Spiritual Activities

Temple  

A temple is a center for developing inner peace, worship, and ethics in human life.

Mandir, one of the unique pillars of Hinduism. Devotees dedicate their health, wealth, and skills to build such grand temples with deep carvings, as mandirs are the heart of devotees.  

Today, a long-started tradition of mandirs reached global acclaim from countries to streets and homes.  

Mandirs, a hub to direct society on a social and spiritual path. Thus, Gurudev Bapji speeds up construction to create several mandirs.

The SMVS Swaminarayan Sanstha has built more than 100 Mandirs across India and abroad. Further, we have purchased more than 150 pieces of land for future development. Behind all this success, the inspiration of Gurudev Bapji and HDH Swamishri plays a crucial role.  

SMVS Mandirs are built according to the principle of supremacy, explained by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. It exhibits the murti of the Supreme Lord and their Muktas. Thus, it is the uniqueness of SMVS Mandirs.

Mandir, a place where millions of devotees get guidance on philosophical doctrines, ethics-values, cultural traditions, family relationships, and spiritual happiness to make life worthwhile. These divine and splendid Mandirs enhance a new direction in human life.

Children development  

Implant the seed of education, morality, satsang, creativity and cultural activities.

A child is a young plant. Thus, it is easy to bend. Similarly, shaping and nurturing childhood is more uncomplicated.  

In 1987, Gurudev Bapji introduced weekly Bal Satsang sabha under SMVS Swaminarayan Digvijay activities. These assemblies make a stage for children’s overall development.  

SMVS always focuses on developing spirituality, human ethics, respect for elders, excellence in education, interpersonal skills, creativity, and health care to create a bright future.  

SMVS inspires children through competitive initiatives such as public speaking, writing, spiritual carousels, and crafting. Furthermore, we involve children in social services, environmental clean-up events, and the De-addiction awareness drive for social awareness.

Besides, we strengthen spirituality through annual conventions (shibir), summer camps, group worship, Satsang exams, prayer week, and more.

For children up to the age of 13 years, there are currently more than 600 active weekly Bal-Balika Satsang Centers in which more than 15,000 children regularly attend assemblies and develop themselves.

ABS (Adarsh Bal Sabha)

The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and SMVS is deeply committed to nurturing their development and guiding them toward an exemplary life. Under the inspiration of Gurudev Bapji and HDH Swamishri, the Adarsh Bal Sabha (ABS) was launched within SMVS in 2011. Its goal was to set children on the path of ideals from an early age.

ABS focuses on holistic growth in five dimensions—spiritual, character, inner (self-awareness), personality, and physical—through practical, age-appropriate guidance. Organized into two age groups (Primary and Advanced), the program includes the regular ABS Assembly, ABS camps, and a variety of activities. Under the mentorship of saints and sanchalaks (facilitators) of the Karyalaya, these initiatives continually encourage children to walk the path of ideality. Every child in ABS receives the unique opportunity to experience HDH Swamishri’s divine presence, guidance, and blessings—an unforgettable foundation for lifelong principle and virtue. 

To prepare children who truly embody these ideals, facilitators themselves undergo special training and regular meetings, under the direct guidance of HDH Swamishri and the saints. Today, over 80 ABS units are active, with over 600boys and 600 girls are learning and living the SMVS’s ideal values.

SBS (Sankalp Bal Sabha)

To illuminate the supreme worship of Swaminarayan Bhagwan and the principles of eternal liberation, Jeevanpran Abjibapashri established the Karan Satsang. Building on this legacy, Gurudev Bapji and Guruji Swamishri are taking the entire SMVS community—saints and devotees alike—with fulfilling this global mission. Today, many parents teach their sons and daughters from childhood to dedicate their lives to Shriji Maharaj.

The Sankalp Children’s Assembly (SBS) was created in 2016 to develop those children that have such devotion for the organisation from a young age and to help children internalize Karan Satsang’s teachings. In essence, SBS is SMVS’s future, a training ground for children committed to Guruji’s vision. Currently, about 250 boys and 230 girls are a part of SBS. 

