Life of Lord Swaminarayan

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Life of Lord Swaminarayan Part 1
Before Birth Saga
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evil
righteous
When _______ dominates good, and ______________
people are suffering, Lord Almighty incarnates
Himself on earth in human form. (Shreemad
Bhagwad Gita)
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Lord NarNarayan had gathered in ___________
Badrikashram
Awaiting news of what mother earth was suffering
amongst lords devotees
Durvasha Muni arrived at the sabha from Mount
___________
Kailash
With a burst of anger Durvasha Muni cursed the
members to be born on earth again
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Chhapaiya
Ittar
Ramprasad
Gharnighar (Moved to live in Nepal)
Balakram Turvadhi JivraniBai
Gangaprasad
Laxmanram (Moved to Ittar)
Dhudh Turvadhi
Krishnasharma BhawaniBai
Vansidhar
Vedhman
Kanayan
VasuntBai
Vishram bhai
ShundhriBai
ShurjiBai
Balsharma Bhaghyaviti
Bhakti
Dharmadev
Rampratap SuvasniBai
Ichharam
Ghanshyam
Nandram
Ttalorram
Sitarami
Gopalji
Bedrinath
Vrandawanprasad
AYODHYAPRASADJI
RAGHUVIRA
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Hanuman asked Dharmadev and Bhaktimata to go to
and do penance of God
Vrindavan
Lord gave divine darshan of Himself
Krishna
He revealed to Dharmadev and that
He Himself would take birth as their Son and that
peace would return to their lives.
Bhaktimata
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On their journey home they met the great demon
Aswathama
Ashwathama asked where they had been
Dharmadev tells him the story of Lord beginning
born as their son
Ashwathama becomes enraged and puts a curse on
Lord
He says your son would not take use of weapons
to defeat evil forces
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On Samvat 1818 - _________ (Eldest son is born)
Rampratap
In Chhapaiya they began to face many difficulties
(demon attacks etc)
Moved to _______
Ayodhya
Dharmadev and Bhaktimata went on a pilgrimage to
__________
Prayag Shetra
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Dharmadev and Bhaktimata became ________________
disciples and received guru mantra in Prayag
Ramanand Swami
They then returned to Ayodhya and later to
Chhapaiya
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Birth of Lord
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Chhapaiya (Uttar Pradesh)
1010pm on Monday 9th day of the bright half of
the month Chaitra VS 1837
2 April 1781 AD
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"Dharma ghera Anand bhayo, Jay bolo Ghanshyam
ki..... Chapaiya me Lal bhayo, Jay bolo Ghanshyam
ki..... Bhakta ke Bhagwan bhayo, Jay bolo
Ghanshyam ki..... Hathi Ghoda Palkhi, Jay bolo
Ghanshyam ki....."
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After Birth Saga
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The Sixth Day - leela
On Saturday, the sixth day of Ghanshyam's birth
Everyone gathered for a religious ceremony, i.e.
the lords Chhatti
At midnight, (Krityas) entered the house, to kill
Ghanshyam
The Krityas snatched Ghanshyam and headed for the
mountains
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Feeling helpless and distressed, Dharmdev and
Bhaktimata prayed to their Kuldev, _________
Hanumanji
Hanumanji says Do not worry I will bring back
Ghanshyam
Brutally beaten, the Krityas leave Ghanshyam and
run
They gave thanks and gifts to Hanumanji
Today, we too offer gifts to please Hanumanji (in
the form of ________ and oil) on_________
coconuts
Saturdays
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He Called The Moon
On a bright night Ghanshyam was sleeping in a cot
Moonlight shone through the window and fell upon
the Lord's facethe lord woke up immediately
He stretched out His arm and caught the moon
The moon took the form of a child to do lords
darshan
Bhaktimata was woken up by this light
She was frightened at seeing Lord Ghanshyam
playing with the moon
Lord Ghanshyam saw this, He said, "Do not be
scared, Mother. The moon has only come to play
with me. I have brought him here myself."
At hearing this, His mother became pleased. moon
bowed down to Lord and returned to his place in
the sky.
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The Hundredth Day - Naam Karan
Dharmadev invited Marakand Muni to name the Lord
Marakand Muni was delighted to be asked and
replied, "your son is born in Karkraashi
therefore he will be named _____, he has such
beautiful features so he will also be called
_______. If you join those two names together he
will be called ____________."
Hari
Krishna
Harikrishna
Bhaktimata asked Marakand Muni about Ghanshyam's
future?
"your son has qualities such as Tap, Tyaag, Rog,
Dharma, and Nitti so he will be known as
_________ and many other names. He is the
redeemer of all sins on earth he will destroy
sadness in those minds and will make them happy
by praising Bhagwan."
Nilkanth
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Five and a Half Months Old - Dharmadev's Test
On Pootrada _________
Ekadashi
Lords parents taught him how to sit and walk
Dharmadev wanted to determine his son's interests
Dharmadev and Bhaktimata then sat, eagerly
awaiting to see which item drew Ghanshyam
Prabhus interest
Without any hesitation, the Lord immediately
picked up the __________
scripture
This delighted His parents, as they realised that
their Son would study the scriptures and become a
