A Night in Bharuch
It was 1989 in the riverside town of Bharuch. The grand celebrations for Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s birthday had just ended. The night had been filled with devotion—bhajans, garlands, lights, and the joy of thousands of devotees gathered in love and reverence.
By the time the festivities quieted, it was 1 a.m. The grounds were still, the mandap half-lit by fading bulbs. Among the last to leave were Mahant Swami Maharaj and another sadhu, returning after completing their late-night decorative seva. They were exhausted, their bodies heavy from a long day of serving.
But as they passed under the mandap, something made Mahant Swami pause.
There, on the cold ground, lay a handful of volunteers—tired sevaks who had served all day—fast asleep, shivering in the chill of the night.
Without a word, Swamishri turned back.
He quietly picked up a roll of kantan—the decorative cloth used for the celebration—and, with the help of a sevak, gently covered each sleeping volunteer. Only after ensuring every one of them was warm did he continue on his way.
The Silent Sermon of Seva
Service That Sees the Smallest Need
Mahant Swami’s gesture lasted only minutes, but its message will last lifetimes.
He did not make an announcement, call attention to his act, or wait for gratitude. He simply noticed—and responded.
“Real love doesn’t walk past need. It pauses. It bends down. And it gives.”
This is the highest form of seva—service born not from duty, but from compassion. In that moment, Swamishri showed what the scriptures often try to tell us: that care is not a task, it is a nature.
This is the essence of the Swaminarayan tradition: Serving others as a reflection of serving God.
Compassion Beyond Convenience
When No One Is Watching
It’s easy to be kind when kindness is noticed. But true compassion reveals itself in silence—in those moments when no applause follows, and no camera captures.
Mahant Swami’s act was hidden in the stillness of night. Yet that very humility made it divine.
“He didn’t serve because it was convenient or because others were watching.
He served because that’s what true saints do.”
This quality is known as dayābhāv—a heart moved by empathy. Pramukh Swami Maharaj lived it in every step; Mahant Swami continues it in every breath. For such souls, compassion is not a reaction—it’s their natural state.
The Heart of a True Saint
Love That Cannot Do Otherwise
When a saint acts with love, it is not deliberate—it is spontaneous.
Just as a river flows without instruction, love flows naturally from a pure heart.
“He didn’t just wrap them in cloth; he wrapped them in care, compassion, and love.”
For Mahant Swami, those volunteers were not anonymous helpers; they were souls of God—each worthy of comfort, warmth, and affection.
That awareness transforms small gestures into sacred ones.
His simple act that night in Bharuch was not about the blanket—it was about belonging. In his eyes, no one was beneath his attention.
In that glance of care, every sevak was seen, valued, and loved.
The Lesson for Us All
To See, To Feel, To Serve
This story invites every devotee to reflect:
When was the last time we paused to notice another’s need?
Service is not measured by size, but by sincerity. Sometimes, seva means building mandirs or organizing festivals. But sometimes, seva is as simple as noticing someone’s cold hands and finding a way to warm them.
“Real love doesn’t wait for applause; it acts because it cannot do otherwise.”
If we wish to live as Swamishri teaches, we must learn to serve like he serves—quietly, compassionately, consistently.
That is the truest form of worship.
To know more about Mahant Swami Maharaj: https://www.baps.org/About-BAPS/TheFounder%E2%80%93BhagwanSwaminarayan/TheSpiritualLineage-TheGuruParampara/Mahant-Swami-Maharaj.aspx
Mahant Swami Maharaj: An Introductory Film on the Spiritual Leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s1OeBc3lHw&t=9s
BAPS Website: https://www.baps.org/
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