Akshar Purushottam Upasana

Akshar Purushottam Upasana is an interpretation of the philosophy set forth by Bhagwan Swaminarayan which led to the creation of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj. It could also be referred to as "Brahman Parabrahman Upasana" or "Bhakta Bhagwan Upasana".

Interpretation of Bhagwan Swaminarayan's Teachings

Bhagwan Swaminarayan's philosophy defined five eternal entities, namely Jiva, Ishwar, Maya, Brahman and Parabrahman. Followers of Akshar Purushottam Upasana believe that Brahman and Parabrahman are the highest two of these entities [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/scriptureexplanation.asp?IDProduct=1045&idcategory=27 | title=Vachanamrut Gadhada I-7] . Whilst other schools of Hindu philosophy hold Brahman and Parabrahman to be one and the same, Bhagwan Swaminarayan's philosophy holds them to be two separate entities. Throughout his discourses in the Vachanamrut, the primary scripture of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, Bhagwan Swaminarayan referred to Brahman as "Akshar, Aksharbrahman, or Akshardham". Similarly, he referred to Parabrahman as "Purushottam, Paramatma, or Bhagwan".

He taught that Akshar had two forms [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/scriptureexplanation.asp?IDProduct=1059&idcategory=27| title=Vachanamrut Gadhada I-21] , a formless all-pervading heavenly abode and a physical form that served the Lord wherever he went [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/scriptureexplanation.asp?IDProduct=1109&idcategory=27| title=Vachanamrut Gadhada I-71] . Furthermore, he preached that to offer pure worship to God, one needed to become "Brahmarup", or gain qualities like Brahman, and then offer worship to Purushottam [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/index.asp?idCategory=20| title=Vachanamrut Gadhada II-3] . For this reason, the essence of Akshar Purushottam Upasana can be described as follows: "to become "Aksharup" and then offer worship to Purushottam."

To achieve this status, aspirants were instructed to associate with and serve Brahman [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/scriptureexplanation.asp?IDProduct=956&idcategory=20| title=Vachanamrut Gadhada II-59] - often referred to as the Sant, Satpurush, or Sadhu [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/scriptureexplanation.asp?IDProduct=1098&idcategory=27| title=Vachanamrut Gadhada I-60] - who incarnated with God. They were also instructed to offer worship to him, in the same manner as the worship offered to God [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/scriptureexplanation.asp?IDProduct=1024&idcategory=25| title=Vachanamrut Gadhada III-26] [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/library/scriptures/scriptureexplanation.asp?IDProduct=1126&idcategory=28| title=Vachanamrut Sarangpur 10] as, according to His words, "When one has darshan of such a Sant, one should realise 'I have had the darshan of God himself.'"

The interpretation of the terms "Sant", "Satpurush", and "Sadhu" being synonymous with 'Brahman' is based upon the words of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in Vachanamrut discourses like Gadhada II-59 where it is said that, "God's Sant is greater than even Bhava, Brahma, and other deities." Applying Bhagwan Swaminarayan's philosophy regarding the five eternal entities, followers of Akshar Purushottam Upasana conclude that the only entity Bhagwan Swaminarayan could be discussing is Brahman, since Parabrahman is God Himself, and "Bhava, Brahma, and other deities" are classed as Ishwar.

Followers of BAPS regard the term saint in this context to be to be singular, however followers of the Swaminarayan Sampradaybelieve that Bhagwan Swaminarayan is referring to the association of all saints who have reached the elevated status of Brahm, as Bhagwan Swaminarayan does not specify any one specific saint in the scripture Vachanamrut. Also they state that it would be almost impossible for all devotees around the world to associate with just one saint, and it would make the role of all other saints redundant.

Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj as Mul Akshar

Followers of BAPS and Akshar Purushottam Upasana hold Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj, a saint and companion of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, to be the personified form of Brahman as discussed above. They cite several references, incidents, and evidence, as seen below.

:*Acharya Shri Raghuvirji Maharaj quoted Bhagwan Swaminarayan when he referred to Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj as his 'Akshardham, within whom he forever resides in.' "Shri Harililakalpatru VII/17:49, 50". :*Acharya Shri Viharilalji Maharaj referred to Gunatitanand Swami as Akshar Murti Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj in his "Kirtan Kaustubhamala". :*Brahmachari Krishnanandji named Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj as 'Mul Akshar'. :*Darbar Abhaysinhji of Lodhika referred to Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj as 'Mul Akshar' in "Purushottam Charitra". :*Similar references can be found in the kirtans of Jerami Brahmachari, Akhandanand Brahmachari, and Jagdishanand Brahmachari of Junagadh.:*The small shrine erected at the spot where Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj used to sit in Junagadh has the inscription, "Anadi Mul Akshar Murti Gunatitanand Swami sat here for 40 years.":*The shrine constructed on the site of Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj's final rites only a few years after his passing was called 'Akshar Deri'.

The Hindu religious title 'Maharaj' is only applied to Gunatitanand Swami's name by adherents of BAPS and Akshar Purushottam Upasana and not the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Followers of the Swaminarayan Sampraday do not accept this belief as it is not advocated in any of the core scriptures, namely Shikshapatri, Vachanamrut and Satsangi Jeevan, and believe that the references provided above are mere interpretations or quotes by supporters of the BAPS group.

Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj's Succession

In the context of Akshar Purushottam Upasana, every spiritual Guru in Bhagwan Swaminarayan's succession is believed the incarnation of Aksharbrahman in whom the Lord resides fully and eternally. As every Guru is the same Aksharbrahman entity, the devotees feel no spiritual change, except the physical change of another successor. It is clear that the Guru is not God, but is God's ideal devotee in whom God resides eternally.

Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj was succeeded by Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual leader of BAPS.

Followers of the Swaminarayan Sampraday do not accept this successorship as they believe that it is not the one established by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

References