16th & 17th January 2023 marked the 57th Mahayagna (Anniversary) of Sadhu Vaswani. In observance, Sadhu Vaswani Mission held satsangs with recorded talks of Sadhu Vaswani and Dada J.P. Vaswani and live talks of Didi Krishna Kumari, and extensive service activities.
On 16th January, 2023, the Mission organised a ‘prabhat pheri’ – sacred morning procession where Didi Krishna and devotees sang along the Name of God along the lanes and by-lanes of Pune. Chants of Hare Krishna Hare Ram Dada Shyam echoed aloud. This was followed by a havan and recorded discourse by Sadhu Vaswani. A satsang followed by a defined silence commemorated the passing away time - 8:22 am - of Sadhu Vaswani at the Sacred Kutiya. In the afternoon session, bhajans and kirtans in remembrance of the guru were sung. In the evening session, the satsang featured recorded talks of Sadhu Vaswani and Dada J.P. Vaswani. Later, a vigil session of bhajans and kirtans was held till midnight.
17th January, the day when the last rite of Sadhu Vaswani’s physical body was performed, was observed by a morning session of havan, satsang and talk by Didi Krishna. In her message, she narrated a beautiful incident from the Mahayagna day when Dada J.P. Vaswani was offered flowers and he spoke of the lotus of the heart. Quoting him she said, “The external flowers are beautiful but they fade away. But there is one flower, within your heart that is ever-blooming and ever-fragrant. The Mahayagna of saints brings the message to behold the vision of this flower within. To do this, one must connect with God and chant the Name Divine. Therefore, turn within.”
One of the attendees, Naina Motwani said, “Sadhu Vaswani is my all. Today’s message of Didi further strengthens my feeling where I feel him within me. He is my lifeboat.”
Another added, “My association with him spans generations but my personal calling with him is that of love. I take home today the message of ‘turn within’.”
Guru Langar (fellowship meals) was offered to everyone in the afternoon session. One of the attendees, Hiru Wadhwa, coming from New Jersey and also partaking in the Guru Langar said, “I have never met Sadhu Vaswani physically but his recorded talks draw me to him. Attending the event and taking the langar is a blessing.”
The time when the last rites of Sadhu Vaswani's body was performed was observed in silence with a recorded prayer by Dada J.P. Vaswani. This was followed by a Deepak Yatra where devotees lit lamps at the Sadhu Vaswani Chowk. In the evening session, a recorded talk of Sadhu Vaswani was played followed by ‘scenes from the life of Sadhu Vaswani’.
Major sessions of the programme were broadcast live on the official YouTube Channel of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission. After all pandemic restrictions were lifted, devotees from across the world converged at the Sadhu Vaswani Mission to observe the 57th Mahayagna.
Sadhu Vaswani often said, "Give up thy rosary and the temple-bells. Go to the broken cottages of the poor, and there greet the Beloved!"
Service activities were a central part of the observance. The Mahayagna seva activities included the distribution of ration kits to 140 needy families in Pune, Pimpri, and Daund. Fruit distribution seva for 280 patients on the 16th and 17th each at Mission’s healthcare institute was also carried out. Clothes distribution seva for children at 4 Zilla Parishad schools in Bibewadi was conducted. Sarees were distributed among 50 transgenders. Medical sevas were conducted at healthcare institutions of the Sadhu Vaswani Mission on the 16th and 17th of January, 2023.
As a part of the Mahayagna, Sadhu Vaswani’s educational institutions also held several programmes and service activities. Sadhu Vaswani Centers worldwide also organised extensive sevas and programmes to mark the 57th Mahayagna.
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