VALUES FOR CHILDREN

Do You Like Fragrance or Bad Smell?

What would you like?

Fragrance or bad smell?

Sweet flowers or rotten vegetables?

Not just you, but everybody likes fragrance and flowers.

Just as there are fragrant flowers, pleasant oils and perfumes, there is also a fragrant life.

It is because of Fragrant values, Fragrant right behaviour, Fragrant morality, Fragrant spirituality.

Everybody likes children who are good, well-behaved and strong in character.

Such children grow to be great men and women.

Nobody loves children without good qualities.

Bad children cause trouble to the family, society and nation.

Do you wish to make your life fragrant with values?

This pocketbook is for kids like you, who wish to spread their fragrance everywhere.

Each page of this booklet is written to make your life fragrant.

How to behave at home? How to behave in public? How to play? How to eat?

How to live together with the family?

How to behave with friends? How do great men and women conduct themselves?

What rules should be observed before the ghar-mandir, at the mandir, and at school?

Some useful tips are presented in this booklet concerning these matters.

By following these golden tips, you too can become great. Your life will become so fragrant that
everybody will like you, love you and respect you.

His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj wishes that children become great with the fragrance of good
qualities; that all children become the pride of their family, society and country.
With his grace and inspiration, this booklet is presented to you.

We are thankful to all those who helped us in making this booklet possible.

Come , turn the pages one by one,

Read it repeatedly, and try to practice these values in you life,

And make your life as fragrant as flowers.

May Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj shower their blessings upon you.

- Swaminarayan Aksharpit
Prayer

O Bhagwan! O Gurudev!

You are my true father and my true mother,

You are my brother, my sister, my friend.

O Bhagwan! O Gurudev!

You have blessed me generously.

You have given me the human body, intelligence, food, water and air.
You have done many favours to me.
I am much thankful to you!

O Bhagwan! O Gurudev!

May my life be righteous to please you,

May I become a bright student,
May I serve my parents ideally.
To accomplish these goals, bless me with wisdom and strength.

O Bhagwan! O Gurudev!

Grant me such wisdom and strength so that I may live by your words,
And my life remains engaged in satsang, devotion and service.
Make my life sweet with the fragrance of values,
Let no bad habits and addictions touch my life,
May I never fall into bad company,
And please grant me a good mind to serve my parents, elders and the country.

O Bhagwan! O Gurudev!

Reside in my heart forever,

Be always by my side,
And bless me that I can please you.
 Fragrance 1

WAKING UP

 Wake up by six every morning.

 Pray to Bhagwan and guru as follows:
‘O Maharaj! O Swami! I thank you for waking me up from my sleep. Let today be the best day of
my life. Give me strength that I may excel in my studies; learan new and creative things; stay
away from bad company; please my parents; and that I may please you too. Make me clever in
my studies and give me the wisdom to become your ideal child.’
 Fold your bedding, bedsheet, blanket, etc. and put them in a proper place.
 Take care not to disturb others sleeping in the same room or house. Do not switch on the lights
or be noisy in whatever you do. When everyone is up you can have devotional bhajans or music
played at a low volume.
 Early morning hours are quiet and spiritually uplifting. After doing your morning puja and some
school study you develop better concentration and a calm mind. So, morning prayer and study
are most beneficial.

Early to be, early to rise

Makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise.

Personal Hygiene

 Brush your teeth every morning. Brushing your teeth before going to bed is beneficial for dental
health.
 Do not keep the tap water running while brushing your teeth. Take care not to waste water.
 Wash your hands with soap after going to the toilet Then take shower while chanting the name
of God.
 Do not skip taking a shower in the morning even during winder.
 Do not keep long hair. Your hairstyle should be simple. Get a haircut on a regular basis.
 Cut your nails before they get long and keep them dirt-free.

