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Swaminarayan Sampradaya
The Swaminarayan Sampradaya, also known as Swaminarayan Hinduism and Swaminarayan movement, is a Hindu Vaishnava sampradaya rooted in Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, characterized by the worship of its charismatic founder Sahajanand Swami, better known as Swaminarayan (1781–1830), whom many regard as an avatar of Krishna or as the highest Theophany, manifestation of Purushottama, Purushottam, the supreme God. According to the tradition's lore, both the religious group and Sahajanand Swami became known as ''Swaminarayan'' after the Swaminarayan mantra, which is a compound of two Sanskrit words, swami ("master, lord") and Narayana, Narayan (supreme God, Vishnu). During his lifetime, Swaminarayan Institutionalisation, institutionalized his charisma and beliefs in various ways. He constructed six mandirs to facilitate followers' devotional worship of God, and encouraged the creation of a scriptural tradition''.'' In 1826, in a legal document titled the Desh Vibhag Lekh, Lekh, Sw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Swaminarayan
Swaminarayan (IAST: '; 3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830), also known as Sahajanand Swami, was a yogi and Asceticism, ascetic believed by followers to be a manifestation of Krishna or the highest Theophany, manifestation of Purushottama, around whom the Swaminarayan Sampradaya developed. In 1800, he was initiated into the ''Uddhava'' ''sampradaya'' by his guru, Swami Ramanand, and was given the name Sahajanand Swami. Despite opposition, in 1802, Ramanand handed over the leadership of the Uddhava Sampradaya to him before his death. According to the Swaminarayan tradition, Sahajanand Swami became known as Swaminarayan, and the Uddhava Sampradaya became known as the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, after a gathering in which he taught the Swaminarayan Mantra to his followers. He emphasized "moral, personal, and social betterment," and ''ahimsa''. He is also remembered within the sect for undertaking reforms for women and the poor, and performing large-scale non-violent yajna, yajñas (fire s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Theophany
Theophany () is an encounter with a deity that manifests in an observable and tangible form.. It is often confused with other types of encounters with a deity, but these interactions are not considered theophanies unless the deity reveals itself in a visible form. Traditionally, the term "theophany" was used to refer to appearances of the gods in ancient Greek and Near Eastern religions. While the ''Iliad'' is the earliest source for descriptions of theophanies in classical antiquity, the first description appears in the ''Epic of Gilgamesh''. In numerous creation stories, a deity or deities speak with many kinds of animals, often prior to the formation of dry land on earth. Definition and etymology The term theophany derives from the Ancient Greek word (), meaning "appearance of a god", from ( ''theós'' "divinity", and (, "to show" or "to appear"). In classical usage, it referred to visible appearances of deities to humans, especially in mythological contexts. These co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vallabha
Vallabha, also known as Vallabhācārya or Vallabha Dīkṣita (May 7, 1478 – July 7, 1530 CE), was the founder of the Krishna, Kr̥ṣṇa-centered Pushtimarg, Puṣṭimārga sect of Vaishnavism, and propounded the philosophy of Shuddhadvaita, Śuddhādvaita. His biography is depicted in several sectarian Puṣṭimārga hagiographies. Born into a Telugu Brahmin family, Vallabha studied Hindu philosophy from early age, then traveled throughout the Indian subcontinent, particularly the Braj (Vraja) region, for over 20 years. He became one of the important leaders of the devotional Bhakti movement. He won many philosophical scholarly debates against the followers of Advaita Vedanta, Advaita Vedānta. He began the institutional worship of Shrinathji, Śrī Nāthajī on Govardhana Hill. He acquired many followers in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, Gangetic plain and Gujarat. After his death, the leadership of his sampradāya passed to his elder son Gopīnātha. Vallabha's philosophy pr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saṃsāra
''Saṃsāra'' (Devanagari: संसार) is a Sanskrit word that means "wandering" as well as "world," wherein the term connotes "cyclic change" or, less formally, "running around in circles." ''Saṃsāra'' is referred to with terms or phrases such as transmigration/reincarnation, karmic cycle, or Punarjanman, and "cycle of aimless drifting, wandering or mundane existence". When related to the theory of karma, it is the cycle of death and rebirth. The "cyclicity of all life, matter, and existence" is a fundamental belief of most Indian religions. The concept of ''saṃsāra'' has roots in the post-Vedic literature; the theory is not discussed in the Vedas themselves. It appears in developed form, but without mechanistic details, in the early Upanishads. The full exposition of the ''saṃsāra'' doctrine is found in early Buddhism and Jainism, as well as in various schools of Hindu philosophy. The ''saṃsāra'' doctrine is tied to the karma theory of Hinduism, and th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Moksha
''Moksha'' (; , '), also called ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', and ''mukti'', is a term in Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism for various forms of emancipation, liberation, '' nirvana'', or release. In its soteriological and eschatological senses, it refers to freedom from '' saṃsāra'', the cycle of death and rebirth. In its epistemological and psychological senses, ''moksha'' is freedom from ignorance: self-realization, self-actualization and self-knowledge. In Hindu traditions, ''moksha'' is a central concept and the utmost aim of human life; the other three aims are ''dharma'' (virtuous, proper, moral life), '' artha'' (material prosperity, income security, means of life), and '' kama'' (pleasure, sensuality, emotional fulfillment). Together, these four concepts are called Puruṣārtha in Hinduism. In some schools of Indian religions, ''moksha'' is considered equivalent to and used interchangeably with other terms such as ''vimoksha'', ''vimukti'', '' kaivalya'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aksharbrahman
Akshar-Purushottam Darshan (''Akṣara-Puruṣottama Darśana'') or Aksarabrahma-Parabrahma-Darsanam, "Akshar-Purushottam philosophy," is a designation used by BAPS as an alternative name for the Swaminarayan Darshana, Swaminarayan's view or teachings, to distinguish it from other Vedanta-traditions. It is based on Swaminarayan's distinction between Parabrahman (Purushottam, Narayana) and Aksharbrahman as two distinct eternal realities, which in this view sets Swaminarayan's teachings apart from other Vedanta-traditions. It is an essential element for the BAPS and its ''Akṣara-Puruṣottama Upāsanā'' ( "worship"),Swaminarayan sanshtaWorship of God with the Guru - Akshar Purushottam Philosophy/ref> in which Purushottam c.q. Parabrahman is present in a lineage of Aksharbrahman guru's, who are the abode (''akshar'') of God. Meaning In Swaminarayan theology, a distinction is made between Para Brahman, the highest Brahman which is Purushottam Narayan (God), who is regarded by ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rūpa
Rūpa () means "form". As it relates to any kind of basic object, it has more specific meanings in the context of Indic religions. Definition According to the Monier-Williams Dictionary (2006), rūpa is defined as: :* ... any outward appearance or phenomenon or colour (often pl.), form, shape, figure RV. &c &c ... :* to assume a form ; often ifc. = " having the form or appearance or colour of ", " formed or composed of ", " consisting of ", " like to " .... Hinduism In Hinduism, many compound words are made using ''rūpa'' to describe subtle and spiritual realities such as the ''svarupa'', meaning the form of the self. It may be used to express matter or material phenomena, especially that linked to the power of vision in samkhya, In the Bhagavad Gita, the Vishvarupa form, an esoteric conception of the Absolute is described. Buddhism Overall, ''rūpa'' is the Buddhist concept of material form, including both the body and external matter. More specifically, in the P ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Soteriology
Soteriology (; ' "salvation" from wikt:σωτήρ, σωτήρ ' "savior, preserver" and wikt:λόγος, λόγος ' "study" or "word") is the study of Doctrine, religious doctrines of salvation. Salvation theory occupies a place of special significance in many religions. In the academic field of Religious studies, soteriology is understood by scholars as representing a key theme in a number of different religions and is often studied in a Comparative religion, comparative context; that is, comparing various ideas about what salvation is and how it is obtained. Buddhism Buddhism is devoted primarily to Enlightenment in Buddhism, awakening or enlightenment (''bodhi''), ''Nirvana (Buddhism), Nirvāṇa'' ("blowing out"), and Moksha, liberation (''vimokṣa'') from Duḥkha, all causes of suffering (''duḥkha'') due to the existence of Sentient beings (Buddhism), sentient beings in ''Saṃsāra (Buddhism), saṃsāra'' (the cycle of compulsory Rebirth (Buddhism), birth, death, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Acharya
