Janmashtami is a festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Shree Krishna, who is lovingly called by different names like Baal Krishna, Krishna Kanhaiya, Girdhar Gopal, Govinda, Kaanha, Nandlala, Devki Nandan, Yashoda Nandan, etc. This year, this grand festival was celebrated on August 26, 2024.

Lord Shree Krishna was born more than 5000 years ago, and as we all know, He is worshipped by a wide section of society in India and many other parts of the world as well. The devotees revere Him in different forms, right from Baal Krishna to Yogeshwar Krishna. Every chapter of His life-story intrigues the masses and inspires them to go deeper into it and correctly understand why He said what He said and why He did what He did. One of His biggest contributions to this world is the Holy Bhagavad Gita, which although being a spiritual book, is useful to even a layman in solving his day-to-day problems, as it is full of ‘keys’ that help open up every ‘lock’ in one’s life, just that it needs to be understood right.

And to help us all understand Lord Krishna’s valuable teachings in its true spirit, on this pious occasion of Janmashtami, the Dada Bhagwan Foundation released a short film named ‘Tak Tak Tak’. This film very nicely and crisply brings us out of all our worries by awakening us to the fact that, ‘To try alone is in our hands, and not the result.’ Also, as the devotees of Lord Krishna, we come to realize our folly that, ‘How can I worry when I am surrendered to God; do I not trust God even?!’

During the day, in the campus of Trimandir Adalaj, a live Puppet show was organized that taught with great creativity, the lessons of positivity to the little kids. Later, in the evening, like every year, there was a Janmashtami special program. This programme is greatly cherished by every follower, because it celebrates the birthday of the beloved Krishna in the presence of their beloved Pujyashree Deepakbhai, getting just one glance of whose, in every heart, love and cheer springs!!!

The programme began with the live Bhakti where hymns in praise of Lord Krishna were sung, followed by a nice light drama on Lord Krishna, that kindled a hope in every household, as it showed how easy it is to reconstruct the loving bond between the parent and child, even when it’s gone to the brink of breaking down completely; all that it requires is seeing things from the other side as well.

Then, as the clock struck 12 at midnight when baby Krishna was born, a jhaankhi depicting the birth scene of Lord Krishna travelled through the Dada Bhagwan Convention Centre hall, as the young lad, dressed up as ‘Kanha’, performed the Matkifod event. Finally, Pujyashree Deepakbhai blessed everyone on this day so that we can follow all teachings, and maintain loving relationships in life and progress spiritually without any worries.

July 17 – July 21 turned out to be the golden days for each and every follower of Dada, as they joined into the celebrations of Guru Purnima 2024 in the august presence of Pujyashree Deepakbhai.

On July 16, Pujyashree arrived in Chicago, where the grand event of Guru Purnima was organized. 4000 people from all parts of the world had assembled here to participate in the Satsang programs and attend the Guru Purnima Day event. Thousands of other followers, who couldn’t make it to the venue, joined in live, online.

Guru Purnima is a special day for every spiritual seeker as it offers them an opportunity to express their heart-felt gratitude and reverence towards the One who has helped them progress on the path of liberation. And we followers here, feel even more indebted towards the Gnani Purush, for it is He who introduced us to our real Self, and thereby helped us understand our true identity; and furthermore, day after day, He continues to grace us so that we excel in experiencing this Self clearly and completely.

And the beauty of this grace is that it is not in the form of mere ‘help’; it is a Gnani’s ardent ‘wish’ to see us liberate ourselves!! How can our head not bow then repeatedly, in sheer obeisance before such Guru, such Gnani Purush!!!

Pujyashree’s message in Guru Purnima 2024 vividly revealed this ardent wish of a Gnani as He urged:

“All Mahatmas (followers) are doing purusharth (spiritual effort), but now let us do a goal-driven purusharth. That the extent to which the interference of our intellect has stopped. In gross terms, openly disturbing others, interfering into others’ matters should stop. We must reach a stage that no one around should be caused any interference with our intellect.”