CLEANLINESS AT HOME
 Always drink filtered water. Vessels used for storing drinking water should be cleaned regularly
and then filled with filtered water only. Germs breed in unfiltered water and unclean vessels.
 Dipping a slipped glass in a water-vessel contaminates the water.
 Never drink water or any other beverage in a glass that someone has lipped. Drinking from such
a glass is unhygienic.
 Water used for cooking, bathing and other activities must be first filtered before use. Attach a
filter or a cloth-filter to the water tap.
 Always keep the toilets and bathrooms in your home clean.
 Use a dustbin to get ride of rubbish or other waste materials at home. Never throw it outside
your home or on public roads. From a habit of using the dustbin to maintain cleanliness.
 GENERAL CLEANLINESS

 Wash your hands after passing urine.

 Always have a handkerchief with you when suffering from cough, cold or runny nose. While
coughing or sneezing keep a handkerchief near the mouth or nose so that the germs do not
spread or harm others.
 Every time you sneeze or yawn say ’Swaminarayan’.
 Never spit on the road or at public places. Spit either in a spittoon or a sink. If you spit into a
sink, run water over it to clean the sink.
 Wash your clother, pillowcase, bed sheets and blanket-covers on a regular basis.

CLEANLINESS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

 Do not eat or drink during a solar or lunar eclipse. Sit in one place, do not touch anything, and
engage yourself in bhajan-kirtan during the eclipse.
 After the eclipse bathe with your clothes on. Thereafter, go to a mandir for darshan and donate
what you can.
 When somebody dies or a baby is born in the family, special rules should be observed according
to the guidance of elders.

GETTING READY

 Do not waste water and time while taking a shower or bath.

 Rub your body gently while bathing to remove dirt.
 After bathing, wring your wet clothes before leaving the bathroom.
 Always wear neat and clean clothes.
 Be quick in getting dressed and in coming your hair.
 Form a habit of getting ready quickly and properly.
 Thereafter, do your daily puja and concentrate in your prayers.
 Keep your schoolbag and uniform ready the night before, so that time is not wasted while
leaving for school.
 Iron your clothes yourself.
 Your clothes should be neat and clean. They should be neither too stylish nor expose your body.

BHAKTI

 After your daily bath do puja and offer prayers to God. Daily puja is bhakti8, it pleases both God
and guru.
 You should touch your puja only after your morning bath. Similarly, you should touch the murtis
of the ghar mandir only after taking a bath.
 Clothes for puja should be clean and kept away from other clothes.
 Perform puja for at least 15 minutes, facing either east or north.
 Begin your daily puja with dhyan and then apply tilak-chandlo on your forehad. Thereafter, turn
5, 7 or 11 malas, perform 5 pradakshina, do 6 dandvats, read a page from the ‘Shikshapatri’ and
finally offer prayers to God and guru.
 Perform your daily puja asw well as other activities with God and guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj
in mind.
 Do not talk with anyone or think about worldly affairs during puja.
 After puja, do panchang-pranam to your parents. Thereafter, say ‘ Jay Swaminarayan’ to all
members of family with folded palms.

GHAR MANDIR

A ghar mandir is where God resides. So, it should have a proper place in your home.

 Only images of God and the guru should be placed inside the ghar mandir.
 Each morning and evening, perform arti and sing ashtaks before the ghar mandir. Thereafter,
offer six prostrations(dandvats) before the murtis.
 Every day, sing atleast one thal when lunch and dinner are offered to the murtis in the ghar
mandir. Dishes and utensils used for offering thal to God must be reserved and kept separately
from other kitchenware.
 If convenient, you should perform the rituals of waking up the murtis as well as putting them to
sleep.
 Do not sit with your feet stretched before the murtis nor sit with your back facing them.
 Never use the ghar mandir as storage space by putting keys, coins, comb, watch, medicines, etc.
inside it.
 Clean the ghar mandir every day. Do not allow dust and ash from incense sticks to gather inside.
The wick stand, incense stick holder and other utensils used for ghar mandir should be washed
regularly.

