Family
Wife : Amrabai
Sons : Baghabhai, Naranbhai
Renunciation
Jaga Swamiji was inclined towards renunciation right from
his very early childhood and this naturally fuelled tension
in his family which did not particularly welcomed the idea.
Once, during the night time when the members of the family
were fast asleep, a big serpent with jewel on its hood descended
from the roof top into the house. When everyone got very
panicky, Jaga Swami consoled the bewildered family members
and then asked the serpent to go away. As if it was a command
from some divine power, the serpent immediately went away
without a whisper. No sooner did the serpent went away,
the whole house was brightened with a magnificent brilliance.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan Himself appeared before Jaga Swami
and blessed him. Witnessing all these, the family members
got convinced about the divinity of Jaga Swami and his greater
spiritual mission on this earth. They readily agreed to
his idea of allowing him to renounce his worldly ties and
dedicate himself for the spiritual pursuits. Thus, with
the consent and good wishes of his family members, Jaga
Swami reached Junagadh, where he was initiated into the
sainthood and then remained in the company and service of
Gunatitanand Swamiji.
'The Fulfillment of Your Command is the Greatest of all
Celebrations for Me !'
In the winter of Vikram Samvat 1910, Acharya Raghuvirji
Maharaj had come to Junagadh, where a number of celebrations
were organised. While all the devotees and saints were looking
forward to participate and enjoy the celebrations in the
company of Acharyashri, Swamiji was concerned about the
cattle feed which was lying unattended in field of a nearby
village of Sankhdavadar. Since no one was prepared to sacrifice
the joy of the celebrations in Junagadh and go to the field,
Swamiji requested Jaga Swami, 'will you go to Sankhdavadar
to look after the cattle feed there ?'
Jaga Swami folded his hand in reverence
and said, 'Swamiji ! You don't have to make a request to
me, you just have to command me. I will certainly follow
any of your commands, since the fulfillment of your command
is the greatest of all celebrations for me !' And thus,
Jaga Swami went to Sankhadavadar, while everyone was enjoying
the celebrations in Junagadh. But lo ! Jaga Swami, sitting
in the fields of Sankhdavadar, was actually able to witness
and enjoy every bit of the seventeen-day celebrations performed
in Junagadh through divine vision !!
Blessings to Shastriji Maharaj
One day Jaga Swamiji proposed Guruhari Shastriji Maharaj,
'Shastriji ! Why don't you consider taking-up the historic
and divine task of establishing the idols and Upasana of
AksharPurushottam ? 'Swamiji !' Shastriji Maharaj replied
humbly, 'I have to justify to the administrator of the temple
my petty requirement for even a post-card; so where do I
find the resources for building a temple of Akshar Purushottam
? It is a task , I suppose, of either a king or an Acharya.'
At that moment, Jaga Swamiji looked deep into the eyes of
Shastriji Maharaj and uttered powerful divine blessings,
'Shastriji ! From this moment onward if you do not make
a volition for the purpose of building the Akshar Purushottam
Temple, then it will be your loss; and if those volitions
are not realized , then the loss will be mine. Therefore,
go ahead and fulfil the divine ordain of the establishment
of the pure Upasana and the installation of the idols of
Akshar Purushottam in the centre-place of the Sanctum Sanatorium
of the temple.' Guruhari Shastriji Maharaj was literally
charged with those blessings and the rest is history.
Jaga Swamiji's Maxim
Never pass a judgement on others; in case you can't resist
from passing judgements, then pass judgements about your
own self; but never, never try to evaluate God and His devotees
in negative perspective.
Divine Valediction
At the age of 73 years, 3 months and 24 days, the physical
body of Brahmaswarup P.P.Jaga Swami bade farewell to this
world on Maha Sood 10, Vikram Samvat 1957 in Dangra village
of the Rajkot District in Saurashtra region of Gujarat state. |