This inspiring message from Pujyashree was followed by the Jagatkalyan Samayik (a short prayer for the salvation of this world) and Pujan-Divo-Aarti (ritualistic worship, chanting of prayers and hymns and waving lamps) of Lord simandhar Swami and Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan. Thereafter, Pujyashree was garlanded with a beautiful garland of roses. Also, Pujyashree made the announcement that next year, the Guru Purnima 2025 shall be held in Jacksonville, followed by the jackpot of a Akram cruise with Pujyashree, which means those lucky followers who shall be attending this event in person next year shall be able to spend 12 full days with Pujyashree!! This announcement thrilled the audience and the hall was full of claps and cheers. The followers were then graced by Pujyashree’s darshan.

Later, in the evening, there was a Bhakti program, where Pujyashree sang a devotional song. While humming this song along with Pujyashree, every follower, on this Guru Purnima Day, paid their heart-felt obeisance in the feet of Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, Pujya Niruma and Pujyashree Deepakbhai.

Happy Birthday Pujyashree!!!

This time, the land of Surat, had the great fortune of hosting the 72^nd Birthday of our most beloved Pujyashree!!!

Nevertheless, Pujyashree’s birthday celebrations began at Adalaj, with the followers from the rest of the world joining in online for the Kirtan-Bhakti, where each one prayed for a long and healthy life of Pujyashree. During the day, these prayers continued to pour in, in one form or another, from every corner on the digital platforms as well. The followers enthusiastically shared with each other the lovely creations of text messages, images and videos that revolved around Pujyashree’s life, highlighting His enchanting smile, His simple outlook in life as well as the blessings that Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan and Pujya Niruma have more than happily kept showering upon Him with seamless love and ceaseless affection!!!

At Surat, there was a special evening programme, organized in the auspicious presence of Pujyashree, for the benefit of everyone. A live relay also was arranged so that people from every corner of the world could join in too. Surat known for its food, the programme began with a Foodmela. People ate to their heart’s full and then assembled in the ground where Pujyashree was having His dinner. After dinner, Pujyashree was requested to come and cut the cake. As the followers sang, in chorus, the Happy Birthday song, Pujyashree climbed up the stage, bowed before Simandhar Swami, Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan and Pujya Niruma and took their special blessings!!! Amidst the audience’s applause, He cut the cake. Thereafter, He seeked blessings from the followers present on the ground there as well as those connected in the live relay of this programme.

Pujyashree was then garlanded with a long and lovely rose garland, after which the little kids ran upto Him and presented to their most beloved Pujyashree a very big and beautiful birthday card!! Thereafter, the followers together made a special heart-felt prayer to Goddess Amba, where they urged to the Goddess that may Pujya Deepakbhai be graced with a long life and uninterrupted good health.

Soon after this prayer, began an awesome drama that captured the entire audience’s hearts. This beautifully scripted and enacted play was based on the ‘Nav Kalam’ that depicted how ‘bhavana sudhare bhavobhav’. 

Finally, to conclude the celebration of this auspicious day, Pujyashree gave blessings to all the followers for progressing on the path of Salvation.

It was 19th March 2024 early morning! As the sun dawned, heard some music and a familiar song. And when taken from a sky view, streams of people were seen flowing through almost every lane in and around ATPL and Simandhar City, Trimandir Adalaj, Gujarat.

Yes, the occasion was Pujya Niruma’s 18th Punyatithi! 19th March commemorates the day when Pujya Niruma left behind the mortal body and advanced to a higher state, from where She continues Her Jagatkalyan work in full swing, even today. All Her life, Pujya Niruma guided people in the right direction so that they find peace while living their worldly life and at the same time, progress on the path of salvation as well. And eighteen years ago, on 19th March 2006, even while leaving, with Her last words ‘Prem thi Rehjo, Promise??’, She bound us all in a Promise, on fulfillment of which, our every purpose of life gets fulfilled with ease.

19th March – a reminder of our promise to Pujya Niruma

At the Dadanagar Convention Hall, soon after the Vidhi-Aarti by the followers was done, Pujyashree Deepakbhai arrived there and, in His special message, explained to the followers that when can we be said to have fulfilled the promise given to Pujya Niruma?

