Swaminarayan Hinduism

[Guest guest]

I am new to Hinduism and I am interested in the swaminarayan sect. Is it an authentic sect of Hinduism. What are the scriptures? What philosophy does it fall under. Are they accepted by mainstream Hinduism?

 

thanx

[Guest guest]

The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is affiliated with the Vaisnava tradition, which is one of the two principal branches of Sanatana Dharma, the other one being Advaita Vedanta, Sankaracarya's philosophy of impersonal monism. In particular, they (the Swami Narayan followers) trace the roots of their sampradaya to Sripada Ramanujacarya's formidable school of thought which is known as Visistadvaita, widely prevalent in Dravida-desa/South India; however, Swami Narayan devotees do differ from traditional Ramanuja Vaisnavas, or Sri Vaisnavas as they are also called, in some important respects. In fact, in the Swami Narayan movement, their own particular version of Vedanta is termed neo-Visistadvaita-vada.

 

Personally, I am a follower of the Brahma Madhva Gaudiya Sarasvata Vaisnava sampradaya, and therefore I do not necessarily to the precepts of the Swami Narayan religionists as such. However, I do acknowledge their large contribution in the dissemination of Vedic Dharma and the spread of Vedic culture internationally, and their efforts to preach authentic sattvika principles such as vegetarianism to the people of this world. I visited their wonderful Akshardham temple in New Delhi last year, and was pretty amazed by the architecture and the spotless cleanliness of it. They also have beautiful murtis of Sri Radha-Krsna, Sri Sita-Rama-Hanuman, Sri Laksmi-Narayana and Sri Parvati-Siva-Ganesa in addition to a large statue of their ista-deva Sahajananda Swami himself.

 

They are an active, international Hindu sect and have a number of websites on which you can learn more about their theology and practices if you want. Just run a google search on Swami Narayan and that should take you to where you wish to go.

 

HARI BOL!

[Guest guest]

BAPS actually represents a cultish offshoot of the mainstream Swaminarayan sect as established by Sahajanand Swami (Swaminarayan) himself almost 200 years ago.

The orginal Swaminarayan sect is led by the Vadtal and Ahmedabad diocese in Gujarat and have numerous representative temples and mandirs in USA, UK, Australasia, Kenya as well as India. Lord Swaminarayan in his presence arranged for the construction of 9 temples which belong to the original sect of the Swaminarayan sampraday.

 

Have you see the youtube video on Swaminarayan sect entitled God's Business? Its a documentary shown on Al Jazeera about Swaminarayan and BAPS

[Guest guest]

 

BAPS actually represents a cultish offshoot of the mainstream Swaminarayan sect as established by Sahajanand Swami (Swaminarayan) himself almost 200 years ago.

The orginal Swaminarayan sect is led by the Vadtal and Ahmedabad diocese in Gujarat and have numerous representative temples and mandirs in USA, UK, Australasia, Kenya as well as India. Lord Swaminarayan in his presence arranged for the construction of 9 temples which belong to the original sect of the Swaminarayan sampraday.

 

Have you see the youtube video on Swaminarayan sect entitled God's Business? Its a documentary shown on Al Jazeera about Swaminarayan and BAPS

 

I'm really interested in the BAPS Swaminarayan sect. Can I be an authentic follower of Lord Swaminarayan under BAPS. Or do I have to be under Vadtal and Ahmedabad? As long as I worship Swaminarayan Bhagawan why does it matter?

[Guest guest]

 

I'm really interested in the BAPS Swaminarayan sect. Can I be an authentic follower of Lord Swaminarayan under BAPS. Or do I have to be under Vadtal and Ahmedabad? As long as I worship Swaminarayan Bhagawan why does it matter?

 

 

It does matter. When it comes to picking a guru, you have to be very careful as your guru can lead you to heaven or straight to hell. In the Swaminarayan Sampraday, the acharyas are like your guru and for Baps, Pramukh swami is their guru.

