Study Guide Set Monday

Why should we do mala?

- Strengthens faith - Increases focus - Improves health

For how many months did Nilkath do tap by standing on one leg in Pulashrama?

2 months

What is chesta?

23 verses describing the divine form, incidents, and actions of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Sadhus and devotees sing these verses every night.

At what age did Bhagwan Swaminarayan initiate 500 paramhanso?

26 years old

Who named Ghanshyam?

Markendeya Muni

What is our upasana? Why is it important?

Our upasana is to become Akshararoop and worship Purushottam, because nothing can be achieved without this upasana.

Which 5 questions would he ask wherever he went?

what is jiva, ishwar, maya, brahma, and parabrahma.

What 2 wishes did Sahajanand Swami ask for from Ramanand Swami when he was appointed as the guru?

- "If a devotee of yours is to suffer the sting of one scorpion, then let me suffer that sting in each pore of my body, but your devotee should not suffer" - If a devotee is compelled to begging then let me take his place, but your devotee should not suffer from the lack of food, clothing, or shelter"

Why do we have mandirs?

- One of the main pillars of our sansta - they give us peace and strength in our faith - Great investment and many social services take place here - ghar mandirs; god becomes part of our family

Describe Gunatitanand Swami's greatness and major achievements?

- Spread the knowledge of Mahraj's supermacy - helped many attain the highest spiritual state - spread upasana - taught how to become staunch devotees - transformed peoples lives - traveled for Satasang

How old was Ghanshyam when he left home?

11

How old was Sahajanand Swami when Ramanand Swami gave him the throne?

21 years old

How many shlokas are there in the Shikshapatri and which is the most important one?

212 shlokas; 216 is the most important one "Nijatmanam brahmarupam, Dehatraya vilakshanam Vibhavya tena kartavya, Bhaktihi krushnasya sarvada"

For how long did Bhagwan Swaminarayan stay in Gadhada?

30 years

Who long did Nilkanth Varni's journey last?

7 years, 1 month, and 11 days

What is the 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 births as organisms. 84. billion life forms

Name the 6 mandirs built by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

Amdavad Bhuj Vadtal Dholora Junagadh Gadhada

What are the 4 basic beliefs of hinduism

Avarvad - God manifests on earth Karmavad - karma Punarjanmavad - Reincarnation Murthi Puja - Worship of offered to the murtis of God

What is the principle of karma?

Belief that we get good merit for doing good things, and if we do bad things we get bad merits. Ultimately, the fruits of karma are given by God himself.

Why sashtang danvants?

Bowing to God and his sant is a symbol of our surrenderance.

What are the 4 ashrams that a hindu goes through in life?

Brahmacharya ashram (0-25), Gruhasstha ashram (25-50), Vanprastha ashram (50-75), Sanyasta ashram(75-100)

Who and when founded BAPS?

Bramaswarup Shastriji Maharaj established BAPS in 1907 CE (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha)

When and where was Bhagwan Swaminarayan born?

Chhapaiya on April 2, 1781 CE (VS 1837, Chaitra Sud 9)

What are the 4 parts of Ekantik Dharma?

Dharma, gnan, variagya, and bhakti

Name some of the famous male children and adult devotees of Hinduism.

Dhruv, Prahlad, Shravan, Nachiketa, Yuddhishthir, Arjun, Eklavya, and Aruni

What is tought to the youngsters in the Akshar-Purushottam Sansta's Bal Mandal

For virtuous qualities to blossom religious awareness, principles, good behavior, faith in God and Sant, and such other matter is emphasized. - Advice in education - Understanding of what the Sanatan Hindu Dharma means - Historical perspective of the Swaminarayan Fellowship - Attainment of wider knowledge base - Awaken the inner ability of the youngsters through verbal presentation, memorization, of passages, devotional singing, compere, games etc.

What was his childhood name and who were his parents?

Ghanshyam; Dharmadev and Bhaktimata

How many Bal Mandals do we have and how many children attend?

Globally, we have over 6,00 centers and and 150,000 children attend

What is the importance of pradakshinas?

God and guru is the center of our lives. Their merit is 100 times greater than sacrfice.

Why do we believe in murti puja?

God resides in the murtis, therefore by doing puja of the murtis, we are doing darshan of God himself.

From whom did Nilkanth learn Ashtang Yoga and how long did it take?

