One highly virtuous aspect of the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Eknath Shinde Sahib is that he is a workaholic and keeps working till midnight, sometimes even later till 3 AM. On 28th September 2022, he was scheduled to visit the new BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Nashik to attend the opening ceremony. On that day, he left Mumbai in a special plane and arrived at Nashik. He was slightly late. On learning the reason, it was discovered that he was working till three o'clock in the morning of the 28th. So, it was understandable that he expended a few extra minutes while waking up in the morning and leaving Mumbai. Day and night are the same for someone who wants to work.
British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill would often work till three in the morning. The name of American President Obama can also be included in the list of individuals, who work till late at night. Famous writers like Gustave Flaubert, Franz Kafka, James Joyce etc. also churned out some of their best works of literature while working late into the night.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj would also work at lengths during the night. His religious travels would continue incessantly. Sometimes, he would even travel overnight by car to go from one place to another.
In the year 1973, Swamiji was on a pilgrimage to South India. Prior to the journey, Tejpal Kaka who was living in Kurduwadi ( a small town of Maharashtra ) had requested Swamiji that since you will be passing by near our town along your journey, please visit my place if it is convenient for you. Swamiji remembered his loving request. The schedule of the journey was such that it would be simply inconvenient for him to go there. But Swamiji reached there to provide joy to Tejpalkaka and his family. He sanctified his small shop and offered worship to God, while blessing everyone. By that time, It was 3.30 AM in the morning. Tears of joy began to flow from the eyes of Tejpalkaka and his family on Swamiji's divine arrival. Everyone felt truly blessed. Swamiji was constantly awake till he reached Tejpalkaka's place. He was remembering him all along the way. Swamiji's brief stay of a few minutes gave Tejpalkaka and his family a cherished memory for a lifetime.
Similarly, Pramukh Swami Maharaj would stay awake at night during his visit to America in 1974. Whenever it was convenient for the devotees, Swamiji would sanctify their houses, shops or motels. Respecting the wishes and sentiments of the devotees and other well wishers, Swamiji extended his pilgrimage to over a period of nine months, thus his Padhramanis (sanctifying visits) also increased immensely beyond the scheduled list. As a result, Swamiji conducted thousands of padhramanis across America. Once Swamiji arrived in the city of Philadelphia. Even out here the Padhramanis went beyond the scheduled list. One day it so happened that Swamiji came to his place of residence after conducting his morning padharamani. After having his meal, Swamiji embarked on his Padharamanis starting at four o'clock in the afternoon and continued till late four o'clock the next morning. He was neither tired nor sleepy and neither was he bored nor did he have any complaints. This is just one small example, Swamiji has sacrificed many such days and night to provide peace and strength to the devotees and the society at large. After arriving at his place of residence at four o'clock in the morning, Swamiji took a bath and soon after performing his routine Pooja rituals, he again commenced his padharamanis. He could not afford to lose a single second, as he had to immediately leave for Cincinnati on the very same day.
Who else can be so benevolent?
During his entire lifetime of 96 years, Swamiji sacrificed hundreds of such nights working late or staying up late for the welfare of the society, for the progress of the organization and to bring peace and prosperity to the devotees.
The road repair workers stay up late at night to fill potholes so that vehicles and pedestrians do not face any problem, while traveling the next day. Garbage pick ups clean the night filth, while keeping everything clean so that there is no foul smell or trash that can spread disease. Railway track workers too periodically keep checking the tracks at night and do all kinds of repairing work wherever needed. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers make continuous rounds at night in the hospitals to ensure optimum health for the patients. Parents stay up all night for their newborn babies. Similarly, Swamiji would also keep awake at nights to bring benefits for the entire world. Like God, a transcendent saint like Pramukh Swami Maharaj also provides benevolence to everyone.
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.