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Atlanta BAPS Temple at Night

Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha IAST: Bocāsanvāsī Akshar Purushottam Swāminārāyan Sansthā), often abbreviated as BAPS (formerly Bochasan Swaminarayan Sanstha or BSS), is a major organization within the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism. The organization was established on 5 June 1907 by Shastri Yagnapurushdas or Shastriji Maharaj (1865–1951), a Sanskrit scholar and sadhu who left the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday in 1905. The Akshar Purushottam Upasana, an interpretation of Bhagwan Swaminarayan's succession, is what led to the formation of this present organization. Shastriji Maharaj's successor was Yogiji Maharaj. Presently the sanstha is headed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

File:Baps.jpg
BAPS logo

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is a charitable Non-governmental organization affiliated with the United Nations. The organization is recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization that holds General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

History

Shastri Yagnapurushdas left the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday with permission to do Vicharan (religious travels), Bochasan Swaminarayan Sanstha or BSS (now BAPS) was founded on both the Vedic principles of God and his ideal devotee. BAPS believes Bhagwan Swaminarayan to be God and his ideal devotee to be Gunatitanand Swami who was the rightful successor to Bhagwan Swaminarayan in 1906. After leaving of his own accord, he was later expelled from the Vadtal Gadi by the then Vadtal acharya in a hastily called meeting. The difference in interpretation of the beliefs withheld within the Sampraday led to the creation of group.

Mandirs

The mandir, or Hindu place of worship, serves as a hub for the spiritual, cultural, and humanitarian activities of BAPS. The organization has about 1,100 mandirs and a total of 3,300 volunteer-run centers spanning five continents. In the tradition of the Bhakti Movement, Swaminarayan and his spiritual successors began erecting mandirs to provide a means to uphold proper devotion to God on the path towards moksha, or ultimate liberation. BAPS mandirs thus facilitate devotional commitment to the Akshar Purushottam Upasana, in which followers strive to reach the spiritually perfect state of Aksharbrahman, or the ideal devotee, thereby gaining the ability to properly worship Purushottam, the Supreme Godhead.

Mandir Rituals

The offering of bhakti, or devotion to God, remains at the center of mandir activities. In all BAPS Swaminarayan mandirs, murtis, or sacred images of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Gunatitanand Swami and other deities, are enshrined in the inner sanctum. After completion of prana pratishta or life-force installation ceremonies, the deities are believed to reside in the murtis, and are thus subjects of direct worship through sacred daily rituals. In many mandirs, murtis are adorned with clothes and ornaments and devotees come to perform darshan, the act of worshiping the deity by viewing the sacred image. Aarti, which is a ritual of waving lit lamps in circular motions to illuminate the different parts of the murti while singing a song of praise, is performed five times daily in shikharbaddha mandirs and twice daily in smaller mandirs. Additionally, food is offered to the murtis amidst the singing of devotional songs three times a day as part of the ritual of thaal, and the sanctified food is then distributed to devotees. Daily readings of and discourses on various Hindu scriptures also take place in the mandir. Many mandirs are also home to BAPS sadhus, or monks. On weekends, spiritual assemblies are held in which sadhus and devotees deliver discourses on a variety of spiritual topics. During these religious assemblies, bhakti is offered in the form of kirtans, or devotional songs with traditional musical accompaniment. Religious assemblies also take place for children and teenagers of various age ranges. Throughout the year, mandirs are the sites of traditional celebrations of Hindu festivals. Assemblies with special discourses, kirtans, and other performances are arranged to commemorate Rama Navami, Janmashtami, Diwali, and other major Hindu holidays.

Mandir Activities

In addition to being focal points of religious activity, BAPS mandirs are also centers of culture. Many forms of traditional Indian art have their roots in Hindu scriptures and have been preserved and flourished in the setting of mandirs. Many BAPS mandirs outside of India hold Gujarati classes to facilitate scriptural study, instruction in traditional dance forms in preparation for performances in festival assemblies, and music classes where students are taught how to play traditional instruments such as tabla. Many devotees view the mandir as a place for transmission of knowledge of Hindu values and their incorporation into daily routines, family life, and careers.