Gopal Swami in a year

Gunatitoksharam Brahma, Bhagawan Purushotttamaha Jano Janan Nidam Satyam, Muchyate Bhavabandhanat

He who realises the truth that Gunatitanand Swami is Akshar and Shreeji Maharaj is Supreme Got, they will be freed from the cycle of births and deaths

What were the names of Ghanshyam's brothers?

Ichharambhai and Rampratabhai

Nijatmanam brahmarupam, Dehatraya vilakshanam Vibhavya tena kartavya, Bhaktihi krushnasya sarvada

Identifying oneself with Brahma, separate from the 3 bodies, one should always offer devotion to Krishna Bhagawan.

When and where was Gunatitanand Swami born?

In Bhadra on October 17, 1785 CE (VS 1841, Sharad Punam)

Where and when did Bhagwan Swaminarayan return to Akshardham?

In Gadhada on June 30, 1830 CE (VS 1886, Jeth sud 10)

What is the importance of arti?

It is a prayer filled with deep emotion and the festival created by drums and conch shells shows how overjoyed the devotee is. We thank God by offering the 5 elements to him. (Space, light, earth, wind, water) We are inviting God into our hearts.

Where did Ramamand Swami give Sahajanand Swami his throne?

Jetpur

Name some other important scriptures of our Satsang.

Jvan chaitras, satsanfjivan, bhaktachintamani, harililakalpataru, harilalamrut, haricharitramrutsagar, Nishkulanand Kavya ect.

Where did Bhagwan Swaminarayan initiate 500 paramhanso together?

Kalwani

What are the foundations of Hindu Culture?

Mandir, Shastra, and the Sant

What are the 5 artis performed in Shikkarbaddha Mandirs?

Mangala, Shangar, Rajbhoj, Sandhya, and Shayan

Why should we do mansi puja?

Mansi puja is devotion done mentally. It is the same as doing puja physically. In this one is able to serve Maharaj and Swami in every imaginable way. No limits apply here.

What is Gunatitanand Swami's childhood name and parents' names?

Mulji Sharma; Bholanath and Sakarba

What names did Ramanand Swami give to NIlkanth Varni when he initiated him as a sadhu?

Narayanmuni and Sahajanand Swami

By what name was Ghanshyam known during his pilgrimage?

Nilkanth Varni

What is ahimsa?

Non-violence

What are the colors of the Indian flag, and what do they represent?

Orange (sacrifice), White (Purity), Green (Fertility). The wheel has 24 spokes signifying that may our everyday be filled with these 3 things

WHere did Ramanand Swami give diksha to Nilkath Varni?

Piplana

Name some of the famous female children and adult devotees of Hinduism.

Sita, Shabari, Rukmini, Kunti, Draupadi, Meerabai, Gargi, Ansuya, and Savitri

Gurur Brahma Burur Vishur, Gurur Devo Maheshwaraha Guruh Sakshat Parambrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Nahaha

The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu, The Guru is Shiva and all the deities. He himself is like god- Parabrahma. I bow down to the Guru.

Which great mantra did Swaminarayan Bhagwan give to the people?

The Swaminarayan Mahamantra

What is yugal upasana?

The belief that one should worship God along with his ideal devotee

Why should we follow niyam-dharma?

They increase our self-control and inner strength. Rules are necessary. Swamishri says: The bonds of dharma are not bonds, but tools for liberation. Just as roots are not bonds for a tree, rules are not bonds for us. Humans without rules are like animals.

Through what mediums are children taought moral and spiritual values?

Weekly Bal-Balika Mandal Sabha, English or Gujarati magazines, audio bhajan CDs and DVDs, our kids website, summer training camps, competitions, and annual conferences, shibirs, and conventions, and others.

What is kusang? What are the 3 types?

What takes us away from Maharaj and Swami. The 3 types are andarno, Baharno, and Satsangno

Tvameva Mata Cha Pita Tvameva, Tvameva Bandus-cha Sakha Tvameva Tvameva Vidya Dravinam Tvameva, Tvameva Sarvam Mama Deva Deva

You alone are my real mother and father, brother and friend. You are true knowledge and wealth. You are my everything, the lord of the lords.

What did ghanshyam bring with him when he left?

a begging bowl, a small book containing the essence of all the scriptures, a lion cloth, a deer skin, and a mala

What is avtarvad?

god takes birth on earth to liberate the souls, fufill devotees' wishes, and to reestablish Ekantik dharma.

Why should we attend Sabha?

katha is food for the soul. Through it many of our problems are solved and it helps us understand our religion's principles. It gives us peace. We stay informed about the activities of our sansta and Swamishri. We follow our guru's agna and gain raajipo.