From their earliest years, these young volunteers learn the guiding motto—“Live for Guruji’s grace and dedicate my life for SMVS.” They learn the values of earning grace and how to dedicate one’s life for Shriji Maharaj. They study core Swaminarayan principles through playful, age-appropriate games and activities. To reinforce both theory and practice, children gather in different local and international groups for spiritual camps, monthly assemblies, and various project-based programs. 

Recognizing that a child’s home environment and parental example play an essential role, SBS also offers sessions, seminars, and meetings for parents. These sessions clarify parental responsibilities and strengthen their role in guiding their children’s moral and spiritual development.

To manage these activities, Gurudev Bapji organized a children’s activity board under Satsang Pravruti Karylay. (Satsang nourishment department)

At an advanced level, we primarily focus on the selected children through the education system.

ABS, Adarsh Bal Sabha, is one such project. In the last few years, more than 2000 students have passed out.

Youth development

Here, youth are nurtured with divine qualities such as sincerity, integrity, affection, devotion, and glory. Every nation is known for its unique prosperity. India’s distinguishing identity is its “Indian Youth Power.” Among all countries, India has the largest population of well-educated, cultured, and intelligent young people. Today’s youth possess the strength to uplift the nation and society, and the courage to face global resources and revolutionary challenges—but they often lack true vision. To foster this generation’s ascent, in 1987 Gurudev Bapji established the Kishor-Yuvak (Young Adults and Adults) Assemblies under the Swaminarayan Digvijay Mandal. These assemblies provide holistic development, guidance, and transformation of life for young people.

In these Young Adult and Adult Assemblies, participants cultivate spiritual living, firm adherence to religion and discipline, supreme worship of Lord Swaminarayan, and a life of dignified restraint. They also receive grounding in core social values such as integrity, honesty, ethics, and truthfulness. Activities include group worship, mantra writing, uninterrupted chanting (Akhand Dhun), prayer weeks, morning and evening religious rallies, bicycle tours, and scooter rallies. Competitions—such as art contests, mantra-writing contests, recitation challenges, essay competitions, and “Speak & Win” public-speaking events—are held regularly. In addition, camps, saint assemblies, youth conventions, and conferences are organized. To ensure these spiritual and foundational values endure, weekly assemblies take place in every temple. 

AKS (Adarsh Kishor Sabha)

By the divine resolve of Gurudev Bapji and Guruji Swamishri, the Adarsh Bal Sabha (ABS) was launched in 2011 so that children could progress on the path of ideals. Having learned those lessons of virtue—many of them are now pillars of satsang and advancing on the spiritual path. The same divine resolve inspired the founding of the Adarsh Kishor Sabha (AKS). AKS equips incoming adolescents with ideal formation so they may serve the organization for many years and solidify their understanding of spiritual knowledge and principles even in their teenage years.

Young adults and adults are the future of our nation, society, and institution. In today’s technological era, concerted efforts—driven by Guruji’s resolve and carried out by the saints—are underway to keep teens on the path of satsang, safeguard them from negative influences, brighten their future, instill human virtues, and prepare them to be worthy of Lord Swaminarayan and Satpurush’s grace. 

SKS (Sankalp Kishor Sabha)

Maharaj and His great successors, Satpurushas descended into this universe with grand resolves—to make everyone attain the state of eternal liberation, Anadimukta and enable them to partake in the bliss of the Divine. To fulfill these grand resolutions, a devoted community aligned with this mission is essential.

As many have already dedicated their lives to Shriji Maharaj and joined that mission, for the dedicated community’s constant commitment and remaining away from the worldly influences in this day and age, Guruji’s resolve led to the launch of the Sankalp Kishor Sabha for males and Sankalp Kishori Sabha for females. These assemblies call on those who wish to live in Shriji Maharaj’s service—offering their time, energy, intellect, and skills—to strengthen their commitment and protect them from negative influences during these challenging times. 

AYP (Adarsh Yuva Project)

The distinctive flagship program of such youth activities is the Adarsh Yuva Project (AYP). Through AYP, select young adults who exhibit potential for ideal character are guided academically and spiritually. Just under 3000 youths are currently a part of AYP.

