Acharya Shree Tejendraprasadji Maharaj (who was then

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 i ...

of the Swaminarayan Sampraday (Ahmedabad Gadi)) founded International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization (I.S.S.O.) (

Devanagari Devanagari ( ; in script: , , ) is an Indic script used in the Indian subcontinent. It is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental Writing systems#Segmental systems: alphabets, writing system), based on the ancient ''Brāhmī script, Brā ...

: अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्वामींनारायण सत्संग संस्थान) in the United States on the occasion of

Vijaya Dashami Vijayadashami (), more commonly known as Dassahra in Hindi, and also known as Dashāhra or Dashain in Bhojpuri, Maithili and Nepali, is a major Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Durga Puja and Navarahtri. It is observed on ...

in the year 1978. Page 64 The prime objective of I.S.S.O. is "To advance the Sanatana Dharma, in accordance with the principles and teachings of the

Swaminarayan Sampraday The Swaminarayan Sampradaya, also known as Swaminarayan Hinduism and Swaminarayan movement, is a Hinduism, Hindu Vaishnava sampradaya rooted in Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, characterized by the Bhakti, worship of its Charismatic authority, c ...

, founded and ordained by

Sahajanand Swami Swaminarayan (IAST: '; 3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830), also known as Sahajanand Swami, was a yogi and ascetic believed by followers to be a manifestation of Krishna or the highest manifestation of Purushottama, around whom the Swaminarayan ...

", enabling Lord Swaminarayan's devotees from both the

NarNarayan 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 Sampradaya. Its headquarter is at the Swaminarayan Temple, Ah ...

(

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ), also spelled Amdavad (), is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 ...

) &

LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi The Laksmi Narayan Dev Gadi (Gujarati language, Gujarati:- લક્ષ્મીનારાયણ દેવ ગાદી) is one of the two gadis (diocese) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday, Swaminarayan Sampradaya. It is headquarte ...

( Vadtal) to practice their religious duties in harmony. Page 191 This achieved, the efforts of all the followers of the Swaminarayan Sampraday can be polarised, allowing for joint activities to be undertaken. In turn, this will enable the followers to meet the challenges they are faced with today in giving their youth a religious experience that they can understand and practice themselves.

Activities

Gurukul

Classes are held in English every Friday evening in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, where the religious principles of the Swaminarayan Sampraday are taught. Exploring the greatness of the scriptures and discussing and debating on the modern day issues affecting young satsangis stimulates the desire to learn more.

Summer Camps

Summer camps concentrating on religious teachings in a religious atmosphere in the presence of Acharya Shree Koshalendraprasadji Maharaj & saints. These camps take place annually in the UK and United States, where hundreds of youth have been inspired into a religious life.

Publications

Audio cassettes (

Kirtan Sikh ''kirta''n with Indian harmoniums and '' Kenya.html" ;"title="tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya">tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya (1960s) ''Kirtana'' (; ), also rendered as ''Kiirtan'', ''Kirt ...

and Katha), video cassettes (

Utsav ''Utsav'' (Hindi: उत्सव; English: Festival) is a 1984 Hindi erotic drama film, produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Girish Karnad. The film is based on play '' Mrichakatika'' ('' The Little Clay Cart'') by Śūdraka. It was f ...

s and documentaries) and scriptural books ( Vachanamrit,

Shikshapatri The Shikshapatri (, Devanagari: शिक्षापत्री) is a religious text consisting of 212 verses, written in Sanskrit by Swaminarayan in 1826. It is one of the primary scriptures of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and provides a framew ...

Satsangi Jeevan Satsangi Jivan is the authorised biography of Swaminarayan. The book contains information on the life and teachings of Swaminarayan. It is written by Shatanand Swami and completed in 1829.Swaminarayan decided to make Gadhada his permanent res ...

Purana Puranas (Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
(1995 Editio ...

s, etc.)

ISSO-Seva

In 2001 ISSO Seva was established. It is an independent running charity under the Swaminarayan Sampraday to give a helping hand to mankind, to help the homeless and needy as well as making awareness about the modern day diseases and infections. It provides relief for when a

natural disaster A natural disaster is the very harmful impact on a society or community brought by natural phenomenon or Hazard#Natural hazard, hazard. Some examples of natural hazards include avalanches, droughts, earthquakes, floods, heat waves, landslides ...

strikes worldwide. The charity is run by professionals and volunteers of the Swaminarayan temples and centres. Humanitarian relief has been accorded a privileged place in the Sampraday's social philosophy. All temples have been instrumental in raising awareness of the plight of people in numerous disasters;

1993 Latur earthquake The 1993 Latur earthquake struck India at 3:56 am local time ( UTC+05:30) on 30 September. The main area affected were the districts of Latur and Osmanabad, including the Ausa block of Latur and Omerga of Osmanabad in Maharashtra, Western In ...

1999 Odisha cyclone The 1999 Odisha cyclone ( IMD designation BOB 06, JTWC designation 05B) was the most intense recorded tropical cyclone in the North Indian Ocean and among the most destructive in the region. The 1999 Odisha cyclone organized into a tropi ...

, and

2001 Gujarat earthquake The 2001 Gujarat earthquake, also known as the Bhuj earthquake, occurred on 26 January at . The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch district in Gujarat, India. The earthquake had ...

, etc. in recent times via the

Swaminarayan Temples Swaminarayan, the founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, established temples, known as ''mandirs'' (Devnagari: मन्दिर), as part of his philosophy of theism and deity worship. He constructed nine temples in the following cities; Ahmed ...

in India.

Other activities

* Hospitals *

Blood donation A 'blood donation'' occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for transfusions and/or made into biopharmaceutical medications by a process called fractionation (separation of whole blood components). A donation may be of wh ...

camps * Medical camps * Clinics in remote parts of India * Setting up

almshouse An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) is charitable housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the Middle Ages. They were often built for the poor of a locality, for those who had held ce ...

s to feed and clothe the poor and needy souls on a daily basis.

References

External links

ISSO Yuvak Mandal

ISSO Seva
{{Swaminarayan Sampraday Swaminarayan Sampradaya Hindu organisations based in India International Hindu organizations