Raj Sadosh/Abohar/Ahmedabad.
Mahant Swami Maharaj initiated 46 BAPS youths into the monastic order in a grand initiation ceremony at Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar. The highly educated and devoted youths received parshadi diksha and embarked on their lifelong path of worldly renunciation, self-realization and service to God and society.
Of them, there are 4 postgraduates, 22 graduates, 18 engineers, an MBA and an MPH. Having graduated from prestigious Indian and foreign universities like IIM, Rutgers University (USA) and Melbourne University (Australia), they left the comforts of home and promising careers to eagerly walk on the path of renunciation. Nine of them have come from America, one from Africa, others from Rajasthan, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Gujarat.
The newly initiated parshads will continue their rigorous training at the BAPS seminary in Sarangpur. The seven-year training course helps them become proficient in their personal spiritual endeavours related to worship, service, austerities and learning. The educational curriculum includes a deep study of Swaminarayan Hindu theology, history and literature as well as of the Ramayana, Mahabharat, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and other Hindu scriptures. It also includes a study of Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati and English, and world religions.
The gathering was addressed by Gnaneshwar SwamiSarangpurand Swayamprakash Swami (Doctor Swami). Mahant Swami Maharaj said, “In this materialistic world when people are chasing luxuries, these youths are forsaking them to contribute to a larger spiritual cause”.
