Brahmachari Mukundanand had already served Swami Ramanand (the guru of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan)before he came to Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan. After the death of Swami Ramanand he submitted himself to Shree Hari and served him well.
At Botad, Shree Hari expressed his fondness for Mukundanand Varni and said: “Mukundanand Varni who serves Me has two remarkable virtues: First, he is free from lust like Sanaka and others. He looks upon all women as mothers, sisters and daughters. Such an attitude of him doesn't change even in the dream. Second, he knows how to serve after reading the mind.” (Shree Haricharitramrita Sagar P.530, P.9, Ch-97)
His interactions with Shree Hari were frank and casual in nature. At the village of Servai (near Jhinjhavadar) Shree Hari started eating a lot of crystal sugar as the devotees kept pressing Him to do so. Seeing this Mukundanand Varni said: “Stop it. Who will eat the food prepared by me for you?” Disapproving the irritating high tone of his question Shree Hari said: “I have done nothing to justify your rude words. However, I forgive you for the same.”This softened Mukundanand Varni. He said apologetically: “Well the fault is certainly mine. You may dismiss me if I commit any fault in future! If I commit any fault in future please draw my attention.”
Most saints appoint one of their disciples to cook food for them and the cook always accompanies the saint and also serves him in all possible ways. In spare time he practices devotion.Mukundanand Varni could cook suitable food for Shree Hari and change the food items to suit the seasonal needs. He took great care about cleanliness and punctuality.
Mukundanand was strong, stout and immune to the wrath of inclement weathers. He could easily traverse long distances while carrying heavy goods with him. He was a yogic.
Once Vashram, the carpenter and devotee of Shree Hari saw Mukundanand oiling his shoes. Vashram insisted to serve him by oiling the shoes. Mukundanand had to yield.Vashram started oiling the shoes. Shree Hari had just finished his mid-day nap and happened to pass by. He saw this and said to Mukundanand: “Don’t you know that a saint should do all his work himself?” Mukundanand tried to defend himself but in vain.
Shree Hari said: “He who exploits others is a parasite. I don’t want anyone who gets his shoes oiled by others. So you are dismissed from this moment. I command you to go and live in Gujarat, not to wear shoes at all and avoid jagghery and ghee in food.”
Obeying the commands of his Master, he lived in Jetalpur under the protection of Saint Ramdas.
The summer had set in. It was the season of the tasty mangoes. Saint Ramdas and other devotees asked Mukundanand to deliver a large basket of mangoes to Shree Hari in Gadhada which was at a distance of about 150 kms from there. They thought that such a gift would earn him the lost grace of Shree Hari and be forgiven.
But Shree Hari didn’t even bother to look at Mukundanand ashe left the mangoes before Him.
His moistand sad eyes attracted the attention of an old woman. She heard about the woeful facts and felt sad for him. She straightway rushed to Shree Hari and pleaded with Him to forgive Mukundanand whom she knew since the times of Ramanand. There was reconciliation and Mukundanand once again resumed his motherly care for Shree Hari.
For all those present when Shree Hari delivered sermons it was mandatory for them to be attentive and awake.Once Brahmanand Swami was found to be dosing, Shree Hari threw his rosary at him. In his explanation he defended himself by saying that he was composing devotional songs with closed eyes. Instead he pointed Shree Hari’s attention towards Mukundanand Varni who was also dosing. Shree Hari threw his rosary atMukundanand who immediately got up, lifted Shree Hari and started running.
In his justification for such a strange behavior he said: “I dreamt that this house has caught fire and so I was carrying You away in order to save You.”
During the color festival at Sarangpur the followers started hurling colored water and colored powder on Shree Hari. To escape this Shree Hari climbed upon a neem tree but later on when that program concluded Shree Hari was trying in vain to get down to the merriment of the followers. Mukundanand Brahmachari came forward and stood under the tree. Shree Hari got down safely on Mukundanand shoulders.
Mukundandandji had a good sense of humor. Shreeji Maharaj was once delivering a sermon. At a little distance a group of women were chatting among themselves loudly. Shree Hari sent Mukundanand to ask them to stop Gramkatha, village gossips.Mukundanand instead went and said to them: “Stop your Ramkatha.”
The women complained to Shree Hari and inquired: “Have you stopped us from reciting Ramkatha?
Shree Hari turned to Mukundanandji and said: “I had sent you to stop Gramkatha (village gossips) and not Ramkatha.” To this witty Mukundanand said: “Who knows such a difference.” and ever body burst into laughter at this reply.
Once in the royal residence of Rajba a maid servant warned Mukundnand Swami: “Keep away, lest by chance you if touch Rajba she shall have to fast for a day evenif she is accidentally touched by a male.” Without any hesitation Mukundanand said: “If even by accident I touch her then I shall fast for two days as I am a celibate with a vow not to touch a woman.” When this incident was narrated to Shree Hari he openly praised Mukundanand for his victory over Maya.
Shree Hari once said to him: “It is my command that you should not talk to women.” So he went on telling every woman that it was Shree Hari’s command that he shall not talk to them. When Shree Hari took him to task for this he said: “I never talk with women except on your behalf.” From then onwards Shree Hari permitted him to talk to women (saints and Brahmacharis are prohibited from talking to women except in emergency).
Mukundanand spent considerable time and effort in service of the visiting family members of Shree Hari.Muktanand Swami and Nityanand Swami found negligence on his part and complaint to Shree Hari. When asked to explain about the negligence Mukundanand Brahmachari said: “After all they are strangers needing my service and I don’t differentiate them from Shree Hari”.
Serving every need of Shree Hari was his ultimate goal. Once when Shree Hari was delivering sermons and felt thirsty, Mukundanand Brahmachari jumped from his high platform and ran tofetch water. Impressed by this Shree Hari said: “The jump might have broken his bones but he cares for nothing except for Me.”
As a cook Mukundanand prepared delicious meals for Shree Hari while he himself was content with simple diet. Shree Hari was delighted to see the staple meals Mukundanand prepared for himself which consisted of cooked brinjal and ghee soaked millet rotlas.
On one occasion Shree Hari made pairs of saint who were to walk together. There was no one to pair with Mukundanand. Shree Hari took this opportunity to declare: “I shall be his partner forever.” And this bond lasted ever.
With age Mukundanand was growing weak and Shree Hari suggested that he should dine at the house of an old woman named Rambai. He refused this on religious and moral grounds. At times when Shree Hari got tired of walking, Mukundanand would offer to carry him on his sturdy shoulders.
On various occasions Shree Hari complemented Mukundanandji for his dedicated work and honest character. At a religious meeting Shree Hari said: “He knows My detachment from worldly affairs. Though innocent, he knows My nature very well. He has all the virtues of Ishwar. He has absolutely no weak point. Like the golden wire, he remains the same under all conditions of life.”Other saints too praised him. Once he asked Shree Hari about the ideal life of an absolute celibate. Shree Hari has described this in detail in Satsangi-Jivan, Vol: 5, Chp-50,Ver.53 & 54.
Mukundanandji remained vigorously active even after Shree Hari departed to Akshardham. He kept himself occupied in the task of giving final touches to the Gopinathji temple of Swaminarayan at Gadhada. Even serious illness couldn’t stop him. In Samvat 1904 while in Samadhi he saw that Shree Hari had come to take him to Akshardham and while remaining conscious till the last moment, he left the mortal coil at Gadhada.
His devotion to the Master created an eternal bond between them. His commitment to Swaminarayan way of life earned him countless blessings from Shree Hari.