On the day of Chaitra Vad 4th, Kanabi’s (Patel’s) of twenty-four villages began to come along with groups of devotees singing devotional songs playing on musical instruments and singing devotional songs. Variety of devotional songs were sung, drums were also played and all were sitting in assembly. Whosoever came for darsan of Maharaj would offer garlands of hajari flowers to saints, would offer coconut, dryfruits, etc. perform puja of Purani, and holly book, offer garland to Bapasri, apply sandalwood paste, etc.- all would have joy in their heart by such darsan. Devotees would be seen in thousands in the village and on the outskirts of the village. To feed them all big rooms were engaged for storing sukhdi (a kind of sweet) and to store siro reservoirs were made. To prepare, and to serve hotchpotch, vegetable, etc. many devotees were eager. Bapasri and saints along with devotees with Murti of Maharaj came in the kitchen where sukhdi was stored, Maharaj was seated there and before Him lamps of ghee were lighted. Then all sang thal and offered it to Maharaj with drinking water. At that time Bapasri said, “This sukhdi has been eaten by Maharaj with love, so one who takes this Prasad will get unlimited happiness because Maharaj and infinite muktas dined-where can you get such Prasad? At that time saint Devjivandasji was fanning. Bapasri said, “You are fanning Maharaj so sing ‘Tame jamo ne dholu hun to vayre vari jaun valamji’ (you dine and I fan you, it is my pleasure-thch jokingly Bapasri said. Then wicks were lighted in the dish and arati was performed by Bapasri, Swami Vrndavandasji, Swami Isvarcharanadasji and Swami Ghansyamjivandasji, etc. and saints. Then Bapasri said, “We perform such yajna to please causal Murti Sriji Maharaj So just see! Maharaj smiles gently and looks at all with His nectar sight.” At that time Khimjibhai of Narayanpur made the announcement of the arrival of Lord Swaminarayana by doing the work of macebearer and pleased all. Then Bapasri told Swami, etc. saints, “Whosoever eats this sukhdi will be put in bliss of Murti by giving him ultimate liberation. You also make such sankalpa. We do not want to leave anyone. If one gets divine feeling for this assembly means any work of his is done and if he dislikes it, there will be obstacle in liberation.” Saying so all started going towards the place where siro was stored. Devotees were singing devotional songs on the way so all young or old were pleased by having darsan. The cooks who were preparing siro, etc. in the kitchen became very joyful by seeing that Bapasri and saints were coming towards them. They stood at the place where they were preparing food and greeted Bapasri by saying Jay Swaminarayana with folded hands. Bapasri showed his much pleasure with his nectar sight on devotees who were doing seva. There after Maharaj was seated at the place where siro was stored on the bajoth (wooden seat) which was covered with silk cloth. In front lamps of ghee were lighted along with incense stick. Bapasri and Sadgurus were seated on the seats in the centre by saints and devotees who were standing around the place. Then thal was sung. ‘Avinashi avo re jamva Krsna Hari, Sri BhaktiDharma sut re jamadu prit kari’ (Avinashi, BhaktiDharma’s son Harikrsna Maharaj is invited for meals, will make Him to eat with love).’ Bapasri sat in meditation till the thal was sung. He opened his eyes and showed much pleasure and offered drinking water to Maharaj. There also Bapasri and Sadgurus performed arati of Sriji Maharaj and made Jay ghosh of Sri Shahjanand Swami Maharaj. There Somchandbhai of Karachi did the work of macebearer. Bapasri said, “Sriji Maharaj had performed yajna at Kankariya and during that yajna He ate thal along with infinite muktas by showing His pleasure. Similarly Maharaj has shown much pleasure today in our yajna. This siro, sukhadi all became divine thing. Whosoever eats this mahaprasad will get happiness of Murti without doing means.” Thus blessing, on the way along with saints, devotees carried on singing devotional songs- in this way Bapasri came to temple. Thus in Vrspur thousands of saints and devotees became lucky of getting ultimate liberation by the grace of Bapasri. Saints viz. Sadguru