How does a person join the Swaminarayan Sampraday?
A. Summary A person joins the Swaminarayan Sampraday through a simple ritual called ‘vartman’. In this ritual, one receives a ‘kanthi’ (a double string of special wooden beads) which one wears around the neck, and one pledges a willingness to obey the commands of the guru and Bhagwan Swaminarayan. One can undergo the vartman ritual and obtain a kanthi by going to any local BAPS center and meeting the local sadhus or senior devotees. Detailed Answer A person joins the Swaminarayan Sampraday through a simple ritual called ‘vartman’. In this ritual, one receives a kanthi which one wears continuously around the neck, and one expresses a willingness to obey the commands of the guru and Bhagwan Swaminarayan. One can undergo the vartman ritual at any local BAPS center and obtain a kanthi at the hands of a sadhu or senior devotee. Women may receive the vartman from the senior women followers of the local center. Vartman Any aspirant wishing to become a follower is initiated into the Swaminaray
