Swamishri is especially careful in following the niyams Bhagwan Swaminarayan prescribed for sadhus. The stories below illustrate this.

In 1981, as part of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s Birth Bicentenary Celebrations in Ahmedabad, the Bharat Sadhu Samaj held a gathering to commemorate its Silver Jubilee. The celebrations were to take place in Swamishri’s presence. Pujya Harinarayananandji, Secretary of the Bharat Sadhu Samaj, suggested honouring a female national leader on stage. Swamishri said, “You can do that, but according to the niyams of celibacy prescribed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan, I will not be able to attend the event. Please forgive me.”

Social reformer and editorial columnist, Ishwarbhai Petlikar, came for Swamishri’s darshan in 1981. He told Swamishri, “If you want to allow your organization to grow, you should relax the celibacy niyams for your sadhus.”

Swamishri was direct and to the point in his answer, “I do not believe in growing by transgressing the niyams laid down by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. There is no need for that type of growth. Bhagwan Swaminarayan looks after the growth of the organization, but we have to observe our niyams. Many community leaders and politicians have suggested the same thing. They say this organization will not last long because of the stringent niyams. So be it. We will sit in a corner and worship God, but we will not sacrifice our niyams.”

Swamishri has observed these niyams even while meeting world leaders and international dignitaries. Even when meeting the likes of Former US President Bill Clinton, Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, the Sheikhs of the Arab Nations, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and others he has never relaxed these niyams. Through his courage and valour he has ensured that these niyams are observed even while addressing the United Nations and during his own emergency bypass surgery. It seems impossible for a common man to be so bold; then again, Swamishri is not so common after all.