Self-realization day at Chandigarh Ashram, 1st October:

Birthdays are celebrated many times for many people, but Self-realization day is celebrated for a rare great soul established in the Absolute, whose erroneous identity with the lower Self has been completely eradicated. The opportunity to have the darshan of one such great soul, Pujya Bapuji, fell into the lap of the people of Chandigarh. As soon as Pujyshree arrived at Chandigarh Ashram, the Ashram premises were swarmed by devotees from Punjab and other adjacent states. Pujya Bapuji enlightened people on the importance of Self-realization, the highest achievement that can ever be had in human life, and with efficacious techniques to attain to it. All present were overjoyed at receiving the gift of darshan and satsang of Pujya Bapuji.

Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), 5th (evening) and 6th October: On Pujya Bapuji’s first ever visit to Bareilly Ashram, the Ashram was nicely decorated with garlands, festoons of flowers and leaves, and other auspicious objects. The moment Pujya Bapuji set foot in the Ashram permeating the atmosphere with His divine aura, the Ashram was found reverberating with spirited and exuberant hailing chants. A large number of devotees availed themselves of satsang and pious vibrations of the holy saint.

Badaun (Uttar Pradesh), 7th October: Acceding to the request of people of Budaun, Pujyashree gave one stasang session at place. The sādhakas had very little time to publicise the satsang programme; yet the message spread like wild fire and the surging crowds proved the sitting arrangements to be woefully inadequate. Many lovers of God and the Guru imbibed the nectar of Pujya Bapuji’s darshan and satsang in standing position.

Ujhani (Uttar Pradesh), 7th October (11 AM to 1 PM): Pujyashree inaugurated the newly constructed cottage at Ujhani and delivered satsang.

Chandausi (Uttar Pradesh), 7th October (4 PM to 6 PM): Unmindful of physical fatigue, Pujyashree delivered a session of satsang here and gladdened the hearts of people. This was Bapuji’s first ever visit to the newly constructed Ashram at Chandausi.

Pujya Bapuji said, “Mercy is God’s nature. He never espies anybody’s weaknesses or shortcoming. Everybody is his own and He is ever engaged in the good of all. If you get united with God, you will never be wanting in bliss.”

As Bapuji prepared to finish His discourse and gave indications of leaving for Muradabad, the sādhakas pleaded, “A little more Bapu!” but due to paucity of time, Bapuji had to leave putting the congregation on chants of Lord’s name. a mere 45 minutes discourse cast a spell on the people. The Ashram was set up at this place ten years ago and the devotees here had been waiting for Pujya Gurudev’s vist with monumental patience akin to that of Shabari, the queen of devotees. Their takpasyā was rewarded on this pious day.

Moradabad (Uttar Prades), 8th and 9th October: The long cherished wish (murad) of people of Moradabad was fulfilled in the evening of 7th October when Pujyashree arrived at the Ashram at Rasoolpur (Moradabad) and bestowed the gift of darshan and satsang on people.

On 8th October, a huge crowd gathered at Company Bagh here to listen to Pujya Bapuji’
s satsang. Bapuji began the satsang with a question, “what is the strongest thing in the world?” after citing many things to test the people, He gave His answer and said, “The strongest thing is samkalpa (will, volition, thought). And all the power of Samkalpa originates from the Eternal, the Pure Consciousness. Having concentrated his mind on one’s real self, if in addition, one cultivates three things, one will be successful in finding miraculous powers, bliss and in unraveling mysteries. The three things are – Knowledge of, Love for and repose in the Lord.”

Interpreting life as the amalgam of happiness and sorrow, Bapuji laid stress on steering clear of pessimism. ‘Pessimism brings premature old age,’ He said. ‘

Different newspapers of Uttar Pradesh – Amar Ujala, Dainik Jagaran, Rashtriya sahara, aaj, Zed express, Voice of Lucknow, Shah Time etc. – open-heartedly covered Bapuji’s satsang with photographs and with due prominence. In doing this they earned the people’s gratitude.

Shrad Puunima celebrations, Faridabad (Haryana), 12th to 14th October (morning): on the very first day of the two and a half day satsang programme for Sharad Purnima, the giant pandāl at the dussehra Ground here proved too small before the surging crowds of devotees. Elaborating on the importance of Sharad Purnima, Pujyashree said, “The rays of the Moon shower a king of nectarine radiation on the night of Sharad Purnima. Therefore, one should peepare khir and before eating, keeps it exposed to the rays of the Moon for some time. Mixing a particular hearbal medicine in the khir is beneficial to asthma available free of change to asthma patients.” This herbal medicine was made available free of charge to ashmaj patients at the satsang site and Ashrams; and arrangements were also made for administering it properly.

Sharad Purnima celebrations at amdavad Ashram, 14th October (evening): after concluding the satsang programme at Faridabad, Pujya Bapuji arrived at Amdavad ashram, where Poonam Vratadhāris from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan etc. had been eagerly waiting for His darshan. In the evening, Pujyashree bestowed the gift of darshan and satsang to the devotees.

Pujyashree came to the Ashram once again in the night and three arrived the moment, for which everybody had been waiting for so many days – the expansive Sabarmati banks… Moon, the god of the mind, spreading her soft, cool, white and nectarine light… Pujya Bapuji, the presiding deity of sādhakas’ hearts spreading the divine nectar of Grace…the external nectar of nature and the internal nectar of nature and the internal nectar of Knowledge and meditation…… who can forget those moments? Such moments have great meaning and significance and are imprinted in their memory forever.

Sensing the wish of devotees to have a close darshan of Pujya Bapuji, Pujya Bapuji came in the midst of devotees and thus proved by example that the saints are aptly compared to the wish yielding tree.

As these devotees, the darlings of the Lord and the Guru, got up from satsang with their hearts satiated, the ashram sevādārs were waiting for them with the khir nourished by Moon-ryas for satiating their physical needs. It was a rare synthesis of devotion, meditation, Knowledge and karma-yoga for the devotees.

Jagadguru shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati Maharaj of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha arrived at amdavad Ashram on the evening of 19th October, in the presence of Pujya Bapuji. His boundless love for Pujya Bapuji pulled him here in spite of His busy schedule. Thousands of sādhakas were blessed to witness those moments of union between the two saints.

Pujya Bajpuji is an idol of love. Shankaracharyaji’s arrival showed the love and respect which all the saint throughout India had for Pujyashree. According a warm welcome to him, Pujyashree said, “This institution belongs to you, and you are welcome to your institution.”

Shankaracharyaji had graced the ashram once even in the absence of Pujya Bapuji; and he was overjoyed by the atmosphere over here. While recollecting that day, Pujyashree further said, “Had you not considered this ashram as your own, you would not have shown the benevolence of visiting it even in my absence.”

While addressing the mammoth gathering in the satsang-pandāl, Shankarachayaji said, “Bapuji is a saint who is a personification of the Brahman, one experiences elevation in life just by His darshan. Bapuji’s teaching have transformed the lives of crores of people in India and abroad and they abroad and they are treading the path of spiritual unfoldment.