great scholar when He grew up.
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Ear Piercing Ceremony
Ghanshyam Prabhu sat on His mothers lap under
the tamarind tree outside their house
The man prepared his needle and reached for the
Lords earlobe
He slowly attempted to pierce the first ear with
his needle, but a bright light shone from
Ghanshyam Maharaj's ear and dazzled the man who
could not continue
Maharaj withdrew the light, disappeared from
Bhaktimata's lap and appeared sitting on a
tamarind tree (Ambli tree)
Bhaktimata brought some mollases and Ghanshyam
Maharaj came down. Whilst Ghanshyam Maharaj was
eating the mollases, his ears were being pierced
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The Third Year - First Haircut
In Chappaiya, Narayan Lake there was were many
relatives and Brahmins had gathered for the
ceremony
A barber called Zamairaat was asked to carry out
the ceremony
Ghanshyam Maharaj suddenly disappeared from
Zamairaat's sight, but everyone else could see
him
"You must let Him shave you," Bhaktimata
whispered to Ghanshyam Maharaj. Ghanshyam Maharaj
obeyed His mother's wish and reappeared before
Zamairaat
______ Bhagwan and ___________ came from
_______to have darshan and watch the ceremony
Shiva
Parvati Devi
Devlok
Ghanshyam Maharaj took a bath in Narayan Lake.
Relatives, Brahmins and friends then sat down for
a meal to conclude the ceremony
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Later that evening Ghanshyam Maharaj's friends
took Him to play on the other side of the lake
Ghanshyam Maharaj and his friends played by the
nearby trees,__________, an evil demon who wanted
to kill Ghanshyam Maharaj, took the form of a
child in an attempt to capture Ghanshyam Maharaj
Kalidatta
The children became very frightened and ran for
shelter
Kalidatta appeared on a tree in an attempt to
break a branch so that it would fall on Ghanshyam
Maharaj
He finally died, crushed by a tree felled by his
own doing.
The storm now ceased, and Ghanshyam Maharaj and
His friends returned home
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Can you name Ghanshyam's Friends ???
Veniram
Manidhar
Ragunandan
Madhav
Pragh
Sukhnandan
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Bhutyo Kuvo
Village called Tinva (Prabhit Pande and his wife
Vachanbai lived there )
Not to go and fetch water from the well after
evening as thousands of ghosts lived in the well
Ghosts seized Bhaktimatas the pot and started to
make frightening loud noises
Ghanshyam and a few of his friends went to the
ghost well
Ghanshyam paid no attention and jumped into the
well.
The ghosts cried for forgiveness and mercy
" O Lord, please forgive us and redeem us from
our bondage". Ghanshyam released them from their
bondage and sent them to Badrikashram
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16 Cheens
Dharmadev and Bhaktimata decided to go on a
Pilgrimage taking all three sons Rampratap,
Ghanshyam and ________
Ichharam
At a Town called Gonda ,They decided to do
darshan inside the mandir
As Ghanshyam entered the mandir, Krishna came out
of the murti and placed a garland on Ghanshyam
The people in the temple saw this miracle, word
got around to the King
Being a wise man, the king knew that god has no
shadow, but wanted to see the sixteen cheens on
his feet
He was pleased and honoured to have had darshan
of the True God. The king became a follower of
the Uddhav Sampraday.
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SWASTIC
ASHTAKON
ANKUSH
KAMAR
URDHVAREKHA
VARAJ
JAMBU
JAVA
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MATSYA
TRIKON
DHANUSH
GOPOD
VYOMA
ARDHCHANDRA
KALASH
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Departure of Parents
Ghanshyams mother, Bhaktimata, left her mortal
body when He was aged ____ years and 7 months
(Kartik Sud 10 Samvat 1848)
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Prior to the departure of Bhaktimata, Ghanshyam
gave her spiritual and philosophical knowledge of
Almighty God Supreme.  This knowledge is known as
_________
Hari Gita
His father, Dharmadev, left his mortal body just
seven months after
Bhagwat Gita
On Dharmadev's request, the _____________ was
recited for the seven days
Bhaktimata and Dharmadev were now released from
the curse of ___________________
Durwasa Rushi
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What is the body made of ?
Earth - Proothvi
Water - Jal
Light - Tej
Air - Vaayoo
Sky - Aakaash
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Ghanshyam Maharaj's Grithyag
Ghanshyam Maharaj left home on Ashadh Sud 10
,1849 at the tender age of 11 years, 3 months,
and 1 day
Kopin - Similar to underwear
Jap Marra - Rosary beads
Uthuriya - Small lion cloth
Bhikxapatra - Begging bowl
Dhand - Stick made from palash tree
Jal Garanu - Cotton cloth for filtering water
Janoi - The sacred thread worn from shoulder to
waist
Saaligram - Stone representative of Shri Narayan
Bal Mukund Ni Davarri - Idol of young Krishna in
a box
Tulsi Ni Bevdi kanthi
Kum Kum Sahit Urdhvapund Tilak
Char Shatra na Sarano Gutko - Summary of the 4
Shastras carried over shoulder
Jata - Hair tied in a choti
Moonj Ni Kati Mekharra - Moonj grass worn around
the waist
Pagma Paaduka Veena - Barefooted
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Shree Swaminarayano Vijaytetram
The Purusharthas
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Purpose

