Five Vows (Panchvartman)for Householders (Based on Satsangijivan, Shikshapatri and Commentary on the 78th Vachanamrut of the first chapters of Gadhada.)

1.Daru Vartman (Vow of non-consumption of Liquor)

“All those things, items or actions, by whose sight, eating, drinking, listening or enjoying,the senses and conscience (antahkaran) get intoxicated, are equivalent to liquor.”

E.g.: Tea, coffee, cigarette, hemp, opium, drugs, tobacco, gutka, mava masala, pan etc. and any type of beer or any other liquor are prohibited. This is also compulsory in cold countries or even in any of unconditional situation. One must not use these things and must not encourage others to use them.

Alcoholic medicines are also equivalent to liquor.

TV, cinema, shows, plays, movies, gambling, chopat, lottery, circus etc. and to see and know the erotic literacy by the medium of internet or any electronic gadgets can intoxicate one’s mind and hence are equivalent to liquor.

2.Mati Vartman (Vow of not eating non-veg. food)

Mati means non-vegetarian food.

All those items which contain living bodies (small or microscopic insects) and the items which are totally banned in Hindu scriptures are equivalent to non-veg. food.

All the items and medicines that contain meat, eggs or any products containing eggs or meat are equivalent to non-veg. Food.

Unfiltered water, milk, oil, ghee are also equivalent to non-veg. food.

Uncleaned or unsieved grain, flour and the vegetables that contain small insects (or aphids) e.g. cauliflower, certain other green vegetable etc. are also equivalent to non-veg. food.

Certain items that generate irritation and hot temper and have very strong smells like onion, garlic, asafoetida (hing ferula) etc. are also equivalent to non-veg. Food.

In short, one should abandon all above items at home. Furthermore, this vartman is violated by eating all pre-cooked and junk food from the market such as chocolate, biscuits, bakery items, ice cream, cheese, bread, yeast etc. This vartman is also violated by eating at marriage functions where the rules and regulations (regarding this vartman which are mentioned above) are not followed appropriately. Therefore, to please Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the devotee shall certainly abandon all pre-cooked food and drinks available in the market. If required, one should prepare the same at home observing all rules and regulations and shall consume the same after offering it to God.

In unavoidable circumstances, we can drink water available in market after filtering it with a piece of cloth.

3.Chori Vartman (Vow of not committing theft)

Theft is not just taking away something from someone’s home. But, one should not take even any trifle thing owned by someone without permission of the owner.

One should not snatch away anything belonging to others by force or should not take possesion of things against the will of the owner.

One should not even take possesion of anything that is lying on the street which does not belong to oneself.

One should not falsely claim others’ possesions given to one for safekeeping purposes.

One should not accept any object or money which one is not entitled to.

One should not accept bribe, shall abandon adulteration or should not give less in weight, and shall not commit treachery or deceit.

One should not stay in the bound place without the permission of the owner.

In service, one should not shirk his responsibility in discharging his duty, which is theft of time.

One should not commit theft of government properties or utilities like electricity, water, telephone etc.

One should not do any illegal profession, business or service (which is prohibited by the Law of the Land).

Theft from God : One should offer 10% of one’s income from legitimate business, profession, service or agriculture to God as dharmado for the purpose of purification of the wealth. If one is financially weak, he should offer 5 % to God as dharmado. If one fails to offer the same, it is commiting theft from God.

One should offer one tenth of the time given by God, i.e. age, as dharmado; which means one should spend that much time in service and association with God or saints; otherwise the chori vartman is violated.

4.Averi Vartman (Vow of observance of Celibacy)

Averi Vartman means observance of Celibacy. A householder devotee is though engaged in sansar (worldly life), they must observe this vartman (described as follows) to please Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

A man should not lustfully gaze at or think about other women. Similarly, a woman should not lustfully gaze at or think about other men.

 A man should not keep company of women other than his wife and a woman should not keep the company of men other than her husband.