SPECIAL ACTS OF DEVOTION

 Whenever you have time perform special acts of bhakti like making a garland for the murtis of
god and guru parampara, singing devotional songs (bhajans), and decorating the ghar mandir on
festive days.
 Eatables or objects like pen and pencil should be used only after offering them to God or
touching them to the murtis for sanctification.
 Observe fast by eating only faral on ekadashi days. Never eat food prepared from grains like
wheat, rice, corn etc. on ekadashi.
 Ideally, after taking the permission of elders at home, form a habit of doing waterless fast
(nirjala upvas).
 Observe nirjala upvas every year on the following five days:

1. Dev Uthi Ekadashi (Kartak Sud Ekadashi)

2. Swaminarayan Jayanti, Ramnavami (Chaitra sud Nom)
3. Dev Poddhi Ekadashi (Ashadh sud Ekadashi)
4. Janmashtami (Shravan vad Aatham)
5. Jal Jhilani Ekadashi (Bhadarva sud Ekadashi)

 Fasting gives rest to your digestive system. According to medical science fasts help to maintain
good health.
 ADDITIONAL BHAKTI DURING CHATURMAS AND SHRAVAN

The holy four-month period every year, from July to October, is called Chaturmas. Of these, the
month of shravan is special for performing additional bhakti. Such bhakti helps one to attain additional
grace of God.

 Eat only once a day during the shravan month. It is a form of tapa (austerity).
 During Chaturmas and especially during shravan, perform additional pradakshina and dandvats
before God either at the local mandir, ghar mandir or in your daily puja.
 Invite new friends to your bal Sabha as well as introduce them to sadhus and volunteers.
 Stop watching TV, movies or other similar forms of entertainment.
 Do not eat from food hawkers or in restaurants.
 Take a pledge to give up eating one food item that you like the most.
 Do not eat sygarcabe, brinjal, radish and mogri.
 Read biographies of God and the guru parampara.
 Observe the special vows given in ‘Bal Prakash’ magazine.

BAL SABHA

 Be regular and punctual at the weekly bal Sabha.

 Place your footwear in order.
 Perform six dandvats before sitting in the Sabha.
 Sit in vertical and horizontal lines in the Sabha.
 Do not chat or play mischief during the Sabha.
 Conduct yourself according to the instructions of the sanchalak or sadhus.
 Raise your finger to ask or to answer any question.
 Do not touch anything in bal Sabha without permission. Also take care not to damage anything.
 Do not rush for arti or Prasad. Form a queue to receive both.
 Bring new friends to bal Sabha. Introduce them to the volunteers and sadhus.

GHAR SABHA

Ghar Sabha makes your home beautiful. It brings peace and happiness to your home.

 All family members, including children, should sit together and hold ghar Sabha daily at a
convenient time. Attend the ghar Sabha regularly and be attentive.
 Do ghar Sabha daily for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
 Sing dhun, prayers and devotional songs for five to seven minutes in the beginning of ghar
Sabha.
 Thereafter, read one religious book for at least ten minutes.
 A light discussion should follow in the last few minutes of ghar Sabha. The discussion could be
on topics like sharing of domestic chores, children’s study, celebration of festivals at home, etc.
 All family members should, in turn, sing and read to make the ghar Sabha interesting.
 If holding ghar Sabha daily is not convenient, hold it at least three days a week.
 RESPECT FOR OUR SACRED TEXTS.

 Read one “Vachanamrut” and five “Swamini Vato” daily.

 Respect the sanctity of our sacred shstras. Even shile reading, do not place them on the floor or
handle them like other books.
 Holy shastras like the Bhagvad Gita, Shrimad Bhagvat, Vachanamrut, Swamini Vato, biographies
of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and guru parampara, etc. should never be placed on the floor. Place
them either on a cloth or a small stand (ghodi).
 Offer pranams to the sacred texts before reading.
 Do not eat or drink while reading or listening to sacred shastras.
 Do not use a shastra as a pad for writing.
 Never drag, push or throw a shastra.
 If your foot accidently touches any shastra, bow before it and apologize to God.

BEING POLITE

 Never be rude; show respect to everybody by calling them politely, e.g. Ramesh Uncle, Rashmi
Aunty. Use words like “Sir” or “Madam” while speaking to your teachers.
 Never use swear words or bad language.
 Do not speak bad about any religion, sect, sadhus or spiritual leaders. Never do bad, be bad or
even think ill of thers.
 Never insult anybody. Always be polite and friendly while speaking to others.
 Never tell lies; it is sinful. Never steal anything.
 Never kill any creature deliberately – an ant, bug, butterfly or other animals.
 See good qualities in others and imbibe them.
 Express your heartfelt thanks even for a small help received. Never hesitate to apologize
immediately for your mistake.
 If you need to use something belonging to someone ask for his or her permission.
 When two persons are talking, never interrupt them, except when you have something urgent
to say.
 Ring the doorbell or knock at the door before entering a room, office or home.

