Annual Subscription Rs. 60 September 2010 - Swaminarayan Sanstha

Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s Garments
Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s dressing style varied throughout his life: from his
time as a child in Chhapaiya and Ayodhya, during his travels as Neelkanth Varni
and in his tenure as the head of the Sanstha.
In Jetpur, on 16 November 1801 c e (Kartak sud 11, Samvat 1858) when
Ramanand Swami appointed him as the head of the fellowship he adorned the
young Sahajanand Swami in rich clothes, ornaments and fresh fragrant garlands.
However, this was not the regular attire which Bhagwan Swaminarayan adopted.
A short time after instating Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Ramanand Swami passed
away. Thereafter, Bhagwan Swaminarayan wore only simple clothes: usually a
white dhoti, saffron upper cloth and traditional pagh. The most authentic and
detailed account of his dress is recorded in the Vachanamrut. From this, it is
clear that he mostly wore simple white clothes. However, in Dhoraji on Fagan
sud Punam, Samvat 1863 (23 March 1807), at the firm loving insistence of the
devotees of Surat, he wore richly decorated surval and jamo, as well as ornaments
and a crown. From then on he frequently accepted the devotion of devotees and
dressed in rich, decorated garments and ornaments they offered. In the Prasadi
Mandapam a collection of these sanctified garments are on display.
14 Swaminarayan Bliss u September 2010