Mandirji Mahatmya Gatha
Many years ago, a very devout young satsangee, Pujya Alkaben through marriage to Pujya Dineshkumar, moved to Los Angeles from Khambhat. Within a short time of this, Guruhari Sahebji came to the USA, and through tears Alkaben told him, there is no satsang, please bring the satsang here. The ardent prayer of a devotee was accepted and over a period of time the spark of satsang and the love of Guruhari Sahebji touched Pujya Dineshkumar’s inner being and he too joined the satsang. The weekly satsang sabha began.
In 2003, when the Allentown mandir was opened, the murti’s that had graced the Pocono’s mandir came to Los Angeles and according to Guruhari Sahebji’ aagna, a Hari Mandir was created in Pujya Vishnumama and Pujya Smitamami’s home. Here, devotees gathered weekly, engaging in satsang, seva and kirtans, and not only did the mandal blossom, but satsang in the entire West Coast belt flourished, from San Diego, Los Angeles, Fresno, San Francisco, Seattle right through to Vancouver. Guruhari Sahebji’s constant vicharan over the span of fifty years and through his association, grace and blessings, immense transformation happened in the lives of bhakto, whose devotion, dedication and samarpan heightened to such an extent that Shri Mukt Akshar Purushottam Maharaj decided to take His seat there!
The Los Angeles Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav took place from 1 July to 4 July 2023 and what an immense occasion it was! Sadguru Param Pujya Ashvindada and Santo flew directly to Los Angeles from eight weeks of vicharan in Australia and New Zealand. Guruhari Sahebji Maharaj graced the soils of Los Angeles on 23 June 2023 to the joyous welcome of Santo and bhakto.
Having darshan of the mandir campus one week prior to the Mandir opening, one would think completion within that time frame to be an impossibility. But the force of God’s strength at work was evident and it gathered an immense boost with Guruhari Sahebji’s arrival. Everywhere one looked, there were Santo and bhakto, working on the painting, the carpentry, the outside walls and two days prior to the opening, the marble floor within the mandir was still to be laid! However, as Maharaj has stated, it was evident that each sevak was working with the force of 10 sevaks at once! Every department was in full swing, and under the guidance of the elders, Pujya Dr Virendrabhai, Pujya Dr Jitubhai, Pujya Dineshkumar, Pujya Bhavinbhai – the youth wing took on great responsibility! According to Guruhari Sahebji’s wish, more than 150 youth had gathered to volunteer and take on the responsibilities of the samaiyo, with many arriving more than one month in advance, taking leave from jobs. P. Mihir, P. Maharshi, P. Trushil, P. Yashvi, P. Bansari and others took on entire departments from transport to accommodation and overall management of the event. With over 1000 bhakto coming from all over the USA and from all over the world, they took this in their stride. However, the great privilege was to witness the mahatmya with which their seva translated into utmost devotion.
The samaiyo was not just to participate in the historic occasion of the Murti Pratishtha but also to have darshan of the magnitude of Guruhari Sahebji’s work and vision, to see it come to fruition, and take the opportunity to learn wonderful lessons from it.
