Swaminarayan Sampraday

hard work and dedication to make the place what it is now. While I was at the temple, I watched the Hindus perform an ancient Vedic ritual called the Abhishek, a ritual bathing to honor the murti of their God. Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha,

alterations in the religion due to reforms which represent the biased promotions of the religion by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha’s film, “Mystic India”. It is vividly present in the content of both the volume and the organization that BAPS is simply just showing the image it wants to create whether one is more factual than the other or not. The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is

For one of my cultural visits I went to a Mexican restaurant, El Molcajete, in Geneva, IL. In this restaurant I observed elements of folk and popular culture which included the music that was playing there, which was mariachi band music which made the place feel more authentic to Mexico. The music from the mariachi band was a piece of their folk culture they had, because they used violins, trumpets, guitarron a spanish guitar used in most Spanish music, and a vihuela a five stringed guitar with a

professors, colleagues, friends and neighbors. Few have the curiosity, courage, and in my case a course requirement to attend a service of another religion and dialogue with those practicing that particular religion. I chose to visit the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir on Prescott Avenue mainly because of my curiosity regarding the diversity of the practice of Hindusim. I attended two services, one being the celebration of Diwali, the festival of lights, and the other being an ordinary Sunday ritual. These

Personal Statement: Yam Raj Giri Born and raised in a country of Himalayas, Nepal, I graduated from the medical school in October 2009. Then, I began my practice as a Medical Officer in the Rural Government Hospital in Nepal for three years. My service as a primary care physician in underserved areas was a part of the curriculum and commitment as I had received a scholarship from the Nepal Government. I was granted a scholarship through the entrance exam as held by Ministry of Education. During

I have been a follower of Swaminarayanism for all seventeen years of my life, but during my childhood, temple and religion were just a Sunday obligation. My parents would encourage me to attend the weekly sabhas (assemblies) held at the temple, but I would often refuse because I was scared and shy. I followed Swaminarayanism solely because my parents followed it, and for that reason was very uninterested in the culture and religious values. As I grew older, I came to the realization there were many

Sanstha (BAPS) Swaminarayan youth group. BAPS is a worldwide religious and civic organization within the Swaminarayan branch of Hinduism. BAPS was established as a formal organization on 5 June 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj. It was formed on the founder's doctrinal stand that Swaminarayan had promised to remain manifest in the person of Akshar, a term used to describe his chief devotee and Swaminarayan's abode. From the age of 5 to 21, I have been an active member of the BAPS Swaminarayan