Vasant Panchami – the beginning day of the pink season of Spring brings many pleasurable events for the Sampraday. Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan along with Nand Saints and Devotees use to celebrate the festival of Vasant Panchami with great fervour of divine pleasure. Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Himself wrote the Shikshapatri – the code of conduct of Swaminarayan Sampraday just out of immense compassion on all living beings. Moreover Vasant Panchami is the birthday of two great saints of Sampraday – Sadguru Shree Brahmanand Swami and Sadguru Shree Nishkulanand swami. Sadguru Shastriji Maharaj Shree Dharmajivandasji Swami a great visionary disciple and propagator of Shree Swaminarayan Sampraday founded the ancient Gurukul tradition at Rajkot on this auspicious day of Vasant Panchami. Pratishtha ceremony at many temples of In Sampraday falls on this very day. Furthermore, the pratishtha of Shree Ram, Shree Shyam and Shree Ghanshyam was done on this favourable day. On 23 January, 2007 the second annual Pratishtha day of Shree Ram-Shyam-Ghanshyam was celebrated with great joy and pleasure in the holy presence of Pujyapad Shree Jogi Swamiji and other holy saints.
Shakotsav, a distinguished festival started by Bhagawan Shree Swaminarayan was also arranged on this pious occasion.
On 22nd December a Jal-Yatra was arranged with the holy water from the Prasadi Adalaj-Vav (Step well) along with Kirtan and Dhoon. Holy water pots were welcomed and worshipped with Vedic rituals.
On 23rd December, Poojan was started in the early morning. Shree Ravibhai Trivedi from Canada was the chief Yajman of this Patotsav. Shree Hardasbhai Karshanbhai Barasiya (Ahmedabad), Shree Manishbhai Paramar (Ahmedabad), Shree Naranbhai Laljibhai Pindoria (Mombasa), Shree Karshanbhai Laljibhai Pindoria (Samtra, Katch) were privileged to be the Co-Yajnmans as wall as Yajman for Shakotsav. Learned Vedic Pandits of Darshanam Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya performed the rituals as stated in Panchratra Shastra. Pratishtha Poojan was accompanied with holy Maha-Abhishek of Shree Ghnashyam Maharaj, Shree Radha-krishna Dev and Shree Sita-Ramchandraji. In the holy presence of Pujyapad Shree Jogi Swamiji, along with recitation of Vedic Stotras and Mantras Pujya Shree Kothari Swami Shree Harijivandasji Swami, Sadguru Shastri Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami, Sadguru Purani Shree Bhaktiprakashdasji Swami, Sadguru Purani Shree Balkrishnadasji Swami, Sadguru Purani Shree Gyanswarupdasji Swami, Sadguru Purani Shree Shreeharidasji Swami other saints and Lalji Shree Saurabhprasadji performed the Maha-abhishek with sacred Ganga-jal, Tirtha-jal, Panchamrut, Kesar-Jal, various herbal medicines, various fruit juices, sandalwood paste and flowers. Abhishek Darshan was a highly devotional & memorable experience for all participants of the celebration.
Maha-Abhishek was followed by the wonderful Annakut with the range of various delicious dishes. Pujyapad Shree Jogi Swamiji and Senior saints performed the Arati of Maha-abhishek and Annakut. On account of Shikshapatri Jayanti a recitation and poojan of Shishapatri was performed.
In the assembly, after the formal speech by senior saints Sadguru Shastri Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami explained the importance of the day. In the blessing speech Sadguru Gyanswarupdasji Swami narrated the divine Lila of Shakotsav
In the end, devotees enjoyed the Maha-prasad of Shakotsav with relishing loaf, brinjal, butter and other dishes of Annakut-prasadam.
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