• Comprehensive look at what is meant by
  Purusharthas
• A look at each of the Purusharthas in detail
• How the Purusharthas relate to us and can be used
  to answer some of the basic questions about
• life in general
• the art of living

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Purusharthas Summarised

• Aims or pursuits of life which humans may
  legitimately engage
• 4 such pursuits Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha
• Why Artha and Kama and why that order?
• Man is engaged in the pursuit of the first three
  Purusharthas but pays little attention to the
  fourth (Gadhada Madhyam 11)
• Ultimate aim of life should be Moksha
• By following the Shikshapatri we shall attain
  the four desired objects (Shikshapatri 206)

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Dharma

• Righteous living - Moral integrity
• The fulfilment of virtue, good works, duties and
  responsibilities
• Of four primary forms Satya (truth), Tapa
  (penance), Pavitrata (purity) and Daya
  (compassion)
• Dharma is right conduct as authenticated by
  Shruti and Smruti (Shikshapatri 103)
• Steady guide for Artha, Kama and Moksha

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Artha (1)

• Worldly possessions or wealth - money, properties
  etc. for the basic needs.
• Necessity for householders
• Pursuit of wealth guided by and within the
  confines of Dharma, such that it doesnt obstruct
  Moksha - i.e. sourced from good means
• Measured by not only riches but quality of life
• Greatest and best wealth is remembrance of God

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Artha (2)

• Provides the social security needed to pursue
  Kama, Dharma and Moksha
• Shikshapatri 155 explains such wealth should be
  employed for good deeds such as performing
  religious events, feeding the poor, supporting
  religious mendicants, protecting all creatures
• Such employment of wealth will ensure Moksha

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Group Exercise

• In groups can you discuss examples of where
  pursuit of wealth would be outside the bounds of
  Dharma and could be an obstacle to Moksha?

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Kama

• Worldly sensual pleasure, love/lust, enjoyment
• Again should be practised within the confines of
  Dharma such that it doesnt obstruct Moksha
• Necessity and practice in Grihastashram, but
  within boundaries
• Excessive enjoyment leading to downfall and entry
  to Hell (Bhagwad Gita)
• In this way, Kama is not necessarily bad thing

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Moksha

• Final Liberation - Ultimate Salvation
• Freedom from birth and rebirth - ultimate
  attainment
• Attained through one of the four Yogas e.g.
  Bhakti Yoga
• I believe Mukti (salvation) as being able to
  serve Lord Krishna as Brahmanrupa, in Goloka
  Dhaama (Shikshapatri 121)
• Mukti on Earth

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Conclusion Summary

• Know who you are and who God is
• Know that we are here and we have this rare
  opportunity to leave the cycle of rebirth
• Know where we want to go - that the singular aim
  of life should be to reach God
• Know that the voyage there should be aided with
  Dharma and Bhakti
• Know that Artha and Kama are necessary in life
  (specifically for Grihastas) and should be used
  sparingly to supplement the ultimate aim

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Thats It!
Any Questions?
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Questions

• What is meant by the term Purusharthas?
• How many are there and can you name them?
• Can you give a brief description of each of the
  Purusharthas?
• How should the middle two Purusharthas be
  pursued?
• What are the 4 primary forms of the first
  Purushartha?

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Questions

• What is classed as real or the best wealth?
• In which ashram would it be acceptable (within
  limits) to enjoy worldly pleasures?
• What should be the ultimate aim in life?
• How does Shikshapatri describe this aim?
• How are you going to use this information?

