Q & A from pages Exceptions: pages Q.1B, 2B, 3A, 3B. 1. God likes two things (1) Upasana of His Sakar Swaroop (2)

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1 Study Guide Note: This does not include speech topics. However, quiet few will be chosen from this. Maninagar History Pages in Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Granth (red velvet cover) American History Pamphlet that was created last year for the dashabdi mahotsav, with the exception of pipe band, blood camp etc Only concentrate on time frame and work from 1970 till building of temple Sanskaar Deepika Part 1 Q & A from pages Exceptions: pages Q.1B, 2B, 3A, 3B Sanskaar Deepika Part 2 1. God likes two things (1) Upasana of His Sakar Swaroop (2) 2. Two things to forget (1) favors done to others (2) verbal abuse by others 3. Waking up in Brahm Murat at 4 am is the best time to wake up because your mind, intellect, and strength become stronger daily. It also prevents from your body from acquiring any diseases. 4. One should perform dhyan (meditation) for at least 15 minutes daily 5. Dhyan can be performed in Brahm Murat before taking a bath leaving the deep sleep state, after performing pooja and other daily niyams, or during any time of the day when one is free. 6. Performing dhyan in Brahm Murat is the best because that is the best time to achieve the Murti of God. One s mind and intellect are highly alert and not lazy. Also, there are no thoughts in mind at the start of the day. Towards the end of the day, one has seen many things and will affect him from being free of all thoughts. 7. After showering, one must wear washed, pure, unsown clothing to perform pooja. Anything white (dhoti) and or a silk chadar are acceptable. 8. One should sit on an asan that is comfortable, made of wool, hack sack, or silk in an easterly or northern facing direction

2 9. One should recite the Swaminarayan mantra during shower, walking, driving etc (In all aspects of daily activities). One should also recite scriptures daily such as Vachanamrut, Bapashree Ni Vato, etc 10. There are 3 types of shower (1) Rushi- Snan (sage snan) performed in Brahm Murat (2) Manushya- Snan (human snan) performed before sunrise (3) Raaksashi- Snan (demon snan) performed anytime after sunrise. 11. Tilak and Chandlo are the symbols of Swaminarayan Dharma. Oordhvapundra (upright U shaped) tilak should be made of using gopichandan (sandalwood paste). In the center of the oordhvapundra tilak, there should be a chandlo (round mark) that could be made of the same chandan as the tilak or with the auspicious red kum- kum 12. Tilak represents Shreejimaharaj and chandlo represents Anadi- mukta. Just as the chandlo lies within the tilak, Anadi- Muktas reside in Shreejimaharaj s murti eternally 13. Tilak chandlo is impressed in the forehead because if one was to die suddenly (sudden death, without an cause), even Yum (Satin, king of Hell) can t come take that soul. That soul goes straight to Akshardham. 14. After doing tilak chandlo, one should perform the Praat:Kaal Mansi pooja 15. Mansi pooja is the ceremonial mental worship of the Lord. Various devotional practices are performed to the Murti in mandir throughout the day, i.e. awakening and sleeping the Lord, bathing, offering food, clothing, etc. These devotional practices are mentally performed to the Lord that one contemplates during Mansi pooja. 16. Mansi pooja should be performed 5 times a day. (1) Praat:Kaal Mansi pooja (morning during pooja) (2) Rajbhog Mansi pooja (9-10 am offering God meal) (3) Utthapan Mansi pooja (4pm waking God up from afternoon nap) (4) Sayan- Sandhya Mansi pooja (7-8 pm after aarti to invite God to sit in Katha) (5) Podhan- niya Mansi pooja (taking God to bed) 17. Any mumukshu (person seeking eternal salvation) should observe the Ekadashi fast. Ekadashi fast is considered the greatest of fast because it is the fast of God Himself and He becomes extremely pleased with anyone who performs the fast. 18. (16) symbols Right foot 9: (1) Jav (barley)(2) Jambu (berry) (3) Vajra (dagger) (4) Urdhv rekha (foot lines) (5) Ketu (flag) (6) padma/kamad (rose) (7) Ankush (controller, usually used to control elephants) (8) Ashtakon (Octagon) (9) Swastik

