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The Swadhyaya Movement or Swadhyaya Parivara started in mid 20th-century in the western states of India, particularly Maharashtra and Gujarat.[1] Founded by Pandurang Shastri Athavale (1920-2003), the movement emphasizes self-study (swadhyaya), selfless devotion (bhakti) and application of Indian scriptures such as the Upanishads and Bhagavad gita for spiritual, social and economic liberation.[1][2]
The movement focuses on the Upanishadic mahāvākyas (great teachings) related with Vedic belief that god is within oneself, every human being, all living beings and all of god's creation. It encourages voluntary self-study, self-knowledge, community discourses and action with a responsibility to the god in oneself and others.[3] Its temples typically highlight the deities Yogeshwara Krishna, Parvati, Ganesha and Shiva in a Vriksha Mandir ("temple of trees") setting. Deity Surya is recognized in the form of sunlight. Prayers are performed in the Smarta tradition's Panchayatana puja format, attributed to Adi Shankara.[4] Community members participate in Bhavabhakti (emotional devotion to the divine), Krutibhakti (actional devotion by voluntary service to the divine in all of god's creation), and Bhaktipheri (devotional travel to meet, work and help the well-being of the community partners).[3] The movement members treat all men and women in the organization as a Parivara (family).[3]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
pankajshahwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Mary Pat Fisher (1996). Swadhyay Movement in Living Religions: An Encyclopaedia of the World's Faiths. I.B.Tauris. p. 109. ISBN 1-86064-148-2.
- ^ a b c Ananta Kumar Giri (2009). Self-development and Social Transformations?: The Vision and Practice of the Self-study Mobilization of Swadhyaya. Lexington Books. pp. 1–14. ISBN 978-0-7391-1198-7.
- ^ Thomas G. Kirsch (2016). Permutations of Order: Religion and Law as Contested Sovereignties. Routledge. pp. 91–92. ISBN 978-1-317-08215-6.