Tuesday 3 October 2023 | Bhadarva Vad 5, Samvat 2079
Tue 3 Oct 2023
Many Hindus celebrate the birth of Shree Krishna by fasting. In the Shikshapatri, Slok 79, Lord Shree Swaminarayan has given the command that His disciples should follow the rules of ekadashi on the birthdays of Krishna etc. and that these occasions should be celebrated with great ceremony.
At Shree Swaminarayan Gadi, this day is observed as the manifestation day of Sadguru Shree Ramanand Swami, the guru of Lord Shree Swaminarayan. Shree Ramanand Swami was sent by the Lord to create the platform of the Satsang and to announce the forthcoming arrival of the supreme Lord Shree Swaminarayan.
Sadguru Shree Ramanand Swami manifested in Samvat 1795 in the holy city of Ayodhya. However, the remarkable aspect of his manifestation is that he was not born in the normal human manner, from the womb of a mother. He simply appeared here, at the home of father Ajay, and mother Sumati.
On the day of Janmashtami, Lord Shree Swaminarayan is seated on a decorated cradle (paranyoo) and gently swung to the accompaniment of jubilant singing of kirtans. Aarti and thal is offered. The traditional thal is panchajiri, which is a sweet powder made of five items such as coriander seeds, cumin, coconut, ghee and ghor. This is then distributed to all as prasad.
Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj is the current spiritual leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan. He is the heir to Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj, and sixth in the lineage of ascetic Acharyas, which descends directly from Lord Shree Swaminarayan.