Similarly, for those entering life’s autumn years, the Ideal Seniors’ Project (AVP) enables elders to become exemplary role models; more than 1800 seniors have participated so far. 

These youth programs span India, with over 226 youth assemblies’ centers across various states, districts, talukas, and cities—and more than 30 assemblies abroad. Every week, over 10,000 members benefit from these youth assemblies. 

Women Activities

Bhaktiniwas - The naval point of SMVS women’s activities.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan, as Nilkanth Varni, purified the pillars of spirituality right from the beginning. As from ancient times, desires for gender attraction have degenerated many spiritual leaders. As a result, it reveals community and ethics. Thus, Bhagwan Swaminarayan separated the custom of women’s activities with a clean motive of preserving spiritual characters.

On the other hand, to stop abhorrence, hatred, negligence, and disrespect of women, He offered equal rights to every gender. He initiated a new custom of women ascetics as “Sankhyogi Behno” for the women’s wing.

Following on their footsteps, SMVS established a special unit for women ascetics as Bhaktiniwas. Accounting for the current existence of social order and vicious lifestyle, through Gurudev Bapji’s inspiration, he amended the laws and rules for perfect purity.

On 22nd February 2001, a tradition of Bhaktiniwas was established at Vasna, Ahmedabad. According to the 18th Vachanamrut of Vadtal, in the presence of Harikrushna Maharaj, four youth women were initiated as ascetics on 1st January 2002.

Currently, around 100 women ascetics have dedicated their life and serving society selflessly. This ascetic, in white, whitens society by their acts and words. They lead a pious life, refrain from worldly pleasures and propagate the philosophy explained by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Moreover, leaders and experts strengthen their overall development and spirituality through the training center STK (Sadhak Talim Kendra). Currently, more than 100 dedicated youth are sharpening their life. Advancing their regulation, they amend a new rule to be with society by creating a safe zone of asceticism. This system of creating safe boundaries is a unique feature of SMVS Bhaktiniwas.

Forever, Bhaktiniwas is an inseparable wing of SMVS. It works for the ascendancy of women.

 

Sant

Sant, a preserver, servitor and propagator of culture and tradition.

Sant, a simile of an incense stick. They sacrifice their aspirations, hope, and desires for the sole purpose of their own’s spiritual advancement and upliftment of society. Thus, the delightful aroma of their efforts reaches throughout the globe.

Today, SMVS has gifted over 100 Sants and 100 ascetic women to the nation. They travel tirelessly till late at night for the ideal development of society. Through spiritual assemblies and personal sitting, they reach the heart of every being. By a medium of speech and act, they eradicate the bad habits and sins of devotees.

Salvation, an essential aspect of spirituality. To acclaim this ultimate spiritual status, sant teaches the true form of God and ourselves. Thus, they propagate the supremacy of God and the theory of transforming the soul into Anadimukta.

 

STK (Sadhak Talim Kendra) 

‘STK, the training center, creates a strong backbone and an ideal future for SMVS.

Before moving ahead, let us greet crores of compliments to youth who dedicated their lives to the feet of SMVS.

A degree defines your dignity. But, achievements of degrees require institutions, scholars, teachers, and the educational system. Thus, the educational system creates a proper program and learning environment.

According to this, Gurudev Bapji dreamed of creating spiritual schools and an education system. As, the ultimate degree is only of salvation which lies in spirituality. Thus, HDH Swamishri turned his vision into reality by organizing ‘STK,’ ‘Sadhak Talim Kendra,’ and ‘Sant Talim Kendra.’

STK’s real motive is to preach and explain the deep secrets of supreme theology, divine qualities which constitute true sant, achievement of ‘Anadimukta’ status, and spiritual training to preserve restraint, values, and ideologies.

STK is created in line with the most current teaching techniques. The entire course is distributed in different subjects and seven semesters.

The one who joins this extensive three-and-a-half-year course is trained in all aspects. In parallel, they pass through the sequential stage of ‘sadhak’, ‘parshad’, and finally, ‘sant’.