Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha

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Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (Gujarati: બોચાસનવાસી અક્ષ૨ પુરુષોત્તમ સ્વામિનારાયણ સંસ્થા Bocāsanvāsī Akṣar Puruṣottam Svāminārāyan Sansthā) or BAPS, is a major organisation within the Swaminarayan faith. Established in June 5, 1907 by Sanskrit scholar and sadhu, Shastriji Maharaj (1865–1951), BAPS is known for its traditional stone-carved Hindu temples and for its social work and humanitarian services offered around the world.^[1]

[edit] Aims & Objectives

BAPS strives to "to inspire a better and happier individual , family and society" by basing their activities off of the following principles. ^[2]

1. Inspire one and all towards a better way of life through the humanitarian values of service, purity, discipline, love, tolerance, harmony
2. Energize its on-going efforts against dowry, smoking, drugs, alcohol and other destructive addictions
3. Promote harmony and peaceful coexistence among all communities through understanding and co-operation
4. Develop constructive and creative youth and children's activities to channelise their energy, promoting education and social services
5. Sustain the roots of Indian Culture and all the good that it stands for

[edit] Religion & Spirituality

BAPS has built over 600 mandirs (temples) and 9090 centres in 45 different countries.^[3] All activities are centered around understanding the inherent unity of the Self (Atma) and God (Paramatman) through worship, meditation, study of the scriptures, and attending weekly lectures conducted by various saints of BAPS. The fundamental philosophy of BAPS was expounded by the faith's central figure Lord Swaminarayan in the late 18th century which entails a comprehensive understanding of five basic eternal entities:

1. Jiva - sentient, living beings which have been shrouded in the cycle of birth and death by the accumulation of Karma due to an eternal ignorance of the true Self (Atman). Jivas are infinite in number throughout infinite parallel universes.

2. Ishwar - the collective realm of mystical deities which govern the metaphysical foundations of different aspects of material nature, i.e. earth, wind, water, fire, and space. Ishwars are also infinite in number.

3. Maya - illusion of material nature essentially "blinding" one from recognizing the inherent truth of Brahman - the highest state of spiritual enlightenment. The source of pain and suffering is caused by desire for sensory objects, which appear enticing due to the attraction for Mayic pleasure. It is here where Swaminarayan and Buddhist ideas of material illusion are in agreement.

4. Brahman - the highest state of enlightenment upon which an individual Jiva essentially becomes one and inseparable from Godhead. The method of accomplishing this according to Swaminarayan is by developing a profound ability to conquer the senses and mental cognition through an intense love for God and His divine form and a realized Guru who teaches his disciples with unbroken humility and genuine altruism.

5. Parabrahman - Supreme Godhead. The ultimate creator, sustainer, and destroyer of infinite universes. He is non-dual and can only be characterized by Sat-Chit-Ananda, or Truth-Existence-Bliss. He is the ultimate intelligence behind the laws of nature and is the root cause of all effects. Swaminarayan's philosophy was based upon that of Ramanuja, and he emphasized that this Parabrahman, who eternally resides in an abode composed of brilliant divine light, eternally possesses a divine, heavenly form and is not an abstract, formless being.

In order to escape the the binding nature of karma, Swaminarayan's philosophy, much like that of the Bhagavad Gita, can be summarized in Shikshapatri Verse 116,

Nijātmānam brahmaroopam, dehatraya vilakshanam; Vibhāvya tena kartavya, bhakti hi Krushnasya sarvadā."

Understanding the Self to be Brahmaroop and above the three bodies, one offers the purest bhakti to God. The knowledge of the atman, according to Swaminarayan, is consolidated "when one develops an intense affection for the Sant who has realised the avatar of God on earth," (Vach. Vadtal-11). BAPS is founded on this institution of a profound guru-shishya relationship, and its followers believe the spiritual guru and leader of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj is such a Saint whom Swaminarayan describes as "brahmaswaroop, behaves above the three bodies and the three states of consciousness," (Vach. Vadtal 11), who is the "naimishāranya kshetra where the jagged edges of the mind become blunt and pious deeds such as chanting the name of God, austerities, observances, meditation, etc. commenced there flourish," (Vach. Sarangpur 7) and through which "Bhāgvat Dharma is upheld," (Vach. Gadadhā I-54). Indeed, "maintaining a profound love toward such a Sant also opens the gateway to liberation," (Vach. Gadadhā I-54).

