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  Akshar Purushottam Upasana
Akshar Purushottam Upasana
Lord Swaminarayan's philosophy is unique among the philosophies of Indian origin. This readable volume gives an in-depth account backed by scriptural quotations and references. An essential read for anyone who wants to learn the beliefs of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.
   
 
Contents
Pages
  
 
 
1

Upasana

3
1.1

Importance of Upasana

4
1.2

What is Upasana?

5
 
 
 
2

Karta - God as the All-doer

8
2.1

How is God Karta?

8
2.2

Shriji Maharaj - The All-doer

9
2.3

Necessity of Knowing God as the All-doer

11
 
 
 
3

Sakar - God with Form

13
3.1

Liking for Sakar

13
3.2

Disadvantages of Understanding God as Nirakar

16
3.3

Origin of the Understanding that God is Nirakar

17
3.4

How is God Sakar?

19
3.5

God with Form as well as Immanent

20
3.6

God as Sakar in Akshardham and on Earth

22
3.7

Divyabhav - Divine Attributes

23
3.8

Necessity of Understanding Divyabhav

26
3.9

Disadvantages of Perceiving Manushyabhav in God

29
3.10

Omniscience

33
 
 
 
4

Sarvopari - God as Supreme

35
4.1

Necessity of Faith in Divine Supremacy

35
4.2

Akshardham - The Highest Shriji Maharaj - The Supreme

37
4.3.1

Shriji Maharaj - The Supreme:In His own Words

40
4.3.2

Shriji Maharaj - The Supreme:As Expressed in Swamini Vatu

42
4.3.3

Shriji Maharaj - The Supreme:In the Words of the Paramhansas

46
4.4

Cosmic Evolution

49
4.5

Parabrahman Purushottam Narayan: One and Unique

53
4.6.1

Shriji Maharaj's Supremacy: As Understood from His Incidents

54
4.6.2

Shriji Maharaj's Supremacy: As Explained by Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami

62
4.7

Questions Regarding Supremacy

65
4.8

Above All but Regard for All

70
 
 
 
5

Pragat - God as Ever-Present

73
5.1

What is Pragat? How?

73
5.2

True Knowledge is Recognising the Pragat Form of God

76
5.3

The Importance of Devotion to the Pragat Form of God

78
5.4

Pragat Bhakti - The Pathway to Peace

80
5.5

Redemption Through the Pragat Form of God or His Saint

82
5.6

Deficiencies Resulting from not Realising the Pragat Form of God

87
5.7

The Pragat Form of God After Shriji Maharaj's Return to Akshardham

89
5.8

Only One Pragat Form of God

92
5.9

Characteristics of the Gunatit Saint

95
5.10

Glory of the Gunatit Saint

98
5.10.1

Glory of the Gunatit Saint: In the Words of Shriji Maharaj

98
5.10.2

Glory of the Gunatit Saint: In the Words of Gunatitanand Swami

101
5.10.3

Glory of the Gunatit Saint: In The Poems of the Paramhansas

102
5.10.4

Glory of the Gunatit Saint: In the Poems of Well-known Saint-Poets

104
5.10.5

Glory of the Gunatit Saint: In Other Scriptures

105
5.11

The Gunatit Saint - The Pragat Form Of God Yet a Loyal Servant

106
 
 
 
6

Aksharbrahman

108
6.1

Becoming Aksharrup and Offering Upasana to Purushottam with Swami-sevak Bhav

109
6.2

The Need of Becoming Brahmarup:

111
6.2.1

For the Privilege of Worshipping Purushottam

111
6.2.2

For Unhindered Devotion

112
6.2.3

For Ultimate Liberation

113
6.3

The Necessity of Aksharbrahman on the Path of Salvation:

113
6.3.1

To Become Brahmarup

113
6.3.2

To Know Parabrahman as He Is

114
6.4

The Infinite Glory of Aksharbrahman

117
6.5

The Form of Aksharbrahman

117
6.6

The Two Forms of Akshar

118
6.7.1

Aksharbrahman: As Satchidanand Chidakash Radiance

118
6.7.2

Aksharbrahman: As the Divine Abode

119
6.7.3

Aksharbrahman: As Divine, Personal and Sakar

120
6.7.4

Aksharbrahman: As In Human Form

121
6.8

Aksharbrahman: One and Unique

122
6.9

The Relationship Between Akshar and Purushottam

123
6.10

What is Meant by Brahman Merging into Parabrahman?

125
6.11

Common Qualities of Akshar and Purushottam

126
6.12

The Dual Upasana of Akshar Purushottam

126
6.13

Gunatitanand Swami as Mul Akshar: How?

128
6.13.1

Scriptural Evidence

129
6.13.2

Gunatitanand Swami is Akshar: In the Words of Shriji Maharaj

131
6.13.3

Gunatitanand Swami's Unique Glory: As Described by Shriji Maharaj

134
6.13.4

Gunatitanand Swami is Akshar: In the Words of Gunatitanand Swami

137
6.13.5

Gunatitanand Swami is Akshar: As Given in Swamini Vatu

140
6.13.6

Gunatitanand Swami's Unique Glory: As Described by Himself

141
6.13.7

Gunatitanand Swami is Akshar: In the Words of Gopalanand Swami

142
6.13.8

Gunatitanand Swami's Unique Glory: As Described by Gopalanand Swami

144
6.13.9

Gunatitanand Swami is Akshar: In the Words of the Paramhansas

145
6.13.10

Gunatitanand Swami's Unique Glory: As Described by the Paramhansas

147
6.13.11

Gunatitanand Swami is Akshar: Other Evidence

150
6.13.12

Gunatitanand Swami is Akshar: From His Life and Work

153
 
 
 
7

Summary

157
7.1

Upasana: What to Understand

157
7.2

Upasana: What not to Understand

160
 
 
  
 

Appendix

162
 
 
  
 

Glossary

178
 
 
  
 

Scriptures

185
 
 
  
 
Index
188

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