Inauguration of BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

BAPS Australia has inaugurated the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute Australia in Adelaide South Australia. Thousands witnessed the historic inauguration and participated in person or online through a live webcast in the Satsang Diksha Homatmak Path, a unique yagna (a ritual performed to invoke God for their blessings) ceremony in which sanctified grains were offered in the sacrificial flame with the recital of selected Sanskrit verses from the Satsang Diksha scripture (a revered and profound spiritual text at BAPS). For the first time in the Asia Pacific Region, the Satsang Diksha Homatmak Path yagna was undertaken. Over 90 children and teenagers sang Vedic peace prayers and recited Sanskrit verses from the Satsang Diksha scripture in the Homatmak Path. With the blessings of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, this yagna is a stepping-stone for the elevation of Vedic Sanatan Dharma and its heritage on the land of Australia.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute is dedicated to advancing quality research, learning, and expression of Hinduism, its cultures, philosophies, affiliated languages, and rich collection of literature. Furthermore, the institute will strive to foster social harmony, interfaith dialogue, public engagement, and academic discourse as it generates opportunities for the highest level of value-based education, innovative research, and creative expression. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is the visionary and inspirer of this research institute. Furthermore, The BAPS Research Institute was inaugurated as a part of the centenary celebrations of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj designated and inspired Mahamahopadhyay Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami from India to travel globally and preside over the inaugurations and the Satsang Diksha Homatmak Path. Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami is globally acclaimed for his seminal contributions to Indian philosophy and his erudite scholarship on Hindu beliefs and culture. As the author of the ground-breaking Sanskrit commentarial and philosophical texts, the Swaminarayan-Bhashyam and the Swaminarayan-Siddhanta-Sudha, he is one of the world’s leading scholars of Hindu philosophy.

Many scholars have lauded the Swaminarayan Bhashyam, written by Mahamahopadhyay Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami, as one of the greatest contributions to Hinduism and Indian philosophy in the past several centuries. This monumental work is a testament to the continuing tradition of spiritual inquiry that has remained vibrant over millennia within Hinduism. These volumes address the modern need for religious and social pluralism and harmony in the world, along with explaining universal ethical and spiritual values.

BAPS invited and homogenised 92 representatives across 46 leading spiritual organisations, government, academics, and many community individuals under one roof for this event. Present in the event were the prominent guests Hon Jing Lee, Member of the Legislative Council of South Australia; Hon Tony Zappia MP, the federal member for Makin; Mr. Rajendra Pandey, President of VHP, Australia; Chad Buchanan, Deputy Mayor, City of Salisbury and many more. In his remarkable speech Tony Zappia stated “Everyone is welcome in Australia but don’t forget your heritage” and Mahamahopadyay Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami reiterated it in his speech. During his keynote speech, Mahamahopadyay Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami further conveyed the message of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj and said, “This institute aims to promote the spirit of benevolence and harmony by spreading the message of the ancient, sacred sentiment of “Vasudev Kutumbakam” – the whole world is one family. This historic initiative of BAPS to bring together and collaborate with all; marks a new chapter in the transmission of the Vedic doctrine: “Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam.”