The disciples of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, current leader of BAPS, thus believe him to be an essence of Hinduism, a Saint, and a true spiritual teacher through which the knowledge contained in the Vachanamrut, Bhagavad Gita, and the texts of Vedanta are realized.

[edit] Social field

Social campaigns organised by BAPS have encouage people to give up smoking, drinking, drugs and antisocial behaviour. Bone Marrow drives and Blood drives are regular activities of BAPS Care, the charity founded by BAPS.

[edit] Cultural field

Children learn through stories and rhymes, teenagers through multimedia and sports, youths through discussions and dramas, the elderly progress through scriptural reading, discourses and introspection. Activities range from music classes, to scripture study, to fitness.

[edit] Relief activities

BAPS Care, the charity founded by BAPS

• 2006 Floods Gujarat, India
• 2005 Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts, USA
• 2004 Tsunami Relief Work, India
• 2001 Earthquake Gujarat, India
• 1999 Cyclone Orissa, India
• 1998 Cyclone Southern Gujarat, India
• 1998 Floods Surat, India
• 1997 Floods Gujarat, India
• 1996 Cyclone Andhra Pradesh, India
• 1995 Floods Malda, West Bengal, India
• 1994 Pneumonic Plague Surat, India
• 1994 Earthquake Los Angeles, USA
• 1993 Earthquake Latur, Maharashtra, India
• 1992 Drought Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
• 1987 Famine Saurashtra, India
• 1984 Famine, Ethiopia
• 1983 Floods Saurashtra, Gujarat, India
• 1982 Floods Saurashtra, Gujarat, India
• 1979 Floods Morbi, Gujarat, India
• 1975 Famine Gujarat & Maharashtra, India
• 1974 Famine Gujarat & Maharashtra, India

[edit] Province of its influence

BAPS is prominent in Gujarat, India and amongst NRI Gujarati community members. Its international network has grown into 2,710 Youth, 4,070 Children and 1,320 Women centers, 770 sadhus, 55,000 volunteers and over one million followers [Williams, 2001], with more than 600 temples and 9090 centers in 45 countries.

[edit] Spiritual Guru

Today the Sanstha is led by the 86 year old Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is a sadhu and the present leader of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha. As leader of BAPS, he is responsible for the opening ceremonies of temples, initiation ceremonies for sadhus, and the major decisions of the organisation. His role as spiritual Guru to disciples, however, consumes the majority of his life work and accomplishments. With no fixed residence, he constantly travels to temples and residences both in India and abroad to meet the devotees and further the spiritual disciplines of Lord Swaminarayan. His primary spiritual teaching is to perfect one's personal bhakti-yoga by understanding the Self as one with Brahman as taught by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. [1] According to his followers, Pramukh Swami Maharaj represents the essence of Hinduism, leading a life of celibacy, while maintaining a mental detachment from personal wealth or comfort.

[edit] Notable Projects

BAPS Temples outside India

• In November of 2005, the President of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj - along with the President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the Leader of Oppostion, Lal Krishna Advani- inaugurated "Swaminarayan Akshardham", a 120 acre site in Delhi. Akshardham includes a 141ft high monument constructed entirely of stone, two exhibition halls highlighting India Culture and values, Delhi's first large format movie theater, gardens, and a temple(mandir).

• Neasden Temple BAPS constructed what was at the time the world's largest traditional Hindu temple outside India ^[4]. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London (http://www.mandir.org), also popuarly known as the Neasden Temple) was opened in 1995. Constructed entirely from Marble and Limestone, the temple is popular amongst tourists seeking a unique place to visit in London. On 8 July 2000, the Managing Editor of Guinness Book of Records, Mr Tim Footman presented His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj with certificates marking his entries into the world famous record book. The first certificate presented to His Holiness was for building and inspiring the largest traditional Hindu Mandir outside India. The second certificate marked a record 355 Temple Consecration Ceremonies performed by His Holiness between April 1971 and May 2000.

• In 1999 BAPS opened Africa's first traditional Hindu Mandir in Nairobi, Kenya. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Nairobi is unique in that the interior is constructed entirely from intricately carved wood.

