Service as Spiritual Practice in the BAPS Swaminarayan Tradition

Abstract

From its inception over two centuries ago, the Swaminarayan Sampradaya has emphasized the interdependence of spirituality and service. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha’s engagement in humanitarian services is a 200-year-old theological position established by Bhagwan Swaminarayan to help his followers attain their soteriological goal of ultimate liberation. Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s own compassionate service to the needy, coupled with his teaching that service according to God’s command is liberating, has established a devotional foundation for humanitarian service in this Hindu tradition. Moreover, Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s scriptural injunctions to serve the needy also motivate devotees’ service efforts. For devotees, these injunctions make humanitarian service equivalent to service to God, which is seen as a type of devotion that can lead to liberation. In BAPS today, followers translate their desire to do service into various humanitarian projects, some of which are continuations of long-standing sites of Swaminarayan volunteer work and others of which are a reflection of needs arising in contemporary times.