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What are the main beliefs of Hindus?

Avartarvad - that God Manifests on earth

Karmavad - that we are responsible for our actions and their consequences Punarjanmavad - the body dies, but the soul (atma) is re-born until it attains ultimate salvation (atyantik kalyan)

Murti-Puja - God is manifest through murtis and accepts the devotion of devotees through them

Name the four Vedas.

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

What is the name of our Sanstha?

Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).

Who established our Sanstha?

Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj.

Which 5 mandirs did Shastriji Maharaj build?

Bochasan, Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladara, Gadhada

Who started the Bal and Satsang Mandals?

Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj

What is the purpose of human life?

To become Aksharrup and worship Purushottam.

What is the glory of God?

God is the creator of the infinite universes and everything that exists. God is present in every living being.

God sees everything and knows everything. That is, He is antaryami. God is divya (divine), sakar (has form) and pragat.

God is above all. There is nobody superior to Him.

God is the ultimate goal.

God is one and unique. This God is Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

This God is, today, manifest on earth through Mahant Swami Maharaj.

When and where was Bhagwan Swaminarayan born?

In Chhapaiya on Ram Navmi – Chaitra sud 9 VS 1837 (3 April 1781).

What was Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s childhood name?

Ghanshyam Maharaj

What were the names of Ghanshyam Maharaj’s parents?

Bhaktimata — Mother; Dharmadev — Father

What were the names of Ghanshyam Maharaj’s elder and younger brothers?

Elder: Rampratapbhai; Younger: Ichharambhai.

At what age did Ghanshyam Maharaj leave home?

11 years old

By what name was Ghanshyam Maharaj known during His pilgrimage of India?

Nilkanth Varni

How long did Nilkanth Varni’s pilgrimage last?

7 years, 1 month, and 11 days

When Ramanand Swami initiated Nilkanth Varni, which two names did he give to Him?

Narayanmuni, Sahajanand Swami.

What two boons did Sahajanand Swami ask for from Ramanand Swami when appointed as the Head of the Fellowship?

“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.

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.”

At which place and how many paramhansas did Shriji Maharaj initiate in one night?

500 paramhansas, in Kalvani.

Which mahamantra did Bhagwan Swaminarayan give?

Swaminarayan

Name some of the senior paramhansas (sadguru santos) of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

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

What is the glory of performing pradakshinas?

God and His sadhu are the center-point of our life. By performing pradakshinas, we gain spiritual merits.

What is ‘sashtang dandvat pranam’? Why should we do them?

When the following 8 parts touch the floor: forehead, nose, chest, hands, feet, mind, vision and speech, this is known as a sashtang dandvat pranam. By offering them to God, we become humble and the understanding that we are servants of God is strengthened.

What should one do after puja?

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

Who is the choicest in devotee of Bhagwan Swaminarayan?

Gunatitanand Swami

Who is Gunatitanand Swami?

The incarnation of Aksharbrahma, Akshardham.

Where and when was Gunatitanand Swami born?

In the village of Bhadra (Gunatitnagar), dist. Jamnagar. On Sharad Punam, Aso sud 15 VS 1841 (17-10-1785).

Where did Shriji Maharaj initiate Mulji Sharma into the sadhu-fold?

In Dabhan, near Nadiad.

By what name is Gunatitanand Swami’s memorial shrine known? Where is it located?

Akshar Deri, in Gondal

Where and when was Bhagatji Maharaj born?

In Mahuva. On Fagun sud 15 VS 1885 (20-3-1829).

Where and when was Shastriji Maharaj born?

In Mahelav. On Vasant Panchmi, Maha sud 5 VS 1921 (31-1-1865).

What was Shastriji Maharaj’s childhood name?

Dungar Bhakta

What name was Dungar Bhakta given when initiated?

Sadhu Yagnapurushdas

Where and when was Yogiji Maharaj born?

In Dhari. On Vaishakh vad 12 VS 1948 (23-5-1892).

What was Yogiji Maharaj’s childhood name?

Jina Bhagat

What is Yogiji Maharaj’s initiation name?

Sadhu Gnanjivandas

Which prayer should be said 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.

What are the four pillars of ekantik dharma?

1. Dharma, 2. Gnan, 3. Vairagya, 4. Bhakti.

Where and when was Pramukh Swami Maharaj born?

In Chansad. On Magshar sud 8 VS 1978 (7-12- 1921).

What were the names of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s parents?

Father: Motibhai, Mother: Diwaliba.

What was Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s childhood name?

Shantilal

At what age was Shanti Bhakta initiated?

18 years old

Where and by whom was Pramukh Swami Maharaj initiated into the sadhu order?

In the Akshar Deri at Gondal, by Shastriji Maharaj.

What is the initiation name of Pramukh Swami Maharaj?

Sadhu Narayanswarupdas

Since when has Narayanswarupdas Swami been known as Pramukh Swami Maharaj?

Since he was appointed President (Pramukh) of BAPS at the age of 28 by Shastriji Maharaj.

Where and when was Mahant Swami Maharaj born?

19 September 1933 (Samvat 1989, Bhadarva vad 9) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.

What were the names of Mahant Swami Maharaj’s parents?

Father: Manibhai, Mother: Dahiben.

What was Mahant Swami Maharaj’s childhood name?

Vinubhai

At what age was Vinu Bhagat initiated?

23 years old

Where and by whom was Mahant Swami Maharaj initiated into the sadhu order?

In Gadhada, by Yogiji Maharaj.

What is the initiation name of Mahant Swami Maharaj?

Sadhu Keshavjivandas

Which are the major scriptures of our Sampraday?

1. Vachanamrut, 2. Swamini Vatu, 3. Shikshapatri, 4. Satsang Diksha

What is the Vachanamrut?

A compilation of Shriji Maharaj’s discourses and answers to questions asked by the paramhansas and devotees. It contains the essence of all scriptures and gives guidance on complicated spiritual matters in a simple, lucid manner. It has been authenticated by Shriji Maharaj Himself.

Who wrote/compiled the Vachanamrut?

Muktanand Swami, Gopalanand Swami, Nityanand Swami and Shukanand Swami

Whose talks are recorded in the Swamini Vato?

The discourses of Mul Aksharmurti Gunatitanand Swami.

Which are the five eternal entities (anadi tattvas)?

1. Jiva, 2. Ishwar, 3. Maya, 4. Brahma 5. Parabrahma.

What three principles are to be understood in upasana?

1. Shriji Maharaj is sarvopari, sakar, karta and pragat.

2. Gunatitanand Swami is Mul Aksharbrahma.

3. The Pragat Brahmaswarup Satpurush is the gateway to moksha. Today, Mahant Swami Maharaj is that Satpurush.

What is the principle of Akshar Purushottam Upasna?

Akṣaram Ahaṃ Puruṣottama Dāso’smi”

Akshar is Gunatitanand Swami. Purushottam is Sahajanand Swami. We have to become brahmarup, that is, like Gunatitanand Swami, and offer devotion to Sahajanand Swami

What are the four Purusharthas?

Dharma, Arth, Kaam, Moksha

How do we attain moksha?

Agna + Upasana. By believing Shriji Maharaj to be the Supreme God; by sincere surrenderance to the Gunatit Satpurush; and by obeying their agnas, we attain moksha.