વચનામૃત પ્રસંગ

Gadhadā II-27

Samvat 1979, Sārangpur. After the kathā following mangalā ārti, Shāstriji Mahārāj routinely encouraged everyone to join into construction sevā for the mandir. Harikrishnadās Swāmi had a zeal for kathā and sevā, but preferred kathā more. He believed that gnān was of greater importance in the sampradāy. Therefore, he once folded his hands to Swāmishri and said, “Swāmi, will upāsanā spread by lifting rocks (i.e. construction of mandirs)? That will only occur when you engage in kathā and spread gnān.”

Seeing Harikrishnadas’s enthusiasm for gnān, Swāmishri looked compassionately at him and explained the importance of dharma [that is related to Bhagwān (Gadhada III-21)] and bhakti:

“To achieve ekāntik dharma, Shriji Mahārāj commanded everyone to develop firmness in four types of nishthā: dharma-nishthā, ātma-nishthā, vairāgya-nishthā, and bhakti-nishthā. He also elucidated the characteristics of these four types of nishthā (Gadhada I-47). When one develops firmness in these four types of nishthā, then one is called a param bhāgwat sant and one can be said to have achieved ekāntik dharma.

“The firm [swarup-] nishthā of the two forms [Akshar and Purushottam] that we want to develop through kathā have been installed here. When one thoroughly understands the greatness of these two forms in one’s heart, only then will swarup-nishthā become firm.

“When one’s swarup-nishthā becomes firm, only then will one cultivate dharma, gnān, and vairāgya. So that the upāsanā of these two forms remain, Mahārāj relaxed the emphasis on vairāgya and built mandirs. If upāsanā perishes, then blindness follows in succession - meaning, everyone will forget that Shriji Mahārāj is Bhagwān, resulting in an end to the master-servant relationship with him. Consequently, one becomes the guru and the Bhagwān. Therefore, gnān without upāsanā is inauspicious.

“In Panchālā, Shriji Mahārāj pointed to Gunātitānand Swāmi and said, ‘There is no Bhagwān like me and there is no sadhu like him.’ Our only sevā and our only goal of gnān is that the knowledge of these forms and our upāsanā spread.”

Explaining this much, Swāmishri added, “Sadhurām, we are lifting rocks to spread the supreme upāsanā of Akshar and Purushottam. If we believe this labor as bhakti in the form of sevā, then that will strengthen our bhakti. However, if we believe we are simply lifting rocks, then that will surely hinder us on the path of liberation. Therefore, forsake this incorrect understanding and understand the greatness of the mandirs constructed for upāsanā.”

[Brahmaswarup Shāstriji Mahārāj: 1/505]