VACHANAMRUT PARATHĀRO

Shreeji Maharaj’s Auspicious Marks

(Here are reproduced the marks on the body of Lord Swaminarayan also called Shreeji Maharaj and some of His special features which governed His daily life. The significance behind this narration is to focus the mind and the indriyas on His divine form lest they get diverted to mundane objects. It would also help a devotee to meditate upon His divine form.)

Description of the various auspicious marks that He possessed in both His insteps: From between the great toe and the adjoining toe, started a fork-shaped line turning into two when stretched downward on both right and left sides. Similarly, it stretched in the right instep. Near the big toe of the right instep, a mark resembling a barley grain was seen. Near the heel of the right instep on both the sides of the stretched line were seen the marks of lotus, flag, ankush, octagon, thunderbolt, swastika and a rose apple. In the nail of the right big toe was seen a red line and near-about, a sign like a black sesame. Near the last toe of His right foot, on the upper side near the nail, there was a mark like a black sesame. Near the line stretched in the left instep on left side were two small black spots both near each other. Near the upper part of the fork-shaped line, there was a sign of the sky. In the left instep, there was also a fork-like line stretching downwards and dividing into two near the heel. On both the sides of this line there were the marks of a bow, a pitcher, a fish, a triangle, a hoof of a cow, a crescent. Both the insteps were red and nails over the toes of both feet were convex-shaped and bright. On the toes of both feet, there was a soft bunch of hair. The big toe and the adjacent toe of both feet had marks formed by the wear of the wooden sandals. The outer ankles of both feet seemed to bear marks of wear formed by sitting cross-legged on a carpet. Near the ankle of the right foot five inches upward on the front side, there was a small sign like a black sesame. On the same foot on the outer thigh, there was a big scar. On the left foot five inches above the ankle, there was a sign of a big sesame. Slightly above that again, there was a small sign of a black sesame. On the knee of the same foot, there was also a mark. On the waist on both the right and left sides, there were marks of wear formed by wearing the dhoti tight.

His stomach was round-shaped, always cool and formed three wrinkles when He was seated. Around the navel which was deep, there were signs on both sides of two black sesames. In the cavity of the right hand, there was a sign like a black sesame and near it a small one. Nearly two inches above the navel, there were three signs like black sesames, two on both sides and one in the middle. Below the cavity of the left hand on the left side two inches above the navel, there were three signs like black sesames appearing one over the other looking like a straight line drawn upward. Near it on the outer part signs like sesames, for in all, were seen stretched upward.

Above the heart He bore the marks of Shree Vatsa (the hoof of a calf). In the middle of His chest was a mark of the shape of a half-moon five inches in breadth and slightly reddish in colour. It appeared a little sharp on the right side. In the middle of this mark there was a sign like a black sesame. To the left of this mark about two inches farther, there was a sign of a sesame. Again left to it and nearly two inches away from it on the left chest there was a sign of a sesame. Above the left and right parts of the chest, there were two marks of hot prints.

On the back side of the right hand, there were four signs of black sesames appearing as if they were a straight line. On the upper part of the right hand three inches below, there was a mark of a hot print and near this mark on the outer side, there were four small signs of sesame. Below the elbow of the right hand and two inches above the wrist, there were two signs of sesame. On the little finger of his right hand, about half an inch above its root, there was a small sesame. On the right hand three inches below its upper part, there was a mark of a hot print. On the left elbow, two inches below there was a small sign of a black sesame. In between the thumb and the index finger, there was a small sesame-like mark and in the nail of the finger near the thumb, there was a sign of a black sesame. Again on the wrist of his left hand, there was a small sesame.

The nails of both His hands were red and convex shaped, bright and pointed. The palms of hands were reddish and the lines therein were slightly black. On both His hands nearly eight inches above the wrists, there were two marks of hot prints. Both the elbows were dark in complexion. In the cavity under the neck there was a small sign of a black sesame. Near it again, there was a small sesame. Below the chin there was a big sign of a black sesame. Two inches below the left shoulder on the back there was a small sesame with soft hair around. Below it there was one and again below it there was a second one. On the left of the backbone two inches below the neck, there was one small sesame. To the right of his backbone in the middle of the back, there was a small sign of a black sesame. On the right side of the backbone in the middle of the back there were four marks of black sesames. On the right side of His nose, there was a big sesame. Above it and below the corner of His eyes, there was a small sesame.

On both His eyelashes, there were small wrinkles. On His nose, there were soft marks of small-pox. In His mouth on the right jaw below, there was a black mark near a molar tooth. His tongue was as soft as a lotus petal. On His left ear, there was a small black round-shaped mark. On His broad and high forehead, there were two lines projecting upwards looking like the mark of a tilak. On this forehead on the right just under the hair there was a mark. On the lobe of the right ear, there was a small sign of a black sesame. On the palate there was also a sign of a big black sesame. On the head just near the plums of hair, there was a small sign and also on the right at the back of this part there were three small signs. There were many such small signs of black sesames on the various parts of His body.

His body looked very charming, sweet, and attractive although slightly hefty. Those who came to see Him were drawn towards Him. He was slightly dark in complexion, and calm in nature. The idol of Shree Gopinathji at Durgapattam is of the same height as Shreeji Maharaj. All his limbs were in total conformity with the Samudrik Shastra. Thus are described the body and the marks on the body of Shreeji Maharaj as we could recollect them.