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NADIAD, INDIA, March 30, 2004: It was a chance meeting with Pramukhswami Maharaj of the Bochanvasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) in the U.S. in 2000 that Mangalnidhidas, newly initiated into the world of sainthood in Nadiad on Tuesday morning, says was responsible for his change of heart, begins this article. Mangalnidhidas, a graduate from Harvard, was the only son of Ravindra Patel, a Houston-based businessman. Was, because after becoming a saint he has broken ties with his family.



Born and brought up in San Francisco and with a PhD in pharmacy from the University of Pacific, Swami Shantmunidas does not like to tell others what his name was in the life that ended today with his initiation as a saint. “I have to start forgetting both my name and my parents. They are just like other parents I have had in my past lives. I do not remember their names either,” says Shantmuni. Mangaldas and Shantmuni are two of the 57 young initiates who took the big leap of faith today. Amid a crowd of about 10,000 followers of the BAPS sect, the initiates donned saffron robes and the sacred upanayan thread.



It was an emotional moment for many parents. “I know I will not see him again, but we had been preparing for this day for the last two three years,” said Yogendra Jani, A Vallabh Vidyanagar-born engineer who is now settled in Birmingham, Alamaba, as he watched his only son transform into Swami Poornajivandas.



Of the 57 initiates, six were from the U.S., two from the United Kingdom, one from Nepal, two from Rajasthan and the rest from Gujarat. The initiates have already had two years of rigorous training at Sarangpur ashram. “Training will be difficult for another couple of years. They will learn the ways of a Swaminarayan sadhu, imbibe the five values of denial and graduate to working in social sectors like hostels, tribal areas and other projects where the sect works,” said Swami Gyanvatsal.

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