Acharya Shree Tejendraprasadji Maharaj Tejendraprasad Pande, formally known by his full title as Sanatan Dharma Dhurandar Acharya Maharaj Shree 1008 Tejendraprasadji Maharaj was appointed acharya of the Narnarayan Dev gadi (Ahmedabad) of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, a Hindu sect, by h ...

(who was then

Acharya In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a tit ...

of the Swaminarayan Sampraday (Ahmedabad Gadi)) founded International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization (I.S.S.O.) (

Devanagari Devanagari ( ; , , Sanskrit pronunciation: ), also called Nagari (),Kathleen Kuiper (2010), The Culture of India, New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, , page 83 is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental Writing systems#Segmental syste ...

: अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्वामींनारायण सत्संग संस्थान) in the United States on the occasion of

Vijaya Dashami Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu ...

in the year 1978. Page 64 The prime objective of I.S.S.O. is "To advance the Sanatana Dharma, in accordance with the principles and teachings of the

Swaminarayan Sampraday The Swaminarayan Sampradaya, also known as Swaminarayan Hinduism and Swaminarayan movement, is a Hindu Vaishnava sampradaya rooted in Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, characterized by the Bhakti, worship of its Charismatic authority, charismati ...

, founded and ordained by

Sahajanand Swami Swaminarayan (IAST: ', 3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830), also known as Sahajanand Swami, was a yogi and ascetic, who is believed by followers to be a manifestation of God Krishna, or as the highest manifestation of Purushottam, and around ...

", enabling Lord Swaminarayan's devotees from both the

NarNarayan Dev Gadi The Naranarāyan Dēv Gadī, named after Nara-Narayana, NarNarayan Dev, is one of the two ''Gadis'' (seats) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Its headquarter is at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad and controls the Uttar Vib ...

(

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...

) &

LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi The Laxminarayan Dev Gadi ( Gujarati:- લક્ષ્મીનારાયણ દેવ ગાદી) is one of the two gadis (diocese) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is headquartered at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal a ...

(

Vadtal Vadtal is located in the Kheda district of Gujarat, India. It is the pilgrim centre of Swaminarayan Sampraday and the headquarter of Swaminarayan's temple. Gomati is a holy lake in Vadtal. In 2011, ONGC announced that it would begin drilling o ...

) to practice their religious duties in harmony. Page 191 This achieved, the efforts of all the followers of the Swaminarayan Sampraday can be polarised, allowing for joint activities to be undertaken. In turn, this will enable the followers to meet the challenges they are faced with today in giving their youth a religious experience that they can understand and practice themselves.

Activities

Gurukul

Classes are held in English every Friday evening in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, where the religious principles of the Swaminarayan Sampraday are taught. Exploring the greatness of the scriptures and discussing and debating on the modern day issues affecting young satsangis stimulates the desire to learn more.

Religious camps

Summer camps concentrating on religious teachings in a religious atmosphere in the presence of

Acharya Shree Koshalendraprasadji Maharaj Koshalendraprasadji Pande (October 1972 – present) is the current acharya of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday (15 October 2004 – present) and is the 7th successor of Swaminarayan in the North Diocese (NarNarayan Dev G ...

& saints. These camps take place annually in the UK and United States, where hundreds of youth have been inspired into a religious life.

Religious publications

Audio cassettes (

Kirtan Kirtana ( sa, कीर्तन; ), also rendered as Kirtan, is a Sanskrit word that means "narrating, reciting, telling, describing" of an idea or story, specifically in Indian religions. It also refers to a genre of religious performance arts ...

and Katha), video cassettes (

Utsav ''Utsav'' (Hindi: उत्सव; English: Festival) is a 1984 Hindi erotic drama film, produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Girish Karnad. The film is based on play '' Mrichakatika'' (''The Little Clay Cart'') by Śūdraka. The film star ...

s and documentaries) and scriptural books ( Vachanamrit,

Shikshapatri The Shikshapatri ( gu, શિક્ષાપત્રી, Devanagari: (शिक्षापत्री) is a religious text consisting of two hundred and twelve verses, written in Sanskrit by Swaminarayan. The Shikhapatri is believed to have ...

Satsangi Jeevan Satsangi Jivan is the authorised biography of Swaminarayan. The book contains information on the life and teachings of Swaminarayan. It is written by Shatanand Swami and completed in 1829.Swaminarayan decided to make Gadhada his permanent reside ...

Purana Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...

s, etc.)

ISSO-Seva

In 2001

ISSO Seva Acharya Shree Tejendraprasadji Maharaj (who was then Acharya of the Swaminarayan Sampraday (Ahmedabad Gadi)) founded International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization (I.S.S.O.) (Devanagari: अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्वामी� ...

was established. It is an independent running charity under the Swaminarayan Sampraday to give a helping hand to mankind, to help the homeless and needy as well as making awareness about the modern day diseases and infections. It provides relief for when a

natural disaster A natural disaster is "the negative impact following an actual occurrence of natural hazard in the event that it significantly harms a community". A natural disaster can cause loss of life or damage property, and typically leaves some econ ...

strikes worldwide. The charity is run by professionals and volunteers of the Swaminarayan temples and centres. Humanitarian relief has been accorded a privileged place in the Sampraday's social philosophy. All temples have been instrumental in raising awareness of the plight of people in numerous disasters;

1993 Latur earthquake The 1993 Latur earthquake struck India at 3:56 am local time ( UTC+05:30) on 30 September. The main area affected is the districts of Latur and Osmanabad, including the Ausa block of Latur and Omerga of Osmanabad in Maharashtra, Western India ...

1999 Odisha cyclone The 1999 Odisha cyclone ( IMD designation BOB 06, JTWC designation 05B) was the most intense recorded tropical cyclone in the North Indian Ocean and among the most destructive in the region. The 1999 Odisha cyclone organized into a tropica ...

, and

2001 Gujarat earthquake The 2001 Gujarat earthquake, also known as the Bhuj earthquake, occurred on 26 January, India's 52nd Republic Day, at . The epicentre was about 9 km south-southwest of the village of Chobari in Bhachau Taluka of Kutch District of Gujarat ...

, etc. in recent times via the

Swaminarayan Temples Swaminarayan, the founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, established temples, known as ''mandirs'' (Devnagari: मन्दिर), as part of his philosophy of theism and deity worship. These mandirs are known as Swaminarayan Hindu temples. He ...

in India.

Other activities

* Hospitals *

Blood donation A blood donation occurs when a person voluntarily has blood drawn and used for blood transfusion, transfusions and/or made into biopharmaceutical medications by a process called Blood fractionation, fractionation (separation of whole blood com ...

camps * Medical camps * Clinics in remote parts of India * Setting up

almshouse An almshouse (also known as a bede-house, poorhouse, or hospital) was charitable housing provided to people in a particular community, especially during the medieval era. They were often targeted at the poor of a locality, at those from certain ...

s to feed and clothe the poor and needy souls on a daily basis.

References

External links

ISSO Yuvak Mandal

ISSO Seva
{{Swaminarayan Sampraday Swaminarayan Sampradaya Hindu organisations based in India International Hindu organizations