3 Left foot 7: (1) Matsya/min (fish) (2) Tri- kon (triangle) (3) Gau- pad (cow s foot) (4) Dhanush (Bow) (5) Vyom (space/sky) (6) Ardha- Chandra (half- moon) (7) Kadash (pot) Sanskaar Deepika Part 3 1. Shikshapatri literally translated as an epistle of beneficial instructions. 2. Shikshapatri was first translated into Gujarati by Sadguru Shree Nityanand Swami 3. Sadhu is the one who can achieve owns salvation and grant salvation to others 4. Those who abide by sadaachaar (good conduct) as described in the sanctified scriptures, such as Shikshapatri, will attain happiness both in their current life and their next, basically achieving eternal salvation 5. Ahinsa (non- violence) as described in the scriptures is to behave in such a way where no soul is hurt intentionally, or have a thought of hurting them 6. Jagannathpuri is a holy site of pilgrimage situated on the Bay of Bengal. However, disciples of Lord Swaminarayan should understand it to be where salvation can be achieved, i.e. Temples of Lord Swaminarayan Karan Satsang 7. Disciples must never slander, or even listen to the blaspheming of devta (deities), tirth (pilgrimage site or sacred place), brahman (people of God), pativrata (chaste women), sadhu (saints, or Vedas (holy scriptures) 8. Disciples must never drink water or milk that has not been adequately filtered, not should they bathe in water that is infested with minute creatures. The Sin for drinking unfiltered water for one day is equivalent to the sin of a fisherman who catches fish and kills them daily for 6 months. It is also beneficial to utter the Swaminarayan mantra during shower because it will help the minute creatures attain salvation 9. Disciples must never listen to a sermon given by a female because the actual unity of male and female alone is enough to have a soul fall from salvation 10. One must never go empty handed when visiting one s guru, deity or the king. 11. Any garment that leaves the body indecently exposed should never be worn, i.e. extremely small or see through 12. When disciples visit a mandir, on a daily basis or on religious festival days, each gender should remain segregated and thus, physical contact between them should be avoided 13. Disciples who have received initiation are considered dveej. The first birth occurs when one is born from their mother s womb and the second when they take initiation in the religion 14. Disciples should wake up before sunrise each day and them immediately offer a prayer to the Lord before attending to their bodily functions am is considered Brahm Murat 16. Brushing ones teeth is called dant- dhavan 17. Females (suwasini stri) should only impress a chandlo using kum- kum on their foreheads because it is the symbol of their marriage

4 18. A disciple who has offered his everything (mind, body, and wealth (tan man dhan)) to the service of God is called an Aatmanivedi disciple. Dedicate every aspect of their lives in the devoted service of God 19. Acharya is one who abides by the rules stipulated in the religion and has others follow them. Also, one who understands the scriptures wholeheartedly and teaches them to the disciples 20. On special celebration days such as Ekadashi, Guru Purnima, Sadguru Din, Manifestation day of God, the singing of the Lord s praises should be accompanied with the playing of musical instruments 21. During solar and lunar eclipses, disciples must stop all other activities, purify themselves and chant the mantra of the supreme Lord, and sing religious hymns. When the eclipse is over, they should bathe fully