Bhakti and Its Meaning
This Sanskrit word means “loving devotion to Bhagwan.”
What is bhakti?
The poet Kalidas wrote, “Utsavapriyah khalu manavah,” meaning humans are fond of these.
What are festivals?
The Fuldol festival in Sarangpur showed the importance of maintaining this virtue in devotion.
What is vivek (discrimination or self-control)?
Maharaj encouraged his paramhansas to compose these to inspire devotion.
What are kirtans (bhakti pads)?
Festivals and kirtans both help devotees remember these.
What are the divine actions and incidents of Bhagwan?
Bhakti comes from this Sanskrit root meaning “to surrender, serve, or love Bhagwan."
What is bhaj-?
Ancient Hindu festivals were originally based on these Vedic rituals.
What are yagnas?
Shriji Maharaj forbade men and women from playing color together during this festival.
What is Rangotsav (Fuldol)?
Muktanand Swami composed the kirtan “Pragat Ke Gun Gave Re Ham” for this reason.
What is to clear the king of Gondal’s doubts about Maharaj’s divinity?
The four pillars of ekāntik dharma are dharma, gnan, vairagya, and this.
What is bhakti?
According to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, combining bhakti with dharma, gnan, and vairagya makes one an ________.
What is an ideal devotee?
Bhagwan Swaminarayan revived festivals to make them focused on these two things.
What are religion and culture?
Bhagwan Swaminarayan banned this activity commonly practiced on Janmashtami
What is gambling?
The king of this city doubted that Maharaj was the Supreme Lord.
What is Gondal?
In Vachanamrut Gadhada I-3, Maharaj says remembering these can lead to spiritual elevation.
What are Bhagwan’s divine actions and incidents?
Bhagwan Swaminarayan traveled across India to revive this Hindu concept.
What is true bhakti?
Over time, many festivals lost their spiritual focus and became this type of social event.
What is a fair or social gathering?
During the 1824 Janmashtami celebration, Maharaj asked everyone to carry these for the Gadhada mandir.
What are rocks or stones?
After hearing Premanand Swami’s Vandu Sahajanand Rasroop, Maharaj gave this promise.
What is that anyone who sings these pads daily will be freed from attachment and attain liberation?
The Vachanamrut where Maharaj explains why He organizes festivals is titled this.
What is Gadhada III-5: The Underground Store of Grains?
In the Shikshapatri, Bhagwan Swaminarayan defines bhakti as intense love for this.
What is Paramatma (God)?
According to the Vachanamrut Gadhada III-5, remembering Maharaj’s divine actions during this moment grants moksha.
What is the time of one’s death?
Maharaj celebrated Janmashtami not with feasting but with these two devotional activities.
What are bhajans and arti?
These eight verses by Premanand Swami became part of this nightly devotional tradition.
What is the cheshta sung by Swaminarayan devotees?
The ultimate goal of celebrating festivals and singing kirtans is to earn this from Maharaj and Swami.
What is rajipo (divine approval or grace)?