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ShreeSwaminarayan Mandir presents
Bhakti Boys
By The
The Life Of Nilkanth-Varni
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Ghanshyam-Nilkanth Varni

• At the age of 10 years and 7 months
  Ghanshyams parents left their mortal form and
  their spirits ascended to Akshardham. Prior to
  the death of Bhaktimata he gave to her one of the
  most valuable things a person can have, this was
  the spiritual and philosophical knowledge of
  ALMIGHTY GOD SUPREME this knowledge is known as
  the Hari Gita, just 7 months later his father
  Dharmadev left his mortal body.
• Ghanshyam always wanted to lead a life of
  penance, self control and well being towards all
  living things. He knew that morals and religion
  started to fade and religion was a cover for
  evil. He decided to go on a pilgrimage to rid
  evil and establish moral and behaviour in
  society. He wanted to teach righteousness and
  moral in society and give a chance to people to
  receive his darshan. He also from now changed his
  name to Nilkanth Varni.

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Departure of Nilkanth Varni

• On the 10th day of the bright half of ashadh
  month VS 1849, early in the morning he left his
  home in Ayodya and departed to the saryu River,
  where he met a demon a disciple of kalbarouh who
  was angry so he lifted Nilkanth Varni up and
  threw him into the river thinking he was dead he
  left and also laughed, but minutes later Nilkanth
  Varni walked out of the river smiling he had
  found his way across the river.
• Nilkanth Varni took with him eleven items what
  were they?

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The Items

• Kanti tulsi
  mala deerskin
  undergarment

Water pot bowl
gutko waist
garment
Waist rope stick
shaligram purse
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Pulashram

• On the way to Pulashram Nilkanth Varni
  endured 3 days of freezing cold water which he
  was waist deep in it, not only this but he also
  was in the dark as he was travelling in a cave.
  Finally he reached his place of penance
  Pulashram. Here is where he took his 4 months .
  of meditation in the hardest position of yoga
  out of the eight positions he was yet to learn.
  For 4 months he had not eaten or drunk anything
  and after this his body had become extremely
  frail and thin

• The reason Nilkanth Varni undertook
  this severe penance was because he wanted to meet
  Surya Narayan who came to do the darshan of
  Nilkanth Varni.

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Butolnagar

• A year had passed since Nilkanth Varni had
  left home and now he had entered butolnagar this
  was a test as it tested his mental discipline he
  had met the king of butolnagar who had two very
  beautiful daughters who were of marrying age, the
  king had welcomed Nilkanth Varni graciously into
  his kingdom. The king had a wife called mayarani
  when she saw Nilkanth Varni she thought that he
  would tempt him into marrying one of her
  daughters she tempted him in every way she could
  think of, but she didnt know she was messing
  with god. She failed shamefully and Nilkanth
  Varni had escaped her clutches and had left the
  kingom.

• Did you know that Maya in English means
  illusion and rani means
  
  queen so she is
  really the Queen of illusion

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Gopalyogi

• After butolnagar Nilkanth Varni had entered
  the dense forest and trees. It was in this very
  jungle that he met the one called Gopalyogi it
  was he that taught Nilkanth Varni the form of
  yoga that is known as ashtang yoga, ashtang means
  eight and god learned all the forms of ashtang
  yoga in lee than 2 years while it takes the
  typical human being more than 4 to master all the
  techniques perfectly as Gopalyogi.

• During his stay there he showed to
  Gopalyogi his true form in his form of god. As
  Gopalyogi was old he soon died and it was
  Nilkanth Varni himself who preformed the funeral
  rights of Gopalyogi so Gopalyogi ascended to
  Akshardham

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Loj

• Having travelled across India for 7 years 1
  month and 11 days Nilkanth Varni finally arrived
  in Gujarat, in the town of loj on the sixth day
  of the dark half of the moon of the month of
  shravan 1856, aged 18. he arrived at loj in the
  morning and sat down beside the step well in the
  town. It was here he ended his epic va vicharan.
• It was here In loj that Nilkanth Varni met
  Muktanand
• swami head of the ashram that were diciples
  of Ramanand swami.

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The 5 questions

• The swami that talked to him was called
  Sukhanand swami. As the swami walked up to him he
  could see the pureness of the personality of the
  to him seemed the young boy (but was soon to
  realise he was god). Sukanand said to him my dear
  Varni where are you from and where are you going?
  And Nilkanth Varni said to him one of if not the
  greatest answers of all time he said I have come
  from Bhrampur ( heaven ) and I am going to
  Brampur.
• Than Nilkanth Varni said now answer my
  questionsand his question was what is jeeva,
  ishvar, maya, bhram, parbhram.
• Sukanands answer was jeeva is the eternal soul
  ishwar is the form of demi-god maya is the
  distration bhram is the jeeva that has achieved
  salvation and parbhram is the almighty god
  himself.

