<p> </p> <p>Here is the blog of a brave and determined devotee named Lakshmichand Sheth.</p> <p>Supreme Godhead Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan had given the <strong>Five Spiritual Disciplines</strong> for a householder devotee commonly known as Panch Vartman.</p> <p>Among the five spiritual disciplines let’s go ahead with the second vartaman which is <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">02. Not to Eat Meat.</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bhagwan Swaminarayan has strictly commanded in </span><b><span style="color: #ff0000;">Shikshapatri</span> </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">describing the shloka below:</span></p> <p> </p> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>कस्यापि प्राणीनो हिंसा नैव कार्यात्र मामकैः</b></span></h2> <h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>सुक्ष्मयुकामत्कुणादेरपि बुध्या कदाचन (15)</b></span></h2> <blockquote> <div class="text-center background-gradient" style="text-align: center;"><strong>My followers shall never kill any living being,<br> Not even small insects knowingly.</strong></div> </blockquote> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s dive into the history and know how a devotee stood with this second vartman of </span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Not to Eat Meat </strong></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">even in the difficult times and this blog is to inspire all who face difficulties in life.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once Vrajanand swami, Raghvanand swami along with a group of twelve saints arrived at the outskirts of </span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b>Ghoghla village</b></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> near </span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b>Deev Bandar port</b></span><b>. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saints had a bath in the nearby stream, & sat doing </span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b>Mansi pooja(Mental worship)</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">under a tree.</span><span id="more-6824"></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At that moment,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">a person named</span> <span style="color: #ff6600;"><b>Lakshmichand Seth</b></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> saw this peaceful scene.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He was attracted by the fragrance of flowers, scents..in the surroundings. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">As he got closer, the fragrance became stronger, yet he saw no evidence of such a pleasant & powerful fragrance. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He got confused & a bit shocked that these saints are not applying Chandan,offering garland, eating fruits but still the source of the smell is coming from them?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The saints were all involved in doing Mansi-pooja, yet there was an intensely attractive scent comming from them.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakshmichand Seth sat before the saints & waited. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then Vrajanand Swami opened his eyes from Mansi-pooja. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He saw Lakshmichand Seth & greeted him,saying </span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b><i>“Jay Swaminarayan”</i></b></span></p> <p><b><i>Lakshmichand</i></b> <b><i>Seth replied</i></b><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></i><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b><i>“Pranam, Maharaj,”</i></b></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unable to hold his curiosity any further, Lakshmichand Seth</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">asked, “Where is this wonderful fragrance coming from?” </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Smiling, Vrajanand Swami answered, whatever is dedicated with love & affection to God in Mansi pooja, God accepts it as physically present, as these saints were completely engrossed in mansi-pooja offering sandal paste & scent to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">That is why you experienced the wonderful fragrance of sandal paste & scent.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was quite new to Lakshmichand Seth, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">he was highly impressed </span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> & still wished to know more. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, he further asked,</span> <span style="color: #ff6600;"><b>Who is that God? </b></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vrajanand swami replied</span> <span style="color: #ff6600;"><b>He is Bhagwan Swaminarayan.</b></span><b> </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the ultimate salvation of innumerable souls, He has gracefully incarnated on the earth & presently resides at Gadhpur.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vrajanand Swami then said the glorious charitra of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Listening to this Lakshmichand Seth was spiritually enlightened </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">& he requested Vrajanand swami to accept him as a devotee of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Swami initiated him with </span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b>Panch Vartman Diksha </b></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">& instructed him to follow Panch Vartman,</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">the Five Spiritual Disciplines.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A short while later, Lakshmichand Seth got an opportunity to go </span><b><span style="color: #ff6600;">Africa</span> </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">to earn money. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before leaving he taught let me approach to Vrajanand swami & have his blessings. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He approached Swami & said Swamiji for my better earning I am wishing to go to Africa. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kindly bless me!</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The way Lakshmichand seth approached Vrajanand swami Similarly before taking any major step in our life we must take blessings from the true saints. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">That makes our path happy & safe. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Then Vrajanand Swami blessed him & said</span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>Do five mala with chanting Swaminarayan Mahamantra everyday & remember Bhagwan Swaminarayan in all activities & never compromise with Panch vartman and Once you earn enough money, don’t be greedy and return back to India. </strong></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">We pray to Bhagwan Swaminarayan to protect you & bless you with a better future.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakshmichand Seth promised to swamiji & a few days later he </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">boarded the ship set for </span><b>Africa</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Everything went smoothly, until mid-ocean,</span><b> suddenly they caught in a </b><b><i>violent storm</i></b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Everyone panicked and lost hope of survival. </span></p> <p><strong><i>The captain declared everyone that we have lost our control over the ship. Now everything is up to God, better start praying to your beloved God. </i></strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakshmichand Seth started chanting </span><b>Swaminarayan, Swaminarayan… </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">& prayed for the safe passage of the ship & the passengers. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Everyone went deep into devotion because in sorrowful situations God is easily remembered isn’t it?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Soon, by the grace of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the giant waves stopped & the winds calmed down. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Everyone breathed a sense of relief. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The captain navigated the ship & soon they reached Africa around a month later. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Africa, Lakshmichand Seth secured a job in the company as a manager. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He worked sincerely & honestly. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The reputation of Lakshmichand Seth grew gradually.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Amid all this, he never forgot the words of Vrajanand Swami. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He was feeling grateful that due to the blessing of Vrajanand Swami my life is well settled here So, instead of Five mala every day he used to rotate fifty mala everyday. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this way, almost one year passed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakshmichand Seth had earned sufficient money. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, now he forgot the words of Vrajanand swami to return back to India.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><b><i>“Money is such a thing that no one gets satisfied with it. </i></b><b><i>Money will always look lesser & lesser whether you are earning 10,000 , 10-lakh , 10-crore, 100-crores or more than that it always seems lesser and lesser.”</i></b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here Lakshmichand Seth also wished to earn more and more money.. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Well once Lakshmichand Seth fell ill being still ill, he used to go to the shop & continue his work & he didn’t let his boss come to know about his illness.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But soon, he became so weak that he was unable to stand and walk anymore and had to stay away from his office. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boss came to know about the illness of Lakshmichand Seth he was worried a lot because Lakshmichand Seth was such a loyal & honest manager in his company. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, he purchased the medicines & reached Lakshmichand’s house & said lakshmichand why didn’t you tell me about your serious condition?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you taken the medicine? </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">lakshmichand replied no! </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boss said don’t worry, I have already brought medicines for you. “It will make you stronger”. It contains high-quality alcohol and animal bones. This is why this medicine gives instant power to the body. Please take it, you will be fine soon!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakshmichand Seth replied with politeness, <span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong>“</strong></span></span><span style="color: #ff6600;"><strong><i>I will not consume this medicine because it contains alcohol & animal bones & I am a devotee of Bhgawan Swaminarayan so at any cost I don’t disobey the commands of my God.” </i></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many ways his boss tried to convince Lakshmichand Seth & also warned him </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">That if you do not take this medicine you will lose your health & become weak & it will be difficult to return India & meet your family. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">But Lakshmichand did not agree to accept the medicines. Finally the boss left his house. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">With pain laying on the bed Lakshmichand Seth thought </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">That I got this illness because I neglected the words of Vrajanand swami & didn’t return India even after earning enough money. </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b><i>“No matter how good the medicine is, I will not consume it. Even if this body falls it’s okay, but I will not displease Maharaj by breaking his commands.”</i></b></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakshmichand Seth started praying to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, O Maharaj Now everything is in your hand & started remembering Bhagwan Swaminarayan with chanting Swaminarayan,Swaminarayan.. Likewise he prayed to Bhagwan Swaminarayan the whole night. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the early morning around 4’o’ clock, he was still chanting Swaminarayan.. & all of a sudden the divine light spread over the entire room & there appeared Supreme Godhead Bhagwan Swaminarayan. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakshmichand Seth surprised & got up from the bed & asked <strong>“Who are you?”</strong> </span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b><i>“I am the one to whom you have been praying for all these moths I am Bhagwan Swaminarayan.”</i></b></span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b><i> </i></b><b><i>Immediately Lakshminchand seth stood up from the bed & fell at the feet of Bhagwan Swaminarayan & did dandvat pranam. </i></b><b><i>Maharaj said I have come here because I am pleased with your faith on my commands. </i></b><b><i>In this troublesome illness also you didn’t disobey my commands. </i></b><b><i>But now you don’t worry, take this medicine It will make you well.</i></b></span></p> <p><span style="color: #ff6600;"><b style="color: #ff6600;"><i> </i></b><i><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="color: #000000;">Saying so, Maharaj gave Tulsi & salt as a medicine to Lakshmichand seth & Showering his blessings & grace on Lakshmichand seth Bhagwan Swaminarayan disappeared.</span></span> </i></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lakshmichand Seth had the divine medicine given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan & in no time he was completely fresh as before & started preparation returning to India. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">His boss tried a lot to make Lakshminchand Seth stay in Africa. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He offered him a share of the business, double the salary, also offered a free rent house, & many other benefits, but Lakshmichand Seth was not at all tempted by these materialistic offers.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff6600;">One who realizes God never gets tempted to worldly pleasures.</span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, Lakshmichand Seth returned to India. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before going to his home he directly went to Gadhpur (Gujarat) & had darshan of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his guru Vrajanand swami and he further asked for forgiveness from Vrajanand swami where t</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">ears of joy overflowed from the eyes of Lakshmichand’s Seth at this first glimpse of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After taking the blessings from Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Vrajanand swami Lakshmichand Seth went back to his home.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What do we learn from this charitra of Lakshmichand Seth? </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are three major learnings from this charitra:-</span></p> <p> </p> <ol> <li><b>We should be attached with the true saints of God & in our life before taking any big decision we must take their blessings & guidance of the saints.</b><b></b><br> <b></b></li> <li><b>After all, being a devotee of Bhagwan Swaminarayan if we still face some miseries in our life, then we must remember that somewhere we have disobeyed the command of Bhagwan Swaminarayan & his true saints.</b><b></b><br> <b></b></li> <li><b>If we are committed to follow panch vartman in any situation then Bhawan Swaminarayan is also committed to protect you in any situation.</b></li> </ol> <p> </p> <p>In this charitra you know that even in the worst situation Lakshmichand Seth did not consume meatful medicines, so Bhawan Swaminarayan had to give darshan & give him a Devine medicine.</p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If we are committed to Bhagwan Swaminarayan then Bhagwan Swaminarayan is also committed”.</span></p> <blockquote> <div class="text-center background-gradient"><strong>Commitment is not just a word, but it’s an act.</strong></div> </blockquote> <p><em><strong>So, let’s be committed to Panch vartman and please Bhagwan Swaminarayan.</strong></em></p> <p> </p>
