Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in USA
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is a
spiritual, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to improving society through
individual growth by fostering the Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless
service.
“In the joy of others lies our own.” – Pramukh Swami Maharaj
“True spirituality speaks the language of love.” – Pramukh Swami Maharaj
“Better the world around you by bettering yourself.” – Pramukh Swami Maharaj
Bhagwan Swaminarayan
established the Swaminarayan faith and renewed the ideals of Hinduism in 18th
century India.
He established a spiritual way of life and code of conduct to be
followed. ‘Satsang’ is the word used by Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s followers
to describe the process of associating with God and the guru to achieve
spiritual enlightenment. Literally, ‘sat’ and ‘sang’ in Sanskrit mean
‘association with the truth.’ Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s followers are commonly
referred to as ‘satsangis’ as they identify with Swaminarayan satsang.
Satsangis live their daily lives in
accordance with a righteous code of conduct, or dharma, which is defined by the
Swaminarayan scriptures as well as by the living guru. As explained by the
current guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, “Paraspar preeti prasaravey te dharma,”
which means, “That [code of conduct] which increases love and peace is worthy
of being called dharma.”
The central religious tenet for BAPS satsangis is bhakti, or devotion to God. Bhakti, when combined with dharma, gnan (spiritual knowledge), and vairagya (detachment), leads to one becoming an ideal devotee, or an ekantik bhakta. This is achieved in the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha by devoting oneself to God as per the example set by the guru. The guru is the ideal bhakta of God; hence, the guru guides spiritual aspirants on the path to spiritual bliss, a state that he enjoys continuously.
The central religious tenet for BAPS satsangis is bhakti, or devotion to God. Bhakti, when combined with dharma, gnan (spiritual knowledge), and vairagya (detachment), leads to one becoming an ideal devotee, or an ekantik bhakta. This is achieved in the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha by devoting oneself to God as per the example set by the guru. The guru is the ideal bhakta of God; hence, the guru guides spiritual aspirants on the path to spiritual bliss, a state that he enjoys continuously.
Philosophy
In the Hindu tradition, the discussion and understanding of
philosophy is a fundamental tool for a spiritual aspirant to attain moksha,
liberation of the soul from the cycle of birth and death. The sound
philosophical base of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, and particularly the BAPS
Swaminarayan Sanstha, is grounded in the Aksharbrahma-Parabrahma philosophy
derived from the Vedas and revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. This philosophy
teaches aspirants to worship Paramatma and to realize their true form to be the
atma and not simply the body. The attainment of ekantik dharma is at the heart
of the practical application of this philosophy in the life of a spiritual
aspirant. Bhagwan Swaminarayan taught His followers that the path to moksha is
a comprehensive approach combining dharma, bhakti, gnan, and vairagya. This
philosophical understanding is maintained with the continued presence of
Aksharbrahma in the form of the guru. Today, Pramukh Swami Maharaj offers
spiritual guidance on the path towards moksha to millions of people by leading
a life of utmost discipline and adherence to the Aksharbrahma-Parabrahma
philosophy.
Hindu Beliefs
Hindu Sanatan Dharma is often known as a
democratic religion. The Vedas say that there are many paths to the same
destination: moksha. That is why Hindu Sanãtan Dharma embraces a great
diversity of beliefs about God or Bhagwan, the universe, and the path to
moksha. Though followers of Hindu Sanãtan Dharma may seem to be following
different paths to Bhagwan, the core beliefs are the same. These core beliefs
form the essence of Hindu Sanãtan Dharma and have been practiced since the
beginning of time. All Hindus believe in the revealed scripture (the Vedas) and
one Supreme God. All paths lead to a common goal of salvation, of the soul's
freedom from a temporal body. Hindus also believe in the sacredness of life,
compassion, service, reincarnation, and the laws of karma and dharma. Most
Hindus build mandirs which are dedicated to the Supreme and believe that a true
guru is needed on the path to moksha.
Mandirs
Mandirs are a longstanding Hindu
tradition. A mandir is a place of worship for Hindus. A mandir is a place where
the mind becomes still and man experiences inner peace. For centuries, the
mandir has remained a hub for life, a community forum where people forget their
differences and voluntarily unite to serve society. It functions as a center
for learning about man, nature, and Bhagwan. A mandir is where ethics and
values are reinforced into the lives of children and adults. It is where people
celebrate festivals and seek refuge during difficult times. It cultivates
talents in various arts, music, and literature that are offered in the service
of Bhagwan and the community.