A man should not stare at his mother, sister or daughter of young age and should not stay with her at lonely places. Similarly, a woman should not stare at her father, brother or son of young age and should not stay with him at lonely places. (Then it is obvious that there would be a similar prohibition for distant relatives, friends of the opposite sex and others for staring at and staying within lonely places.)

Nude, semi-nude, erotic and vulgarly dressed scenes and pictures displayed by plays, cinema, TV, channels, shows, movies, internet and other modern gadgets of entertainment are similarly very harmful. They are prohibited for all devotees. All devotees should abandon them strictly.

One should not wear semi-transparent, transparent and short clothes which reveal one’s body parts and vitiate one’s thoughts. In addition, one should not watch women or men dressed in such clothes.

One should not participate or attend lustful occasions like cultural dances, parties, dance programs, discos etc.

One should not read and look at erotic publications, articles, books or magazines.

Women shall observe rajaswala dharma (not touching anywhere during menstruation).They shall not touch clothes, any person or anything for three days; and can touch them after bathing (with all the clothes worn) on the fourth day.

One should associate with his own wife, according to the seasons without deep attachment.

Moreover, one shall stay away from copulation with his wife, on the days before and after Ekadashi, days of manifestation of God and Amavasya (day of new moon), days of the month of Shravan and Adhikmas, days of yajna samaiyo (special religious fete) and fasts and at pilgrim places.

5.Vatalavu nahi and Vatlavava nahi (Do not get proselytized and do not proselytize)

One should not eat anything that is not edible for him as per the norms of his religion and one should not force someone to eat anything which is not edible as per his norms of religion.

In other words, one should not eat at someone’s home who is not observing all rules and regulations (here it means the panchvartman) properly and similarly if one is not observing rules and regulations properly, he should not force others to eat, who are observing all rules and regulations properly.

Compulsory rules for all Devotees

In addition to these five vows, all devotees shall mandatorily follow below mentioned orders given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan as a summary of the Shikshapatri.