• In 2004 BAPS broke its own record when it opened the largest Hindu temple outside India near Chicago, USA. Based upon the Neasden Temple, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chicago is the USA's second traditional Swaminarayan Temple. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Houston was the first. A similar, slightly smaller temple, it was opened in Texas, a month prior to the opening of the Chicago Mandir. 2007 will see the opening of two more traditional temples, with one in Atlanta, to be the 2nd largest Mandir in BAPS and set to be the largest mandir outside India, and a second in Toronto, followed by BAPS's fifth traditional temple opening in 2008 in L.A.

• BAPS financed and produced the 2004 large format film, Mystic India, which retraces the 12,000 km barefoot journey throughout 18th century India undertaken by Swaminarayan (then known as Nilkanth) at age 11.[1]

[edit] Title

Bocāsanvāsī Akṣar Puruṣottam Svāminārāyaṇ Sansthā at the purest level translates to (The) Bochasan-ite Imperishable Supreme Being, Lord from the first of Men, Establishment.

However, for modern and practical purposes, the title can rendered in English as The Bochasan-ite Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Establishment or The Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Organization of Bochasan. The high Sanskrit formations of Akṣar Puruṣottam Svāminārāyaṇ, meaning Imperishable Supreme Being, Lord from the first of Men, understandably adorning references to God, can be left untranslated due to a cumulation of two reasons, the first that Akṣar Puruṣottam Svāminārāyaṇ is hardly taken in a literal manner, it is more so Indian terminology for God, God; the second that not even God, God is accurate, as Akṣar Puruṣottam Svāminārāyaṇ is much more contextually loaded than that, in terms of the history and the philosophy of BAPS and that which lead to it.

At the outset it is very simple, the title defines belief. Akṣar Puruṣottam Svāminārāyaṇ can be taken as a specific Hindu ideology, and thus The Bochasan-ite Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Establishment would be the followers of it. Furthermore, Akṣar Puruṣottam Svāminārāyaṇ is a part by part build-up, from the general to the specific, to the said ideology.

• nārāyaṇ (Son of the original Man) is the general component. It means God and is of Vaishnavite origin. Hinduism → Vaishnavism
• Svāmi-, meaning Lord, in this case and in most cases of a religious capacity (learned holy man, monk, spiritual preceptor), is just a further embellishment at a linguistic level, thus: Lord that is the Son of the original Man or Lord from the first of Men. However this specifically refers to the one Sahajanand Swami, believed to be God. Hinduism → Vaishnavism → Swaminarayanism
• Akṣar Puruṣottam (Imperishable Supreme Being) is a specific deity and philosophy or interpretation of Swaminarayanism. This theology lead to a split in 1907, leading to BAPS. Hinduism → Vaishnavism → Swaminarayanism → Akshar-Purushottamism
• Though it must be said that Akṣar Puruṣottam is in less need of being left untranslated, because unlike Svāminārāyaṇ, which is something unique unto itself, the philosophy of Akṣar Puruṣottam really can be gleaned from the English rendering of Imperishable Supreme Being, with one modification. Up until now, Akṣar Puruṣottam has been translated as Imperishable Supreme Being (un-hyphenated), but what is really meant is along the lines of Imperishable - Supreme Being (hyphenated). Imperishable is in fact not an adjective; instead the hyphen creates a pairing of two nouns: (the) Supreme Being paired with (the) Imperishable. This stems from the thrust of the BAPS doctrine, which is the unicity/pairing between the Supreme Being (Puruṣottam) and his Imperishable (Akṣar, represented by the line of gurus, now at Pramukh Swami). Hence The Bochasan-ite Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Establishment.
• Bochasan is a Gujarat town, associated with that split.

[edit] Temple locations

[edit] References

1. ^ William, Raymond (2001). Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. Cambridge University Press. 
2. ^ BAPS Mission Statement.
3. ^ BAPS Care International.
4. ^ Guinness World Record Certificate.

[edit] See also

• Yogiji Maharaj
• Swaminarayan Sampraday

[edit] External links

• BAPS Website
• Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi
• BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London
• BAPS Care International
• Mystic India Website
• BAPS Children's Website