Amrut Mahotsav, Swamishri’s 75th birthday celebrations. Thousands of devotees had gathered in Sion, Mumbai. For almost three hours, sadhus and devotees had narrated incidents from their lives praising Swamishri, but he was more concerned about his devotees, “You have come from different corners of the world. You have travelled a lot and must have been inconvenienced. I regret that I haven’t been able to meet all of you personally. I know that all of you want to meet me and I want to meet you too…I am sorry.” Swamishri tried hard to hold back his tears, but he couldn’t any longer.

Tears filled the eyes of thousands of devotees as they watched their beloved guru fight back his tears. Swamishri continued, “It is difficult to meet everyone because there are so many people here. Don’t feel left out. Though you are far from me physically, you are in my heart! God will bless all of you for your selfless services. Again, I apologize for not being able to meet you. I am sorry. I ask all of you to bless me so that I am able to please all of the sadhus and devotees. Pray to Bhagwan Swaminarayan so that I can please all of you…”

Everyone in that assembly remembers those moments. Swamishri’s genuine love filled the void of not being able to meet the devotees personally.