Vasant Panchmi
Hinduism is a way of life rather than a religion. The people practicing Hinduism have firm faith on God whom they worshipped on various occasions by performing Puja and rituals. Maha Sud 5 ( 5 th day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magh) is known as Vasant Panchmi. 'Vasant' means spring, welcoming the blooming of nature. Vasant Panchami is essentially welcoming the blossoming nature after the harsh winter. Vasant Panchmi is an auspicious day celebrated by many across India in different forms.

Shikshapatri
In the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, Vasant Panchmi marks a glorious occasion, celebrating the advent of the Shikshapatri (a book (patri) of teaching (shiksha)).Supreme incarnation Bhagwan Swaminarayan on this day, wrote the scripture 'Shikshapatri' in Hari-Mandap at Vadtal. (Vikram Samvat - 1882. A.D.1826).

The Shikshapatri is a text of two hundred and twelve verses, written in Sanskrit by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.The Shikshapatri is a key scripture to all followers of the Swaminarayan sampraday and is considered the basis of the faith.The Shikshapatri is a jewel amongst the scriptures and it is highly valued in the Swaminarayan sect and also by other sects. The Shikshapatri is a manual to our Hindu Dharma. It gives you brief explanations on all aspects of living life. It states that those souls who observe the instructions of the Shikshapatri will achieve ultimate pleasure in this world as well as the next and those who go against the Shikshapatri will face suffering in this world and the next.

To mark the occasion, on the day of Vasant Panchami saints & devotees read the complete Shikshapatri with understanding and the pujan of the Shikshapatri is carried out at the temple. Also devotees ponder over, how much they abide by the words of Shikshapatri and how much they do not.[View more photos]

The Shikshapatri also is the essence of all the major scriptures including the Vedas and by following such codes of conduct we will obtain the purusharthas (achievement of life) - Dharma (ethics), Artha (prosperity), Kama (desires), and Moksha (liberation).

The Shikshapatri strictly prohibits the destruction of animal life; promiscuous intercourse with the other sex; use of animal food and intoxicant liquors and drugs on any occasion, suicide, theft and robbery; false accusation against a fellow man; blasphemy; company of atheists and heretics.

Essense of Shikshapatri

"One shall never practice devotion to Lord Shree Krishna without observance of Dharma and shall never give up devotion to Shree Krishna for fear of being criticised by ignorant persons."- Sholk 39.
"Ishwara (God) dwells in the Jiva by his indwelling and controlling power, just as Jiva dwells in the heart. He is supreme and sovereign and gives rewards to all according to their Karma."- Shlok 107.
"Bhakti of Lord Shri Krishna, and association with saintly persons (these two) are the highest-achievements for persons endowed with merits like learning etc. Without these two qualities even the most learned shall decay and degenerate."- Shlok 114.
"One shall first consider oneself as distinctly different from the three bodies viz.: Gross (Sthool) subtle (Shukshma) and causal (karan) then shall identify oneself with Brahman and then with that form sublime shall always worship Lord Krishna." - Shlok 116.
" My philosophy rests in the theory of Vishishtadvaita. Goloka Dhaama is my beloved abode. I believe Mukti (salvation) as being able to serve Lord Krishna as Brahmanrupa, in Goloka Dhaama." - Shlok 121.
"I have collected the essentiality of all the scriptures and written this Shikshapatri,which fulfills all desires of mankind. " - Shlok 204.

Lord Swaminarayan in shlok 209 has said that My words in the Shikshapatri shall be considered scared and the personified for of my divine self. Hence this Shikshapatri is worshippable by us all and it is form of Lord Swaminarayan Himself.

All devotees should read the Shikshapatri everyday (a minimum of 5 verses). Taking a short time from our daily lives and by reading 5 verses with understanding will bring a real change to ourselves and those around us.

Sahajanand Swami gave a copy of the Shikshapatri to Sir John Malcolm in Rajkot on February 26, 1830 . This Shikshapatri can still be viewed at the Bodleian Library of Oxford University .