GOOD EATING HABITS

Say two prayer shloks before eating:

Shrimatsadgun shalinam chidachidi, vyaptamcha divyakrutim,

Jiveshakshar muktakoti sukhadam, naikavataradhipam,
Gneyam Shri Purushottmam munivarair, Vedadi Kirtyam vibhum,
Tam-mulakshar-yuktameva Sahajanandam, cha vande sada.

Om sahanavavatu, saha nau bhunaktu, saha viryam karvavahai,

Tejasvina-vadhitamastu, ma vidhvishavahai,
Om shantihi shantihi shantihi.

 W ash your hands before offering food to God. Then pray to Him before eating.
  Your family should eat together at least once a day.
 Take only as much food you can eat. Do not waste.
 Do not use both hands to eat. Eat with your right hand and use the left to take more food. Using
your left hand for eating shows disrespect to Annadev(deity of food).
 Take care that food does not spill out of your dish while eating.
 Eat vegetarian food only, that is, food that is eggless and meatless. Also, do not eat food that
has onion and garlic.
 Consider the food offered to God as Prasad. Eat it without complaints. Do not eat hastily. Chew
the food slowly and properly and remember God and guru.
 Take care that the ladle or spoon you use for taking food does not touch your dish.
 At the end, if any food has fallen out of your dish, collect it and put it into your dish and place
your dish where it is to be washed.
 Do not eat food served by hawkers, in restaurants or hotels. Do not eat food that is stale,
impure or uncovered. Such food is harmful to health.

SPORTSMANSHIP

Everybody likes to play. Sports and exercise are important for good health. To enjoy them
follow these common rules:

 Pray to God before playing.

 Never quarrel or fight on the playing field. Show sportsmanship while playing. Do not feel sad if
you lose.
 Congratulate the winners with a smile.
 Accept the decision of the referee or the umpire.
 After playing, the question “Who won or lost?” is not important. How much you learnt from and
enjoyed the game is more important.
 Learn from players who play better than you.
 Take care not to injure your opponents during play.
 The mantra for success is:
Hard Work + Prayer + Unity + Outstanding Success.
 Wash your hands, legs and face after playing. If convenient, take a shower.
 You should decide how much time you can spare for sports. Do not play more at the cost of your
studies and satsang. Return home soon after the game.

ACADEMIC SUCCES

HARD WORK

PRAYER

SUCCESS
 To be successful in school, follow these tips:

 Always aim to rank first in your class.

 Pray to God before you begin your study.
 Keep murtis of God and guru inside your textbook. Get inspiration for better study through their
darshan and remembrance.
 Earty hours in the morning are best for studying, because one can concentrate and remember
better.
 After school and tuition, read four hours a day.
 Prepare a timetable for study and stick to it.
 Revise whatever is taught in school at home every day. Solve your questions by asking teachers,
elders or friends.
 Never do your homework by copying from others’. Do your homework, projects, etc. on your
own.
 Do not scribble in or tear pages from textbooks.
 Never kick or throw your notebooks, textbooks and schoolbag because goddess Sarasvati (deity
of knowledge) resides in them. Even if your foot accidently touches them, bow before them and
say sorry .
 Take care that your pen, pencil, rubber, etc. are not misplaced, lost or stolen.

EXAM TIPS

Giving exams tells you how good or bad you are in your studies. Here are some points for
success in your exams:

 Your pen, pencil, compass, etc., should be kept ready, well before leaving for the exam.
 Before going to your exam centre have darshan and offer a prayer at the mandir or ghar mandir.
Think positively for your exam, e.g. “I will definitely do very well”.
 Reach the examination centre 15-30 minutes before the exam time.
 Upon receiving the question paper, first pray and then read the entire question paper properly.
 Write your answers in neat handwriting.
 Write your answers to the point, keeping in mine the marks for each question. If time permits,
highlight important parts to make checking easier for the examiner.
 Do not carry your notes to the examination hall or copy from other students. It is far better to
get lower grades than to achieve higher grades by cheating.
 Keep the exam hours in mind while answering the questions. Do not hurry in writing and never
lose your patience. Write your seat number and answer-sheet number on each additional
answer-sheet.