If someone insults us badly, and after two hours he happens to meet us again, then there is no feeling of separation (judaai) for the person who insulted us, our love towards that person remains the same. If someone gives us respect, we do not go overboard. If he comes to us after two hours, we do not have any attachment for him/her, our detached love towards that person is the same. So, one who gives us respect and one who gives us insult, when there’s equal love towards both of them, then he is said to have become Prem-swarup (Embodiment of Love). No matter how much loss one may have caused to us or how much gain one has caused to us, we have equal love towards both. Irrespective of how much hurt one may have caused to us; whenever s/he happens to meet, our love is the same.

‘Niruma’ – a saga of an ideal disciple exhibiting beautiful surrender and wonderful dedication

In the evening, a special video ‘Gnani ni Saachi Odakh’, greatly inspired everyone to the kind of recognition of the Gnani Purush Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan that Pujya Niruma had. Pujya Niruma surrendered to Dadashri as soon as she saw Him and remained so till the end of Her life. Dadashri had carved Her from a rough stone and shaped Her to a beautiful idol of God by chipping away Her ego and false pride with chisel and hammer. So, the stone did not move at all, and with param vinay (absolute humility), it took all the hammerings. And thus, Pujya Niruma reached the state of Gnani!

On this day, in the evening, there was a Bhakti programme, where Swarup kirtan bhakti was followed by the pad bhakti. The devotional songs, that were sung live by the followers, invoked the loving memories of Pujya Niruma in the hearts of the audience, expressed Her virtues of complete surrender, total faith, incredible dedication and absolute oneness and love towards Gnani and His salvation work, and also made everyone realize how Dadashri and only Dadashri resided in Her heart. Day and night, She was in the worship of Dadashri. It’s a rule that whomever you worship, you become so!!! Thus, Pujya Niruma, through Her exemplary life, has shown to the world how an ideal surrender towards Gnani is!

So come, let us also take the blessings of our most loved Niruma and pray to Her that may we be granted the best of the strength to live our life in complete surrender to Pratyaksh Gnani (current living Enlightened One)-an exceptional sculptor, who with His utter compassion and love, is ready to chip away all our ego, lust, false pride, attachments and greed and create an idol worthy to go to Moksha!

6th March 2024, is a special day, for on this day, 53 years ago, our beloved Pujyashree had attained Gnan!!! And ever since, His Gnan has flourished so much so that today, it is helping not one, not two, not hundreds, not thousands, but countless people in many ways in themselves attaining Gnan and bit by bit flourishing in that Gnan as well.

Pujyashree’s 54th Gnan Day began with the most sacred Kirtan Bhakti, done by all the followers of the teachings of Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan. In their heart, while wishing Pujyashree a very Happy Gnan Day, every followers prayed to Lord Shree Simandhar Swami, to Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, Pujya Niruma and all the Dev-Devis, for Pujyashree’s long and healthy life, and they made a heart-felt wish to Gods that may the best salvation work happen through the medium of Pujyashree and may every living being on Earth happen to meet this pure and powerful medium and get their work of salvation done in His august presence!!!

Later, Pujyashree arrived at the Adalaj Trimandir and took blessings from Lord Simandhar Swami, the present Tirthankar, Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan, Pujya Niruma, and all the deities of Gods and Goddesses. The followers had queued up on the entire path to get His majestic Darshan.

In the evening, an awesome Bhakti programme was scheduled, where everyone who could make it, from Adalaj as well as the nearby and far-off places, had come to wish our beloved Pujyashree a Happy Gnan Day in person and take His blessings on this special day. When Pujyashree arrived, first and foremost, very humbly as always, He sought the blessings of all followers.

Later, Honorable Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Bhai Patel garlanded Pujyashree. The Bhakti program was very aptly designed with a mix of Pujya Niruma’s narration followed by a devotional song. Pujyashree sung one song apt to the occasion and had awe-inspiring lyrics, “Ahin aa sambhaaru ne poogi jaay temne, Parmatma jh che j, aapna sandesh ne.”

So, may this yet another Gnan Day of Pujyashree continue to create wonders in inspiring one and all of us to live a life full of Gnan and Love!