Sayajirao Gaekwad Maharaj of Vadodara once was talking with a senior paramhans, “I have a kingdom, power, an army, and wealth. Yet, my subjects do not obey my commands as much as they obey yours. I enact strict laws and employ police to stop the consumption of alcohol, meat, and opium, but these laws are not effectively followed. You, however, manage to get people to give up addictions without any laws or police, and they don’t come to me with as much love as they show you.”
“What is the reason for this?” the Maharaja asked. “Do you possess the art of ‘Vashikaran Vidya’ (the power of enchantment)?”
The Swamiji replied, “Yes.”
“Will you teach me?” asked Gaekwad.
“Certainly. Listen, King,” the Swamiji began, “You mentioned that you have a kingdom, power, and wealth. But these things do not subdue people. If wealth could subdue people, then snakes with jewels, oysters with pearls, and mountains with diamonds should have people under their control, right? But that’s not the case. And if brute force could subdue people, then bulls, elephants, and lions should control people, but instead, the people subdue those animals. So, how are people truly subjugated?”
The Swamiji continued, “My ‘Vashikaran Vidya’ consists of forgiveness, compassion, non-violence, renunciation, and devotion to God. If you wish to subjugate your subjects, you must do so with virtue and love.”
“But how does that subjugate them?” Sayajirao asked again.
The Swamiji reiterated, “Subjects are subjugated by virtue and love. My ‘Vashikaran Vidya’ includes forgiveness, compassion, non-violence, renunciation, and devotion to God. If you wish to win over your subjects, cultivate these virtues like goodness and love, and your people will be won over.”
The saint who imparted this profound ‘Vashikaran Vidya’ was Sadguru Shree Muktanand Swami, who earned the title of ‘Mother’ within the Swaminarayan Sampraday.