Sachidanand Swami, a prominent Paramhans ordained by Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, possessed a heart restless for seva. While many sought his spiritual guidance, Swami felt a deep, inner calling to contribute physically to the construction of the Sampraday’s mandirs. Driven by this desire, he traveled to the small village of Kariyani.
The Opportunity for Seva
Upon his arrival, the local haribhakto (devotees) welcomed him with immense reverence. Out of respect for his high spiritual stature, they refused to let him lift a single stone or pick up a shovel. They insisted he remain in the shade, guiding them rather than joining them in the grueling labor.
Swami, however, had not come to be served; he had come to serve. He waited patiently for his moment. When the time for the afternoon meal arrived, Swami turned to the devotees with a kind smile.
“Go and take your prasad,” he urged them. “I will stay here and keep watch over the site and the tools while you eat.”
Labor Turned Divine
As soon as the last devotee disappeared from sight, Sachidanand Swami shed his role as a senior paramhans and took up the tools of a laborer. He began digging and shoveling with intense fervor. Before long, the dust of the earth coated his skin, and his saffron robes were soaked with perspiration and grime.
In the midst of this solitary, backbreaking work, Shreeji Maharaj divinely appeared.
Witnessing Maharaj’s presence, Swami’s heart leaped with joy. Maharaj, moved by the sight of His beloved Paramhans working so tirelessly, stepped forward with open arms to embrace him.
Sandalwood, Not Soil
Overwhelmed by his physical state, Sachidanand Swami recoiled slightly. “Maharaj, please!” he exclaimed. “I am covered in dirt and sweat. I am not fit for Your touch right now.”
Shreeji Maharaj only smiled, His eyes filled with divine affection. He didn’t stop. As He pulled Swami into a warm embrace, He spoke words that would be remembered for generations:
“Swami, do not call this dirt. To me, the dust of seva is not grime—it is the finest chandan (sandalwood paste).”
In that divine hug, the physical exhaustion vanished, replaced by a bliss that only comes to those who serve without ego.