BEHAVIOUR WHILE TRAVELLING

 While you are travelling away from home or on a pilgrimage remember that you are
representing your parents, family, country and religion. Your behaviour reflects them.
 Behave well so that others respect you, your parents, family, religion and country.
 Kep the vehicle you are travelling in clean.
 Allow elders to get in first and give them proper seats in the vehicle.
 Share your snacks while everybody in the group while travelling.
 Collect the leftover food and garbage in a plastic bag and empty it into a dustbin. Never throw
the garbage outside while travelling.
 Cultivate a habit of reading some inspirational or satsang books while travelling. L:isten to
devotional songs or katha, but never waste time in gossip.
 Do not disturb other by talking too loudly.

BEDTIME MANNERS

 Before going to bed, wash your hands and legs and brush your teeth.
 Try reciting the cheshta before going to bed.
 Say “Jai Swaminarayan” to your parents before going to bed.
 Form a habit of lying either on your back or on your side while sleeping.
 To avoid suffocation, do not cover your face while sleeping. This helps in inhyaling sufficient
oxygen.
 Sleep early and wake up early.
 Before going to sleep, offer prayers to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and guru Pramukh Swami
Maharaj as follows:
“O Maharaj1 Forgive me if I have not obeyed any of your commands or made mistakes
knowingly or unknowingly today and bless me so that I may improve.

‘O Maharaj! Bless me that I can please you and also my parents. Bless me that I may study very
well and become your ideal child.

‘O Maharaj! Please weke me up tomorrow early in the morning’.

GOOD BEHAVIOUR

Behaviour at Home
 Live together in unity, and care for all members of the family.
 Do not waste anything at home. To drink water fill your glass as required, but do not waste it.
Switch off lights, fans, AC, etc. when not required, and turn off water taps properly after use.
 Help your parents as well as elders in their house work.
 Keep your study place and things (study table, room, cupboard, etc.) neat and tidy. Put your
schoolbag, shoes, etc. in the place allotted.
 Do not play the music system, television, etc, so loudly that your neighbours get disturbed.
 Welcome your guests with honour and treat them well. Be quiet and helpful.

BEHAVIOUR IN YOUR VILLAGE OR CITY

 Do not throw household rubbish anywhere and spoil the surroundings.
 Do not spoil public p0laces and properties like roads, streetlights, water tanks, canals, etc.
 Do not write on the walls of public places and spoil them.
 Volunteer for any service required in your neighbor-hood or city according to your capacity.
 Go daily for darshan to a mandir close to your home.
 Respect all elders and be helpful to them.
 Take care not to hurt anybody or damage any vehicle, house, etc. while playing.
 To increase the beauty of your city or village grow trees, water them regularly and protect them.
 BEHAVIOUR WITH PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS

Obey your parents,

Serve them,
Be humble to them
Do panchang pranam daily.

Matrudevo Bhava, Pitrudevo Bhava.

‘ Respect your mother and father as god’.

 After your daily puja do panchang pranam to your parents and grandparents.
 Obey your parents. Do not insult them by arguing or getting angry with them. Never shout to
your parents.
 If you need something, ask from your parents, but do not quarrel over it. Do not burden your
parents with expenses on things you can do without.
 Tell your parents or discuss about everything.
 Help your parents in the house work, e.g. buying groceries, chopping vegetables, cleaning,
sweeping, mopping, etc.
 Serve your parents and grandparents when they fall ill.
 Ask for permission from your parents before going out. Also tell them where and for what
reason you are going out and the time when you are expected to return.
 Say ‘Jay Swaminarayan’ when going out and also on getting back home.
 Try to save on your pocket money.

BEHAVIOUR AT SCHOOL

 Reach school on time.