clothed (so that the clothes are also washed and purified). Then the Gruhasth disciples should give charitable donations according to their means, and tyagi should perform pooja to the Lord. 22. The definition of dharma, as described in Shruti and Smruti, is to live with good and moral conduct (sadaachaar). It should be not against social and scripture guidelines, and Satpurush has absorbed it and lives accordingly 23. Bhakti is defined as an immense love for the supreme Lord that is combined with a genuine understanding and knowledge of His greatness 24. True vairagya is when you have no affection for anyone or anything except for the Lord, (from a leaf to Mul- Akshar) 25. Gnan (spiritual knowledge) is defined as an understanding of the form and characteristics of jeev (soul), maya (worldly illusion), Ishwar, Brahm and Parabhrahm (Supreme God) from scriptures and Satpurush. 26. Gruhasth male disciples must never touch a widow, except those who are closely related 27. Male gruhasth disciples should never stay in solitude with their young mother, sister, or daughter except if this is absolutely unavoidable. 28. Gruhasth disciples must serve their parents, guru and the sick throughout their lives in the best manner that they can. 29. Disciples should not keep secret of their paid debt, their generation and the marriages of their daughters 30. Shikshapatri is sarvajeevhitavaha ((benefit to ALL souls). It is universally beneficial for everyone, whether they are of the Swaminarayan sampraday or not. Whoever follows the commands in Shikshapatri and lives their lives accordingly will attain salvation. 31. Suicide is a great sin because God has given us a ship in form of a human body to cross the ocean of life and death (8.4 million species). With the human form, one can think and make decision on his own. They can decide what is right and wrong and behave accordingly. One should perform good deeds and live by the rules stipulated in the Scriptures. Ending one s own life is ending God s gift of human birth to attain salvation 32. At sunset, demons come to great power. They look to demolish good on earth. Disciples of God should go to Temple every evening to sing kirtans, and read holy scriptures to control the demon s activities

5 33. Fasting is broken by doing the following: (1) drinking water more then two times in a day (2) Sleeping during the day (3) performing sexual activities (4) getting angry. There are few more but the above four are the main 34. Aahik karma: defined as daily activities such as bathing, dhyan, pooja, singing kirtans, and reading scriptures. A devotee must perform these daily. 35. Disciple of God should only perform dhyan on to the Murtis of Ghanshyam Maharaj, Shree Harikrushna Maharaj, and Shree Sahajanand Swami Maharaj. Dhyan should NOT be performed to any other deity, incarnations, or humans even if they are the disciples of the Lord (Anadi mukta). 36. A narration from the tenth section of the Shreemad Bhagwat should be heard daily. If this is not possible, its recital must be heard at least one every year. Those who are educated should read this section daily. The tenth section of the Shreemad Bhagwat refers to the Svabhavik Chestaa Pad (ten hymns that narrate the divine biography of the Lord) which are recited each day 37. Married and widow ladies should not conceal the fact that they are having a menstrual period because (1) It is the 4 th part of Indra s Brahm- hatya (sin of killing a deity. Revealing menstrual period lifts one from this sin (2) eliminates a sin of adultery. If one had bad thoughts (performing sexual activities) about any men (3) eliminates any thoughts from others about her pregnancy 38. Ladies with menstrual period must not touch any humans or clothes, however touching animals is allowed. They are allowed to touch after the fourth day after bathing, but cannot perform any seva to God