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Saryudas

• Nilkanth Varni stayed at the ashram working
  and serving at there it was here that he received
  his third name saryudas. In the ashram he
  preformed duties like everybody else, from
  feeding the poor to collecting cow dung for food.
  
• As saryudas was very learned in ashtang
  yoga he taught every one in the loj ashram the
  ways of the ashtang yoga showing them the way to
  do it properly mentally and physically.

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Separating the people

• In loj both men and women prayed together
  and this would have caused maya the distraction
  that distracts you from god. So he went to
  sukanad swami and told him about this and fought
  with a strong defence and ended up winning so the
  men and the women from that day on were
  seperated.
• There was also a small window that was in
  the ashram which led into the house of a barber
  and his family from this window they got loat
  (flour) which they received from the wife on a
  regular basis when god saw this he was furious
  and at the same time he was calm so again he had
  it filled up as it was he swamis that were taking
  the food and swamis should have no contact with
  women once they are swamis.

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Letter to Ramanand swami

• Saryudas wanted to meet Ramanand swami and
  he asked sukanand could he go to meet him but he
  said no as he wanted to ask first so they both
  wrote a letter to him and waited as mayaram bhutt
  himself took the letters himself to Ramanand
  swami who at the time was residing in bhuj.
• When the letters reached Ramanand swami,
  he opened suryudass letter and the room he was
  in became alive with light and knew instantly
  that this letter had come god himself so he
  replied the letter and invited him to bhuj so he
  sent the letter back with marayam bhutt and when
  it arrived at loj, god set off imedietly.

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The hug of Ramanand and Saryudas

• Ramanand swami and saryudas both agreed to
  meet at piplana and when they arrived in piplana
  on the twelfth day of the dark half of the month
  Jeth VS 1856 at the residence of Narsinh Mehta,
  where Ramanand swami was staying after arriving
  from Bhuj. On seeing saryudas he stood up and
  embraced him, realising that he was almighty god
  supreme. Ramanand swami asked him about his
  parents,his childhood, and hi pilgrimage that led
  him up to loj.

JAY SWAMINARAYAN
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Swaminarayan
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Maha Bhagwati Diksha Ceremony in Jetpur

• Saryudas was initiated in grand ceremony in
  Jetpur on Prabodhini Ekadashi, 11th day on the
  bright half of the month of Kartik VS 1857
• What names was given to Saryudas by Ramanand
  Swami
• Sahajanand and Narayan Muni

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Sahajanand Swami throned as Leader

• Ramanand Swami held a meeting in Jetpur to
  nominate a suitable leader for the sampraday
• Ramanand Swami himself nominated Sahajanand Swami
• Muktanand Swami and other members accepted the
  nomination

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Sahajanand Swami throned as Leader

• Sahajanand swami initially declined to accept the
  throne
• He was urged to take the throne by Ramanand swami
  as he was getting old and only Sahajanand Swami
  was capable of being a leader

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Sahajanand Swami throned as Leader

• How old was Sahajanand swami when he took the
  responsibility of the Satsang from Ramanand
  swami?
• 20 years and 7 months

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Sahajanand Swami throned as Leader

• As Ramanand Swami was extremely pleased that
  Sahajanand swami accepted the throne he granted
  Sahajanand swami all his wishes.
• Sahajanand swami asked for two request which was?

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Sahajanand Swami throned as Leader

• If a follower of the sampraday suffers the pain
  of a scorpion sting, that pain must befall on me
  millions upon millions of time, but the satsangi
  of this sampraday should enjoy peace.

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Sahajanand Swami throned as Leader

• If a follower of the sampraday has to suffer
  hardship of getting food and clothes, and has to
  beg according to fate, I beg those hardships
  befall on me and the satsangi should get food and
  clothes easily.

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Ramanand Swamis Departure

• One month and one day after Sahajanand Swami
  accepted the throne, Ramanand Swami gathered an
  assembly in Faneni near Jetpur and announced
• I am Uddhavji, Sahajanand Swami is Almighty God
  Supreme and you must all serve and obey Him for
  ultimate salvation. I have achieved all that I
  came for.

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Ramanand Swamis Departure

• Ramanand Swami closed his eyes and started
  meditation. Here he left his mortal body on the
  13th day of the bright half of the month of
  Magsar VS 1858.
• Sahajanand Swami Himself performed the funeral
  ceremony.

