H.H. Shrīmat Sadyojāt Shaṅkarāshram Swāmījī visit to Ghāziābād
By Girīsh Sāraswat, Ghāziābād
।। Oṁ Shrī Gurubhyo Namaḥ Shrī Bhavānīshaṅkarāya Namaḥ Shrī Mātre Namaḥ।।
The date 7th June 2022 will be etched in golden letters in the history of All India Sāraswat Brāhmaṇa Samāja, Ghāziābād. Shining like a resplendent star on the spiritual horizon, the enlightened Sāraswat Sadguru, the 11th Mathādhipati, the crest jewel of Shrī Chitrāpur Math, H.H. Shrīmat Sadyojāt Shaṅkarāshram Swāmījī, set His Divine Feet here on this day and we indeed felt Blessed listening to the auspicious meaningful Āshīrvachana from Him!
While addressing a gathering in a function at Utsava Bhavana in Vijay Nagar, under the aegis of the Sāraswat Brāhmaṇ Samāja Kalyāṇa Samiti (Regd), Ghāziābād, The Mathādhipati of Shrī Chitrāpur Math, H.H. Shrīmat Sadyojāt Shaṅkarāshram Swāmījī said that the practice of constant meditative repetition of the given mantra, austerity and charity are beneficial for the welfare of a person. The human birth is worthless without the practice of japa, tapa and dāna. Pūjya Swāmījī further said that even while working to earn a livelihood and performing noble actions, daily worship of the Lord is mandatory. The auspicious journey from the mundane to the transcendent is impossible without worshipping the Divine. Therefore, one must consistently practise worshipping the Lord with yoga and prāṇāyāma coupled with mantra-japa, tapas and dāna too. Herein lies the welfare of mankind!
Pūjya Swāmījī affirmed that when one makes an attempt towards worldly accomplishments offering one’s resolve at the Lotus Feet of the Guru with a firm conviction, a resolute will and commitment, success is assured for obtaining the desired goal. Pūjya Swāmījī laid special emphasis on the chanting and study of scriptures such as Shrīmadbhagavadgītā and Shrī Durgā Saptashatī.
Enraptured on hearing Pūjya Swāmījī’s bhajana, ‘Shrī Jagadambe Saraswatī…’ in His characteristic sweet and sonorous voice, people gathered there were overcome with a sense of overwhelming joy and devotion. Oblivious to hunger and thirst, they were eager to savour each moment of this rare and precious occasion.
While some said that obtaining the Grace of an exalted Sāraswat saint such as H.H. Shrīmat Sadyojāt Shaṅkarāshram Swāmījī was indeed the fruit of their good deeds done in past lives, others felt as if the incredible, divine, magnificent and skilful orchestration of this programme was itself an occasion for the union of the Individual Soul with the Divine. Yet others felt gratefully blessed for having got an opportunity to offer their salutations at the Lotus Feet of such an exalted saint. Irrespective of age and gender, each unblinking gaze was fixed at this Sāraswat Sadguru secretly wishing that time would stand still and these Divine moments of incessant bhajana, kīrtana and Āshīrvachana would never come to an end.
After Pūjya Swāmījī’s Āshīrvachana, devotees from not just from Ghāziābād, but also places like Noiḍā, Alīgarh, Hāthras, Āgrā, Mathurā, Firozābād, Hāpur, Delhī and Rājasthān were eager to seek Pūjya Swāmījī’s darshana again, and were keenly interested in obtaining information regarding similar programmes in the near future. On Pūjya Swāmījī’s invitation to all to visit the Math-s in Shirālī and Kārlā, some seemed to have already commenced plans to seek Holy darshana and Satsanga. There was a keen interest in more information on Pūjya Swāmījī’s videos, while some were keen on accompanying Pūjya Swāmījī further on. An exalted soul is an embodiment of the Lord Himself… who would not want to be a part of this providential moment?!
Since the time of Shrī Bhikshā was drawing closer after the conclusion of the sabhā, a hope still lingered on that they would be able to catch a few more glimpses of the Lord Himself embodied as the Guru. But all good things must come to an end!
With hearts filled with anguish, it was now time to bid a tearful farewell to the Sāraswat Sadguru! The sound of Pūjya Swāmījī’s khaḍāva-s (wooden sandals) signalling the time of His departure made everyone restless. No one present there desired to let go of their beloved Lord, their Guru, their Pūjya Swāmījī! But time and tide wait for none! Bidding farewell with heavy hearts, seeking forgiveness for any transgressions and with fervent prayers to Pūjya Swāmījī to come back again soon, everyone offered their prostrations at the Lotus Feet while jaijaikāra-s rent the air.
Watching the figure of Pūjya Swāmījī fade away in the distance, capturing in our hearts, Pūjya Gurudeva’s Abhaya mudrā blessing us, we are ever awaiting the return of our Guru who is an embodiment of the Lord, whilst still yearning for His darshana again!