such as pooja, cooking meals for God, aarti, etc They can resume normal activities after bathing on the 5 th day. 39. KRISHNA= One who eliminates all miseries of His disciples. It is also made up of two words KRIS+NA. It also refers to a place of happiness. Hence, one who eliminates all miseries and gives eternal bliss to His devotees. Krishna also refers to one who attracts people to them because of their attributes. In the Hindu scriptures, the name Krishna existed before the manifestation of Lord Krishna. So wherever Krishna is used in our scriptures, it refers to Lord Swaminarayan, unless otherwise noted 40. If a spirit or ghostly apparition inflicts one, disciples must chant the mantra of Lord Swaminarayan, but they must never resort to using the spells, mantras or incantations of another deity who has a lower status then Him. A true devotee never gets inflicted; only a person who is so called a Satsangi may get inflicted. At that time, they should resort to using Swaminarayan mantra 41. Vishnu=Lord Shree Swaminarayan Shiv= Anadi Mukta (Highest liberated soul) Ganpati= Sankalp swaroop (physical form of God s thought)(manifestation of the Lord in another form Parvati= Param Ekantik Mukta (Souls who are in service to the Lord in Akshardham) Surya= Ekantik Mukta (souls who live on human body on this earth and live life according to His will)

6 There is a deeper meaning to all the names like Krishna. If you want to know, please let me know 42. Disciples must face north or east when performing Pooja 43. Sitting crossed- legged inappropriately or with knees bound with a cloth is considered disrespectful in Sabah 44. See below in Sanskar Deepika part one pages for detailed explanation 3 Bodies (deh)= Sthool, Sookshma, Karan 3 states (avastha)= awake (jagrat), dream (swapna), deep sleep (sushupti) 3 attributes (gun)= rajas (lust, passion or pleasure seeking quality of maya), tamas (angry, resentful, arrogant and destructive attribute of Maya), sattva (tranquil, virtuous, pure, wise and restrained attribute of Maya) 5 sensations (Vishay)= speech (shabda), touch (sparsh), site (roop), taste (ras), smell (gandh) 5 elements (bhut)= earth (pruthvi), water (jad), fire (tej), wind (vayu), space (aakash) 4 antah karan= Mind (man), intellect (buddhi), Chit, Ahankar 5 Gnan Indriyas= Ears, Eyes, Nose, Skin, Tongue Sanskaar Deepika Part 4 1. Shree Swaminarayan Gadi is Karan Satsang. 2. There is note even an iota of difference between the divine form of Lord Shree Swaminarayan that resides in Akshardham, His human form that manifested in Chhapaiya, and the idol form of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj that are installed n the supreme temples fundamental pillars of Upasana (1) Lord Shree Swaminarayan is the supreme, incarnator of all incarnations God (2) Lord Shree Swaminarayan is divine and always exists with a human like form. He is not just a light or a mass of energy (3) Lord Shree Swaminarayan is always present everywhere (4) Lord Shree Swaminarayan is omniscient and knows about everyone s innermost thoughts 4. Lords philosophy is Vishishtadwait Philosophy which He introduced in Kashi at age 8 5. Sadguru Shree Gopalanand Swami, Shree Muktanand Swami, Shree Nityanand Swami, Shree Brahmanand Swami and Shree Shukanand Swami compiled Vachanamrut Scripture. It contains 273 Vachanamruts divided into separate sections, named after the town in which the discourse was held. 6. The nine fold Bhakti comprises of shravan bhakti, kirtan bhakti, smaran bhakti, padsevan bhakti, archan bhakti, vandan bhakti, dasya bhakti, sakhya bhakti and samarpan bhakti. Ultimate type of bhakti is chaste devotion (pativrata bhakti), this encompasses the above nine types of bhaktis (devotion) 7. Karan Satsang: Karan=cause; Sat (true); - sang (association). Hence it means establishing a true association with Lord Swaminarayan and His Sankalp Swaroops.