 If a teacher or principal is already present in the classroom or office, then before entering, ask
for permission, “Sir, may I come in?”
 Sit at a proper place in the classroom, but never sit with mischievous or talkative students.
 Pay attention in class. Do not chitchat or do other activities while the teacher is taking the class.
 Never feelshy about going to school with tilak-chandlo on your forehead.
 Take care to keep your uniform neat and tidy.
 Do not spit or throw rubbish in school.
 Do not write your name or offensive words or doodle on school walls, benches or blackboard.

BEHAVIOUR WITH TEACHERS

 Acharyadevo Bhava – ‘Revere your teachers as god.’

 Teachers are our gurus who give us worldly knowledge. Always respect them and use respectful
words for them even in their absence.
 Cooperate with your teachers. Do not make fun of them by mimicking them.
 Teachers are your elders. They are highly experienced in matters of education. Studying with
their guidance helps you progress (than studying according to your own liking).
 Observe discipline in the classroom. Raise your finger if you wish to ask or answer any question.

BEHAVIOUR WITH FRIENDS

 Choose your friends carefully, Cultivate friendship only with fellow-students who can help you in
scoring better grades, forming good habits and making progress on the spiritual path.
 Never develop friendship with those who are mischievous, violent or have bad habits like
stealing or using swear words, etc.
 Help your friends without expecting anything in return.
 Introduce your friends to your parents.
 Bring your friends to the mandir, bal Sabha and introduce them to sadhus and volunteers.
 Observe your religious vows and moral values even when you are with your friends.

BEHAVIOUR AT THE MANDIR

Mandir is a house of God. Add glory to it by offering devotion and service, and observing silence.

 Whenever you go to the mandir, first have darshan of the deities and then perform six dandvats.
 Help in keeping the mandir clean and tidy. Do not throw rubbish anywhere. Flush the toilets and
urinals properly after use. Also keep the bathrooms clean.
 Do not play mischief, shout, speak offensive words aor quarrel with others in the mandir.
Behave in such a way that you do not break or damage any of the mandir property.
 Use lights, fans, airconditioners, water, etc. as and when required. Do not miuse them.
 Boys and girls should not talk with or touch each other in the mandir.
 To stay overnight at the mandir, take the consent of your parents, sadhus or senior devotees at
the mandir.
 After using anything in the mandir put it back in its original place.

BEHAVIOUR WITH SADHUS

 On doing darshan of and meeting guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj perform six dandvats. Also on
meeting a sadguru sadhu perform three dandvats.
 Greet sadhus with ‘ Jai Swaminarayan’ while touching their feet. It is improper to bow only
halfway down and touch their knees, hand, shoulder or head.
 Do not sit on a sofa or cot on which sadhus are seated. Always sit on a slightly lower seat.
 Never wear a gatariyu (upper garment), dhoti (lower garment) or footwear used by sadhus.
 Do not touch the food meant for sadhus. Also, do not touch sadhus while they are cooking,
offering food to God or eating.
 Be polite to the sadhus while talking to them. Discuss only that which is worthy of discussion
with sadhus.
 Listen to the spiritual discourses of sadhus. You may ask questions about satsang or studies to
them.
 In speech or in writing, use the full name of sadhus, e.g. Pujya Swayamprakashdas Swami.
 Help or serve the sadhus in your free time.

BEHAVIOUR WITH DEVOTEES

Be respectful and polite to devotees because they too offer bhakti to please God.
 Whenever you meet a devotee politely say ‘Jai Swaminarayan’ with folded hands.
 Respect the elderly devotees and maintain their dignity.
 Be helpful to elderly devotees by opening a door, serving a meal, offering them support while
walking or standing up, etc.
 Do not find faults with any of the devotees.
 If you come to see faults in any devotee, bring them to the notice of a senior sadhu or volunteer.
Never tell them to others or insult the devotee.
 Do not mimic or crack jokes about others.
BEHAVIOR WITH GUESTS

Atithidevo Bhava – ‘Revere the guest as god.’

