Key Concepts in Hinduism and Swaminarayan Tradition

Avatarvad

Incarnations in Hindu belief.

Karmavad

The concept of karma in Hinduism.

Punarjanmavad

Reincarnation in Hindu belief.

Murti-Puja

Idol worship in Hinduism.

Four Vedas

Rig-veda, Sam-veda, Atharva-veda, Yajur-veda.

Ved Vyas

The sage who recited the Mahabharata to Ganeshji.

Pradakshinas

Spiritual merits gained by performing circumambulations around God and His sadhu.

Sashtang Dandvat Pranam

A form of prostration where eight parts touch the floor: forehead, nose, chest, hands, feet, mind, vision, and speech.

Post-Puja Actions

Bow to the murtis in the ghar mandir, bow down to your parents, and wish everyone 'Jai Swaminarayan!'

Nine Forms of Devotion

Shravanam (Listening), Kirtanam (Chanting/Praising), Smaranam (Remembering), Archanam (Worship), Vandanam (Praying), Dasyam (Servitude), Sakhyam (Friendship), Atmanivedanam (Self-surrender), Padasevanam (Serving the feet of God).

Five Eternal Entities

Jiva (Soul), Ishwar (God), Maya (Illusion), Brahman (Cosmic Reality), Parabrahman (Supreme God).

Fruits of Karmas

Given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

Samadhi

The 8th step of Ashtang yog.

Attachment to Material Objects

Hinders spiritual progress and diverts attention from God.

Fuldol

A Hindu festival celebrated the day after Holi, focusing on devotion, flowers, and divine blessings.

Chanting God's Name

Purifies the heart, connects the devotee to God, and removes negative energies and impurities.

Purpose of Visiting a Mandir

To offer prayers, strengthen one's devotion, and seek blessings from God.

Bhakti

Pure devotion and love for God, leading to spiritual liberation.

Detachment in Daily Life

Practiced by doing atma no vichar and understanding that everything is temporary.

Importance of Guru

Provides spiritual guidance, knowledge, and helps lead the devotee on the right path to God.

Janmashtami

Krishna Bhagwan's birthday, celebrated with great devotion.

Attitude Towards Worldly Possessions

Remain detached, seeing them as temporary and not the source of ultimate happiness.

Importance of Good Company

Helps one stay focused on the path of devotion, gain spiritual knowledge, and cultivate virtues.

Role of Prayer

Strengthens one's relationship with God, helps overcome difficulties, and purifies the heart.

Overcoming Doubts in Faith

By seeking guidance from Santos, reading Hindu scriptures, and meditating on God's greatness.

Dev Podi

Marks the beginning of Chaturmas, the four-month period when Lord Vishnu enters a divine slumber.

Dev Uthi

Marks the awakening of Lord Vishnu from his four-month slumber (Chaturmas).

Jal Jhini

A Hindu devotional ritual in which Thakorji is taken across a body of water in a small boat or palanquin, symbolizing Bhagwan's divine leelas and the devotee's journey across the ocean of life with God's guidance.

Bhagvad Gita

Dialogue between Arjun and Krishna Bhagwan, taken place just before the Mahabharata.

5 Pandavs

Yudhishthir, Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, and Sahadev.

Gnan

Spiritual knowledge and wisdom, which helps in understanding the nature of the Jiva, God, and the universe.

Importance of Humility

Humility allows one to maintain devotion, reduce ego, and be open to spiritual growth.

Raksha Bandhan

A festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters, where sisters tie a protective thread (rakhi) on their brothers' wrists ensuring brotherhood and sisterhood, and brothers offer gifts in return.

Role of Scriptures

Scriptures provide crucial knowledge, moral guidance, and the teachings needed to live a righteous life.

Importance of Seva

Seva purifies the heart, removes selfishness, and strengthens one's bond with God and the community.

Makar Sankrati

Also known as Uttarayan, it symbolizes the importance of keeping a strong connection with the Guru no matter how far he may be.

Four Stages of Life

Brahmacharya (student life), Gruhastha (householder life), Vanaprastha (retired life), and Sannyasa (renunciant life).

Respecting Elders

Respecting elders helps cultivate humility, gratitude, and receive their blessings and guidance in life.

Role of Meditation

Meditation helps calm the mind, focus on God, and strengthens one's connection with the divine.

Forms of Devotion

Different forms of devotion include bhajan (singing praises), dhyan (meditation), kirtan (chanting), puja (worship), thal (offering food), and many other ways.

Overcoming Anger

One can overcome anger by practicing patience, tolerance, and focusing on the divine qualities of God.

Devotion and Material Desires

Devotion to God purifies the heart, reduces attachment to material objects, and fosters a focus on spiritual goals.

Importance of Moral Conduct

Moral conduct helps maintain a pure mind, facilitates devotion, and enables one to earn spiritual merit.

Faith in God during Difficulties

Faith in God provides strength, patience, and the confidence that God's will is always for the devotee's ultimate good.

Ahimsa

Non-Violence: All living things have souls. We should not harm or kill anything - not even mentally.

Significance of Diwali

Diwali is a celebration of the victory of light over darkness, symbolizing the triumph of righteousness and devotion to God.

Relationship between Guru and God

The Guru is seen as the representative of God, guiding devotees to connect with and serve God.

Concept of Maya

Maya refers to the illusory material world that distracts the jiva from spiritual pursuits and devotion to God.

Principle of Reincarnation

All living things have a soul and until we do not free ourselves from our desires, flaws and base-instincts the soul repeatedly takes birth as animals, insects, humans etc. (through the 8.4 million life forms infinite times).

