On Wednesday 1st February 2017, Shree Swaminarayan Mandirs around the world celebrated the 191th anniversary since Lord Shree Swaminarayan gifted the world His book of holy commandments, the Shikshapatri.

Lord Shree Swaminarayan has decreed that for a disciple to remain happy in this life, and thereafter, the commandments in the Shikshapatri should be adhered to.

Maha Sud 5 of the Hindu calendar is also celebrated as Vasant Panchmi, the end of the winter season and official start of the joyous spring season in India. This auspicious day was chosen by the Lord to gift humanity with the Shikshapatri scripture.

At Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury, disciples gathered to jointly recite the entire scripture – 212 verses of rules and stipulations that serve to benefit everyone in society. Young and old members of the congregation brought in their personal copies of the scripture to follow the reading; some even used e-readers, tablets and smartphones to follow the recital.

The Shikshapatri is the greatest rule book for perfectly forming one’s life in accordance with the will of supreme Lord Shree Swaminarayan. The instructions outlined by the Lord are eternal. They are as relevant today as they were at the time they were written.

This events was the second in a series of events taking place throughout 2017 at Kingsbury Mandir, themselves forming a part of global set of events, to mark the 75th year since the manifestation of Acharya Swamishree Maharaj – the global spiritual leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, the worldwide centre of social, cultural and spiritual welfare and umbrella organisation of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury