Seven spiritual voices, one stage: Spiritual leaders honour Gurudevshri Rakeshji at 60
Seven revered spiritual leaders unite in Mumbai to celebrate the 60th birthday of Gurudevshri Rakeshji, founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur.
In a rare convergence of Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions, the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai became a sanctuary of unity during the 'Aho Gurudev' celebrations. The two-day event, held on September 25 and 26, marked the 60th birthday of Gurudevshri Rakeshji, the founder of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD).
The milestone was graced by seven revered spiritual leaders who gathered to pay tribute to the Guru, each offering a unique perspective on the path of the seeker and the transformative power of spiritual guidance.
A celebration of renunciation and transformation
The festivities began with a profound sight as eleven young professionals took the Atmarpit Diksha. Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj, President of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, witnessed the ceremony and noted that he had never seen renunciation celebrated in such a manner. He observed that these initiates did not run away from their lives; instead, they approached this path with their parents by their side.
"To me, guru is not a teacher, guru is a touch, who transforms you," Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji remarked. He described renunciation not as an act of leaving things behind, but as a path of surrender free from arrogance and attachment. Addressing the newly initiated, many of whom hold advanced degrees, he reminded them: "Life is not only to have more, life is to be more."
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati shared her own journey of leaving a half-finished PhD from Stanford to embrace spiritual life. She used a beautiful metaphor to describe the exchange of the worldly for the divine, comparing it to walking on a beach with hands full of seashells, only to find someone pouring out diamonds at the end. "What I left had no substance, and what I found was second to none," she said, noting that while technology provides speed, a Guru provides direction.
Global spiritual leaders unite
The event saw a diverse array of voices, including Bhikkhu Sanghasena, who brought greetings from the Buddhist community in Ladakh. He remarked that while most birthdays involve a large cake, this celebration offered something far more significant: enlightening and spiritually uplifting programs. He declared that the 21st century belongs to India and its spiritual masters, specifically noting that it appears to be the century of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission.
On the closing evening, the esteemed Ram Kathakar Morari Bapu, 81, broke his Chaturmas silence to speak. Drawing from the Bhagavad Gita, he identified five essential yajnas—compassion, austerity, union, self-study, and knowledge—all of which he saw embodied in Gurudevshri. "One of Gurudevshri's eyes carries the glow of practice, and the other is moist with compassion," he said, adding that true service must be rooted in sadhana to avoid ego.
The essence of a living Guru
Pujya Anandmurti Gurumaa celebrated the shashti purti (completion of 60 years), stating that for a realised soul, every breath is a birthday. She emphasized that a Guru is neither an entertainer nor a lecturer, but a catalyst for transformation. She urged devotees to move beyond being mere followers and instead strive to become true disciples by focusing on their own personal transformation.
Swami Swaroopanandaji of Chinmaya Mission added that while those who serve are great, those who inspire others to serve are divine. Similarly, Brahma Kumari Sister Shivani challenged the audience to reflect daily on their impact on others, asking: "Who became better because of me?"
In his concluding discourse, titled 'Serving Compassionately', Gurudevshri Rakeshji addressed the heartfelt tributes, emphasizing the vital link between spiritual practice and selfless service.