Apart from classes teaching about religion and culture, mandirs are also the site of activities focused on youth development. Many centers organize college preparatory classes, leadership training seminars and workplace skills development workshops. Many centers host women’s conferences aimed at empowering young women. They also host sports tournaments and initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles among children and youth. Many centers also host parenting seminars, marriage counseling, and events for family bonding.

BAPS mandirs and cultural centers serve as hubs of several humanitarian activities powered by local volunteers. Mandirs in the US and UK host an annual walkathon to raise funds for local charities such as hospitals or schools. Many centers also host annual health fairs where needy members of the community can undergo health screenings and consultations. During weekend assemblies, physicians are periodically invited to speak on various aspects of preventative medicine and to raise awareness on common conditions. In times of disaster, centers closest to the affected area become hubs for relief activity ranging from providing meals to reconstructing communities.

Notable Mandirs

The founder of BAPS, Shastriji Maharaj, built its first and “namesake” mandir in Bochasan. The organization’s second mandir was built in Sarangpur, which also hosts a seminary for BAPS sadhus. The mandir in Gondal was constructed around the Akshar Deri, the cremation memorial of Gunatitanand Swami, who is revered as a manifestation of Aksharbrahman. Shastriji Maharaj constructed his last mandir on the banks of the River Ghela in Gadhada, where Swaminarayan resided for the majority of his adult life. Yogiji Maharaj constructed the mandir in the Shahibaug section of Ahmedabad, which remains the site of the international headquarters of the organization. Under the leadership of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, over 25 additional shikharbaddha mandirs have been erected across Gujarat and other regions of India and abroad. As a consequence of the Indian emigration patterns, mandirs have been erected in Africa, Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region. The BAPS mandir in Neasden, London was the first traditional Hindu mandir built in Europe. The organization’s fifth North American shikharbaddha mandir was recently inaugurated in the Los Angeles suburb of Chino Hills, CA. Currently, BAPS has a total of 34 shikharbaddha mandirs around the world, with another 9 under construction. In addition to its shikharbaddha madirs, BAPS has over 1,100 other mandirs spread over five continents, including around 70 mandirs in North America and 12 mandirs in Europe. Additionally, the BAPS has also constructed two large temple complexes dedicated to Swaminarayan called Akshardham, which in addition to a large stone-carved mandir has exhibtions that explain Hindu traditions and Swaminarayan history and values. Akshardham temple complexes have been built in India in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Spiritual Guru

Today the Sanstha is led by the 91 year old Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is a sadhu and the present leader of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan 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. 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.

BAPS Charities

BAPS Charities (formerly BAPS Care International) is a faith-based organization that originated from BAPS with a focus on serving society. The spirit of service in BAPS Charities can be traced back to Swaminarayan, who opened alms houses, built shelters, preached against addiction, and abolished the practice of sati and female infanticide with the goals of removing suffering and effecting positive social change. This ethic of service to society has remained at the forefront of the organization's values and practices and is apparent in its vision, that "every individual deserves the right to a peaceful, dignified, and healthy way of life. And by improving the quality of life of the individual, we are bettering families, communities, our world, and our future." BAPS Charities carries out this vision through a range of programs addressing health, education, the environment, and natural disaster recovery. The organization's worldwide activities are funded through donations and are led by a community of over 55,000 volunteers who are mostly members of BAPS.

Health

To prevent and alleviate bodily suffering and to foster good health and physical well-being, BAPS Charities engages in numerous health-focused activities. The organization operates 16 hospitals and clinics serving over 600,000 people annually, with its most recent hospitals opening in Ahmedabad in 2012 and in Vadodara in 2013. Additionally, BAPS Charities organizes health fairs run by volunteer medical professionals where visitors can undergo screening tests, increase health awareness, participate in consultations, and receive treatment. Supporting the goals of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign which is working to end childhood obesity, BAPS Charities recently launched a health awareness initiative in the United States focused on educating parents and children on benefits of a vegetarian diet. To support biomedical research, the Toronto chapter of BAPS Charities donated $100,000 raised from walk-a-thons for Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children's Research and Learning Tower Campaign. In India, the organization has carried out anti-addiction campaigns led by several thousand children who spent their summer vacations traveling through cities and villages persuading people to give up their addictions with personal appeals and presentations on the dangers of addictive behaviors.