Devotees visit mandirs to offer worship and devotion to the murti of Bhagwan, which is installed within the inner sanctum. The murti is consecrated by reciting Vedic mantras after which it becomes the manifest form of Bhagwan, not just a statue sculpted from stone or metal. Devotees revere and worship the murti as a living form of Bhagwan; they bathe it, adorn it in exquisite garments and ornaments, feed it, and put it to sleep. Furthermore, devotees come into contact with sadhus who reside at the mandir. The sadhus hold spiritual discourses to impart knowledge to the devotees and explain the philosophical doctrines of Hindu Dharma. The sadhus help transform hundreds of lives by leading people on the path of spirituality and morality. Moreover, the sadhus help console and free people from their addictions and bad habits.
In the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha there are two types of mandirs. The first type is known as the shikharbaddha mandir. These mandirs are built according to the principles of ancient Hindu Shilpa Shastras in the north Indian Nãgara style in which there are three shikhars and domes. Mandirs also represent a living form of Bhagwan, which is why devotees lovingly build such grand and majestic mandirs with intricate carvings. Footwear is removed upon entering a mandir because it is not only a place of worship but an object of worship as well; every part of a mandir is sacred. In the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, shikharbaddha mandirs usually have the following features:
Devotees visit mandirs to offer worship and devotion to the murti of Bhagwan, which is installed within the inner sanctum. The murti is consecrated by reciting Vedic mantras after which it becomes the manifest form of Bhagwan, not just a statue sculpted from stone or metal. Devotees revere and worship the murti as a living form of Bhagwan; they bathe it, adorn it in exquisite garments and ornaments, feed it, and put it to sleep. Furthermore, devotees come into contact with sadhus who reside at the mandir. The sadhus hold spiritual discourses to impart knowledge to the devotees and explain the philosophical doctrines of Hindu Dharma. The sadhus help transform hundreds of lives by leading people on the path of spirituality and morality. Moreover, the sadhus help console and free people from their addictions and bad habits.
In the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha there are two types of mandirs. The first type is known as the shikharbaddha mandir. These mandirs are built according to the principles of ancient Hindu Shilpa Shastras in the north Indian Nãgara style in which there are three shikhars and domes. Mandirs also represent a living form of Bhagwan, which is why devotees lovingly build such grand and majestic mandirs with intricate carvings. Footwear is removed upon entering a mandir because it is not only a place of worship but an object of worship as well; every part of a mandir is sacred. In the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, shikharbaddha mandirs usually have the following features:
1. Aarti – performed five times a day.
2. Mahapuja – performed every morning between the two morning aartis.
3. Katha – performed 3 to 5 times a day.
4. Sadhus – the only individuals allowed to care for the murtis, such
as adorning the murtis with clothes and ornaments, and live within the mandir
complex.
5. Murtis – made of either stone of metal; in the first shrine are
Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Rãdhã-Krishna Dev; in the center shrine is
Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj – Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Aksharbrahma
Gunatitanand Swami; in the last shrine is Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj – Bhagwan
Swaminarayan’s childhood form.
The second type of mandir found in the
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is known as the hari mandir. Hari mandirs are
generally built of cement, concrete, and steel and serve as a place of worship.
They mainly have stone murtis of Shri Akshar-Purushottam Mahãrãj, Shri
Rãdhã-Krishna Dev, and the BAPS guru paramparã. The pujari of a hari mandir is
generally a householder devotee who performs ãarti twice a day. He is also
responsible for adorning the murtis with clothes and ornaments and looks after
the upkeep of the entire mandir. He holds katha twice a day. BAPS sadhus
regularly visit the hari mandirs to deliver discourses and for home visits in
the neighboring cities and villages.
Service - Seva
Hinduism preaches serving both God and
humanity, as one begets the other. Seva is a Sanskrit word that means more than
just service or to serve. It means to serve without the existence of one’s own
identity – to serve selflessly. Bhagwan Swaminarayan revived the true meaning
of seva and initiated many humanitarian projects among His followers, ranging
from digging wells to serving the ill. His personal example, set as a teenager
while traveling through southern India, was the selfless service of
an ill stranger. Sevakram was a Brahmin who had contracted dysentery. Neelkanth
Varni, as Bhagwan Swaminarayan was known at that time, stopped on His travels
to nurse Sevakram back to good health, staying for over two months until he was
well again.
Pragji Bhakta, the second spiritual
successor, set very high standards of seva. For many months, he served the
mandir, sadhus, and devotees for twenty hours every day and slept for only four
hours. Yogiji Maharaj, the fourth spiritual successor, stressed seva as a form
of bhakti and personally engaged in seva like washing utensils and sweeping the
floor. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth and current spiritual successor, has
shown the same inclination for seva and never tires of it. Even over the age of
90 , he still spends hours personally meeting and writing to devotees for their
well-being and personal growth.
