He was only interested that everyone observed a fast on ekadashi. In fact, he had no interest at all in the birthday celebrations. As everybody has observed a nirjala, I feel great peace.” Yogiji Maharaj was delighted and said, “This is our Janma Jayanti. Over 1,000 youths, and men and women devotees willingly volunteered to observe the ekadashi fast. In addition to the youths travelling with Yogiji Maharaj, other youths, and men and women devotees from Nadiad and the Kheda district enlisted. From the first day of the parayan, he initiated a list of names of all who would observe a nirjala fast on the day of ekadashi. But a few days earlier, Yogiji Maharaj was intent that all should observe the ekadashi fast. Yogiji Maharaj’s birthday also fell during this period – on Vaishakh vad 12. In 1968, when Yogiji Maharaj went to Nadiad, after his visit to Kolkata, a parayan sponsored by Ishwarbhai Desai had been arranged. In his later years, for youths who served while he bathed, Yogiji Maharaj would tell them to observe a fast in return for that special service opportunity. In particular, if youths lapsed in the observance of niyams and dharma, he would direct them to observe a nirjala (waterless) fast as atonement. On many occasions Yogiji Maharaj instructed youths to fast. Yogiji Maharaj had a special fervour for inspiring youths to observe fasts.
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