Simandhar Swami

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Dada Bhagwan Foundation

Page 11

about at the present time?
Dadashri: Yes. Only if you understand that the twenty who are currently present are the arihants, then your recital of the Navkar Mantra will bring results. That is why it is necessary to bow down to Simandhar Swami. There are many people who do not know about the existence of these twenty tirthankaras. Many have the opinion: 'What do we have to do with them? and believe that the twenty-four tirthankaras of the past are the only arihants. Because of such mistakes there is so much confusion and harm in the spiritual world. One can only benefit if a tirthankara is present today.
Your recital of Navkar Mantra can only be considered exact and correct if, while reciting it, Simandhar Swami comes to your mind and the obeisance is done to Him.
People ask me why I make them say Simandhar Swami's name and not the other twenty-four tirthankaras. I tell them we pay obeisance to the past twenty-four tirthankaras also but I do it the exact and the correct way. We give more importance to Simandhar Swami, because he is the current tirthankara. Only He receives the obeisance of 'Namo Arihantanam'.
Dadashri: If Simandhar Swami were in Calcutta, even then He would be live and present, although you may not have seen him. This is the same for Mahavideh Kshetra.
Difference Between Direct and Indirect Worship
Questioner: Is there a difference in benefits between worshipping Simandhar Swami and Lord Mahavir?
Dadashri: Lord Mahavir would not listen to your prayers. Nevertheless it is good to pray to Lord Mahavir if one does not pray to Simandhar Swami. But who would listen to any prayers for Lord Mahavir? He has nothing to do with us anymore. He is now a siddha, totally liberated and without a body. It is we who continue to make images of Him and insist on keeping these images. He cannot be called a tirthankara now, just as you cannot call a past president a president. He can only be called a siddha. It is only Simandhar Swami who will benefit you.
Questioner: So we get rewards for saying "Namo Arihantanam" only, and not from saying "Namo Siddhanam?"
Dadashri: No other rewards. It is up to you to decide your destination. For example if you are traveling to London, then London remains in your awareness as your final destination, you do not have to be reminded of it. Similarly going towards moksha and the siddha state, final liberation will remain in your awareness. It is the arihant that is the most beneficial to you of all for your liberation. So now focus everything exclusively towards Simandhar Swami. As such there are nineteen other tirthankaras but Simandhar Swami is very important to this world and especially for India and so we should dedicate our life to Him.
Vision To See God Questioner: What is the routine activity of Simandhar
He Is, Currently Present, and Directly Accessible
Questioner: Is Simandhar Swami in manifest form, live and visible to all ?
Dadashri: Yes. He is currently present, directly accessible, has a physical body and at present lives and moves about as a tirthankara at Mahavideh Kshetra.
Questioner: If Simandhar Swami is in Mahavideh Kshetra, then how can he be considered live and present for us?