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SWA-MI-NA-RA-YA-N

• Sahajanand swami held his first sabha 14 days
  after Ramanand swami departure
• Where was the sabha held?
• Feneni

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SWA-MI-NA-RA-YA-N

• Sahajanand swami explained we have worshipped
  God by many different names such as Krishna,
  Narayan etc, but to gain ultimate salvation there
  should only be one name and form of Almighty God
  Supreme.

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SWA-MI-NA-RA-YA-N

• What was the name Sahajanand swami gave to gain
  ultimate salvation?
• SWAMINARAYAN
• Sahajanand swami asked the whole sabha to chant
  six syllables mantra
• SWA-MI-NA-RA-YA-N
• From here onwards Sahajanand swami was known as
  Lord Swaminarayan

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Samadhi Prakran

• When satsangis came to do darshan of Lord
  Swaminarayan they would enter into spiritual
  trance, by merely looking at the Lord.
• Some would see same form Maharaj residing in
  Akshardham.

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Samadhi Prakran

• Some would have the darshan of there own Istadev
• Some would see all incarnation merged into
  Maharaj.

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Aarti of Lord by Muktanand Swami

• Muktanand Swami was the leading saint of Ramanand
  Swamis Satsang
• Lord Swaminarayan treaded Muktanand swami as his
  guru and with great respect

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Aarti of Lord by Muktanand Swami

• Muktanand swami did not believe Lord Swaminarayan
  could had powers or authority to put satsangis
  into spiritual trance
• Muktanand swami question Lord but Lord said
  nothing to him

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Aarti of Lord by Muktanand Swami

• Then Ramanand swami gave Muktanand swami divine
  darshan and said to him
• I told you before that I am humble servant of
  Almighty God Supreme and the divine power is
  within Sahajanand Swami Himself and he is capable
  of anything and everything

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Aarti of Lord by Muktanand Swami

• From this point his love and bond towards Lord
  Swaminarayan was infinite
• Muktanand Swami being an accomplished poet
  compiled the words to the Aarti
• He prostrated and sang the aarti to Lord. Jay
  Sadguru Swami.

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Establishment of Swaminarayan Sampraday

• Panch Vartman
• Not to dink wine, beer, intoxicating drugs, or
  sniff, inject any intoxicating drugs or any forms
  not even as a medicine. Addictiveness is strictly
  prohibited
• Not to eat meat in any form and not even as an
  offering of sacrifice to deities or as a medicine
  to save ones own life
• To abstain from adultery, not to look at a female
  passionately nor keep company with women accept
  nearest relatives

80
Establishment of Swaminarayan Sampraday

• Panch Vartman
• Not to steal even small worthless things even for
  the offerings for God
• Not to take food or drink from improper persons
  or made by improper persons or sources

81
Establishment of Swaminarayan Sampraday

• End to sinful acts
• Sati - widows joining their husbands on the
  funeral pyre
• Infanticide - killing daughters on their birth
  and selling of daughters

82
500 Paramhansas

• Maharaj established Bhagwat Dharma (righteous
  conduct)
• 500 high calibre saints where initiated by
  Maharaj to spread Bhagwat Dharma to all corners
  of India to develop morality non-violence in
  accordance with the true Vedic teachings

83
Temples

• Ahmedabad
• 1st temple to be constructed
• Who designed the structure of the temple?
• Anandanand swami
• Lord Nar Narayan Dev was installed by Maharaj

84
Temples

• Bhuj - Kutch
• Who was instructed by Lord to construct a temple
  in Bhuj?
• Vaishnavanand Swami

85
Temples

• Vadtal
• Brahmanand Swami and Aksharanand Swami Designed
  the Temple
• Maharaj Himself helped in the construction of
  this temple by carrying stones to the site
• Lord installed Shree Laxmi Narayan Dev, Shree
  Ranchodrai Dev and Shree Hari Krishna Maharaj
  (images of Himself) with Shree Radha Krishna Dev

86
Temples

• Dholera
• Which 2 swami constructed the temple in Dolera?
• Nishkulanand Swami Adbhutanand Swami
• Which murti did Maharaj installed?
• Shree Madan Mohan Dev and Radhikaji

87
Temples

• Junagadh
• Land was presented by Jinabhai (Henatsinh) Darbar
  of Panchala
• Brahmanand Swami constructed the temple
• Which Murti was installed?
• Shree Radha Raman Dev

88
Temples

• Gadhada
• Temples construction was supervised by Maharaj
  Himself and with assistance of Viraktanand Swami
• Lord installed Gopinathji Maharaj which is same
  proportion as Maharaj Himself