7 8. Internal enemies refer to obstacles that reside within people that are encountered as they progress through spirituality and become closer to the Lord. These are lust (kaam), anger (krodh), greed (lobh), pride (maan), uncontrolled fascination or bewilderment about something or someone (moh), arrogance (mad), vanity (matsar), an intense hope for someone or something (aashaa), desires or yearning for things or someone (trushnaa), self pride (ahankaar), envy or jealousy (irshaa) 9. There are many Gadis, but Shree Swaminarayan Gadi is sarvopari and main 10. Sarvopari and Sarvavataari Lord Shree Swaminarayan is pragat and pratyaksh in Kalyug 11. Without Sakar Upasana (God has a form) of God, one can not visualize soul or brahm (god) 12. Knowing and understanding God to be the doer of all, salvation is merely attained. Everything else is just a means to please Him to attain more bliss 13. There are many ways to please God, but Bhakti along with intense love and knowledge is the best. 14. Kushal Bhatt (Shree Gopalanand Swamibapa) manifested along with Lord Swaminarayan 15. Shree Gopalanand Swamibapa prevented Kaal (inauspicious time) from entering the village of Agatrai 16. Lord Shree Swaminarayan and Sadguru Shree Gopalanand Swamibapa are two of the same form. They seem two but are one. 17. First ever temple to be built was in Muli after the disappearance of God s human form. Shree Brahmanand Swami had constructed the temple of Muli 18. If Shree Gopalanand Swami installs the idols in the Temple, it is considered that Lord Swaminarayan Himself installed the idols. 19. Shreejimaharaj gave the helm of the entire religion to Shree Gopalanand Swami 20. Sadguru Shree Gunatitanand Swami used to say We can experience the bliss of Lord Swaminarayan through you. 21. Bapashree used to go to bath in Lake Krishna (Kali Talavdi) with His friends 22. Bapashree established Satsang Mahasabha to preserve religion (dharma) when several people started to claim the assets of the Lord to be their own personal property 23. A revolution will rise in the religion by the 4 th successor of Shree Gopalanand Swami 24. Eternal Salvation can only be attained in Karan Satsang. Mere ash flies around everywhere else. Temples, sants, acharyas, brahmacharis and devotees are all the actions (karya). The only cause of all the actions (karan) is the Murti of Lord Shree Swaminarayan 25. Sadguru Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa compiled the Rahasyarth Pradeepika Tika of the Vachanamrut 26. Jeevanpran Swamibapa defeated the opposing sadhus on the interpretation of the scriptures in Vidhwat Sabha for two straight days

8 27. In Maninagar, there was first a single story temple (bangla gaat) in which Swamibapa had performed the idol installation ceremony. After 11 years, a full dome built temple was constructed in Maninagar 28. Jeevanpran Swamibapa was elected as the chairman of the entire Bharat Sadhu Samaj Gujarat Branch because of his drive and will to improve community. 29. Scholars of Kashi gave Jeevanpran Swamibapa two honorary titles Vedsastra- sanrakshak and Vishwadharma- chudamani. 30. Nilkanth Varni first met Sukhanand Swami on the outskirts of Loj 31. Shree Nilkanth Varni asked Muktanand Swami to describe the forms of Jeev, Maya, Ishwar, Brahm and Parabhrahm. 32. In trance, Shree Vyapkanand Swami went to the abode of Bhuma Purush 33. Jay Sadguru Swami was composed by Sadguru Shree Muktanand Swami 34. Lord Shree Swaminarayan and Khushal Bhatt first met in Jetalpur 35. During His divine ordination in Akshardham, Lord Shree Swaminarayan revealed to His Muktas that He would give darshan upon this earth for 125 years. By manifesting as Jeevanpran Bapashree, Lord fulfilled His intention to give darshan for 125 years 36. Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj promised Suvasini bhabi that when He presides as a supreme sovereign, He would not forget her. Hence, He adopted two sons and named them the Acharyas; one of Laxminarayan Gadi, and the other of Nar- Narayan Gadi 37. Sadguru Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa and Shree Purushottambhai first met in Saraspur mandir. 38. A precedent was set for the entire Satsang after the Kadi incident that all the village temples belong to the disciples of that particular village; however, no one else has any rights to the property or its wealth. 