 

A guru is noway at the same level as GOD. The pictures of the Baps gurus are put on par and at the same level as those of the lords' murtis and arti is done to both. This is wrong. Their currernt guru, Pramakh Swami does not condem this. If their guru is on the same level as GOD and He does not think this is wrong, then association with such sanstha is wrong and can lead you to fall from your true path.

[Guest guest]

 

It does matter. When it comes to picking a guru, you have to be very careful as your guru can lead you to heaven or straight to hell. In the Swaminarayan Sampraday, the acharyas are like your guru and for Baps, Pramukh swami is their guru.

 

A guru is noway at the same level as GOD. The pictures of the Baps gurus are put on par and at the same level as those of the lords' murtis and arti is done to both. This is wrong. Their currernt guru, Pramakh Swami does not condem this. If their guru is on the same level as GOD and He does not think this is wrong, then association with such sanstha is wrong and can lead you to fall from your true path.

 

so if they stopped putting pramakh swamis' pics near Swaminarayan, then BAPS would be ok?

[Guest guest]

 

so if they stopped putting pramakh swamis' pics near Swaminarayan, then BAPS would be ok?

 

If you want to follow the Swaminarayan sampraday, you have to abide by what Lord Swaminarayan cast in stone. 'The northern hemisphere (of India) to be administerd by his older brother's generation and the southern hemisphere (of India) to be administerd by his younger brother's generation', i.e. nowadays Koshelendra prasad (Ahmedabaad) and Rakesh prasad (Vadtal) . Baps were originally part of Vadtal and then seperated for some reason. This is not what the Lord set nor wanted as santo in the tyagi or sanyasi ashram cannot deal with day to day dealings of the samradaya, e.g. issues with male and female devotees, ony grihastas can do this.

 

You have a choice, i encourage you to look at the origins of the sampraday and look at how we have come to where we are today in the modern day Swaminarayan Sampraday. The true guru lineage is of Ahmedabaad and Vadtal. I get the feeling you want to be associated with the Baps sanstha. No one can stop you but their way of things are contray to the original Swaminarayan sampraday.

 

Good day.

Jay Shree Swaminarayan

[Guest guest]

 

BAPS actually represents a cultish offshoot of the mainstream Swaminarayan sect as established by Sahajanand Swami (Swaminarayan) himself almost 200 years ago.

The orginal Swaminarayan sect is led by the Vadtal and Ahmedabad diocese in Gujarat and have numerous representative temples and mandirs in USA, UK, Australasia, Kenya as well as India. Lord Swaminarayan in his presence arranged for the construction of 9 temples which belong to the original sect of the Swaminarayan sampraday.

 

Have you see the youtube video on Swaminarayan sect entitled God's Business? Its a documentary shown on Al Jazeera about Swaminarayan and BAPS

how is BAPS an off shot. They are the largest sect...

[Guest guest]

 

If you want to follow the Swaminarayan sampraday, you have to abide by what Lord Swaminarayan cast in stone. 'The northern hemisphere (of India) to be administerd by his older brother's generation and the southern hemisphere (of India) to be administerd by his younger brother's generation', i.e. nowadays Koshelendra prasad (Ahmedabaad) and Rakesh prasad (Vadtal) .

 

What about the rest of India? what do they fall under?

[Guest guest]

 

What about the rest of India? what do they fall under?

 

Their is no rest of india. Its either sout or north. That includes the east and west.

 

Also BAPS is a cult. The yhave around one million followers. The original sampraday which stays away from the media, politics and business etc has a following of over 4 million.

 

The origins of Bhagwan Swaminarayan start and end within the original sampraday. The true guru lineage is of Ahmedabaad and Vadtal acharyas today. Im not being biased by the way. I have studied bot sides and come to this conclusion.

[Guest guest]

 

Their is no rest of india. Its either sout or north. That includes the east and west.

