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History and Purpose of Mahapuja in the Gunatit Samaj

Background Guruhari Pappaji Maharaj asked Param Pujya Didi to conduct the first Mahapuja for all members of the Gunatit Samaj, on 8th August 1964 at Tardev, Mumbai. Since then a Mahapuja is conducted every day at all Gunatit Jyot centres across the world. To commemorate this day, Gunatit Jyot conducts a special mahapuja for each an every member of the samaj on the 8th August

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Shri Hari Jayanti – The Birth of Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Hari Jayanti marks the advent of Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan on this earth. Lord Swaminarayan is Purna Purushottam Narayan, the avatari of the avatars. He was born in a small village called Chhapaiya near Ayodhya 240 years ago on 2nd April 1781.  This date is ‘chaitra sud nom‘ in the Hindu calendar.  This date also coincides with Ramnavmi (the birth of

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The Swaminarayan Mantra

Ramanand Swami, who was guru to Sahajanand Swami Maharaj (otherwise known as Swaminarayan Bhagwan), chose Him to be his spiritual successor – Sahajanand Swami was only 21 years of age. Shortly afterward, Ramanand Swami departed from this world. On the thirteenth day after the demise of His guru on 31st December 1802 CE, Sahajanand Swami introduced the Swaminarayan mantra.

Swaminarayan Mahamantra

સ્વામિશ્રીજી જય ગુરૂહરિ પપ્પાજી સ્વામિનારાયણ મહામંત્ર પ્રાગટ્યદિન   ભગવાન શ્રી સ્વામિનારાયણ સમર્થ સર્વોપરી સર્વ અવતારના અવતારી એમણે પોતાના મંત્રનો, નામનો, સંપ્રદાયનો ઉદ્દ્ભવ ફરેણી ગામમાં કર્યો. તે વખતે બધા જુદા જુદા નામની માળા ફેરવતા. તે વખતે મહારાજે કહ્યું, આપણો એક જ મંત્ર “સ્વામિનારાયણ” આપણે આ જ મંત્રની માળા ફેરવવી.   સર્વના સ્વામી સર્વ અવતારના અવતારી સ્વામી એવા અક્ષર. ને અક્ષરના સ્વામી

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Our Centres

Vallabh Vidyanagar Jyot Centre – Est. 1st June 1966 Guruhari Pappaji, at the behest of Brahmswarup Yogiji Maharaj established a spiritual institution called ‘Shree Gunatit Jyot Mahila Kendra’ for women who wished to devote their lives in service of God. As per Yogiji Maharaj’s wishes Gunatit Jyot was formed in Vallabh Vidyanagar on Guruhari Pappaji’s own land. Fifty one such beno first

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Why Do We Offer Food to the Lord Before Eating It?

In the Christian tradition, food is partaken after a thanks giving prayer grace. Indians make an offering of it to the Lord and later partake of it as prasada – a holy gift from the Lord. In temples and in many homes, the cooked food is first offered to the Lord each day. Our entire attitude to food and the

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Why Are There 108 Beads in a Mala (Rosary)?

The Hindu religion has had prayer beads for a long time. Its rosary consists of 109 beads — 108 to mark the 108 names of God and one to mark the beginning of the prayer cycle, “Dancing Shiva, who shows grace, peace and creative power, and destroys and treads on the evil dwarf.”   Sakyamuni, the East Indian who was

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What is Aarti

Physically Aarti is the ritual of waving the divas in a circular motion before Gods image. There are several underlying sentiments of Aarti: One is that the divas illuminate the whole of the Lords body with light so that devotees can do darshan of the whole body. The second sentiment is that devotees can lovingly welcome Bhagwan during Aarti, by offering

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Introduction to Hinduism

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world, if not the oldest dating back many thousands of years.  The original name of Hinduism is Sanãtana Dharma, or “The eternal principle”. The word sanatana implies that it always existed and will always exist; as such its principles are beyond any religion, race, colour or creed. Unlike other religions, the

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