Following the lead of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the devotees of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha also regularly engage in seva. Medical activities are organized to help communities. Educational initiatives guide children on future courses to follow. Volunteers engage in relief activities when a disaster strikes in their area. Blood drives, career fairs, walkathons for charity are among the activities conducted regularly by volunteers from BAPS centers across the world. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s adage, ”In the joy of others, lies our own,” propels the organization to devote time and energy towards humanitarian activities in the service of others.
Following the lead of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the devotees of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha also regularly engage in seva. Medical activities are organized to help communities. Educational initiatives guide children on future courses to follow. Volunteers engage in relief activities when a disaster strikes in their area. Blood drives, career fairs, walkathons for charity are among the activities conducted regularly by volunteers from BAPS centers across the world. Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s adage, ”In the joy of others, lies our own,” propels the organization to devote time and energy towards humanitarian activities in the service of others.
Traditions
India’s ancient traditions and rituals are as relevant today as they
were centuries ago. The rites and rituals, art, architecture, dance, theatre,
music, and alternative wellness methods passed down for generations have
touched millions of people and continue to influence the lives of many around
the world. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha reinforces these traditions through
activities around its global network. Celebrating festivals, performing special
Vedic prayers and rituals, preserving ancient art and architecture, and
promoting a healthy lifestyle through yoga and a vegetarian diet are all
integral parts of BAPS’ cultural and development activities. These activities
celebrate Indian traditions in over 3,850 communities worldwide.
Experience India
“In religion, India is the
only millionaire - the one land that all men desire to see, and having seen
once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for all the shows of all
the rest of the globe combined.” – Mark Twain
Experiencing the vast diversity of India can take
a lifetime. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha works to provide an initial
introduction and, eventually, a detailed journey through the affluence of
Indian heritage to millions of people through their cultural complexes,
exhibitions, seminars, retreats, and Mega Festivals.
If you would like to experience the mysticism of India, visit the nearest BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir or Cultural Complex
If you would like to experience the mysticism of India, visit the nearest BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir or Cultural Complex
Festivals Celebrated
Indians do not simply live life; they
celebrate it. Two hundred years ago, Bhagwan Swaminarayan revived the ancient
Indian tradition of celebrating festivals in a moral and spiritual way. He
purged celebrations of various negative elements that had seeped in over time,
including substance abuse, profanity, and the oppression of women and the poor.
Today, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha encourages and facilitates the celebration
of life and Indian culture by organizing Mega Festivals all over the world.
Each of these festivals includes cultural performances, exhibits of intricate
art and architecture, and timeless traditions. These festivals serve as a
source of information, inspiration, and pride.
Events
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Makar Sankranti - Jholi
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Sunday, January 13, 2013
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Vasant Panchami
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Sunday, February 17, 2013
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Holi - Fuldol
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Saturday, March 30, 2013
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Swaminarayan Jayanti / Ram Navmi
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Sunday, April 21, 2013
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Yogi Jayanti
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Sunday, June 02, 2013
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Guru Purnima
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Sunday, July 21, 2013
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Janmashtami
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Sunday, August 25, 2013
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Jal Jhilani
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Saturday, September 14, 2013
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Sharad Purnima
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Sunday, October 20, 2013
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Diwali - Annakut
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Sunday, November 03, 2013
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Pramukh Swami Janma Jayanti
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Sunday, December 08, 2013
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Patotsav
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Sunday, September 29, 2013
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Driving Directions
Directions from Little Rock:1. Take I-40 East from Little Rock towards Memphis
2. Take the AR-161 exit- EXIT 157- toward PROTHRO JCT.. 0.3 miles
3. Turn RIGHT onto AR-161 S / Highway 161 / Jacksonville HWY. 0.1 miles
4. Turn SHARP RIGHT onto PRITCHARD RD. 0.2 miles
Directions from Memphis:
1. Take I-40 west from Memphis towards Little Rock
2. Take the AR-161 exit- EXIT 157- toward PROTHRO JCT.. 0.4 miles
3. Turn LEFT onto AR-161 S / Highway 161 / Jacksonville HWY. 0.2 miles
4. Turn SHARP RIGHT onto PRITCHARD RD. 0.2 miles
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
15601 Pritchard Dr.,
North Little Rock AR 72117 USA
Phone: (1-501) 945 3388
Fax: (1-501) 327 9388
15601 Pritchard Dr.,
North Little Rock AR 72117 USA
Phone: (1-501) 945 3388
Fax: (1-501) 327 9388
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