89
Acharyas

• Maharaj and other great saints decided only house
  holder was suitable for the position of Acharya
• Maharaj elected his 2 brothers sons Shree
  Ayodhyaprasadji and Shree Raghuwirji
• The head saints, Muktanand Swami, Gopalanand
  Swami and Nityanand Swami unanimously supported
  this decision

90
Acharyas

• Ayodhyaprasadji became head of Uttar desh (north)
  Ahmedabad named as Nar Narayan Dev Gadi
• Raghwirji became head of Dakshin desh (south)
  Vadtal named Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi

91
Role of Acharyas

• To install murtis of God in His temples
• To initiate saints and devotees

92
Shikshapatri

• Maharaj composed a small booklet selecting key
  points of importance in 212 sloks
• Composed in Vadtal on the 5th day of the bright
  half of the month maha VS 1882, on Vasant Panchmi

93
Lords Final Farewell

• At the age of 49 years, 2 months and 1 day
  Maharaj decided it was time to go back to
  Akshardham
• He had achieved all He had come to earth for
• His body was cremated at Laxmiwadi in Gadhada
• 2 Acharyas cremated Lord Swaminarayan

94
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95
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96
Satsangi?
What is Satsang and how is one known as a
Satsangi?
Satanand Swami explains in the how this
word is derived. is 1 of
the main granths about Udhav Sampraday
(Swaminarayan Sampraday). There are 5 prakaran
the number of (319) adhyays vary from the
original granth.
Satsangi Jivan
Satsangi Jeevan
The word SAT implies to four significance

• The God Almighty Lord Shree

Swaminarayan Bhagwan

• whom have entirely surrendered
  themselves to Almighty Lord Shree Swaminarayan
  Bhagwan.

Saints
DHARMA

• asserted by Almighty Lord
  Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan, and his prominent
  Saints.

• wherein these three mentioned
  are prescribed

• Shastras

These 4 things together form the complete meaning
of SAT
97
Satsangi?
How is one known as a Satsangi? If he does
and comes is he a
Satsangi?
Tilak Chandlo
temple
Satanand Swami states in the Satsangi Jivan that
a person is known to be a Satsangi by their
following . The word
SANG (Shreeji Maharaj refers to this word in
the Vachnamritm SANG an
association which is made by body,
behavior/actions

(G.1/78).
action and mind.
God in human form has come to us. Almighty Lord
Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan has installed his own
form so worshippers can meditate upon his
divine murti
Lord Shree Swaminarayan established unique
of Satsang. With such a foundation, even
now we can find many saints who have absolutely
renounced the contact of and
.
foundation

females
The only thing we have to do is to recognize
these saints.
personal wealth
If we identify such saints then we have fulfilled
the second and very important aspect of Satsang.
98
Satsangi?
Third aspect, to fulfill the meaning of Satsang,
is the ostentatiously virtuous conduct prescribed
by
and his beloved . A
significant part of the task is to know the right
behavior, even that has been arranged for us. To
find our general or specific religious duties we
refer to the . We
do not need to dwell on other books or treatises,
explains our duties in
simple terms.
Lord Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan
saints
SHIKSHAPATRI
Shiskshapatri
The final attribute of Sat are the Scriptures
known as the wherein
these three (God, beloved saints who were in
contact with Shreeji Mahraj and those whom have
surrendered themselves to Lord Shree Swaminarayan
Bhagwan in present time and were
is mentioned and prescribed in for us to gain
knowledge from. When a person truly does
Satsang, he or she acquires virtuous
attributes, values of being a
SAT
SHASTRAS
Dharma
SATSANGI.
99
The 8 Sat Shastras were Lord Shree Swaminarayan
Bhagwans favorite granths, which ones are
they?(in order from Slok 93)
1. 4 Vedas ( ,
).
RugVed,
YarjuVed
SaamVed,
ArthaVed
2 (Bashya - Shree Ramanujacharya
spiritual philosophy)
Vyas Sutra
3. (Puran) greatness glory of Lord Shree
Krishna.
Shreemad Bhagwat
4. (from Maha Bharat).
Shree Vishnu Sahastra naam
5. (Bashya regarded the same as No.2)
Shree Bhagwad Gita
6. (code of ethics enunciated by
).
Vidurniti
Shree Vidurji
7. (from Vishnu Khand of Skandh Puran)
Shree Vasudev Mahatmya
8.
(guiding authority taking decisions on matters
of daily routines of rites rituals, business
affairs code of expiation).
Yagnavalkya Rushis Smruti
Lord Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan asked Shatanand
Swami to write these granths and many others.
Shatanand Swami was given Divya Dhrasti (
) to write these granths.
person who can see past, present future
100
Sat (the 4 significance) Sang (association made
by body, mind and action, which influences ones
behavior) SATSANGI
Question 1. How may NIYAMS are there that each
Satsangi of the Shree Swaminarayan Sampraday has
to follow?
11
Question 2. In which Prathna (Nitya Niyam) are
all 11 of these Niyams recited?
NIRVIKALP UTTAM ATI...
Question 3. How many times is the word satsangi
written in the Shikshapatri?
38
Question 4. Who wrote Satsangi Jeevan? How many
prakarans are there in this granth?
Shatanand Swami / 5
Question 5. GROUP work Answer the 10 question
on the paper given too you. Read each question
carefully some of them require more than 1
answer, and you have 10 minutes.
101
Q 1. Shikshapatri / Vadtal / Hari Mandap
Q 2. Satsangi Jeevan / Shatanand Swami
Q 3. Hari Geeta
Q 4. Vachanamrut / Muktanand Swami, Gopalanand
Swami, Nityanand Swami, Shukanand Swami /
Brahmanand Swami / 262
Q 5. Harileela Mrut / Acharya Shree Viharilalji
Maharaj
(3rd descendent from the Acharyas of the Vadtal
Gadi).

