Hindola Utsav

This festival is celebrated yearly during the Chaturmass (Monsoon Season) between Ashadh and Shravan (July - August). A “Hindolo” is a swing. A Chal (Mobile) murti of HariKrishna Maharaj, known fondly as “Lalji” (A childhood form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan), is placed in the Hindolo.

The arrival of these festivities usher a new wave of devotion within the hearts of the Devotees. For the whole month, the murti of the Lord is placed in a decorated swing and pulled to and fro with a string by devotees.

The origins of the divinity of Hindola go back to Vrindavan, 5000 years ago where the Gopis swayed Lord Krishna on a decorated swing. The Hindola utsav has a special status in the Hindu dharma due to this event because of the divine joy of rocking the almighty Lord for His pleasure. The back and forth motion is expressive of bliss, a flight away from the mundane worries of the world. The swinging motion creates elation and identification with spirituality. One experiences a tranquil state of mind because of the immersion into His lustrous murti swaying back and forth. The act of seating the idol upon the Hindola is in itself one of veneration.

When Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan had completed 32 days after His birth upon the earth, His parents Dharmadev and Bhaktimata celebrated the festival of Dolarohan (i.e. placing the child for the first time in a cradle and rocking the cradle). It was the eleventh day of the bright half of the month Vaishakh. The cradle was tastefully and luxuriously decorated. The cradle was rocked fondly by all the members of the family.

This tradition of rocking the cradle later on was transferred to the tradition of rocking the swing (Hindola) for God Himself. The Hindola is hung on a beam of wood and the rope or the chain is profusely woven with multi-coloured and fragrant flowers. At times the Hindola is box-type with many doors. This Hindola is also tastefully painted and coloured.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan also often sat on a swing tied between two tamarind trees in Laxmivadi in Gadhada.

During Swaminarayan Bhagwan’s time, once whilst in Vadtal, a decorative Hindolo was tied to a couple of mango trees and the devotees rocked the Bhagwan back and forth. Bhagwan became so pleased that He blessed the devotees by showing his twelve divine forms for this whole month.

Nishkulanand Swami skilfully constructed a twelve door Hindola of wood and painted it with artistic designs. It was brought to Gnan Baug at Vadtal and was supported by a strong wooden beam amidst two mango trees and hung by ropes. This hindola is preserved as prasadi at the Vadtal Temple. The ropes and the Hindola were tastefully decorated with flowers. A silken thread was tied to the Hindola and Shree Muktanand Swami was first to gently rock the Hindola while singing an appropriate Kirtan composed by him. Thousands of devotees had gathered and all desired to sight the Lord and offer their garlands. The Lord mercifully assumed many forms and appreared at all twelve doors of the hindola. It was proving difficult for all devotees to garland the Lord personally so He also mercifully stretched His stick on which He accepted the garlands.

During this month the Chal (mobile) murti of Bhagwan is seated upon the Hindola (decorated swing) and swayed back and forth to commemorate the event. Devotees sing hindola bhajans, and the whole mandir is charged with the extra vibrancy and energy of the extra special bhakti that surrounds this utsav. The Hindola is decorated differently everyday with great grandeur and splendour, using a variety of colours, shapes, form and material. Satsangis perform daily aarti of these richly decorated Hindolas for the blessing and merit of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

This festival is symbolic like many other festivals within the Sanatan Dharma.
1. The Hindola - represents Maya (Illusionary power of the Lord) or our worldly materialistic life.
2. Wooden beam represents the Ishwar (The Supreme Personality of Godhead).
3.The four ropes which the hindola is hung by represent - four-fold activities of human life.
Dharma (Righteous Duties), Artha (Wealth), Kama (Desires) and Moksh (Salvation)
4.The metalic rings represent from which the ropes are hung from represent - Purusha and Prakruti.
The primal motive force essential constituent of the Universe.
5. Base of the Hindola represents - Earth.
6. The twelve doors represent - twelve months (Kartik - Aaso)
7. The fragrant and colourful flowers represent - the virtues and good conducts in life.
8. The silk thread represents - Prana (Life).
9. The to and fro movement of the Hindola represents - the ups and downs in life.
Slow and swift movements are enjoyable but sudden and harsh movements lead to catastrophe.

When Lord Swaminaryan is swung to and fro lovingly by the devotee in the Hindola of life, he experiences true transcendental bliss.