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

Gadhada

Gadhada is a city and a municipality in Bhavnagar district in the state of Gujarat, India. Gadhada is situated at bank of River Ghelo.- Geography :Gadhada is located at . It has an average elevation of 104 metres .- Demographics :...

 his permanent residence on the insistence of Dada Khachar

Dada Khachar

Dada Khachar was a well known devotee of Swaminarayan and the Darbar Shri of Gadhada. His father was Ebhel Khachar and mother Somadevi and was named Uttamsinh on birth. He came to be known as Dada Khachar and had four sisters, Jaya, Lalita, Panchali and Nanu...

 and his sisters. Upon completion of the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada is a Hindu temple in Gadhada. This Mandir was built by Swaminarayan himself.-About this Mandir:...

 in 1828, Swaminarayan instructed Shatanand Swami to write a book on his life and pastimes.

The book

Satsangi Jeevan comprises 19,387 Shloka

Shloka

A ' is a category of verse line developed from the Vedic Anuṣṭubh. It is the basis for Indian Epic verse, and may be considered the Indian verse form par excellence, occurring, as it does, far more frequently than any other meter in classical Sanskrit poetry. The Mahabharata and Ramayana, for...

s among 360 Chapters, in 5 Volumes.

Volume 1 narrates the prologue and the circumstances leading to Swaminarayan taking birth. This volume then goes on to speak of his childhood, his journey across India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

 as a teenager and the meeting of Swaminarayan (then known as Neelkanth Varni) with his guru, Ramanand Swami. The volume ends with Swaminarayan being appointed head of the Swaminarayan Sampraday

Swaminarayan Sampraday

Swaminarayan Sampraday , known previously as the Uddhav Sampraday, is a Hindu sect established by Swaminarayan...

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In volume 2, Shatanand Swami describes Swaminarayan’s social upliftment of the masses, spiritual / religious / social guidance for their personal well being and visiting followers whilst moving through villages, towns & cities.

Volume 3 continues the narrations of Swaminarayan’s movements to teach the depths of Devotion with true observance of Dharma. It is in this volume that the construction of temples by Swaminarayan is first talked about.

Volume 4 commences with narrations of the scriptural recitals that Swaminrayan instructed. However, this volume is primarily revered for it’s intricate explanation of the Shikshapatri

Shikshapatri

The Shikshapatri is a religious text consisting of two hundred and twelve verses, written in Sanskrit by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The Shikshapatri is a key scripture to all followers of the Swaminarayan faith and is considered the basis of the faith.The Shikshapatri was written in Vadtal on February...

, the establishing of the Acharyaship and teachings specifically to the Acharya

Acharya

In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...

s.

Volume 5 is dedicated to personal religious activities of Swaminarayan in minute detail.

Meaning of Satsang

In Satsangi Jeevan, Shatanand Swami mentions that merging the two terms, the meaning of Satsang is derived. The term Sat implies four significances:

1. god
2. Saints who has entirely surrendered to God
3. Dharma asserted by God Himself and his favorite saints, and
4. the Scriptures wherein these three above mentioned are prescribed.

In Vachanamrut

Vachanamrut

The Vachanamrut of Swaminarayan is a foundational scripture of the Swaminarayan faith. It is considered one of the most sacred scriptures by Swaminarayan followers...

, Swaminarayan commented on the term "sang". The association which is made by body, action, and mind is called "sang". When you put the two together you get Satsang. Jeevan means life, therefore the meaning of the title, Satsangi Jeevan is way of life for 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...

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