11. Muktaraj, The great Unifier of Man and God

Muktaraj was a stout man of an average size with a high forehead, impressive resolute face, and eyes full of compassion. There was something fascinating about him, which stirred deep inside all those who met him even for a while. He not only preached but practised austerity. He wore plain, simple clothes. At home he would wear a short shirt or kurta and payjama and when he went out he wore "khaddar" kurta, dhoti and white Gandhi-cap and slippers. He walked like a soldier, straight, erect, fast with measured steps. But as he forever remained absorbed in the luminous figure of Maharaj, even while walking, his eyes remained half-shut and half-open, looking inward and outward at once. He was simplicity incarnate, a man who never believed in showing-off, a saint who did not wear his spiritual powers on his sleeve. Still, people were drawn by his magnetism, and way of life. He was a great spellbinder. His spiritualism illuminated his whole being and many people had seen its glow. But Muktaraj never talked about his spiritual or miraculous powers. He remained an unassuming man, wearing a permanent smile on his face and sunshine in his eyes. He carreid the truth and joy of the one in whom Lord dwells as Super Soul. [Param Atama]. A man of limitless resources, Muktaraj was in tune with the infinite and therefore led a decent, simple life of a sage without formal renunciation. His life-style, food habit, his language and speech, everything about him was marked by simplicity. He was meek and mild, and simple as a child.

To the 'Satsang fellowship' he was the dearest 'Mama' [maternal uncle]. Word 'mama' can be viewed as a word made up of 'ma' + 'ma' meaning a mother taking care of children and providing protection and guidance in their worldly affairs; the other 'ma' referred to the countenance Divine of Muktaraj that led the seekers on the path of God and protected them against the temptations of flesh and desire and helped them attain salvation. Thus 'mama' is twice the mother- bringing happiness in the life here and here after.

Muktaraj was humility incarnate. He would pay obeisance to all the saints and sages; young and old, senior or junior and would address them with love and reverence and offer them 'dhotis'. With equal love and respect he received every 'haribhakta'. He would get up from his seat to receive the guest, apply 'tilak' on his forehead, garland him and offer him food. If a devotee politely refused to eat at his place, he would force him with love to accept fruit or lemonade offered to God. As the Lord had made him a man after his own heart, he conducted himself as a prophet among men and distributed His love to one and all, the eminent and the ordinary. On the days of festival he would give money and solace to those in trouble and thus brought joy in their lives. A soft word from him soothed the sore hearts and sorrow and sighs fled away.

If he saw pain or sorrow anywhere, his heart would melt and their sorrow became his sorrow. He would offer them "charanraj' - holy dust and pray to Maharaj to give happiness to them. He would not rest until he saw the tears disappear and the smiles returning to the souls in agony. "Unto the pure all things are pure''. He would talk to people living at distant places on telephone and inquire of their health. He was equally patient with his opponents and with those who obstructed him in his spiritual activity. He would forgive them like a man of power, strength and authority. He would chastise them with love and forgiveness. He was often heard saying "If I am a genuine person, a true 'Anadimukta' I must first redeem those who are against me and those who envy me.'' Muktaraj always preached: "best virtue is friendship; and worst vice is enmity.'' His heart was as kind and merciful as mother earth. He always considered himself as God's humble servant in Satsang. He invariably concluded his letters to others with "Servant of servants in Satsang; Deendas;" or with "dandvat, and love, Jai Shri Swaminarayan'' before putting his signature. He never liked people hailing him as a 'Spiritual Leader' or 'great Man and a Seer.' He could be with the crowds and keep his virtue and discourage the devotees who tried to offer him garlands and gifts. If, however, the occasion were his birthday or any other auspicious day they insisted upon garlanding, he would offer the garland first to the image of God and then offer it to the devotee himself as 'prasad' the token of God's grace. He remained undisturbed by friends and foes.

He was the Truth and the Joy forever. He was firmly established and absorbed in the Murti of Maharaj and therefore, he was consistent in his speech and actions. He always preached what he practised. He was truthful and honest. He trusted the power within himself and guarded his virtues. Even when he held important posts, he would not use the stationery of the office for his private and personal correspondence. He would not use even a pin. He looked upon himself as a trustee, a manager and never an owner. He would not allow any one to misuse his authority of funds. One who betrays the trust of the people loses his own face to him his personal income and the money received by way of donations were God's property and therefore he taught others to spend it for the benefit of others. He would never tolerate the wasteful use of wealth; be it private or public. He would never compromise with the moral and ethical values. A dishonest public servant is a menace to people. He wanted people to be charitable but not extravagant!

He was bold, frank and forthright. As a student he had actively participated in the 1942 struggle for independence. He was a revolutionary and a 'moral rebel'. He had addressed public meetings inspiring people to rise against the foreign rule. He preached nationalism and patriotism but he always wanted people to be non-violent. When he went to Madras to receive the National Award for his research paper, he was surrounded by the youth of the city because he had put on a Gandhi cap. They thought he was a Congress man. He addressed them in English and asked them to keep their cool. He had the courage to speak and courage to fight for honesty, goodness, justice and truth. The agitated boys calmed down and thanked him for his advice. The youngsters were impressed by his frankness and courage of conviction.

Muktaraj was a man of foresight. He would weigh every issue, ponder over it and guide people accordingly in both religious and worldly matters. He could intuitively analyse the past and the present and predict what was there in the seeds of time. His predictions always came true. He would seek God's help in controlling even the weather. He could make the clouds rain and stop them raining by will. But he had no spiritual pretensions. He always gave credit to God saying he was merely an instrument in His hand. He must have helped millions of people attain 'moksha' by formally initiating them into 'Satsang' offering 'Vartman' and 'Kanthi'. Through destruction of the sins committed in the previous births and by removing the film of Maya from the eyes of the devotees, he would offer them Murti of Maharaj and make them steadfast in His worship. They all had seen his majesty in human form. During the jubilee celebrations of Param Pujya Bapashri's birth, Muktaraj had invoked Maharaj's blessings to irradicate plague and protected all the devotees, participating in the festival against the disease. Those patients who had gone there for 'darshan' were automatically cured. When Muktaraj performed 'abhishek' puja [special religious rites] on the idol of Harikrishna Maharaj, the image of Bapashri too received the 'abhishek'. All those who witnessed this great miracle were struck by this divine manifestation for their benefit. A similar miraculous 'abhishek' was performed in the house of Muktaraj, in Ahmedabad. During this 'yagna' Muktaraj bestowed his divine grace on every one and promised them release from the cycle of birth and death and transformed their lives. He helped them build a true understanding of religion on the foundation of Swaminarayan philosophy. Before and after his departure from this world, in and around Shri Swaminarayan Divine Mission, people had witnessed showers of sandal-wood powder.

Muktaraj was every inch an "Anadimukta, a truly God- realized soul, made free by the light of the Atma. No matter where he walked, he led all to God. He was permanently in the state of assimilation and absorption in God. He was the most adorable one. He was the true emancipator of mankind.