 Welcome your guests respectfully by bowing down and greeting them with ‘Jai Swaminarayan’
 Offer them a glass of water and serve them according to your means.
 During their stay make proper eating, bathing and living arrangements.
 Take care of the guest’s children in the same way as you do for your own siblings.
 Help your parents and your older siblings in taking care of the guests.
 See to it that the guests are served first during meals. You should also collect their dishes after
the meal is over.

BEHAVIOUR AS A GUEST

 When you are a guest to someone, never forget that you represent your family as well as
Satsang. As a guest your behaviour should be disciplined. Do not complain, shout, speak
offensive words, play mischief or run around.
 Whenever you go out of town always take your puja with you and never feel embarrassed in
doing it. Wake up early, take a bath and after doing you puja, greet everyone with ‘Jai
Swaminarayan.’
 Do not ask for food items that have not been made for lunch or dinner. Learn to make do with
whatever facility is provided. Do not ask for additional comforts.
 Do all your personal tasks yourself, e.g. after your meal put your dish in the kitchen sink.
 Seek the permission of your host before using his phone, music system, TV, toys, etc.
 Know your host’s lunchtime, bedtime, etc. and adapt yourself to them.
 Do not leave your belongings lying around in your room. Keep them tidy. Express your thanks to
the host and apologize for any mistakes made while taking leave.

BEHAVIOUR WHILE TALKING ON THE PHONE

 Say ‘Jay Swaminarayan’ before your conversation on the phone.

 If you do not know the name of the caller then ask for his or her name politely.
 If the family member for whom the phone call is received is not at hom, note down the details.
Then convey the matters when the family member comes home.
 Do not waste your time and money in talking about unimportant or unnecessary things over the
phone.
 When someone else is talking over the phone in you house, do not disturb the person by talking
aloud. Turn the volume of the TV or music system down.
 If you have a mobile phone, set a pleasant ringtone at a low volume. Either switch off your
mobile or keep it on a ‘Silent Mode’ while attending a programme or satsang Sabha. When there
is an important call either speak very softly so that others are not disturbed or go out to answer
the call.
 Do not read or send text messages during school classes or satsang Sabha.

PRARTHANA

He Parameshwar mangaldata, chhiye ame sau tara bal;

De darshan taj divya manohar, vandan kariye varamvar (2)…tek

Savar pade ne pankhi jage, kil kil gaye taru gan;

Jhalar jhanane mandir gunje, jay jay thaye taru name(2)…

..He Parameshrar

Parhitkari tu chhe Swami, sakal jgatno sarvadhar;

Nana mota sau manavno, ek ja tu chhe taranhar (2)

..He Parameshwar

Bhantar gantar evu deje, deje bhakti ne tuj jnan;

Mat-pitane sant-guruna, rajipanu karie pan(2)

…He Parmeshwar

PRARTHANA 2

Mere achchhe bhagwan, de de aisa vardan…

Srushti ke es tere bag me, pushpo ki ham shan;

Jivanbhar saurbh failakar, gaye tav gungan…mere 1

Matpita aur guruji ko ham, puje dev saman;

Vishva bandhuta manavseva, sabse ho muskan …Mere 2

Bole muh shubh , dekhe nain shubh, aur sune shubh kan;

Pair hamare thahare mandir, sant samagan sthan…mere 3

Dig digant hai teri mahima, mukhrit Hindustan;

Akshar ham ko le le god me, ham teri santan…mere 4

PRARTHANA 3

Bhagwan sauthi mota chhe, Bhagwan bhaji laie,

Bhagwanno mahima moto chhe, esmaran kari laie, Bhagwan…

Bhagwane kevi srushti rachi chhe anant achrajkari,

Pankhi, pushpo, patangiyama purya rang hajari,

Manav sharirni rachna joi, shish name daie. ….Bhagwan 1

Pruthvima kan kan vave tena, anant upje dana,

Saune Prabhu jivade sauna, e chhe palanhara,

Upkar Harina anant chhe, runi sada rahie. …Bhagwan 2

Bhagwan Shri Harie didha saune, dharma niyam vichari,

Papan karie sadaye satsang, bhakti karie sari,

Guru Pramukh Swamima het kari, bhavpar tari jaie. …Bhagwan 3

PRARTHANA 4

Mare hari bhajanma re’vu chhe,

Ek nam shrijinu levu chhe…Mare.

