“Vyavasāyātmikā buddhir ekeha kuru-nandana”

~ Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 41.

It means: “Those who are on this path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one-pointed. O beloved child of the Kurus, the intelligence of those who are irresolute is many-branched.”

In essence, it emphasizes the importance of a focused and determined mind, suggesting that those with single-minded determination achieve their goals, while those without focus are easily distracted and ineffective.

The Atmiya Vidya Mandir family witnessed yet another fascinating assembly on the 26th of July, 2024. The Sundaram House hosted a creative assembly to commemorate our beloved founder and Guru, His Divine Holiness Hariprasad Swamiji Maharaj’s third Divya Swadham Gaman Smruti Diwas. The assembly delved into the ever-inspiring and empowering life of Swamishree.

The assembly began on an intriguing note with a young boy pounding his head against a wall. When the other boys asked him why he was doing this, he explained that he was searching for a doorway to the other side. The boys then helped him find the doorway. Similarly, just like the boy pounding his head against the wall, we often find ourselves in friction, seeking truth and meaning in our lives. This is where a Guru comes into the picture. A Guru acts as a doorway to our salvation, guiding us to find meaning and purpose in our lives.

On this auspicious occasion of Swamiji Maharaj’s third Divya Swadham Gaman Smruti Diwas, let’s take this opportunity to explore the enthralling life of our beloved Swamishree.

Aap Tadi Madiya Bhagwan Ma, Jena Aap Maa Hari No Vyaap Sant Te Swayam Hari

~ Sadguru Nishkulanand Swami

Arthat: “When one truly surrenders to God, the presence of God is experienced in the saint; the saint is indeed the embodiment of God.”

Param Pujya Hariprasad Swamiji is such a saint who embodies the divine, and we are very fortunate to have come in His association via Atmiya Vidya Mandir. Every inch of this campus is sacred.

We watched a video of Swamishree’s first Sabha in the administration block on June 30, 2004. Swamishree was delighted to meet the students and advised them to work hard, serve their parents, and keep good company of friends. He gave blessings for life to all associated with AVM: “Tamne badha ne badhi rite sukhi karva chhe”.

We can never fully repay Swamiji for all He has done for us. Swamiji has dedicated His life to our well-being, taking responsibility for our body, mind, wealth, and soul. He is the true parent of our souls.

We also had the opportunity to watch a video of Prasadbhai Rohit, a Class of 2019 alumnus of the AVM family sharing his divine experience of Swamishree. The key takeaway from his message was that if you pray to God wholeheartedly, God responds to your prayers.

Students from grades 1 to 6 at AVM performed a dance tribute to Swamiji, celebrating the glory of Swamishree’s life. Swamiji is indeed the sculptor of our souls, guiding us on our journey towards becoming bhoolkus. He has consistently practiced what He preached throughout His life. His life indeed serves as our sacred scripture.

The students then performed a skit depicting an incident from Swamiji’s life when he was in 4th grade. At that time, there was no electricity, so students had to finish their homework before sunset. Each day after school, Swamiji would sit by a parabdi (structure on a pillar where grain and water are placed for birds, squirrels, etc.) where there was some sunlight and diligently complete His homework before the onset of the night. This illustrates Swamiji’s dedication to His studies.

“Rojnu Devu, Roj Chukvi Devu”

In essence, it emphasizes the importance of not postponing work and handling daily responsibilities promptly.

Swamiji’s life is like an infinite ocean of lessons. Let’s explore one drop of this magnificent ocean, i.e. His utmost focus, and dedication to His work.

Once, a friend of Swamiji visited Him. Swamiji was so engrossed in His work that He didn’t notice His friend standing near Him for nearly 10 minutes! Even when His friend placed a book on His head, Swamiji didn’t flinch. Everyone present was astonished by Swamiji’s dedication and focus on His work.

We then watched a video where Param Pujya Prabodhjivan Swamiji further elaborated on this anecdote from Swamiji’s life. Reflecting on these incidents can inspire us to study hard and achieve great results.

Once, while Swamishree was writing the Swaminarayan mantra and contemplating the glory of God, a clock hanging on the wall fell with a resounding thud. Everyone in the room was startled, except for Swamishree. He remained completely absorbed in His task. His focus and dedication were truly commendable and awe-inspiring.

Finally, we watched a video featuring Visheshbhai, a Class of 2015 alumnus of the AVM family, who is an institute gold medallist from IIT Jodhpur and currently works as a Lead AI Scientist at Tech5 USA. He shared the three most important qualities he was able to imbibe with the grace of Swamishree that aided his journey: determination, sincerity, honesty in his work, and regular bhajan. He emphasized that God helps those who help themselves and that we must strive to excel in our respective fields. We must pray, work hard, and leave the rest to God. We are truly blessed to have the grace of Param Pujya Hariprasad Swamiji and Param Pujya Prabodhjivan Swamiji, a blessing unique to us.

With this, our creative assembly concluded. May we always be blessed with the grace of Swamishree and Prabodhjivan Swamiji, and may we embody the qualities of focus, determination, sincerity, and devotion in our lives.

To watch the full video of the creative assembly visit: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYPx3m16fdk

Atira Ma’am