BAPS and India
Who founded BAPS and when?
A. Brahmaswarup Shāstriji Mahārāj established ‘Bochasanwāsi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swāminārāyan Sansthā’
(BAPS) in 1907 CE.
Which are the major shāstras of our Sampradāya?
A. 1. Vachanāmrut 2. Swāmini Vāto 3. Shikshāpatri
Which five questions did Nilkanth Varni ask wherever He went?
A. What are Jiva, Ishwar, Māyā, Brahma and Parabrahma?
What is Agna?
- Obeying Guidance
- Listening and following Maharaj’s and Swami’s wishes.
- Agna is one of two wings that take us to Akshardham.
What was Bhagatji Mahārāj’s childhood name? Name his parents?
A. Name: PrāgjiDarji; Father: Govindbhāi, Mother: Malubā
Which great mantra did Sahajānand Swāmi give to the people?
A. Swāminārāyan Mahāmantra
Who wrote the Shikshāpatri? Where and when was it written?
A. Bhagwān Swāminārāyan wrote the Shikshāpatri in Vartāl in 1826 CE.
What are the two ‘wings’ for attaining Akshardhām?
A. Agnā and upāsanā
what is seva?
Seva
- Selfless Service
- To serve without the existence of one’s own identity – to serve selflessly.
- Pramukh Swami Maharaj always says “In the joy of others, lies our own.”
What was Shastriji Mahārāj’s dikshā name?
A. Sādhu Yagnapurushdās
What are the colors of the Indian flag and what do they represent?
A. Orange (sacrifice), white (purity), green (fertility). The wheel has 24 spokes signifying that may our everyday
be filled with these three things.
How many Vachanāmruts are there and which sadhus compiled them?
A. 273. Compiled by Gopalānand Swami, Nityānand Swami, Muktānand Swami and Shukānand Swami.
What are the five eternal entities?
A. 1. Jiva 2. Ishwar 3. Māyā 4. Brahman 5. Parabrahma
Why should we wear a kanthi?
A. The kanthi is a symbol of surrendering to God. It represents the faith that ‘I am
God’s and God is mine.’ The kanthi protects us from bad company and other evils.
Where and when was Yogiji Mahārāj born?
A. In Dhāri on 23 May 1892 CE (VS 1948, Vaishākh vad 12)
What are the foundations of Hindu culture?
A. Mandir (Temples), Shāstra (Scriptures) and Sant (Satpurush)
What is the Vachanāmrut?
A. A collection of discourses by Bhagwān Swāminārāyan based on dialogues and questions between Maharaj
and the sadhus and devotees. It is the essence of all the scriptures and was authenticated by Mahārāj Himself.
Meaning:
Aksharam Aham Purushottam Dasosmi
I am Akshar, the das of Purushottam.
List the steps of a proper nitya puja that should be performed every day in the morning.
A. Tilak-chāndlo, mānsi pujā (worshipping God and guru with your mind), the welcome (āhavān) mantra, 5 or 11
mālās, one tapa ni mālā, 11 pradakshinās, 6 dandvats, prārthanā, concluding vidāy mantra, reading 5 shlokas
(gems) from the Shikshāpatri.
Which 5 mandirs did Shastriji Maharaj build?
A. Bochasan, Atladra, Gadhada, Gondal, Sarangpur!
What is ahimsā?
A. Non-Violence: All living things have souls. We should not harm or kill anything
Give the names of some of our important scriptures in Hinduism.
A. 4 Vedas, 10 Upanishads, 18 Puranas, Mahābhārat, ramayan
Who are we culturally? Who is our Bhagwan? What organization do we belong to? Who is our guru?
A. Hindus; Purna Purushottam Bhagwān Swāminārāyan;BAPS; Mahant swami
Which vows are Satsangis supposed to follow?
A. DO NOT: drink alcohol, eat meat, fish, eggs or onions and garlic, keep addictions like smoking, steal/gambling,
chewing tobacco, steal, commit suicide, speak ill of any Gods, commit violence to any jivas. DO: Perform pujā
daily, go to satsang sabhā, maintain the appropriate discipline between men and women, studying hard, and
respecting our parents.
How did Sadhu Keshavjivandas receive the name Mahant Swami?
A. He was appointed as the Mahant of Mumbai(Dadar) mandir