1. One shall never kill any living being and shall never intentionally kill even small insects like lice,bugs etc.
2. In case of difficulty or when a problem arises where one has committed a sinful act, he shall never commit suicide in any way owing to depression, confusion or repentance. And one shall never mutilate any part of his own body or that of others by using weapons or any other means.
3. One shall not steal anything, even for the sake of religious purpose. No item, even firewood, flowers etc. shall be taken without the permission of its owner.
4. One shall never falsely blame anyone even for personal gains. One shall never abuse anyone verbally.
5. One shall never speak or listen to talks of slander, betrayal or vices of others.
6. One shall always speak the truth. However, one shall never speak such truth which is detrimental to the interest of oneself or others.
7. One should not keep the company of an ungrateful person i.e. one who does not realize the generous deeds of others.
8. One shall never keep company of six type of people i.e. thief, sinner, addict, hypocrite, lustful and deceitful.
9. One shall not associate with one who is engaged in hankering after women, wealth and tastes under the pretext of devotion and knowledge.
10. One shall never urinate, defecate or even spit in public places such as dilapidated temples, banks of rivers or ponds, main roads, fields sown with seeds, shades of trees, orchards, gardens etc.
11. One shall never enter or exit from an owner’s place without the owner's permission (no trespassing).
12. Men should not listen to the religious discourses delivered by women, nor debate with them.
13. One shall never insult a Guru, a person who is renowned, dignified, learned or armed.
14. One shall never perform a task pertaining to one’s household affairs without careful consideration, but work pertaining to religion shall be done instantly.
15. One should always have communion with the saints.
16.  One should not go empty handed while going for darshan of God or saints.
17. One should not commit a breach of trust.
18. Do not praise yourself with your mouth.
19. Men should not touch women and women should not touch men after entering a temple.
20. One shall always wear a kanthi of Tulsi or wood in one’s neck.
21. One shall always wake up before sunrise and recite the Swaminarayan name.
22. After defecating, one shall wash the left hand ten times and both hands together seven times with clean clay or powder. One shall not use soap or liquid.
23. Then, one shall brush one’s teeth sitting in one place and then take a bath with clean water.
24. Then One shall always compulsorily perform the personal puja (men shall wear a dhoti and wrap one cloth on the upper part of the body). Without performing the puja, one shall not eat or drink anything.
25. Men shall make a tilak with sandalwood paste on the forehead and a chandalo in the center of the tilak with vermilion (kumkum). Make a tilak and chandalo with sandalwood paste on both upper arms and the middle of the chest. Women shall make only a chandalo with vermilion on the forehead. Whereas a widow shall not apply even a chandalo.
26. Thereafter, one shall perform mansipuja considering God to be omnipresent and then turn a rosary 5 times chanting the ‘Swaminarayan’ Mahamantra and turn one rosary while chanting the Gurumantra : ‘Aham Anadimukta Swaminarayan Dasosmi.’
27.  Any food items such as vegetables, fruits, roots etc. or anything else shall not be eaten without first offering it to God. No item shall be used without first offering it to God and making it prasad.
28. One should daily go to the temple of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and sing devotional songs, dhun etc. and commune with the saints.
29. One should be assigned work considering his virtues and should be respected accordingly. Moreover, whenever some elderly or socially respected person visits, he should be duly respected and offered an appropriate seat.
30. While sitting in a sabha (religious assembly) one shall not sit with outstretched legs on top of one another or with any other inappropriate postures.
31. One should never give up one’s religion in the hope of some benefits.
32. If one knows any secret of others, one shall never divulge it.
33. During the Chaturmas, one shall undertake extra observances such as communion with saints, turning rosary chanting the name of the God, circumambulation, reading of religious scriptures, observing fasts, ektana, celibacy etc. and act accordingly.
34. One shall observe fast piously on all Ekadashi and Hari Navmi days. And one shall, give up daytime sleep on those days with great effort.
35. In the event of afflictions caused by any evil spirits, one shall loudly chant dhun of the ‘Swaminarayan’ Mahamantra.
36. At the time of solar and lunar eclipse, one shall give up all activities and chant the Swaminarayan Mahamantra. After the eclipse is over, one shall take a bath wearing all the clothes and wash their hair. A householder devotees shall make a donation as per their capacity and the ascetics (saints) shall perform the puja of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
37. Each devotee shall observe the sutak related to birth or death as prescribed in the scriptures.
38. If one commits some small or big sin, knowingly or unknowingly, he shall atone for it in consultation with Motapurush and saints.
39.  A man shall never touch a widow who is not his close relative.
40. One shall serve one’s parents, dependents and ill people throughout one’s life.
41. One shall store food and accumulate wealth for his future requirements according to his circumstances and his means. If one owns cattle, he shall store sufficient stock of fodder.
42. One shall not undertake any sort of dealings pertaining to land or money, even with his son or friend, without a written document duly witnessed.
43. One shall never spend more than his income. And one shall always keep daily records of his income and expenditure.
44. One shall pay the agreed remuneration, in cash or kind, to workers or labourers employed by him; and under no circumstance pay less than the agreed amount.
45. In the event of a disaster or other such worse situations or circumstances, even if the place of stay is one’s native place, he should leave such a place immediately and reside elsewhere, (where time and place is suitable) so that he can live happily there without difficulties.
46. The wealthy devotees shall sponsor samaiyas (religious fete), festivals and the construction of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s temples. In addition, they shall offer a meal to the saints and devotees.
47. Married women devotees shall serve and worship their husbands in a manner in which they serve and worship God, even if one’s husband is blind, ailing, poor or impotent and shall never utter harsh words towards him.
48. The widow disciples shall worship God with the sense of husband, and they shall always obey their father, son or other such relatives but never act independently.