Education

With a goal of improving educational opportunities and outcomes for younger generations, BAPS Charities funds scholarships, operates 10 schools and 8 colleges in addition to supporting other schools and running hostels. Through volunteer-led classes, the organization is working towards achieving 100 percent literacy in villages in India. In Africa, BAPS Charities has been active in providing children in need with school uniforms, school supplies, and food and in addition to helping improve school facilities. In North America, BAPS Charities also organizes annual seminars for professional development where workshops help youth develop interpersonal skills, public speaking, management skills.

Environment

BAPS Charities manages several programs designed to protect and improve the environment. Volunteers across the world have raised ecological awareness and promoted conservation by employing energy-efficient technologies and organizing large-scale tree planting campaigns and recycling programs. In India, the organization also leads campaigns to improve water supply and conservation and arranges camps to teach better animal husbandry.

Disaster Relief

Relieving human suffering in times of humanitarian emergencies remains an important component of BAPS Charities’ work. Within hours after the 2001 Gujarat Earthquake, BAPS Charities volunteers began providing victims with daily hot meals, clean water, and clothing and assisted with debris removal and search and rescue missions; the organization also adopted more than 10 villages in which they rebuilt the entire community, including all infrastructure and thousands of earthquake-resistant homes. With the help of donations from volunteers in India and abroad, the organization helped rebuild the area's communities by constructing schools, hospitals, and other buildings. After Hurricane Katrina struck the United States Gulf Coast region, BAPS Charities volunteer teams supplied hot food, water, emergency supplies, and relocation aid for victims. Recently, the organization partnered with UNICEF to provide medicine, clean water, and temporary housing for children affected by the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Community

Along the continuum of humanitarian activities, BAPS Charities also organizes initiatives with the goal of effecting positive social change and promoting a stronger sense of community. The organization recently donated $250,000 to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City to educate future generations about the importance of ahimsa, or non-violence, and the consequences of hatred. In India, BAPS Charities has organized numerous activities to help promote gender equality and improve the lives of women. Programs include campaigns against marriage dowries and domestic violence and seminars offering vocational guidance and self-employment training. Caring for the elderly and disabled is also a core value promoted by the organization. In the United Kingdom, BAPS Charities has an outreach program in place where children with chaperones regularly visit assisted living facilities and homes in their communities to spend time with the elderly residents.

Notable Projects and Achievements

Akshardham (Delhi) Monument
  • Neasden Temple BAPS constructed what was at the time the world's largest traditional Hindu temple outside India. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London <http://www.mandir.org>, also popularly 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, Tim Footman and Andrew W. Dowsey 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 its first traditional Hindu Mandir in Africa – in Nairobi, Kenya. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Nairobi is unique in that the interior is constructed entirely from intricately carved wood.
  • July 2007 saw BAPS break its own record with the opening of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Toronto. The first traditional stone temple in Canada, and the largest such structure outside India. Just over a month later, in August 2007, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atlanta was inaugurated, breaking the record broken the previous month in Toronto. The BAPS temple in Atlanta is currently the largest Hindu temple outside India.

Title

Bochāsanvāsī Akshar Purushottam Swāminārāyan Sansthā translates to (The) Bochasan-ite Imperishable Supreme Being, Lord from the first of Men, Establishment.

However, for modern and practical purposes, the title can be rendered in English as The Bochasan-ite Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Establishment or The Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Organization of Bochasan. The high Sanskrit formations of Akshar Purushottam Svāminārāyan, 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 Akshar Purushottam Swāminārāyan 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 Akshar Purushottam Svāminārāyan is much more contextually loaded than that, in terms of the history and the philosophy of BAPS and that which lead to it.

  • 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
  • Akshar Purushottam (Imperishable Supreme Being) is a specific deity and philosophy or interpretation of Swaminarayanism. This theology lead to a split in 1907, leading to BAPS.
  • Though it must be said that Akshar Purushottam is in less need of being left untranslated, because unlike Svāminārāyaṇ, which is something unique unto itself, the philosophy of Akshar Puruṣottam really can be gleaned from the English rendering of Imperishable Supreme Being, with one modification. Up until now, Akshar Purushottam 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 (Purushottam) and his Imperishable (Akshar, represented by the line of gurus, now at Pramukh Swami). Hence The Bochasan-ite Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Establishment.
  • Bochasan is a town in Gujarat, associated with that split.

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Organization Information
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Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha
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