- Satsangi Jeevan
Satsangi Jeevan is the authorised biography of
Swaminarayan . [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/Scriptures/scriptures.asp | title= Scriptures] It is written by Shatanand Swami and completed in 1829. [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayanwales.org.uk/Scriptures/scriptures.asp | title= Scriptures] , Swaminarayan decided to makeGadhada his permanent residence on the insistence ofDada Khachar and his sisters. [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayan.nu/mandirs/index.shtml | title= Six temples: Gadhada Shri Gopinathji Maharaj] Upon completion of theShri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada in 1828, Swaminarayan instructed Shatanand Swami to write a book on his life and pastimes. [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayan.info/ShastraDetails.aspx?ID=JgBTAGgAYQBzAHQAcgBhAEkARAA9ADIANAA%3d-cmJRLAFZpY0%3d | title= Shastra: Satsangi Jeevan]The book
Satsangi Jeevan comprises 19,387
Shloka s among 360 Chapters, in 5 Volumes. [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayan.info/ShastraDetails.aspx?ID=JgBTAGgAYQBzAHQAcgBhAEkARAA9ADIANAA%3d-cmJRLAFZpY0%3d | title= Shastra: Satsangi Jeevan]Volume 1 narrates the prologue and the circumstances leading to Swaminarayan taking birth. [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayan.info/ShastraDetails.aspx?ID=JgBTAGgAYQBzAHQAcgBhAEkARAA9ADIANAA%3d-cmJRLAFZpY0%3d | title= Shastra: Satsangi Jeevan] This volume then goes on to speak of his childhood, his journey across
India as a teenager and the meeting of Swaminarayan (then known as Neelkanth Varni) with his guru,Ramanand Swami . The volume ends with Swaminarayan being appointed head of theSwaminarayan Sampraday . [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayan.info/ShastraDetails.aspx?ID=JgBTAGgAYQBzAHQAcgBhAEkARAA9ADIANAA%3d-cmJRLAFZpY0%3d | title= Shastra: Satsangi Jeevan]In volume 2, Shatanand Swami describes Swaminarayan’s social upliftment of the masses, spiritual / religious / social guidance for their personal well being and visiting followers whilst moving through villages, towns & cities. [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayan.info/ShastraDetails.aspx?ID=JgBTAGgAYQBzAHQAcgBhAEkARAA9ADIANAA%3d-cmJRLAFZpY0%3d | title= Shastra: Satsangi Jeevan]
Volume 3 continues the narrations of Swaminarayan’s movements to teach the depths of Devotion with true observance of Dharma. [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayan.info/ShastraDetails.aspx?ID=JgBTAGgAYQBzAHQAcgBhAEkARAA9ADIANAA%3d-cmJRLAFZpY0%3d | title= Shastra: Satsangi Jeevan] It is in this volume that the construction of temples by Swaminarayan is first talked about.
Volume 4 commences with narrations of the scriptural recitals that Swaminrayan instructed. However, this volume is primarily revered for it’s intricate explanation of the
Shikshapatri , the establishing of the Acharyaship and teachings specifically to theAcharya s. [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayan.info/ShastraDetails.aspx?ID=JgBTAGgAYQBzAHQAcgBhAEkARAA9ADIANAA%3d-cmJRLAFZpY0%3d | title= Shastra: Satsangi Jeevan]Volume 5 is dedicated to personal religious activities of Swaminarayan in minute detail. [cite web | url= http://www.swaminarayan.info/ShastraDetails.aspx?ID=JgBTAGgAYQBzAHQAcgBhAEkARAA9ADIANAA%3d-cmJRLAFZpY0%3d | title= Shastra: Satsangi Jeevan]
Meaning of Satsang
In Satsangi Jeevan, Shatanand Swami mentions that merging the two terms, the meaning of Satsang is derived. The term "Sat" implies four significances [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayan.nu/youth/satsang.shtml | title= Definition of Satsang] :
1. god 2. Saints who has entirely surrendered to God 3. Dharma asserted by God Himself and his favorite saints, and 4. the Scriptures wherein these three above mentioned are prescribed.
In
Vachanamrut , Swaminarayan commented on the term "sang". The association which is made by body, action, and mind is called "sang". [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayan.nu/youth/satsang.shtml | title= Definition of Satsang] When you put the two together you get Satsang. Jeevan means life, therefore the meaning of the title, "Satsangi Jeevan" is way of life for aSatsangi .References
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