Prasang 79
No Care for His Own Body
In 1977, Pramukh Swami Maharaj did vicharan in America. When local devotees presented his itinerary, it included several air travel arrangements. Swamishri immediately instructed, “Cancel the flights. We will travel everywhere by car.” This decision was not for his own convenience but out of concern for the devotees’ financial burden. Yet, it meant that Swamishri would have to endure immense hardships. Without considering his physical comfort, he tirelessly traveled across America, a country three times larger than India, spending sleepless nights on the road.
During this journey, Swamishri neither worried about his time nor his physical limitations. On September 6, 1977, after traveling 250 miles, he arrived in Boston at 11:45 PM. He had spent the entire day traveling on the road, with no afternoon rest and no dinner. Just as he was about to retire for the night, a devotee requested Swamishri to visit his home. Without hesitation, Swamishri agreed and went for the padharāmni in the nearby town of Arlington. By the time he returned, it was 1:30 AM!
On September 1, 1977, Swamishri started padharāmnis in the morning after breakfast. By the time he arrived for his lunch in New Haven, it was 4:45 PM!
During the same tour, Swamishri traveled from Dallas to Austin just to meet one devotee. After satisfying the devotee, he traveled back to Dallas, arriving at 2:30 AM!
Once in Philadelphia, he continued doing padharāmnis until 4:00 AM.
On October 10, 1977, Swamishri began one of his most exhausting travel stretches. He covered 400 miles, reaching Kansas City at 3:00 AM. The next day, October 11, he traveled 200 miles and had lunch in Wichita at 2:00 PM. That night, he left at 10:00 PM, traveling 450 miles overnight and reached Pueblo, Colorado at 6:00 AM on October 12. After a 100-mile morning drive, he arrived in Littleton. That night, he embarked on an 800-mile journey to Las Vegas, leaving at 8:00 PM. October 13: After reaching Las Vegas at 4:00 PM, he continued his travels without rest. After covering 700 miles, he reached Dublin, California at 5:15 AM on October 14.
In just four days, Swamishri traveled 3,000 miles, spending four consecutive nights in a car!
Swamishri never slept in a car during travel. Even on overnight journeys, he remained awake. Upon arrival, he immediately resumed his spiritual duties—padharāmnis, sabhās, and discourses. This left no time for rest during the day.
Reflecting on his 1977 vicharan, Swamishri once said: “During the 1977 tour, our days began early and ended at midnight or even 1:00 AM. Upon arrival, all would be so tired that we would just collapse onto the bed. We slept, did pujā, had breakfast and then, padharāmnis resumed. Lunch was always in a different location, far away, usually at 2:00 or 3:00 PM. By 4:00 or 5:00 PM, padharāmnis started again and continued until midnight.”
In 92 days, Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited 29 states and 150 centers and traveled 16,235 miles by car. With no concern for his own body, he undertook this grueling vicharan for us, to bless us, and to uplift us. How can we ever repay such a debt to a Guru like him?
