārilālji Maharaj was also expected to be present.
Yagnapurushdasji thought, “Let’s invite Bhagatji Maharaj to the Janmāshtami festival in Junāgadh. If he is now honored there with the highest respect—in the very place where he was once insulted, given poison, and excommunicated from Satsang—it will establish his divine victory throughout the Sampradāy.”
Yagnapurushdasji, demonstrating extraordinary gurubhakti, worked tirelessly to bring Bhagatji Maharaj to Junāgadh. Being highly intelligent and exceptionally skilled in practical affairs, he devised a plan: “If Bhagatji travels directly to Junāgadh, opponents will get an opportunity to protest. However, if we secure an official written order from Acharya Maharaj, no one will be able to oppose his visit.”
Thus, Yagnapurushdasji wrote letters to staunch devotees from Gujarat, urging them to request Bhagatji’s presence at the Junāgadh festival. The devotees were overjoyed and began sending letters to Acharya Maharaj, expressing their collective wish: “Please invite Bhagatji Maharaj to the Junāgadh Janmāshtami festival.” Additionally, Yagnapurushdasji himself wrote a letter to Acharya Maharaj from Rājkot, stating: “This time, many devotees from Gujarat wish to attend the Junāgadh festival. If Bhagatji Maharaj is invited, it will greatly uplift their enthusiasm, and they will also benefit from his spiritual discourses.”
These repeated requests influenced Acharya Maharaj, who ultimately issued an official order inviting Bhagatji Maharaj to Junāgadh. A sealed letter of approval was sent to both Bhagatji Maharaj and Yagnapurushdasji.
Upon the letter’s arrival, Yagnapurushdasji immediately traveled to Junāgadh, met Kothāri Jibhāi, and made all necessary arrangements for Bhagatji’s grand reception. On Janmāshtami, Acharya Maharaj and Bhagatji Maharaj arrived in Junāgadh together. Yagnapurushdasji had arranged two horse-drawn carriages—one for Acharya Maharaj and an identical one for Bhagatji Maharaj. Bhagatji Maharaj was provided with the same level of hospitality and accommodation as Acharya Maharaj. The Nagar Brahmins of Junāgadh, senior swamis, and devoted followers—who had once been blessed by the presence of Gunatitanand Swami—were overjoyed to have the darshan of Bhagatji Maharaj after so many years.
Thus, Yagnapurushdasji ensured unparalleled honor for Bhagatji Maharaj in Junāgadh. It was the very same place where, in Samvat 1921, Bhagatji had been excommunicated under Acharya Maharaj’s orders. And now, years later, it was by Acharya Maharaj’s own order that Bhagatji was invited back with great reverence. Shastriji Maharaj later declared that merely remembering this remarkable event of ideal gurubhakti burns away all inner defects like lust, anger, and pride.