 

Also BAPS is a cult. The yhave around one million followers. The original sampraday which stays away from the media, politics and business etc has a following of over 4 million.

 

The origins of Bhagwan Swaminarayan start and end within the original sampraday. The true guru lineage is of Ahmedabaad and Vadtal acharyas today. Im not being biased by the way. I have studied bot sides and come to this conclusion.

 

I meant the rest of the world, swaminarayan devotees from different countries. Who don't live in India?

[Tirisilex]

http://www.swaminarayan.org/

 

 

 

Check this addy out.

[Guest guest]

Today we worship this God and that God, tomorrow we will worship each other as God and everything will lead to Mayavada: I am the Lord of all I survey mentality.

[Guest guest]

 

I meant the rest of the world, swaminarayan devotees from different countries. Who don't live in India?

 

They have temples under the Vadtal Gadi or either the Amdavad Gadi internationally. Whichever region you fall in in India you go to them temples. or teh closest one to you. But under thsi gadi only. As you have to have refuge under the Dharmkul at all times.

[Guest guest]

 

Today we worship this God and that God, tomorrow we will worship each other as God and everything will lead to Mayavada: I am the Lord of all I survey mentality.

 

No if yo uactually study the original Sampraday of Swmainarayan Bhagwan you will realise for yourself how this has nothing to do with Mayavad. To worship a person (soul) even if he/she is a brahmveta as God is MAyavad.

To worship God as God is not Mayavad.

[Guest guest]

 

No if yo uactually study the original Sampraday of Swmainarayan Bhagwan you will realise for yourself how this has nothing to do with Mayavad. To worship a person (soul) even if he/she is a brahmveta as God is MAyavad.

To worship God as God is not Mayavad.

 

 

Please provide undisputed evidence from Veda Vyas' works to support your claims that Swaminarayan is God. Each incarnation is mentioned atleast 3 times across the vedas, puranas, upanishads. Please if you could extract something from them, I am ready to believe the words of God, not the opinions of billion others.

[Guest guest]

 

Please provide undisputed evidence from Veda Vyas' works to support your claims that Swaminarayan is God. Each incarnation is mentioned atleast 3 times across the vedas, puranas, upanishads. Please if you could extract something from them, I am ready to believe the words of God, not the opinions of billion others.

 

No matter what i provide those that want to go against this belief and the scriptures revelations will do so.

 

There is absolute truth in Swaminarayan being God supreme. He is Lord NarNarayan incarnate.

There is only one god. First of all God Shree Krishna states in the Bhagvat Geeta that whenever there is unrighteousness and evil prevailing the earth he will either come himself or send his saints down to earth to get rid of the sinners and once again establish the path of righteousness.

 

It is stated in the Padma puran (one of the 18 purans of our religion as directed by god supreme):

 

II Datatrayam krutyuge,

tretayaam raghunandana,

dvapare vasudevaha,

kalou swami vrushatmaja II

 

This means that in satyug I (god) will be born as datatray, in tretayug as raam son of the raghu clan, in dwapar yug I will come as Krishna son of vasudev and in kaliyug I will come named Swami son of Dharm (Dharmadev).

 

It also states in Vishnu dharmottar:

 

II Pakhandbahuleloke swami namna hari swayam,

papank nimagnam tajuddhaaryishyati II

 

II Mahadharmanvye punye,

naamna paapvinashke,

hariprasad vivrasya,

swami namna hari svayam II

 

This means that in kaliyug where evil triumphs, I purna purushotam will arrive on the earth named hari. I will redeem many souls and increase their punya (good deeds). I named as Swami will be born to Hari (Hariprasad, orginal name of Dharmadev).

 

Many doubts are raised, and rightly so, as to how Sahajanand Swami can be considered Bhagwan or God. It is extremely rare to find anyone who has anything but praise for Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan and His achievements and accomplishments. However, questions are raised as to His status.

