Story Time -Paramchaitanyanand Swami

You have been the captain of the volleyball team for two years now. The coach and team love you. You play like a star and everyone says that you will become a professional volleyball player. During this year's tryouts, you notice a new player who is really good. Even so, you are confident that you will still be captain. When the team is picked, not only are you not the captain but your name is at the bottom of the list! You feel angry towards the coach and the new captain. You contemplate the idea of quitting the team. Why? Because of your pride and ego!

Shriji Maharaj did not like when His haribhakto and santo were too proud or had too much ego. There was a paramhansa named Paramchaitanyanand Swami who was not able to progress in satsang because of his ego.

Ajitsinhji was first introduced to satsang by hearing Muktanand Swami recite the Ramayan to the young Neelkanth Varni. He fell in love with the discourses and felt inner peace. Finally, he was initiated as a sadhu by Ramanand Swami and named Paramchaitanyanand Swami.

Paramchaitanyanand Swami was regarded as a senior sadhu by Shriji Maharaj. Any gifts or clothes that were gifted to Maharaj would first go through Paramchaitanyanand Swami. His ego began to sprout from this. One day, Maharaj was having His head shaved but the barber's hand was very rough and shaky. Jalamsinh Bapu, a haribhakta, went to his village and called his barber to complete the shaving. Afterwards, Maharaj sat under a pipal tree delivering discourses. Two senior sadhus were late and sat toward the back of the assembly, waiting for someone to call them to sit at the front. The all-knowing Shriji Maharaj suddenly asked the devotees, "Has anybody seen the physical form of ego?" No one responded. Maharaj then spoke, "Look at the back, these two are the physical forms of ego. See, this Jalamsinh Bapu, who is the chieftain of a village and deserves respect, is standing humbly holding the barber's shaving kit. Whereas these two sadhus, who should embrace humility, desire to be given respect." One of the sadhus, Purnanand Swami was deeply insulted and left satsang. The other sadhu was Paramchaitanyanand Swami. He did not leave satsang but his ego would not allow him to ask for forgiveness from Maharaj. Paramchaitanyanand Swami left for a little while to get rid of his ego so he could return to Maharaj. He went to Dharampur, where he spoke about the glory of Shriji Maharaj to Queen Mother Kushalkunvarba. Maharaj was pleased and called him back.

After Maharaj had returned to Akshardham, the Jal Zilani utsav was being celebrated in Gadhada. During this time, Paramchaitanyanand Swami met Gopalanand Swami for three days. It was through Gopalanand Swami's katha that he was able to remove his ego and understand the importance of humility.

With effort, katha and prayer, Paramchaitanyanand Swami's ego was erased. We can do the same with prayer and by listening to prasangs of our guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj. wan and his golden heart- filled with love for all.

	Paramchaitanyanand Swami


	You have been the captain of the volleyball team for two years now. The coach and team love you. You play like a star and everyone says that you will become a professional volleyball player. During this year's tryouts, you notice a new player who is really good. Even so, you are confident that you will still be captain. When the team is picked, not only are you not the captain but your name is at the bottom of the list! You feel angry towards the coach and the new captain. You contemplate the idea of quitting the team. Why? Because of your pride and ego! Shriji Maharaj did not like when His haribhakto and santo were too proud or had too much ego. There was a paramhansa named Paramchaitanyanand Swami who was not able to progress in satsang because of his ego. Ajitsinhji was first introduced to satsang by hearing Muktanand Swami recite the Ramayan to the young Neelkanth Varni. He fell in love with the discourses and felt inner peace. Finally, he was initiated as a sadhu by Ramanand Swami and named Paramchaitanyanand Swami. Paramchaitanyanand Swami was regarded as a senior sadhu by Shriji Maharaj. Any gifts or clothes that were gifted to Maharaj would first go through Paramchaitanyanand Swami. His ego began to sprout from this. One day, Maharaj was having His head shaved but the barber's hand was very rough and shaky. Jalamsinh Bapu, a haribhakta, went to his village and called his barber to complete the shaving. Afterwards, Maharaj sat under a pipal tree delivering discourses. Two senior sadhus were late and sat toward the back of the assembly, waiting for someone to call them to sit at the front. The all-knowing Shriji Maharaj suddenly asked the devotees, "Has anybody seen the physical form of ego?" No one responded. Maharaj then spoke, "Look at the back, these two are the physical forms of ego. See, this Jalamsinh Bapu, who is the chieftain of a village and deserves respect, is standing humbly holding the barber's shaving kit. Whereas these two sadhus, who should embrace humility, desire to be given respect." One of the sadhus, Purnanand Swami was deeply insulted and left satsang. The other sadhu was Paramchaitanyanand Swami. He did not leave satsang but his ego would not allow him to ask for forgiveness from Maharaj. Paramchaitanyanand Swami left for a little while to get rid of his ego so he could return to Maharaj. He went to Dharampur, where he spoke about the glory of Shriji Maharaj to Queen Mother Kushalkunvarba. Maharaj was pleased and called him back. After Maharaj had returned to Akshardham, the Jal Zilani utsav was being celebrated in Gadhada. During this time, Paramchaitanyanand Swami met Gopalanand Swami for three days. It was through Gopalanand Swami's katha that he was able to remove his ego and understand the importance of humility. With effort, katha and prayer, Paramchaitanyanand Swami's ego was erased. We can do the same with prayer and by listening to prasangs of our guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj. wan and his golden heart- filled with love for all.