In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a religious teacher in Hinduism and Buddhism and a spiritual guide to Hindus and Buddhists. The designation has different meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism and secular contexts. ''Acharya'' is sometimes used to address an expert teacher or a scholar in any discipline, e.g.: Bhaskaracharya, the expert mathematician. Etymology The Sanskrit phrase ''ācāraṁ grahāyati ācāraṁ dadāti iti vā'' means ''Acharya'' (or teacher) is the one who teaches good conduct to one's students. A female teacher is called an ''achāryā,'' and a male teacher's wife is called an ''achāryāni'' In Hinduism The term '''Acharya''' has numerous definitions. Hinduism frequently uses the terms "''acharya''" and "''guru''" interchangeably. According to the Dharmaśāstra, Dharma Shastras, ''acharya'' is the one who imparts knowledge of the entire Vedas, Veda to a student and performs upan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nar Narayan Dev Gadi
The Nar Narayan Dev Gadi (Naranarāyan Dēv Gadī), named after the two forms of supreme lord Nara-Narayana, is one of the two ''Gadis'' (seats) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday, Swaminarayan Sampradaya. Its headquarter is at the Swaminarayan Temple, Ahmedabad and controls the Uttar Vibhag (North division). The current acharya (spiritual leader) of the Gadi is Koshalendraprasad Pande, Koshalendraprasad. Organisational structure In 1826 at Vadtal, Swaminarayan established the dual Acharya, Acharyaship in Dharmavanshi Acharyas, whom he intended as his successor. "Dharmavanshi" means "belonging to the lineage of Dharmadev" – the father of Swaminarayan. Swaminarayan enthroned his two adopted sons, Ayodhyaprasad, Ayodhyaprasad Pande and Raghuvir (spiritual leader), Raghuvir Pande, who were the sons of his brothers Rampratap and Ichcharam, as the spiritual leaders of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi headquartered at Ahmedabad and the Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi headquarter ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi
The Laksmi Narayan Dev Gadi ( Gujarati:- લક્ષ્મીનારાયણ દેવ ગાદી) is one of the two gadis (diocese) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. It is headquartered at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal and controls the ''Dakshin Vibhag Lekh''. History In Vadtal, on Prabodhini Ekadashi of Vikram Samvat 1882, Swaminarayan adopted his nephews Ayodhyaprasadji Pande (Son of elder brother Rampratapji) and Raghuveerji Pande (Son of younger brother Ichcharamji) as his sons. Establishing the two Gadis i.e. Nar Narayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Ahmedabad and Lakshminarayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Vadtal, Swaminarayan instructed the two cousins to draw lots, to decide who would be seated on which Gadi. Swaminarayan handed over the responsibility of Satsang and both acharyas to Gopalanand Swami by instructing Gopalanand Swami to make each and every satsangi including sadhus, Brahmachari and haribhakt to remain under the commands of the A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Institutionalisation
In sociology, institutionalisation (or institutionalization) is the process of embedding some conception (for example a belief, norm, social role, particular value or mode of behavior) within an organization, social system, or society as a whole. The term may also be used to refer to committing a particular individual or group to an institution, such as a mental or welfare institution. The term may also be used in a political sense to apply to the creation or organization of governmental institutions or particular bodies responsible for overseeing or implementing policy, for example in welfare or development. During the period of the Industrial Revolution in Europe many countries went through a period of "institutionalization", which saw a large expansion and development of the role of government within society, particularly into areas seen previously as the private sphere. Institutionalization is also seen as an important part of the process of modernization in developing co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