Shravan Kumare mat-pitane,

Tirath karavya kavad lai,

Mare sahuna sevak thavu chhe…Mare.

Tap re karya Dhruve raji thai,

Prasanna karya Prabhu vanma jai,

Mare bhaktina range rangvu chhe…Mare.

Prahlade Harinam tajyu nahi,

Akhand Harie sahay kari,

Eva bhaktoni natma bhalvu chhe…Mare.

PRARTHANA 5

Svikari lyo svikari lyo, vandan aj amara,

Ame balak chhie tamara, Swami balak chhie tamara…

Nathi amari pas ho bhagwan,

Bhat bhatna fulo;

Pan urni bagioma khilya chhe,

Bhaktibhavna fulo;

E fulone mani lejo, kumala hraday amara ….ame 1

Bhola thaine karie ame to,

bhat bhatni bhulo;

Pan tujne n bhulie hardam,

Amo chadavie fulo;

E fuloma mukie ame to, hardam pran amara …ame 2

 GLOSSARY

A– arti Hidu ritual of waving lighted wicks before the murti of God as an act of worship.

-ashtak Prayer verses sung after arti

B- Bal Sabha Childeren assembly

Bhajan Kirtan Singing devotional songs of Paramatma.

C- cheshta hymns sung before retiring to bed describing the divine form and activities of

Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

D- dandvat Prostration

Dhun singing the Swaminaryan mantra

E- ekadashi 11th day of the bright and dark halves of a lunar month; special religious
Observance performed on this day which, among other things, also involves
Fasting.

F faral Food that can be eaten during a fast.

G Ghar Sabha home assembly

Ghodi bhajans that are sung before arti

K Katha spiritual talks or discourses

M mala rosary

Mogri a kind of vegetable

Murti image of God

N nirjala upvas- waterless fast

P Panchang pranam- a gesture of offering respect in which five parts of the body touch the ground
Namely, head, hands, feet, mind and speech. Mainly offered by female devo-
tees in mandirs, personal puja and to guru; also offered by children to their
parents and elders.

Parampara tradition or succession of guru (as in guru parampara)

Pradakshina circumambulation
 Prasad food sanctified by offering it to God

S Sabha spiritual assembly

Sadguru senior sadhu

Sanchalak volunteer who runs an assembly or satsang centre

Sud bright half of lunar month

T tapa austerity

That plate of vegetarian food for offering to God. Also, special bhajans

Sung while offering food to deity.

Tilak-chandlo ‘U’ shaped mark made with sandalwood paste and a round mark of
Kumkum in its centre; a hallmark of one’s allegiance to the Swaminarayan
Sampradaya.

V Vad dark half of each lunar month of the Hindu calendar

Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS)

BAPS is a global socio-spiritual organization committed to the moral and spiritual uplift of
mankind. It was established in 1907 CE by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj in consonance with the
Vedic teachings propagated by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781 – 1830 CE). The Sanstha’s global network
of 1,000 mandirs, 3,700 Satsant centres and 17,500 weekly satsang assemblies (children, yough and
devotees) are perennial sources of moral, social, cultural and spiritual activities. The energies of the
BAPS volunteer corps of 55,000 youths and over 900 sadhus are channeled towards a variety of
philanthropic activities.

His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj

H.H. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the fifth successor in the illustrious spiritual tradition of
Bhagwan Swaminarayan, and the present spiritual head of BAPS. Out of his compassion for humanity,
he has made over 17,000 village, town and city visits and sanctitied over 250,000 homes in India and
abroad. He has read and replies to over 700,000 letters, and personally counseled over 810,000 people.
He has established over 1,000 mandirs and grand cultural complexes like Swaminarayan Akshardham in
New Delhi and Gandhinagar to promote character and spiritual values.

Above all, his profound experience and realization of God is the essence of his success and
divine luster.

“Blessings to all Children.

May your lives become
Fragrant with values;
May you become dear to God,
Holy sadhus and everyone;
And may ou serve your parents,
Society, country and Satsang.”

His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj