Swaminarayan Hindu Mission -- Coventry CEN

CONTACT PERSON: Mr Narendra Chohan

Tel: 024 7622 8605 (evenings)

Website: www.swaminarayan.org

About your group

The Swaminarayan Hindu Mission in the UK is a branch of the worldwide movement of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (usually abbreviated to BAPS), which is based in India. The founder of the Swaminarayan Sect, Lord Swaminarayan, was born in India in 1781AD and is considered, first and foremost, as a social reformer.

His edicts/rules of living are summarised in a small book of 212 verses dictating how his disciples should live according to Hindu Philosophy called the Shikshapatri. The teachings of Lord Swaminarayan are continued through a succession of Gurus who head and guide the faith.

Notable International Achievements:

Cultural Festival of India, Alexandra Palace, London

Cultural Festival of India, New Jersey, USA

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden

This huge project completed in 1995 is an eternal testimony to the determination, dedication, and inspiration of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the present Guru and head of the faith.

The aims of our organisation are entrenched deep in Vaishnav (non-violent) Hindu Philosophy and provide the following to everyone:

Moral and Cultural Care

Inspiring and peaceful life, free from crime, aggression, and addiction.

7 International Cultural Festivals

340,000 assemblies worldwide per year

40,000 volunteers (contributing 10.7 million volunteers hours in serving society)

International Cultural Examinations/Competitions/Conventions.

Medical Care

8 charitable hospitals and healthcare centres

Free dispensaries and clinics at all major BAPS centres

Free medicine and medical camps

Ayurvedic pharmacy and health awareness

Financial help

Educational Care

10 student hostels

10 primary and secondary schools

3 colleges and research centres

23 colleges and schools given financial aid

Women's Wing

9 training camps

Womanhood development programme

Publications and periodicals

Educational work

Clean up campaigns undertaken by BAPS women

Prayers for patients

Relief Work

Famine relief work

Earthquake relief work (reconstructing entire towns and villages)

Flood relief work

Cyclone relief work

19 disaster relief operations (in India, Tanzania, Kenya, USA, and Ethiopia)

Environmental Care

7 million aluminium cans collected for recycling.

Tons of paper recycled

Plant-a-tree campaign (1.2 million trees planted in India alone).

Water conservation projects (15 check dams, 6 percolation tanks, 17 farm ponds)

102 watershed projects

Slar energy and bio gas used at BAPS centers

Social care

Anti-addiction camps

Family assembly campaigns

Anti-dowry campaigns

Literacy campaigns

Tribal Care

30 tribal uplift centres

Education camps

Women�s uplift programmes

Medical services

Spiritual care

Sadhus (saints): more than 635 young committed sadhus from around the world form the backbone of BAPS activities. They are strict celibates who avoid even touching money and observe lifetime vows of:

Nishkam - non-lust

Nirlobh - non-greed

Nissneh - non-attachment

Nisswad - non-taste

Nirman - non-ego

Mandirs - HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj has recently been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for inspiring the construction of 500 Mandirs worldwide; a feat never achieved before.

Morning puja - every Swaminarayan devotee begins their day by performing morning puja, involving meditation, self-introspection, spiritual visualisation, rituals and scripture reading.

In Coventry, the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission has approximately 20 families who regularly meet for religious gatherings and cultural events and have been doing so every week since 1988. Of these there are about 30 youngsters who follow the faith. We are currently trying to procure a building so that we have a place for regular worship and so that we can develop a centre for learning here in Coventry.

For more information about BAPS and a useful link for the CEN website please visit www.swaminarayan.org