Shlok 3
Rampratapji and Icharamji, both born of Shree Dharmadev, are >my brothers. Rampratapji’s son, Ayodhyaprasad and Icharamji’s son, Raghuvira - both of whom I have adopted as my sons (and established as the Acharyas of my disciples); |
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| In the next four Shlokas, Lord Swaminarayan accords his blessings upon the two
Acharyas and also upon four categories of people. These are, (i) Naishtik
Brahmcharis - Brahmins who take a Naishtik Vrata of celibacy,
(ii) Grihastas - householders, (iii) Sarva Stree
- all women (married, unmarried and widowed) and (iv) Sadhus
- ascetics or saints who have renounced worldly life.
Lord Swaminarayan, by mentioning these classes of people, is highlighting who
this Shikshapatri is for - the classes who are to follow the Shikshapatri.
These four Shlokas partition society and in doing so, Lord Swaminarayan is
then able to write specific Dharmas for these classes of people in the second
half of the Shikshapatri.
Also, he provides a name of a person for each class. Such person is mentioned
as they have excelled so greatly in that particular class and so are considered
as the ideal devotee in that class. Thus the Lord has praised such exemplarity.
It is our duty to study the example set by these great persons and try to
replicate these examples ourselves.
Lord Swaminarayan first bestows his blessings upon the two Adi Acharyas
(first Acharyas) of the Sampradai. Lord Swaminarayan towards the end of his
stay upon this Earth decided to establish two Acharyas - for the Northern
and Southern regions of India. These Heads or Acharyas were later decided
to be his nephews who would be adopted as his own. Thus the Sampradai was
left in their hands only and successive Acharyas from the ‘Dharma Kula’
- ancestry of Dharmadev.
Only these Acharyas are to be considered and revered as Heads of the Swaminarayan
Sampradai, as per Lord Swaminarayan’s explicit wish which is documented in
the ‘Desh Vibhag Lekh’ - authorised by the Lord.
Only those who pledge allegiance to an Acharya are true members of the Sampradai
and so the Lord in this Shloka propounds association with the Acharyas and
thus glorifies the Acharya heritage in this fellowship. |
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