Significance of Pradakshina

Pradakshina is a ritual where devotees walk around the deity, signifying reverence, humility, and devotion to God, also signifying that God is the center of our lives.

Pradakshina

Pradakshina is a ritual where devotees walk around the deity, signifying reverence, humility, and devotion to God. Also signifying that God is the center of our lives.

Vairagya

Vairagya refers to renunciation or detachment from worldly pleasures and desires to focus on spiritual goals.

Importance of community in spiritual life

A spiritual community helps support each other's growth, provides inspiration, and offers a place for shared devotion.

Role of Prarthana in overcoming obstacles

Prathana connects one to God, invoking divine help, strength, and guidance in overcoming life's challenges.

Holi

The festival of colors represents the eternal and divine love of Radhaji and Krishnaji.

Guru Purnima

A day to honor our guru Mahant Swami Maharaj and seek his blessings. It is observed on the full moon (Purnima) in the month of Ashadha (June-July).

Name of our Sanstha

Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).

Who established our Sanstha

Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj.

Mandirs built by Shastriji Maharaj

Bochasan, Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladara, Gadhada.

Who started the Bal and Satsang Mandals

Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj.

Purpose of human life

To become Aksharrup and worship Purushottam.

Supreme God

Sahajanand Swami - Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

Age Ghanshyam Maharaj left home

11 years old.

Name of Ghanshyam Maharaj during pilgrimage

Nilkanth Varni.

Duration of Nilkanth Varni's pilgrimage

7 years 1 month 11 days.

Names given to Nilkanth Varni by Ramanand Swami

Narayanmuni and Sahajanand Swami.

Boons asked by Sahajanand Swami from Ramanand Swami

1. 'If your satsangi is destined to suffer the distress inflicted by the sting of one scorpion, may the distress of the stings of millions and millions of scorpions befall each and every pore of my body; but no pain should afflict your satsangi.' 2. 'Moreover, if the begging bowl is written in the destiny of your satsangi, may that begging bowl come to Me; but on no account should your satsangi suffer from the lack of food or clothing.'

Number of paramhansas initiated by Shriji Maharaj in one night

500 paramhansas, in Kalvani.

Maham mantra given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Swaminarayan.

Senior paramhansas of Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Gunatitanand Swami, Gopalanand Swami, Muktanand Swami, Nityanand Swami, Shukanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami, Nishkulanand Swami, Premanand Swami, Krupanand Swami, Devanand Swami.

Choicest devotee of Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Gunatitanand Swami.

Who is Gunatitanand Swami

The incarnation of Aksharbrahma, Akshardham.

Prayer before going to sleep

O Maharaj! O Swami! O Pramukh Swami Maharaj! Please forgive me for the mistakes I have made throughout the day, knowingly or unknowingly. Please inspire me not to repeat these mistakes and wake me up early in the morning.

Four pillars of ekantik dharma

Dharma, Gnan, Vairagya, Bhakti.

Who named Ghanshyam Maharaj

Markandey Muni.

Who taught Nilkanth Varni ashtang yogi

Gopal Yogi.

Main goal of human life according to Bhagwan Swaminarayan

To attain the ultimate spiritual bliss by serving God and following the teachings of the guru.

Duration of tapa by Nilkanth Varni in Pulhashram

4 months.

Nilkanth Varni's belongings

Begging bowl, small book containing essence of all the shastras, loin cloth, and a murti.

Direction for puja

East or North.

Reason for Shastriji Maharaj leaving Vartal Sanstha

They didn't support Akshar Purushottam Upasana, and believed only in Bhagwan Swaminarayan, and not in Gunatitanand Swami.

Year BAPS was established

1907

Reason God comes to earth

He holds all his devotees dear to him.

Significance of Murti-puja

Murti-puja is the worship of God's physical form to maintain a connection with Him, develop devotion, and seek blessings.

Ultimate goal of a devotee

To become aksharrup (eternally divine) and attain the eternal company of God in Akshardham.

Solution to family problems

Gharsabha.

5 nirjala fasts

Ram Navmi, Dev Podi, Jal Jhini, Janmashtmi, Dev Uthi.

Developing humility

By always considering oneself as a servant of God and others, and by seeing everyone with equal respect. Truly embodying the quality of dasbhav and divyabhav.

Years of Shriji Maharaj's life in Vachanamrut

10 years.

Living a life of discipline

It means to follow the moral and spiritual codes, engage in worship, and live according to the tenets of the scriptures.

Yogi Bapa's Scripture

Yogi Gita.

Paramhansa who compiled the Vachanamrut

Gopalanand Swami, Muktanand Swami, Nityanand Swami and Shukanand Swami.

Qualities of a true devotee

Humility, devotion, compassion, truthfulness, and faith in God.

Panch vartmans of a sant

Nirman - No ego, Nissneh - No attachment, Nirlobh - No greed, Nishkam - No lust, Nisswad - No taste.

Bhagatji Maharaj's profession

He was a tailor.

Meaning of Akshardham

Akshardham refers to the eternal, imperishable abode of God, where liberated souls reside in eternal bliss.

Author of Bhaktachintamani

Nishkulanand Swami.

Meaning of Purushottam

Purushottam means the supreme God, referring to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, who is the avatar na avatari.

Significance of Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita teaches the principles of devotion, duty, and renunciation, aligning with the values in the Swaminarayan tradition.

Six mandirs built by Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Junagadh, Amdavad, Gadhada, Vadtal, Bhuj, and Dholera.