Q&A
What is Upasana?
To become aksharrup and offer devotion to Purushottam with the understanding that He is the master and we are His servants.
What is our upasana? Also name the Vachanamrut reference.
One should develop oneness with one’s jivātmā and with that Brahma and worship Parabrahma while maintaining a master-servant relationship with Him.”
Gadhada Section II – 3
What is the goal of our life? (Extra points be may rewarded if you can state the Prakaran AND Vat #)
To become aksharrup and join with Bhagwan while removing the obstacles of identification with the body and harmful association. — Prakaran 4, Vat 99
Translate Shlok 96: (EXTRA POINTS MAY BE REWARDED IF TRANSLATED IN GUJU)
Swāminārāyaṇah sākshād-Aksharādhipatir-Harihi ।
Paramātmā Parabrahma Bhagavān Purushottamaha ॥
Swaminarayan Bhagwan, the sovereign of Akshar, is the manifest form of Paramatma Parabrahman Purushottam Hari.
Who firmly insisted that Shriji Maharaj must be described as Sarvopari Bhagwan?
Nityanand Swami. He remained firm in his understanding even after being excluded for seven days.
What are the five eternal entities?
Jiva, Ishwar, Maya, Brahma and Parabrahma.
Which Vachanamrut describes Bhagwan Swaminarayan as supreme?
Gadhada III-38.
“It is that same supreme Purushottam Bhagwān who manifests on this earth out of compassion - for the purpose of granting liberation to the jivas. He is presently visible before everyone; He is your Ishtadev; and He accepts your service.”
Which three practices please Bhagwan Swaminarayan? (Extra points may be rewarded if you can state the Prakaran AND Vat #)
1. Obeying Bhagwan’s agna
2. Understanding the true form of the Sant
3. Understanding the true form of Bhagwan. — Prakaran 1, Vat 165
Translate Shlok 98: (EXTRA POINTS MAY BE REWARDED IF TRANSLATED IN GUJU)
Sākshād Brahmā’ksharam Swāmi Guṇātitah sanātanam ।
Tasya paramparā’dyā’pi Brahmā’ksharasya rājate ॥
Gunatitanand Swami is the manifest form of the eternal Aksharbrahman. This Aksharbrahman paramparā is manifest even today.
How did Shitaldas develop firm conviction in Shriji Maharaj?
In Samadhi, Shriji Maharaj manifested in infinite forms, while no one else could do so.
Which two things are needed to attain Akshardham?
Upasana and agna are the two means to attain Akshardham.
Which Vachanamrut describes Bhagwan Swaminarayan being Sakar and Divya?
Gadhada Section III - 32
“God, who possesses a definite form, forever resides in His luminous Akshardhām.”
What is the true form of our atma? (Extra points may be rewarded if you can state the Prakaran AND Vat #)
I am not the body. I am atma, brahma and Akshar, and the manifest Parabrahma Purushottam eternally resides within me. — Prakaran 1, Vat 341
Translate Shlok 152 (EXTRA POINTS MAY BE REWARDED IF TRANSLATED IN GUJU):
Bhutam yach-cha bhavad yach-cha yad-evā’gre bhavishyati ।
Sarvam tan me hitāyaiva Swāminārāyaṇechchhayā ॥
One should understand that all which has happened, which is happening, and which will happen is solely due to Swaminarayan Bhagwan’s will and only for my benefit.
To whom did Maharaj ask, “What do you understand us to be?” and in what situation? (PARTIAL CREDIT FOR ONLY GUESSING HARIBHAKTA'S NAME, FULL CREDIT IF PRASANG IS NARRATED CORRECTLY)
Mulji Brahmachari, when Maharaj left alone to protect the devotees from the Suba of Visnagar.
What are the four forms of Aksharbrahma?
1. Akshardham, the divine abode of Bhagwan;
2. Bhagwan’s personal attendant in that abode;
3. Chidakash - He is present in everything and everywhere
4. The manifest Guru on earth.
Which Vachanamrut describes Bhagwan Swaminarayan being Sarva-Karta?
Gadhada II-21.
“I, Myself, have attentively listened to all of the scriptures which Vyāsji has written regarding the attainment of liberation. The main principle prevalent in all those scriptures and the only principle for the liberation of the jiva is simply this: The sole creator, sustainer and destroyer of this entire cosmos is God.”
How great is the association of the Satpurush? (Extra points may be rewarded if you can state the Prakaran AND Vat #)
Nothing is greater than attaining a relationship with Bhagwan and His Sadhu, and nothing is worse than perceiving the Sadhu as human. — Prakaran 3, Vat 36
Complete shlok 108:
Pritih kāryā’tma-buddhish-cha Brahmā’kshare gurau _________ |
__________________________________________ ||
One should foster intense love and ātmabuddhi for the Aksharbrahman guru. Believing the guru as the manifest form of Bhagwan, one should serve him and meditate on him with devotion.
Narrate the Prasang where the kirtan "Jaha Sadguru Khele Vasant" was narrated (PARTIAL CREDIT MAY BE GIVEN)
When Shriji Maharaj celebrated the fuldol festival at Rathod Dhadhal’s house in Sarangpur, he himself said, '.... Jaha Sadguru khele vasant (where the sadguru plays in the spring).' Saying this, he addressed Muktanand Swami and Anand Swami, asking, 'Who is such a Sadguru?' Then the two replied, 'Such a Sadguru is you.'
Maharaj then said, 'I am the worshipful Purushottam Bhagwan of the Sadguru. And such a Sadguru is this Gunatitanand Swami, Mul Akshar (the original Akshar).' Saying this, he pressed a stick against Swami's chest and said, 'Long live such a Yogi, long live such a Yogi.' Thus, Shriji Maharaj himself spoke of Swami’s glory.
Question: Why is the presence of the Pragat Satpurush necessary in our spiritual life, even when scriptures, murtis, and sacred pilgrimage places exist?
The Role of the pragat Satpurush:
1. To establish conviction in Bhagwan
2. To help make the jiva brahmarup
3. To allow us to experience the bliss of the Bhagwan
4. To grant moksha.
How do we attain ekantik dharma?
“Bhāgwat dharma is upheld by maintaining profound love towards the Ekāntik Sant of God, who possesses the attributes of swadharma, gnān, vairāgya, and bhakti coupled with knowledge of God’s greatness. Maintaining profound love towards such a Sant also opens the gateway to liberation.”
Gadhada Section I - 54
Why is following the Satpurush’s agna important?
“To do as the Sadhu says is best. To do as per one’s own wish is worst. And one who does as per his own wish, even though he observes austerities, does the work of the whole mandir and introduces many people to Satsang, is still inferior and some day will face an obstacle... To do as per the instructions of the Sadhu is without blemishes and to do as per one’s own desire is full of blemishes.”
Prakaran 2 - Vaat 57
Complete shlok 100:
Eka eveshta-devo nah eka eva gurus _________ |
__________________________________________ ||
Eka eveshta-devo nah eka eva gurus-tathā ।
Ekash-chaivā’pi siddhānta evam nah ekatā sadā ॥
Narrate the Prasang of when Maharaj describes his Eternal Residence (PARTIAL CREDIT MAY BE GIVEN)
In the court of Jinabhai in Panchala, Gunatitanand Swami was eating along with the five hundred Paramhansas. At that time, Maharaj said to Kalyanbhai of Vanthali: 'Do you recognize this sadhu?' To which he replied: 'Yes, he is a great ascetic, renunciant, and he understands the glory of all.'
Maharaj then said: 'Not only that. He is my eternal residence, Akshardham.'