Vasant Panchami – the beginning day of the pink season
of Spring brings many pleasurable events for the
Sampraday. Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan along with Nand
Saints and Devotees use to celebrate the festival of
Vasant Panchami with great
fervour
of divine pleasure. Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Himself
wrote the Shikshapatri – the code of conduct of
Swaminarayan Sampraday just out of immense compassion on
all living beings. Moreover Vasant Panchami is the
birthday of two great saints of Sampraday – Sadguru
Shree Brahmanand Swami and Sadguru Shree Nishkulanand
swami. Sadguru Shastriji Maharaj Shree Dharmajivandasji
Swami a great visionary disciple and propagator of Shree
Swaminarayan Sampraday founded the ancient Gurukul
tradition at Rajkot on this auspicious day of Vasant
Panchami. Pratishtha ceremony at many temples of In
Sampraday falls on this very day. Furthermore, the
pratishtha of Shree Ram, Shree Shyam and Shree Ghanshyam
was done on this
favourable day. On 23 January, 2007 the second annual
Pratishtha day of Shree Ram-Shyam-Ghanshyam was
celebrated with great joy and pleasure in the holy
presence of Pujyapad Shree Jogi Swamiji and other holy
saints.
Shakotsav, a distinguished festival started by Bhagawan
Shree Swaminarayan was also arranged on this pious
occasion.
On 22nd December a Jal-Yatra was arranged with the holy
water from the Prasadi Adalaj-Vav (Step well) along with
Kirtan and Dhoon. Holy water pots were welcomed and
worshipped with Vedic rituals.
On
23rd December, Poojan was started in the early morning.
Shree Ravibhai Trivedi from Canada was the chief Yajman
of this Patotsav. Shree Hardasbhai Karshanbhai Barasiya
(Ahmedabad), Shree Manishbhai Paramar (Ahmedabad), Shree
Naranbhai Laljibhai Pindoria (Mombasa), Shree
Karshanbhai Laljibhai Pindoria (Samtra, Katch) were
privileged to be the Co-Yajnmans as wall as Yajman for
Shakotsav. Learned Vedic Pandits of Darshanam Sanskrit
Mahavidyalaya performed the rituals as stated in
Panchratra Shastra. Pratishtha Poojan was accompanied
with
holy
Maha-Abhishek of Shree Ghnashyam Maharaj, Shree
Radha-krishna Dev and Shree Sita-Ramchandraji. In the
holy presence of Pujyapad Shree Jogi Swamiji, along with
recitation of Vedic Stotras and Mantras Pujya Shree
Kothari Swami Shree Harijivandasji Swami, Sadguru
Shastri Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami, Sadguru Purani
Shree Bhaktiprakashdasji Swami, Sadguru Purani Shree
Balkrishnadasji Swami, Sadguru Purani Shree
Gyanswarupdasji Swami, Sadguru Purani Shree
Shreeharidasji Swami other saints and Lalji Shree
Saurabhprasadji performed the Maha-abhishek with sacred
Ganga-jal, Tirtha-jal, Panchamrut, Kesar-Jal, various
herbal medicines, various fruit juices, sandalwood paste
and flowers. Abhishek Darshan was a highly devotional &
memorable experience for all participants of the
celebration.
Maha-Abhishek was followed by the wonderful Annakut with
the range of various delicious dishes. Pujyapad Shree
Jogi Swamiji and Senior saints performed the Arati of
Maha-abhishek and Annakut. On account of Shikshapatri
Jayanti a recitation and poojan of Shishapatri was
performed.
In
the assembly, after the formal speech by senior saints
Sadguru Shastri Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami explained
the importance of the day. In the blessing speech
Sadguru Gyanswarupdasji Swami narrated the divine Lila
of Shakotsav
In
the end, devotees enjoyed the Maha-prasad of Shakotsav
with relishing loaf, brinjal, butter and other dishes of
Annakut-prasadam.