Gathering of Vadodara
Encyclopedia
The Gathering of Vadodara (or Vadodrani Sabha) was a pivotal moment for the Swaminarayan Sampraday
. It took place in the year 1820 and is recorded in the holy book Satsangi Jeevan
, compiled by Shatanand Swami.
. A satsangi
from Vadodara
, Nathbhakta met Swaminarayan and requested him to send a sadhu to quell the scholars there who were stating the Swaminarayan Sampraday was not Vedic
.
Swaminarayan chose Muktanand Swami
and told him to go to Vadodara. Muktanand Swami, initially reluctant, went with 250 other sadhus.
of Vadodara, Sayaji Rao II, on hearing of Muktanand Swami’s arrival, he sent out a welcoming party. He orgainsed a Dharma Sabha and appointed a respected scholar, Bhau Purani as the Chairman of the gathering.
On the morning of the sabha (gathering), Muktanand Swami made his way to Vitthalnathji Temple, the location of the sabha. There were thousands of people at the sabha; the scholars sat on one side and Muktanand Swami faced them on the opposite side.
Five very learned scholars sat at the front of the sabha and were very well respected:
1. Ram Chandra Vaid
2. Hari Chandra Vaid
3. Shobharam Shastri
4. Narupanth Nana
5. Chinman Rao
These five scholars asked Muktanand Swami one question each.
from this Kaliyug that we live in?”
, the shastras say God does not take Avatar in Kaliyug”
Swaminarayan Sampraday
Swaminarayan Sampraday , known previously as the Uddhav Sampraday, is a Hindu sect established by Swaminarayan...
. It took place in the year 1820 and is recorded in the holy book Satsangi Jeevan
Satsangi Jeevan
Satsangi Jeevan is the authorised biography of Swaminarayan. The book contains information on the life and teachings of Swaminarayan. IIt is written by Shatanand Swami and completed in 1829. Swaminarayan decided to make Gadhada his permanent residence on the insistence of Dada Khachar and his sisters...
, compiled by Shatanand Swami.
Precursor to the event
Swaminarayan was residing in VadtalVadtal
Vadtal is a small village in the Kheda district of Gujarat, IndiaIt is a location of famous Swaminarayan's temple. "Gomti" is a lake in Vadtal....
. A satsangi
Satsangi
A follower of Swaminarayan is referred to as a Satsangi . There are eight important things in the life of a Satsangi.-Kanthi:Lord Swaminarayan instructed his followers to wear a double stranded kanthi to symbolise Krishna and Radha...
from Vadodara
Vadodara
Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
, Nathbhakta met Swaminarayan and requested him to send a sadhu to quell the scholars there who were stating the Swaminarayan Sampraday was not Vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
.
Swaminarayan chose Muktanand Swami
Muktanand Swami
Muktanand Swami was a sadhu and paramahansa of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.-Biography:He was born Mukund Das to Anandram and Radhabai in Amreli, Gujarat in 1758....
and told him to go to Vadodara. Muktanand Swami, initially reluctant, went with 250 other sadhus.
The Event
The KingKing
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
of Vadodara, Sayaji Rao II, on hearing of Muktanand Swami’s arrival, he sent out a welcoming party. He orgainsed a Dharma Sabha and appointed a respected scholar, Bhau Purani as the Chairman of the gathering.
On the morning of the sabha (gathering), Muktanand Swami made his way to Vitthalnathji Temple, the location of the sabha. There were thousands of people at the sabha; the scholars sat on one side and Muktanand Swami faced them on the opposite side.
Five very learned scholars sat at the front of the sabha and were very well respected:
1. Ram Chandra Vaid
2. Hari Chandra Vaid
3. Shobharam Shastri
4. Narupanth Nana
5. Chinman Rao
These five scholars asked Muktanand Swami one question each.
First Question
Narupanth Nana: “How can one achieve mokshaMoksha
Within Indian religions, moksha or mukti , literally "release" , is the liberation from samsara and the concomitant suffering involved in being subject to the cycle of repeated death and reincarnation or rebirth.-Origins:It is highly probable that the concept of moksha was first developed in...
from this Kaliyug that we live in?”
Second Question
Hari Chandra Vaid: “Say we believe Moksha can be attained by having gnaanJnana
Jñāna or gñāna is a Sanskrit and Pali word that means knowledge. It has various nuances of meaning depending on the context. The idea of jnana centers around a cognitive event which is recognized when experienced...
, the shastras say God does not take Avatar in Kaliyug”
Third Question
Ram Chandra Vaid: “Say we believe God takes avtar in Kaliyug, shastras say the God is called ‘Triyug’ therefore God only takes avatar in the first 3 yugs. Explain?”Fourth Question
Shobharam Shastri: “Say we accept Lord Swaminarayan is God, where then does he fit into the 10 & 24 avatars for God?”Fifth Question
Chinman Rao: "Say we believe Lord Swaminarayan is Almighty God Supreme. Other avatars performed great acts proving themselves as God – what did Lord Swaminarayan do?"- RamRamaRama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
built a bridge over the ocean to reach Lanka - KrishnaKrishnaKrishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
lifted the entire Govardhan Mountain by his small finger