 

Such concerns surface from the fact that there are many self-styled Gods prevalent in and outside India and it becomes necessary to question their authenticity.

 

For the moment, we shall not enter in to discussion about His supremacy. It is first vital to establish that He was Bhagwan, or at least an incarnation of Bhagwan.

 

God did not need to come down on the Earth just because he was cursed; in fact, this was his will. It was planned by him that it was time to come down and the incident of the curse was therefore used by Lord Nar Narayan (Swaminarayan). Just like when Dev Rishi Narad cursed Laxmi Narayan and therefore God had to be born as Ram and Sita. These incidents also prove to teach a moral lesson as well therefore the Lord also chooses to use them as a reason.

 

The original divine form of God that resides in Akshardham is not like what we see with our eyes. His original sound is not like what we hear with our ears, his touch is not like what we feel with our skin. His smell is not like what we smell with our nose. He is beyond our description by any words. He is not even like what we imagine him to be like with our limited capacity of mind.

 

The lord could easily stay in his abode and do all this from above or even come down as himself without changing his form. Nevertheless, God does not control our minds and our Karmas (actions) even though he can. We as independent souls control these. Therefore the lord would not just stay in his abode and do it all from there. How would we as people find love for him in this way as well? How would we realise his magnificence from mere scriptures alone? It would be impossible. There would not be any belief at all.

 

If God wished to come down on the Earth in his original divine form, a person would not feel comfortable. Just like Arjun did not after seeing the full form of the Lord on the battlefield. He was scared out of his wits.

That is why God withdraws his grandeur with himself and appears before people in a human form. Therefore, people can touch him, hear him and worship him lovingly in all nine ways of worship. A human being can only love another human being in the correct manner therefore the lord comes on the Earth as a human by withdrawing his divine qualities within himself.

Even if he appears before people on Earth in this human form, he is still there in Akshardham with his full form.

 

Brahma is not supreme God. He himself worships the Lord. Brahmaji is just a creation of God used for the creation of this universe. How can Brahma be supreme God if he is affected by the attributes of Maya? What nonsense. He was created from the navel of Vairat Narayan who himself worships the Lord. Brahma Vishnu and Shiv were created for their reasons from the body of Vairat Narayan. However, in order to get to Akshardham they can be worshipped as well.

 

In the Shikshapatri Shlok 108 Sahajanand Swami (Swaminarayan Bhagvan) writes

 

Quote:

“sa sri krshnaha param brahma bhagvaan purushotamaha

upasya ishtadevo naha sarvaavirbhaav kaaranam”

 

 

Quote:

"That isvara is Shree Krshna who is PraBrahma Bhagwan Purushottam

and our most cherished deity (istadeva).

He is worthy of being worshipped by us all (upasya). He is the cause of all

manifestations and incarnations"

 

 

As an elaboration to this shlok, Sadguru Shree Shatanand Muni writes in Artha Dipika (Shikshapatri Bhashya)

 

Quote:

"yaha saakshaat bhagvaan ksharakhara paraha krshnaha

sa eva svayam bhaktau dharmat aas, bhoori krupaya sri svaminarayanaha

maanushyam bhuvi naatayannijjan acharyatvadharme sthitaha

krshnam praha parokshavann tu tatonyaha sosti yatsa svayam”

 

 

Quote:

“That live (saakshat) God (bhagvan) Krshna who is above kshar and akshar, appeared from Bhakti through Dharma as Swaminarayan; assumed a human body on the earth like a dramatist (natta).

That Krshna whilst observing the (human’s) dharmas of an Acharya speaks in third person (parokshavann) but that Krshna is none other than Himself”

 

 

i.e. that Krshna, who Swaminarayan Bhagwan speaks of is none other than Himself, however Krshna is referred to by Swaminarayan Bhagwan in third person form (parokshavann) because Swaminarayan Bhagwan is writing the Shikshapatri in the capacity of an Acharya or Guru (acharyatvadharme).

