Prasang 63
The Samādhi Chapter Initiated by Shastriji Maharaj
Bhagwān Swaminarayan introduced a unique samādhi chapter, through which he granted thousands of spiritual seekers an unshakable conviction in his supreme form and affirmed his divine presence on Earth. In Vachanāmrut Gadhadā II-22, Bhagwān Swaminarayan states: “That Sādhu possesses as much majesty as God.” True to this principle, Shastriji Maharaj, the third spiritual successor of Bhagwān Swaminarayan, also revived and propagated the samādhi chapter.
On Mahā Sud 6, Samvat 1985 (1929 CE), the murti-pratishthā (idol installation ceremony) of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj took place in Sārangpur under the divine guidance of Shastriji Maharaj. During the evening ārti, Shastriji Maharaj was gazing at the murti of Harikrishna Maharaj from the mandir balcony. Standing beside him was Radhāramanprasād, son of Vartāl Acharya Lakshmiprasādji Maharaj. Shastriji Maharaj instructed him, “Fix your unwavering gaze upon Maharaj’s murti.”
Upon hearing and trusting these words, Radhāramanprasād concentrated intensely on the murti. As he continued focusing, he entered samādhi and became utterly still. Seeing him in this motionless state, the surrounding devotees panicked and rushed to Shastriji Maharaj, saying, “Something has happened to Radhāramanprasād! He is lying still and not responding!” Shastriji Maharaj reassured them, “He has entered samādhi. Bhagatji had already informed Prabhudas Bhagat that Shriji Maharaj would begin the samādhi chapter within our mandal. Now, it has begun.”
This marked the official revival of the samādhi chapter in the Satsang by Shastriji Maharaj.
Many Devotees Experienced Samādhi
• Among the swamis, Dharmaswarupdāsji Swami and Aksharjivandāsji Swami frequently experienced samādhi.
• Popatlāl Soni, a devotee from Vadhwān, entered samādhi in the Bochāsan Mandir Hall. In this samādhi, Bhagwān Swaminarayan revealed to him a divine shikharbaddha mandir made of sākar (sugar).
• Among the women devotees, Jethibā, the mother of Khengārjibhāi, received divine darshan of Shriji Maharaj in samādhi, attracting crowds of people eager to witness the event.
• Hasmukhben, the daughter of prominent Vedānt scholar Shankarlāl Thakkar, attended Jethibā’s samādhi event. Shriji Maharaj sprinkled sandalwood water on her during the gathering, triggering her own samādhi experience.
• Later, Shankarlāl Thakkar himself also entered samādhi.
• Maniba from Rājkot also frequently experienced samādhi.
Samādhi Gatherings in Major Cities
Public samādhi gatherings were held in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Surat. These events were publicly announced in newspapers, drawing large crowds. During these gatherings, Bhagwān Swaminarayan would offer prasād in samādhi, including bananas, grapes, kumkum, almonds, and sugar, which would miraculously descend from the sky into the hands of devotees. People who witnessed these divine occurrences were left in utter amazement. The Ahmedabad newspapers of that time reported extensively on the samādhi chapter led by Shastriji Maharaj.
Influence on Scholars and Dignitaries
The famous Gandhian scholar from Poland, Shri Maurice Friedman (Swami Bhāratānand), personally attended the samādhi gatherings in Ahmedabad. He was deeply moved by the divine experiences, including the prasād appearing from the sky.
Prominent figures influenced by the samādhi chapter included:
• Gulzarilal Nanda, former Acting Prime Minister of India
• Professor Jethālāl Swaminarayan
• Punit Maharaj
• Parsi philanthropist Jarbanu Sorabji Mistry
• Kishorlāl Mashruwālā
• Ahmedabad State Transport Divisional Officer Vrajlāl Mehta
Through these divine manifestations, devotees gained an unshakable realization that “Bhagwān Swaminarayan is present today through Shastriji Maharaj.”
