Vachanamrut

The Vachanamrut
Vachanamrut manuscript

The Vachanamrut (IAST: Vacanāmṛta, lit. "immortalising ambrosia in the form of words") is a sacred text consisting of 273 religious discourses delivered by Swaminarayan from 1819 to 1829 CE and is considered the principal theological text within the Swaminarayan Sampradaya of Hinduism.[1]: 6  Compiled by five of his senior disciples, Swaminarayan edited and approved the scripture. As followers believe Swaminarayan to be Parabrahman, or God, the Vachanamrut is considered a direct revelation from God and thus the most precise interpretation of the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and other important Hindu scripture.[1]: 13–14, 45 [2]: 173 

Various branches of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya differ in their belief of how to attain moksha. The Narnarayan and Laxminarayan Gadis believe moksha is attained by worshiping the sacred images of Swaminarayan installed by acharyas.[3]: 308  In BAPS, followers emphasize the role of God manifesting through the Aksharbrahman guru to attain moksha.[1]: 40, 47, 200–201  This scripture is read by followers regularly and discourses are conducted daily in Swaminarayan temples around the world.[4]: 21–27 

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Paramtattvadas, Swami (2017). An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hindu Theology. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781316666005. ISBN 978-1-316-66600-5. OCLC 1004609905.
  4. ^ Brear, Douglas (1996). Williams, Raymond Brady (ed.). Transmission of a Swaminarayan Hindu scripture in the British East Midlands (Columbia University Press ed.). New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-10779-X. OCLC 34984234.