 

This forms the fundamental basis of this discussion. Swaminarayan Bhagwan was indeed a Guru, Sadhu, Acharya, Teacher and even a devotee of Krshna. But this does not contradict His status as God. He was definite God!

For if this were the case then Lord Rama was a King and fulfilled His role as the ruler of Ayodhya. Lord Krishna was a cowherd and later the King of Dwarika. Also, Lord Nar Narayana were brahmchari-rishis performing tappascharya in Badrik Ashram. Does this imply that a they were not God just because they were kings, a cowherd or rishis? Of course not. Similarly, Swaminarayan Bhagwan was a devotee of Krishna, a Sadhu, an Acharya a Teacher as well as being Lord Himself.

 

The shastras openly proclaim that God manifests Himself numerous times whenever and wherever He seems fit. Srimad Bhagwad Geeta:

 

Quote:

“yada-yada hi dharmasya galnir bhavati bharata

abhyutthanam adharmasya tada 'tmanam srjanmy aham

paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam

dharmasamsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge-yuge "

 

 

Quote:

“O Bharta (Arjuna), whenever there is a decline of righteousness

and a rise of unrighteousness, then I manifest Myself

For the protection of the virtuous, for the destruction of the

wicked and for establishing righteouseness, I come into being from age to age” Chapter 4 verses 7 and 8

 

 

 

and Srimad Bhagwatam:

 

Quote:

" I also assume other bodies to protect religion

and to end irreligion whenever it

flourishes in the course of time."

10th Skandha, 50th Adhyay 10th Shlok

 

 

Also:

Quote:

"yada hy adharmena tamo-dhiyo nrpa jivanti

tatraisa hi sattvatah kila dhatte bhagam satyam

rtam dayam yaso bhavaya rupani dadhad yuge yuge"

 

“Whenever there are kings and administrators

living like animals in the lowest modes of existence,

the Lord in His transcendental form manifests His supreme power,

the Truth Positive, shows special mercy to the faithful,

performs wonderful activities and manifests various transcendental forms as is

necessary in different periods and ages.”

1st Skandha, 10th Adhyay, 25th Shlok

 

 

 

In Mahabharata, Van Parva Shree Krishna vows to Markandey Muni

 

Quote:

"daitya hinsanuraktashcha, hyavadhya sur sattamaihi

raakshasaaschapi lokesmi-nyadotpdhati darunaha

tadaham sampradaysangyami, gruheshu shubh karmanam

pravishto manusham deham, sarvam prasahmayamyaham"

 

"When the evil, indulgent in vices such as violence, emerges than

I manifest to those who have virtuous deeds (shubh karma).

I assume human bodies and destroy all those"

 

 

More specific references to the arrival of Sahajanand Swami, referring to His accomplishments during His time as human on earth, exist in Srimad Bhagwat where Vyas writes:

 

Quote:

"keerat hunandhra pulind pushkasa,

aabhir kanka yavanaha khasaadayaha

ye-nye cha papa yadupashrayashraya

shuddhyanti tasmey prabhvishnave namaha” 2nd Skandha, 4th Adhyay, 18th Shlok

 

"Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha,

Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts

will be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord,

due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful

obeisance unto Him who is to appear"

 

 

 

In addition, Padma Puran, Brahmand Puran, Vishvaksen Samhita, Vishnu Dharmottar Puran also forecast the coming of Swaminarayan Bhagwan referring to "name of Sahajanandson of Dharmadevknown as Swami" etc.

 

As an additional comment, the Samudrik Shastras state that God and God only has the 16 marks and symbols on His feet. In the Padma Puran Brahmaa tells Narad that He has witnessed sixteen sybols/marks on the Lord of all incarnations' feet. The very sixteen symbols/marks can be found on the lotus feet of Sahajanand Swami.

 

 

The arrival of an avatar is accompanied by a purpose. The purpose of Krishna avatar is well discussed by Krishna Himself. In the Srimad Bhagavatam, Krishna declares His intentions of coming on this earth as well as His intention to return.

Quote:

"haniñyämi balaà hy etad

bhuvi bhäraà samähitam

mägadhena samänétaà

vaçyänäà sarva-bhübhujäm

akñauhiëébhiù saìkhyätaà

bhaöäçva-ratha-kuïjaraiù

mägadhas tu na hantavyo

bhüyaù kartä balodyamam"

10th Skandha 50th Adhyay Shlok 7 and 8

 

“Since it is such a burden on the earth, I will destroy Jarasandha’s army, consisting of akñauhiëés of foot soldiers, horses, chariots and elephants, which the King of Magadha has assembled from all subservient kings and brought together here. But Jarasandha himself should not be killed, since in the future he will certainly assemble another army”

 

 

 

 

Quote:

"etad-artho ’vatäro ’yaà

bhü-bhära-haraëäya me

saàrakñaëäya sädhünäà

kåto ’nyeñäà vadhäya ca"

shloka 9

 

“This is the purpose of My present incarnation—to relieve the earth of its burden,

protect the pious and kill the impious”

 

 

Quote:

“anyopi dharma-rakshayaii

deha sambhriyate maya

viramayapy adharmasya

kale prabhavatau kvacit”

shlok 10

 

"I also assume other bodies to protect religion and to end

irreligion whenever it flourishes in the course of time"

 

 

It can be concluded that the evil people will return, many of them as rulers and kings indulging in vices - and for the removal of such adharma the Lord will assume other forms.

 

Turning to the Vasudev Mahatmya (Skandha Puran, Vishnu Khand) it clearly states that the vow by Lord Krishna is indeed further verified in more detail:

 

Quote:

 

dharmadevAttadA bhaktAdahaM nArAyaNo muniH |

janiSye kozale deze bhUmau hi sAmago dvijaH || 2.9.18 adhyay.43-44 shlok |

 

"Then from the devotee Dharmadeva I, nArAyana muni shall certainly be born on the earth in the land of Kozala as a twice-born singer of the hymns of the sAma veda."

 

 

 

The Lord clearly defines how He will return to destroy that evil He spoke of earlier. He will be born to Dharmadev and Bhaktidevi (as did Swaminarayan Bhagwan), to a Samvedi Brahmin family (as was Swaminarayan Bhagwan). The incident of the sabha in Badrik Ashram and Duravasa Rishi's curse is also mentioned here.

 

Thus it is clear that God returned to establish ekantik dharma against the evil elements that had returned from the time of Vasudev Shree Krshna.

 

It is true that Swaminarayan Bhagwan advocated the worship of Radha-Krishna, but this was to appease the Vaishnavas who were most prevalent in West India. A glimpses of His underlying intention can be found in the Shikshapatri shlok 209:

Quote:

"vakra bhaavetu pujaiv, karya-spaha prativasaram

madroopam iti madvani, manyeyam paramaadarat"

 

"When there is none (who can read out the Shikshapatri) it shall be worshipped daily

as you should be assured with respect that My words are My concrete and manifest form"

 

 

Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan is addressing His illiterate followers, instructing them to worship the Shikshapatri as if it were Swaminarayan Himself, thereby revealing that He was to be worshipped.

 

When interpreting the Shikshapatri, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan has instructed us to refer to the Sampraday' shastras in Shlok 203

 

Quote:

"eeti sankshepto dharmaha, sarvesham likhita maya

sampradayik granthebhyo, gney eshamtu vistaraha"

 

"I have enclosed a summary of the dharmas for all (in this Shikshapatri).

For a detailed elaboration(vistaraha) (of this Shikshapatri) refer

to the shastras of My Sampraday"

 

 

These shastras have been defined to include Vachanamrut, Srimad SatsangiJeevan, Shree Hari Digvijay, Bhaktachintamani and Desh Vibhag no Lekh in particular.

