Daily Pooja

Lord Shree Swaminarayan has explained in the Shikshapatri a daily routine for all of His followers. Devotees are commanded to perform Daily Pooja immediately after taking their morning bath. If it is impossible to live without breathing, it is impossible to live without doing Daily Pooja! Pooja is for one's Atma (soul); by not doing our Pooja we are harming ourselves. Never miss Daily Pooja, and always do the Tilak and Chandlo attractively.

A person should have his own Pooja set. Worship before a small household temple or another image of the Lord is not considered as Daily Pooja.

One should not have breakfast or even water before the Daily Pooja is completed and always concentrate whilst performing the Daily Pooja and do not talk with others.

"All my followers shall wake up before sunrise and pray (do Pooja) to God then do worldly affairs. Until you stop following the five major duties (pancha vartamaan) Lord Shree Nar Narayan will stay in these Pooja murtis. This is my command you have to follow it. All the followers were pleased and obey hearing the command of Lord Shree Swaminarayan."

— Vachnamrut G.P 48

Step 1 of 10

Gurumantra Niyams

Gurumantra is given by Acharya Maharajshree to all males and Pujiya Gadiwalashri to all female satsangis. Gurumantras are taken to help in the development of satsang within you. Devotees who have taken the Gurumantra need to make sure that they carefully follow all the niyams.

Do

Ensure the pancha vartamaan are being followed

Know our Nitya Niyam by heart

Do the five mansi pooja everyday

Tilak and Chandlo every day and everywhere you go

Wear dhoti and shaal whilst doing morning pooja

Take a niyam of coming to Mandir for darshan

Read daily the scriptures — Satsangji Jeevan and Vachnamrut (Vachnamrut is a must)

Know by heart the Janamangla stotra, Shree Gurubhajena Stotra, NarNarayandevastak

Upvaas to be done on Ekadashi

Always offer food to God first before we consume it

Take part in Mandir activities

Home Sinhasaan — Dandvat every morning & evening with Aarti, Stuti & Thaal

Evening Sabha — Reading & commentary of Scripture, Kirtan Dhun & Chesta

Extra Janamangal Path

Perform Tulsibai's pooja using prasadi jaar

Perform pooja of Bhagwan using tulsi patra (tulsi leaves)

Don't

Do not consume onion and garlic

No outdoor catered foods, and fried food should be eaten

Do not drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco

Do not consume drinks with caffeine — Redbull, tea, coffee and cola

Do not use half image of God — it must be the full image

Do not have pictures of Acharya, Swami, Guru or other devotees in your pooja — only God's murtis

Important

You cannot use half image of God — it must be the full image. Within your pooja you must have only God's murtis. No other pictures of Acharya, Swami, Guru and other devotees.

Sutak

Following a birth or death in the family, sutak should be observed. During sutak the following rules apply:

Males

Pooja of murtis cannot be done. Give your pooja murti to a neighbour, friend or family member. If you have no one, leave your pooja in the Mandir.

You can continue to read the Shikshapatri

Do Mahamantra Japa with Mala

Do Tilak and Chandlo

Do Gurumantra mala (if you have been given it)

Females

During the menstrual cycle: You cannot touch the pooja

You can read the Shikshapatri or any other scripture

Do Gurumantra mala

Do Swaminarayan Mahamantra mala

Do not do Tulsi pooja