I am not a leader! I am a servant. My importance lies as a dishwasher – in doing menial seva.

The faults of even the most junior of devotees never arise in my mind. I do not see such things! I do not allow myself to see such faults. I see them all as murtis of Brahma. Never do I feel they are worldly. I believe them to be divine.

I intensely desire to do seva. But no one allows me to do so. (Words spoken in old age.)

From the beginning I have loved kirtan bhakti. It is my habit. I enjoy it immensely when anyone sings kirtans.

I prefer doing seva and I am greatly pleased if the names of Shastriji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami gain popularity.

I would give my all to celebrate Shastriji Maharaj’s birthday. I don’t like my birthday being celebrated. I am ever ready to wash dishes and tolerate scoldings. From the beginning I’ve lived as a servant, not a guru. I dislike being a guru, but enjoy being a servant. I have tolerated much scolding. For 40 years I’ve suffered beatings, so I am now used to tolerating.

I came to Shastriji Maharaj in the Samvat year of 1969 (1913 CE). In Samvat year 2007 (1951 CE) Swami returned to Akshardham. Till the end I obeyed Swami’s commands unfailingly (consistently) and thus pleased him.

Even if I get just a rotlo to eat, I would eat it (be complacent from activity); but I would put in effort for the growth of Shastriji Maharaj’s Sanstha.

I dislike my birthday being celebrated. I do not desire one bit to be worshipped. I dislike being garlanded. I dislike people prostrating to me, calling my Jais... I am saying all this to you in honest revelation.

I have a constant darshan of God.

I have served all the sadgurus immensely and earned their blessings. I have worn out my body.

I have always acted according to the wishes of Shastriji Maharaj, but not according to the calling of my own mind. So, Swamishri has become extremely pleased. And today he gives darshan and I experience bliss.

I have cared for all and served everybody. I have never insulted anybody, never scorned anyone. That’s why everyone is so affectionate towards me. Never have I asked for anything from anyone. For Thakorji I have asked, but never for myself.

For me, rest lies in the growth of Satsang.

If I err, then please tell me so that I can improve. I like it when someone points out my mistakes, so that I can improve! I do not like being honored but insult pleases me.

Whenever Shastriji Maharaj called out ‘Jogi’, it instantly filled me with great joy that ‘Shastriji Maharaj has called me!’ And if I were writing, I’d drop the pen; and if I were eating, I’d put down the morsel...

If I choose I can stop eating and fast always. If I so will, I can avoid sleep. And if I so will... and thus live divinely. But then how will you progress? To enable you to get seva, become virtuous and progress, I grant you my personal seva.

For 50 years I have been in Satsang. Never, in any satsangi – however mindless or incapable he may be – have I taken his faults. Whatever his nature, even if he is hostile to me, I have not felt ill-will for him.

After a welcome back procession in Limdi, following Yogiji Maharaj’s 1970 tour of Britain and Africa, Sadashankarbhai, a retired railway station master bowed before Swamishri. Then he said with profound feelings, “You are now an epoch-maker, I have come to pay homage to you.”

Swamishri, on getting up, replied immediately, “No, no! I am just a servant.”

Dharma is greater than any amount of money. It does not matter if money is lost, but dharma should not be sacrificed. This was the principle of Shriji Maharaj and our guru Shastriji Maharaj. We should live in this way.

After the welcoming procession in Sarangpur, Swamishri said, “Sant Swami came all the way to the road to receive us with a cart.”

Swamishri then asked Sant Swami, “Why did you do this?”

He answered, “We did it to honour you, as you have just returned from distant lands!”

“We have come from Akshardham. Is that a distant land?” Swamishri thus spontaneously clarified his true divinity.

After a procession in Khambhda, Swamishri revealed, “For ten years I begged for alms at every home in this village. The courtyard of each house has been sanctified. For one who could barely gather 10kg of grains, how can one have a procession for him! What is an ounce compared to the Mt. Meru!

“Manat Swami and I begged for alms here and the cooking was done in Sarangpur. We would hardly get 10kg of flour. Such were our circumstances in those days.”

In a welcome assembly arranged at Botad, Swamishri said, “The honours you have offered belong to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, and not me. I am merely a servant-devotee, a dishwasher. But because you are honoring Bhagwan Swaminarayan, I can not say no.”

During a welcoming assembly in Gadhada, Swamishri said, “The welcoming by the local authority here is an honour to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Dada Khachar. I am not the doer but God, Shriji Maharaj, is. I am His slave – a servant.”