A few days ago, a young man working in a multinational company described the characteristics of a senior official in his office. When this young man goes to him for help in trouble, Sahib should help him immediately. This is a good thing.
Even if an employee of one's own company is helped, can another company or its man be helped? Very few individuals can show such courtesy. Because there the company's protocol policy etc immediately gets in the way. Maybe someone helps a little bit but taking charge of it directly or indirectly is very impossible.
A senior government official was embroiled in a major case. The opposite company was defiant. Their case was pending in court. Someone recommended him to meet a person and said that he was also a government man. He will definitely guide you for free. The officer meets that person and explained him the case. He returned home after a few minutes of discussion. The next morning he gets a huge bill from that expert. He gone crazy and thought few words and this much charge? He realized that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Yes, sometimes nothing is free in this society.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj was a saint who always helped strangers knowingly and unconditionally and without any reward. He never took advantage of anyone's helplessness or hardship.
From 1997 onwards, Satyam Shivam Sundaram foundation started planning to erect the world's tallest 111 feet Shiva statue at Surasagar Sarovar in the heart of Vadodara city. The work was too big. So whenever there was a problem, Yogesh Bhai, the chairman of the committee, and his associates would rush to Swamiji. Swamiji would take time to listen to them calmly and help and encourage them. They also planned to place various eight statues of Mahadevji 10 to 12 feet high around the main idol. But it was impossible to get it ready in a short span of six to eight months. It was also estimated that the total cost would be more than Rs 50 lakh. Yogeshbhai and team again came to seek Swamiji's help. He politely asked for the idols to be erected stating the situation. Swamiji accepted the request and in his presence called Harshadbhai Chavda and gave instructions about Shankar bhagwan murties. He also recommended that the best work be done at low cost. On the one hand, the work of Delhi Akshardham was going on at different sites on a war footing, according to the schedule. At the behest of Swamiji, the work of one site was postponed for six months and the top priority was given to carve the eight statues of Mahadevji in pink stone. The idols were given ahead of the committee's expected time! The workers of the committee feared that the work would not be done properly in a hurry. But looking at the idols, they were overjoyed and amazed! Seeing the most beautiful, artistic sculptures than expected. The work of idols which was to cost them millions of rupees was done by Swamiji! Swamiji's Help Gangad doesn't stopped there. The organizers asked Swamiji for help in planning and arranging during the inauguration ceremony. By the wishes of Swamiji, one thousand volunteers from Vadodara district diligently performed the services rendered to them and won the hearts of the committee members, invited guests and the people of the city.
Thus, he got the help of Swamiji in his journey from the construction of this huge Shiva statue of the world to its Lokaparna. Everyone was very happy. Only those with such a generous heart are truly Satyam Shivam and Sundaram.
Apart from this, whenever there was an earthquake, drought, heavy rain or other natural calamity in Gujarat or in the country or abroad, Swamiji would be the first to come to the rescue. He has helped without any discrimination.
As stated in the Maha Upanishad
अयं निजः परो वेत्ति गणना लघुचेतसां
उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्
The little man has mine, but Pramukh Swami Maharaj did not have any bias against anybody. For him the whole world was his family. He lived with the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. That is how he won the hearts of the whole world. Swamiji had such a generous leadership.
Sadhu Amrutvadandas
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Thanks Giving
This article is written and submitted to The E Today by Sadhu Amrutvadandas. We thank swamiji for his research and analysis and hope to see the awareness about life and peace being spread ahead to larger mass of our citizens.