Five Vows (Panchvartman) For Ascetic Saints(Based on Dharmamrut, Nishkam shuddhi, Shikshapatri and Commentary on the 78th Vachnamrut of Gadhada First Chapters)

An ascetic shall observe the Five Vows for householders and in addition he shall also observe...

1.Nishkami Vartman (Vow of non-lust)

Ascetic saints shall observe an eightfold celibacy. Accordingly,

He must not associate with women.

He must not touch any cloth of women.

He must not touch women.

He must not talk about the appearance of women and must never decide about the complexion or age of women.

He must not ponder about women.

He must not look with interest nor touch even the picture of women.

He must not even think of enjoying women. Hence copulation is obviously ruled out.

He shall never speak to women.

For strict compliance of the above,

Saints shall never go out or walk without being in a pair. Reason of this command is so that the vow of Non-lust would remain firm because of mutual restrain due to the presence of the other saint and even if there is some mistake, one shall atone for it as prescribed by Nishkam shuddhi.

2.Nirlobhi Vartman (Vow of non-greed)

Being a saint, if he keeps or makes someone keep wealth for him or touches money, even worth a penny, it is equivalent to the sin of killing a thousand cows every minute.

One shall never keep an additional twelth cloth over and above the prescribed eleven.

One shall always wear thick clothes made of madarpat and shall never wear thin clothes.

The clothes should be dyed using the saffron coloured clay of the Rampur village (Surendranagar District, Gujarat, India) and not by artificial dye.

One shall not wear stitched clothes.

One shall not use rajoguni clothes like silk, muslin etc. or keep such rajoguni objects for one’s own use.

3.Nirmani Vartman (Vow of humility)

One shall never harbour any type of ego. Respect or disrespect (or insult), whatever comes by the will of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, one shall behave with equanimity in both the situations.

4.Nisnehi Vartman (Vow of detachment)

One shall not have any social relation with his parents, brothers or other close relatives of his past life (i.e. before initiation as a saint).

One shall never keep any dealing with his birthplace or his past home.

One shall develop affection toward Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the devotees of Bhagwan Swaminarayan only owing to their relationship with the God.

5.Niswadi Vartman (Vow of non-gourmandize)

One shall not use metallic utensils for eating or drinking but shall always use wooden bowl (pattar) and calabash only.

Whatever food is available by the will of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, one shall eat it after making it tasteless by mixing all the food items of food and adding water to it.

Further, the ascetic saints shall mandatorily abide all other orders of the Shikshapatri as below:

1. One shall not go to a place, even for taking a bath, which is frequented by women.
2. One shall not knowingly, see towards lustful animals or birds in conjugal posture.
3. One shall not touch, look at or talk to a man who has worn the dress of a woman.
4. One shall not even deliver religious discourses of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, kirtan etc. addressing a woman.
5. One shall not obey orders, even of his Guru that violates vow of non-lust and the five vows of saints.
6. One shall immediately and forcefully stop any woman coming closer by speaking harsh words or by disdain but shall not let her come closer.
7. One shall never, himself or by anyone else, massage his body with oil.
8. One shall specifically restrain himself over the senses and preference.
9. One shall win over the inner enemies like lust, anger, greed and ego.
10. One shall never let a woman enter into a saints’ place of stay.
11. One shall never waste time without devotion of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
12. One shall never speak or listen to any worldly talks.
13. One shall never sleep on a bed unless one is ill.
14. One shall always behave guilelessly, without deception, with great saints.
15. Even if some evil-minded person abuses him or beats him, the saint shall endure it but shall not retaliate towards him. Further, he should never think bad about him but rather think for his well- being.
16. One shall always bow, bear and endure. One shall stick to humbleness.
17. One shall never have any type of profound affection for oneself or his past relatives.

Oh… Bhagwan Swaminarayan! kindly make us observe all these (Your) commands which are the summary of the Shikshapatri.