All female, married (including virgins also) and widows and all Sadhus, Muktanand Swami and others, all who have become My followers.
All female, married (including virgins also) and widows and all Sadhus, Muktanand Swami and others, all who have become My followers.
Lord Swaminarayan here addresses all the female devotees. However, He does not name a specific person, as he has previously for other classes of people. Many staunch female devotees existed at the time of Lord Swaminarayan’s stay, such as Laduba, Jivuba, Kushal Kunverba etc. So why did he not mention a name of an ideal devotee?
The reason for this is that the Lord lived his life as an ascetic - a saint. Therefore in order to protect his renunciation and his Dharma he has not mentioned a particular person. A Sadhu’s Dharma is to refrain from all contact with women. They should not envisage women mentally let alone utter words about women.
Shatanand defines the two types of women here mentioned: A Sadhva Stree is a female devotee of God who acts in accordance with Shastras and who observes Pativrata Dharma (duties for married women to be devoted to their husbands). A Vidhva Stree is a woman whose husband has died - a widowed woman and who spends the remainder of her life in service to God. Thus the Lord speaks of the women in general terms addressing all women and therefore glorifying all women as ideal devotees and not just mentioning a specific person.
Finally the Lord addresses the Tyagis (renounced individuals). Foremost of the Sadhus is Shree Muktanand Swami. Shatanand firstly explains a Sadhu as: One who obeys Dharma and who acts for the betterment of another. He strives for the well being of others.
In Shrimad Bhagwat Purana, Shree Krishna outlines the desirable qualities and thus characteristics of a Sadhu to his friend Shree Udhavji:
1. Krupaluha Pardukhasahishrud - One who cannot accept the pain of others, who themselves harbour the pain of others and so endeavours to aid them of such misery.
2. Sarvadehinam Keshagadapi Acrutdroha - One who does not harm any living creature (human, animal etc.) either mentally or physically, and so upholds the Law of Ahimsa (non-violence).
3. Titikshuha Kshamavan - Is always forgiving and so does not begrudge people for their actions.
4. Satyam Saraha Sthiratvam Balam Va Yasya Saha - One who is honest, steady or firm minded and who is both physically and mentally strong.
5. Anvadhatma Asuyadirahitam - Who is not envious of another and does not get angry - is cool minded.
6. Sukh Dukhyoha Samaha - Who is unaffected by happiness and misery. Who does not elate during the ‘good times’ nor lament during the ‘bad times’. He is always complacent.
7. Yathashakti Sarveshamupkarakoha - One who helps others - is benevolent.
8. Kamairakshu Bhitachitaha - He has no desires of his own and does not become agitated.
9. Dantaha Sanyathahyendriyaha - A ‘Yogi’ who has controlled his senses. He does not act in order to satisfy sensual demands.
10. Mruduha Akthinchitaha - Who is tender and compassionate. He is always kind natured.
11. Suchiha Sadacharaha - Whose conduct is exemplary and ethical.
12. Akigchanaha Aparigraha - Who is not one to accumulate wealth and possessions for himself only. Thus he parts with his wealth, helping the needy, donating it to causes and gratifying those dearest to him.
13. Anihaha Dashtiktayashunyaha - He does not want anything. He is satisfied with what he has and does not dwell upon things he doesn’t have.
14. Mitabhug Ladhvaharaha - He eats with restraint only to maintain the body. He does not eat excessively in order to satisfy his palate.
15. Santaha Niyantaha Karanaha - He has full control of his Antakarana (mind, consciousness, intellect and ego).
16. Sthira Swadharme - Who obeys personal duty (Swadharma). He acts in accordance with his duties as a Sadhu.
17. Machoraraha Madekash Reyaha - He protects all, offering shelter and alms to those who need it.
18. Muniha Mananshilaha| - Who has sound temperament and is deep thinking. He is like a Muni (a revered saint).
19. Apramataha Swadharmapalane Savdhanaha - Who stays true and honest to Dharma. He is always pure and pious in conduct.
20. Gambhiratma Nirvikaraha - He is cool and steady minded.
21. Dhrutiman Vipgapyakruparaha - He is patient always.
22. Jit Shanguraha Ksuptipase Shoka Mohau Jara Mrutyu Sharurmayaha - He has overcome the likes of hunger, thirst, desire, delusion, old age and death. He is thus unperturbed by the effect of these.
23. Amani Na Manakshin - Who does not wish for fame or popularity. His actions are not driven by the quest for acknowledgement.
24. Anyebhyo Mandaha - A person who always has time for others. He isn’t engrossed in things that keep him busy away from people/community. Thus he is available to help others.
25. Kalyaha Parabodhane Dakshaha - He is wise and skilful and so is able to use these attributes to deliver people onto the right path - to salvation.
26. Maitraha Avagachakaha - He is a friend to all - he has no enemies. Also, he accepts these friends as equal and so does not favour one person more than another.
27. Karurirnikaha Karurnyaiva Vartamano No Dushlobhen - He empathises with others, he has feelings for them. He observes Vratas (religious vows) and is never envious of others.
28. Kaviha Samyag Gnaniti - He is a poet who writes and sings about praise to God.
These qualities constitute a Sadhu. However it is important to note that many of these characteristics apply to all types of people. Therefore we should all aspire to integrate these qualities within ourselves and so become ‘saint-like’ in nature.
Let us finally consider why Lord Swaminarayan mentioned Muktanand Swami as the ideal Sadhu. Muktanand was a very great saint who possessed all of the previous twenty-eight characteristics outlined. He was the most prominent saint in the Ashram of Ramanand’s and therefore he was very much respected by all fellow saints.
He was a brilliant intellectual, who had firm and deep devotion for God. Although he was elder and in a greater position, he never was affected by it and so had great respect for his fellow Sadhus - young and old alike.
Muktanand Swami had no objection when Ramanand invested the status of ‘Ashram Guru’ to the youthful personage of Sahajanand who was only twenty years old at the time. Muktanand had full rights to that title but he himself suggested that Sahajanand should be given such honour.
This was the greatness of Muktanand who after realising the grandeur and ultimately the Godliness of Shree Sahajanand Swami sang ‘Jaya Sadguru Swami, Sahajanand Dayaru...’ as he performed Arti of the Lord. There was mutual affection between Sahajanand and Muktanand. These are the reasons why the Lord praised Muktanand Swami.