In the initial stages of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya Shreeji Maharaj’s divine message was spread by the aid of the great Paramhansa’s. The Paramhansa’s travelled from village to village tirelessly to impart the divine message. These Saints were not ordinary, they staunchly observed Maharaj’s niyams. Many of the great Paramhansas excelled in the fields of art and music and they composed many kirtans full of divinity, what makes these kirtans even great is that they were sung before Shree Hari Himself. Even now when these kirtans are sung, the words still arouse the same feeling of bhakti. In this article we shall look into the inspiration behind one such great kirtan composed by Sadguru Bhumanand Swami.

Before Sadguru Bhumanand Swami became a saint he was know as Rupjibhai.

Rupjibhai lived in Vadhvan, he was a sincere and devoted man. He was also a great poet and composed many kirtans which were full of bhakti (devotion). However his verses always carried a tinge of loneliness.

Why ?

For many years Rupjibhai had secretly wished to meet God, but that wish had not yet been fulfilled.

Once one of his friends, Dhanbhai, said "Rupji, everyone knows of your devotion and your kirtans , but you know its all worthless until you find God." Dhanabhai knew of

Rupjibhai’s secret desire and he wanted to tease him a little. "Don’t misunderstand me

Rupji but you are wasting your time singing front of that picture! Why don’t you go and see God Himself?"

"Have you gone mad? Why do you say such things?" replied Rupjibhai.

"Well its true, if you want to see God then you have to go an meet Him."

"Oh you make it sound so simple, as if God is in the next village!"

"Very well, don’t listen to me. I just thought that you may be interested in going to Gadhadha, you may find him there."

Rupjibhai came to Gadhadha. Making his way through the crowd , Rupjibhai tried to find his way to Dada Khachar’s darbar. Alone and tired, he wondered if God was really going to be here. Just then he saw a figure on a horse, the figure was Shreeji Maharaj. Rupjibhai later wrote the following kirtan describing this scene:

SARVE SAKHI, JIVAN JOVAANE CHAALO RE…

Come friends, let us go and see Him, He who is the love of my life…

Sheriyumaa aave latakanto laalo re…

There He is coming through the narrow lane, smiling and waving…

ENI SHOBHAA MUKHE VARNVI NE JAAIY RE , JENE NIGAM NETINETI KAHI GAAY RE…

The Vedas say He is indescribable, how the can we describe his beauty using mere words?

ROZE GHODI RAAJESHWAR BIRAJERE, CHAABI JOI KOTIKA KANDARP LAAJE RE…

Infinite devtas of love become totally smitten when they see him riding his horse, Roza…

MAALYA AAVE MAHAMUNIMAA VRUNDH RE, TEMAA SHOBHE TAARE VINTYO JEM CHANDRA RE…

He is surrounded by His sadhus, shining brightly like the moon surrounded by the stars…

SHUK SANAKADIK UTTAM YASH GAAVE RE, NRUTYA KARI NAARADA VINAA VAJAAVE RE…

These sadhus are as great as Shuk and the Sanaks, yet they are dancing and singing His praises…

NIJ SAKHAA CHAMA KARE LAI HAAT RE, AA JO AAVYA BHUMANAND NAA NAATH RE…

His servant is walking next to him waving a fan. Here he comes, Bhumanand’s Lord is coming here…

Rupjibhai followed the procession to Laxmi Vadi, where Maharaj called him and said,

"Rupjibhai, how much longer will you hide in your small corner? Come out and let people know your greatness."

Thus Rupjibhai went onto become Sadguru Bhumanand Swami.

The mere sight of the Lord in Gadhada inspired Bhumanand Swami to write the above verse. From this incident we can only imagine how great the beautiful darshan of Shreeji Maharaj indeed it must have been truly divine!!