• Acharya Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj

• Acharya Shree Bhagvatprasadji Maharaj

• Acharya Shree Viharilalji Maharaj

• Acharya Shree Laxmiprasadji Maharaj

• Acharya Shree Shripatiprasadji Maharaj

• Acharya Shree Anandprasadji Maharaj

• Acharya Shree Narendraprasadji Maharaj

• Acharya Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj

• Acharya Shree Rakeshprasadji Maharaj

Q 6. Yamdund / Nishkulanand Swami
Q 7. Sarvamangal Stotra
Q 8. Shikshapatri Bhashya /
Shatanand Swami
Q 9. Bhakt Chintamani
Q 10. Janamangal Stotra
102
Jay Shree
Swaminarayan
The End
103
There are 11 Niyams that are recited in
Nirvikalp Uttam Ati... What are they (in order
as sang) and in which Slok are they mentioned in?
Hinsa na karanee jantukee.
(Sh / Slok 11)

• 
  Do not harm any beings.

• 
  Do not have any illicit
  kinds of relationship with other woman
  (Adultery).

Parastriya sangako tyag. (Sh / Slok 18)

• 
  Do not eat meat,
  seafood, eggs.

Mansh na khavat madhykun. (Sh / Slok 15)

• Do not
  drink/eat products that contain alcohol.

Peevat nahi badabhag. (Sh / Slok 15)


Vidhavkun sparshat nahi. (Sh / Slok 135)

• 
  Never touch widowed
  women whom you do not know.

• Never commit suicide in any
  bad situation.

Karat na atmaghat. (Sh / Slok 14)

Do not steal.

• Choree na karanee kahukee. (Sh / Slok 17)

• 
  Never falsely accuses
  people.

Kalank na koikun lagat. (Sh / Slok 20)

• 
  Never bad mouth about God.

Nindat nahi koy devakun. (Sh / Slok 21)

• 
  Never eat someones food who
  does not follow these eleven rules, (improper
  sources).

Bin khapto nahi khat. (Sh / Slok 19)
11. Never listen to holy
scriptures from a person who does not believe in
God (an Atheist).
Vimukh jivake vadanase katha sunee nahi jat. (Sh
/ Slok 25)
104
Sajni Shreeji Mujne Sajni Shreeji Mujne,
Sambharya Re, Haide Harakh Rahyo
Ubharaaya......Sajni Nenne Aasuni Dhaara Vahe
Re, Virahe Mandu Vyaakul Thaay............
Sajni Sundar Murti Shree Maharajni Re, Sundar
Kamal Sarikhan Nen....... Sajni Sundar Karta
Latka Hath-Na Re, Sundar Amrut Sarikhan
Ven.............. Sajni Shi Kahu Shobha Ango
Anga-Tani Re, Nirkhi Laaje Kotik
Kaam.Sajni Hasta Hasta Het Vadhaarta Re, Eva
Sukh-Nidhi Shree Ghanshyam...... Sajni Sada
Shvetaambar Shreeji Dhaarta Re, Ambar Jarkasiya
Koi VaarSajni Guchha Kalangi Tora Khosta Re,
Gajra Baaju Gulaabi Haar......... Sajni Ae
Chhabi Jova Talpe Ankhadi Re, Madhura Vachan
Sambharva Kaan....... Sajni Ae Hari Malvaane
Haidu Tape Re, Premanand-Na Jivan Praan.....
Sajni