Swami Vrndavandasji, Sadguru Swami Isvarcharanadasji, Sadguru Swami Ghansyamjivandasji, Purani Dharmakisordasji, Hariprasaddasji, Kesavpriyadasji, Swami Svetvaikunthdasji, Swami Bhagvatswrupdasji, Devjivandasji, Muktavallabhdasji, etc. and other saints who had come from Amdavad, Muli, Vadtal, Gadhada, Junagadh, etc. they were eager to attend devotees in the yajna and make them happy by doing katha-varta. As they were eager to do this seva, Bapasri often called them, made them laugh, by cutting jokes, praised them, so saints believed themselves to be fortunate. Devotees, viz. Seth Baldevdas, Sankarbhai, Becharbhai, Chunilalbhai, Somchandbhai, etc. of Amdavad and Kothari Isvardas, etc. and many devotees of Saraspur and Dr. Nagardasbhai of Viramgam and his brother Manilal and Kesavlal, the teacher, of Vadhwan, Nagjibhai of Patdi, Shamjibhai of Vansava, Ṭhakker Motibhai, Ranchhodbhai, Merai Lavjibhai, etc. of Mandal, Mohanbhai, Jatabhai, etc., of Meda, Mistri Dalsukhram of Ḍangarva, Jiva Patel, Zaverbhai, etc. of Manipara, Kalyandas, Kodidas, etc. of Josipara, and Zaverbhai, Bhavjibhai, etc. of Dharampur and many devotees of villages like Kadi, Karjisana, etc. and Jethabhai, and Raosaheb Balubhai of Aslali and Chaturbhai of Vahelal and Asabhai, Patel Bhalabhai, Chhotabhai, etc. of Kanabha, Jagannath, the teacher, and his son Manilal etc. of Godhavi, Lallubhai, the teacher, of Modasar and many devotees from Nalkantha area, village Ranoda, Upardal, Rethal, etc. all did much seva with joy to please Bapasri. Moreover there was crowd of devotees at the place meant for passage in Vrspur. They had come from various places like Bhal, Charotar, Kathiyawad, Zalawad, Halar, Kolkatta, Cuttack, Jharia, Karachi, Surat, Bharuch, Khambhat, etc. Chaturbhai, Velsibhai, Jethabhai, Isvarlal, Pranjivan, etc. of Malaniyad would perform seva from morning to night. When garbi was sung, there were scenes of their love which could be seen by all, so Bapasri though he was asleep, would get up and sit in the centre where they sang, praise them, give them Prasad, etc. Similarly devotees of various villages would please Bapasri in various ways and consider themselves to be grateful. Group of ladies would say Jay Swaminarayana from a distance from where they could get darsan of Bapasri. They would do seva of keeping substances ready meant for yajna and getting the pleasure of Bapasri, would do seva round the clock to please Maharaj. Devotees would not care even though they were tired. All the while, in awakening state or in dream, they had only one aim to have darsan of Maharaj and Bapasri and saints and devotees, katha, kirtan, darsan at the time of taking meals, etc. Moreover at the time of arati, accompanied by beating of drums, there was joy. Thus all were becoming fortunate for the ultimate liberation.
On two nights Maharaj was installed in palanquin, the front group of devotees from various villages would show eagerness for the festival, sound of arati, the macebearer would say in loud voice ‘long live Maharajadhiraj (Maharajane ghani khamma),’ would fan, etc. No place would be left in street for the passage. There was no bound of joy for all-gulal was spread, in between devotees would give water to groups (mandali), etc. love could be seen in devotional songs. Various devotional songs were sung, viz. Maro Valoji Vadtal avya,’ ‘Maharaj aj Vartalthi av ‘Maro valoji she,’ ‘Mankiye chadya re Mohan Vanmali,’ ‘Latkalo latkanto re ave.’ Thus palanquin would go from street to street. All would do darsan and offer coconut and silver coins to Maharaj. In the square sloka would be recited. Thus after going round the village all would come to the temple with fun and festive. At the door of temple groups (mandalis) would sing devotional songs for nearly two hours but nobody would get tired. When all of them would come in the square Bapasri would give Prasad to all with pleasure. At night devotees of various places would sing garbi in the farm by keeping lights in the centre. Several groups would perform festivities but nobody would feel tired. Nobody would think about sleep. Till morning devotional songs would be sung. Thus in this yajna Vrspur appeared beautiful like a very great abode (place). || 139 ||