 

When referring to those Shastras we find Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan often praising Lord Shree Krishna and at times referring to Himself as the Supreme. This is due to the audience which He is addressing where just as in the Shikshapatri, Swaminarayan Bhagwan makes a clear attempt to make it appealing to all virtuous people whether they believe in Swaminarayan as God or not.

 

If He were to openly declare " I, as God, am writing this Shikshapatri.." it would rejected and even ridiculed by those outside the Sampraday and this would hinder His objective of redeeming countless souls.

 

Further in Artha Dipika – Shikshapatri Bhasya we find the following statement

 

Quote:

“nanvastan sri krshnasya parabrahmatvam moolpurushsya bhagavatastu krshnashabda vachyatvam na ghatate. Dvaaparante devaki vasudevabhyam avirbhavantaram krshnam prvrtti siddheriti chettann. Vasudev gruh aavirbhaavatpragev bhagavataha krshnakhyatve sakalam brahmvaivarta puran mev pramanam”.

As a commentary to Shikshapatri Shlok 29.

 

 

The eternal Krshna though is the Parabrahma but the name does not suit MoolPurush (original causal personality) because the God (as Mool Purush) manifested at the end of Dwapara to Devaki and Vasudev and then Gargacharya named Him ‘Krshna’. Note, that after the birth of God to Dharmadev and Bhaktidevi, Markandey Rushi named Him Krshna (as well as Hari and HariKrshna). Therefore whoever says that the name ‘Krshna’ became prevalent after His arrival (in Mathura at the end of Dwapara to Vasudev and Devaki) is not right in doing so, because God's eternal name is Krshna (all attractive) and even before manifesting to Vasudev and Devaki Brahmvaivarta Puran uses the term Krshna many times over.

The Srimad Bhagavatam in 1st Skandha, 3rd Adhyay, 28th Shloka therefore declares after listing 24 avatars including Vasudev Krishna that

“ete chamsh kalaha pumsaha, krshnastu bhagavan svayam”

 

i.e. all these (i.e.24 listed including Vasudev Krshna) are various portions of the Supreme. Bhagavat refers to this same ‘eternal’ Krshna, that Artha Dipika speaks of, as Bhagwan Himself.

 

Just as in the Shikshapatri, in the Vachanamrut Lord Swaminarayan addresses the audience in a manner which appeals to them, at times referring to Himself as a great bhakta (who can be worshipped alongside Lord Shree Krishna) and often revealing Himself as the Supreme Reality.

It is worthy to note, that wherever in the Vachanamrut where Swaminarayan Bhagwan does indeed reveal Himself, the tone and atmosphere set in the beginning of the Prakaran is of a serious nature.

At times, He even discloses His hesitance in imparting these facts for the fear that certain followers' faith will be affected.

 

A few Vachanamrut where Swaminarayan Bhagwan suggests He is a bhakta and/or Guru are: Gadhada Pratham 44; Gadhada Pratham 48; Gadhada Madhyam 28 and Vadtal 18.

 

In many Vachanamruts, Swaminarayan Bhagwan reveals His true identity. Such Prakarans include: Loya 7 and 11; Gadhada Madhya 13; Amdavad (Ahmedabad) 6 and 7 as well as Gadhada Antya 38.

 

Finally, when Swaminarayan Bhagwan decided to establish mandirs He declared that He will install His own images. Moreover, He even installed His present image as Hari Krshna Maharaj in mandirs such as Vadtal.

 

The grandeur of the Swaminarayan Sampraday lies in its ability to accommodate a variety of schools of belief, namely accept Swaminarayan only as a Guru; accept Swaminarayan as an incarnation or accept Swaminarayan as the Incarnator Supreme.

 

Either way, a follower would be obliged to adhere to the precepts laid down in the sarva-jiv-hitavaha Holy Shikshapatri thereby attaining maha-sukh - the ultimate happiness in this world and beyond.