39. Jeevanpran Swamibapa built a boarding home (Shree Swaminarayan Chhatralay) for students in the memory of Sadguru Swamishree 40. Shree Swaminarayan Siddhant Sajivan Mandal was first established in Kutch by Jeevanpran Swamibapa to sustain and propagate the true principles of the Supreme Lord 41. From the donations received during Jeevanpran Swamibapa s Golden Jubilee, the Suvarna Jayanti Mahotsav Smarak Trust was established. Under the auspices of this Trust, Shree Swaminarayan Arts and Science College was built 42. Oordhvam tathaadho Stotra was composed by Jeevanpran Swamibapa 43. Shree Sahajanand Swami was handed the helm of the religion by Ramanand Swami in Jetpur 44. Dolatsang became a devotee because of Shree Nirgun Bapa. 45. Bapashree s centenary celebration (shatabdi) mahotsav was held at the Chhatri site in Vrushpur 46. When Jeevanpran Swamibapa reached 60, the devotees decided to celebrate the occasion and held the Shashtipurti Platinum Tula Mahotsav 47. Swamibapa loved Dhyan. First episode was 12 days, 2 nd episode was for 31 straight days, and the 3 rd episode was for 61 days

9 48. Jeevanpran Swamibapa gave the physical embodiment of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi by the direct command of God after sitting in continuous meditation for 61 days. 49. Shree Nilkanth Varni said, The plant is a living entity. If I pluck it, the plant will experience pain. Therefore I cannot pluck it in Jagannathpuri to the Vairagis (sages) 50. Shree Nilkanth Varni said This is not just a whole in the wall, but it is a flaw in the religion to Shree Muktanand Swami in Loj 51. Sadguru Shree Ramanand Swami said, Why have you come here? Why did you not go to Loj? to Lalji Bhagat in Bhuj 52. A merchant from Sindh said, You Hindus follow a strange practice! The disciple sits on a throne whilst God sits on the floor! in Piplana addressing Shree Ramanand Swami 53. Lord Shree Swaminarayan said This entire religion is yours just as its mine. Please look after it to Shree Gopalanand Swami in Gadhada 54. Lord Shree Swaminarayan said, For so many years I lived with you. Still, you think of Me as human! to Dadakhachar in Gadhada after He withdrew His human form and Dadakhachar went to jump in the Lord s cremation pyre 55. Shree Nirgundasji Swami said Dolatsang, we cannot accept your food to Dolatsang after Shree Nirgun Bapa brought his son Takhubha back to life and he offered to dine at his place in Lavad 56. Devuba said I want a son like You to Lord Shree Swaminarayan at Krishna talavdi when He offered her a boon 57. Devuba said How did you get these dates without any Money? to Baal Swaroop Bapashree in Vrushpur when Pancha Pita was sick and craved khajur 58. Jeevanpran Swamibapa said, Who is the chairman of the assembly? How can an assembly pass a resolution without a chairman? At Vidhwatsabha addressing the assembly on the 2 nd day when the Acharya did not show up for the debate 59. Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj said Are you serving Me or am I in your service? to Jeevanpran Swamibapa in Kadi when the oppositions had a plan to breach his celibacy 60. Jeevanpran Swamibapa said If there is no one else, these pillars will listen to the discourses. to the Bhuj sadhus in Visnagar 61. Jeevanpran Swamibapa said, Look! These are not ordinary scorpions. They represent the abundant, overflowing wealth that will rise from here. to the Santos in Maninagar when cooking Khichadi for Ghanshyam Maharaj 62. Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan said You have sat in My living quarters? to Jeevanpran Swamibapa on his first episode of dhyan of 12 days in front of Ghanshyam Maharaj in Maninagar 63. Markandeya Muni: Gave Ghanshyam Maharaj 3 names Ghanshyam Prabhu: Ate all the sweets from the shop in exchange for the ring Ghanshyam Prabhu: Created Vishishtadwait Philosophy in Kashi at age 8 Nilkanth Varni: Separated the sabha of men and women Ramanand Swami: Gave the throne to Shree Sahajanand Swami

10 Shree Sahajanand Swami: Established the name SWAMINARAYAN Shree Vyapakanand Swami: Gave life to the dead horse of DAHAKhachar (not DADA) Brahmanand Swami: Created the 1 st temple in Muli after Lord Swaminarayan withdrew His human form Shree Bapashree: Founded the Satsang Mahasabha Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa: wrote the Rahasyarth Pradeepika Tika Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa: groundbreaking ceremony at Maninagar Temple Jeevanpran Swamibapa: Installed the idols in Maninagar Dham Jeevanpran Swamibapa: Gave physical embodiment to the Swaminarayan Gadi