Childhood
Names
Mulji, Mulji Bhagat, Mulji Sharma
(Guru Ramanand Swami had christened Gunatitanand Swami with
these names)
Divine Inclination in the Early Childhood
When
his father encouraged Mulji to enjoy his childhood days
in playful and care-free way while advocating the postponement
of devotional activities to later age, the divine child
courteously pointed out, 'look father, not a single person
in the whole village in his or her later age is found to
be devoting their time to God; instead they are indulging
in gossip and wasting their energy in useless activities.
Therefore, one must never postpone devotional activities
to later age, but rather engross oneself as fully as one
can in the devotion and service of God especially during
one's prime youth.
Yagnopavit (Adorning of the Sacred Thread)
Ritual
Jeth Sood 5, Vikram Samvat 1849 (Thursday,
June 13, 1793 A.D. at the age of 8).
Mulji Bhagat sees Bhagwan Swaminarayan
for the First Time
Mulji Bhagat saw Bhagwan Swaminarayan for the first time
on Kartik sood 11, Vikram Samvat 1857 (At the age of 15),
in Piplana village, when Guru Ramanand Swami initiated Nilkanth
into the spiritual order and named Him as Sahajanand Swami
and Narayan Muni.
Mulji Bhakta Ordained to Pursue Greater Spiritual Goal
On the auspicious day of Kartik Sood Poornima in Vikram
Samvat 1857, When Mulji Bhakta was working in his field,
Shreeji Maharaj appeared before him in his consciousness
and ordained, 'Mulji ! You have come to this world to realize
a greater mission, so move on...' And Mulji Bhakta immediately
took the road to reach Shreeji Maharaj to dedicate himself
in pursuit of the spiritual goals.
Formal Initiation into the Sainthood
On Posh Sood Poornima (the full moon day of the Indian Calendar
month of Posh) in Vikram Samvat 1866 (Saturday, January
20, 1810 A.D.), Shreeji Maharaj initiated Mulji Bhakta into
Sainthood by performing a Yagna in Dhabhan village (near
present-day Nadiad Town) in Gujarat State of Western India.
After this initiation Mulji Bhakta was christened as "Gunatitanand
Swami" (At the age 24) by Shreeji Maharaj.
'One who serves is the Master here'
Once, Gunatitanand Swami, the Chief Saint of the Junagadh
temple, was busy cleaning the foreground of the temple in
Junagadh. The chief priest of the Tarnetar Temple arrived
and asked Swamiji about the Chief Priest of the Junagadh
Temple. Swamiji very courteously replied, 'please make yourself
comfortable in the temple, the chief priest will see you
soon there.' After having a quick wash, Swamiji went into
the temple and very politely introduced himself and took
the seat of the Chief Priest. 'Oh !', the Tarnetar Priest
expressed his astonishment, 'but you were cleaning the foreground
just a short while ago, weren't you ?' 'Yes Swamiji !',
replied Gunatitanand Swamiji with folded hands, 'he who
serves is the master here !'
Divine Work of Gunatit
Gunatitanand Swami used to say, 'We know nothing. Whatever
we do is like the mother who cleans her baby and puts the
child in the lap of the father. Similarly, we purify the
souls engrossed in Maya and put them at the feet of the
Lord. We know only this and we do it ceaselessly.'
The Gospels of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
introducing Gunatitanand Swami as Mool Akshar Moorti
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