Shloka : 77

विष्णो: कथाया: श्रवणं वाचनं गुणकीर्तनम् ।

महापूजा मन्त्रजप: स्तोत्रपाठ: प्रदक्षिणा: ॥ 77 ॥

અને તે વિશેષ નિયમ તે કિયા, તો ભગવાનની કથાનું શ્રવણ કરવું તથા કથા વાંચવી તથા ભગવાનના ગુણનું કીર્તન કરવું તથા પંચામૃત સ્નાને કરીને ભગવાનની મહાપૂજા કરવી તથા ભગવાનના મંત્રનો જપ કરવો તથા સ્તોત્રનો પાઠ કરવો તથા ભગવાનને પ્રદક્ષિણાઓ કરવી ॥ 77 ॥

And the special vows, like listening to the narratives of God, reading the narratives of God, singing and praising the virtues of God, worshipping God through bathing Him in 'Panchamrit', reciting the name of God and reading the 'Stotram' of God and worshipping God through 'Pradakshina' i.e. rotations around the idol, could be taken. || 77 ||

Commentary

During 'Chaturmas' i.e. the last four months of the year, certain special vows should be taken e.g., the devotees should listen to the narratives of Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan from the devotee of God who follows the code of conduct with full devotion. But such narratives should not be listened from a person whose mind is cluttered with the weaknesses like strong desires for the worldly pleasures etc. and who is not devoted to God. The narra­tives should be listened to from a person who is devoted to God, pious internally as well as externally, whose outer as well as inner senses are under control, who is without ego and jealousy, who is saintly and compassionate, who can read the narratives fluently and who is not greedy for money or any other material gain. While listening to the narratives one should not pay atten­tion to other works and remain completely silent. One should listen to the narratives by remaining pious internally as well as externally and with clear mind i.e. with total awareness and devotion. Also, the head should not be covered by turban, cap etc. One should not sit in 'Veerasan' position or by tying the knees by a cloth and should not chew beetle leaf or beetle nut.

Now, the first vow is to listen to the narratives of God. The second vow is to read such narratives to the audience. The third vow is to sing the praise of Shri Hariji written by His saints. The fourth vow is to worship Shri Hari through special worship ceremonies like 'Panchamrit Snan', 'Maha Abhishek', 'Maha Naive­dhya', 'Maha Neerajan' etc. The fifth vow is to recite the six lettered mantra 'Swaminarayan'. The sixth vow is to read and study the 'Stotras' of Shriji Maharaj like 'Jan Mangal', 'Sarva Mangal', 'Vishwa Mangal', 'Shri Hari Kavach', 'Shri Purushottam Kavach' etc. The seventh vow is to worship the idol of Shri Sahajanand Swami through 'Pradakshina' i.e. rotations around him.