Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana occupies a unique position among the various streams of Vedānta philosophy in Indian traditions. Parabrahman Bhagavāna Swaminarayan revealed the unique doctrine of identifying oneself with Akṣarabrahman in order to lovingly offer devotion to Parabrahman Puruṣottama. This doctrine was propagated and nourished by his successive spiritual lineage of Aksarabrama Gunatita Gurus.

Brahmasvarūpa Shastriji Maharaj, the third spiritual successor of Bhagavāna Swaminarayan, endured many hardships to materialize this unique Darśana and consecrated sacred images of Akṣara and Puruṣottama in stone-carved mandirs as a permanent embodiment of this doctrine. Thereafter, Brahmasvarūpa Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual successor, further concretized the doctrine by explicating the details of the doctrine in a handwritten letter (siddhantapatra). He instructed Mahāmahopādhyāya Bhadreshdas Swami to establish the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana as a canonical doctrine by authoring commentaries on the sacred Prasthānatrayī (the three canonical texts of sacred authority in the Vedānta tradition). The present gūrū, Brahmasvarūpa Mahant Swami Maharaj, through his authorship of the sacred text Satsang Dīkṣā, made the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana accessible to hundreds of thousands of lay devotees. Numerous scholars within India and abroad have studied and analysed in depth the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana and its complementary text, the Vādagrantha. They have supported this scholastic endeavour with great enthusiasm. By affectionately associating with the lineage of Akṣarabrahman Gūrūs and following their precepts, millions of followers today are abiding by the principles of this Darśana. The community of devotees is a living and breathing embodiment of this Darśana.

Thus, the Akshar Purushottam Darshan’s unique philosophy, history and transmission remain subjects of engaged scholarly research. A thorough examination of textual, material, and anecdotal sources including manuscripts, more concrete realities will be illuminated.

To nourish the Sanskrit language, Sanskrit scriptures, and the Vedic tradition, in 2013, Brahmasvarūpa Pramukh Swami Maharaj established BAPS Swaminarayan Sanskrit Mahavidyalay in Sarangpur. Along with this establishment, this Mahavidyalay was affiliated with Shree Somnath Sanskrit University. The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of this remarkable journey of both these events. Celebrating this momentous milestone, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya and Shree Somnath Sanskrit University will jointly organize a five-day international conference from January 17 to 21, 2024. We invite researchers in India and abroad to present their insightful research on the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana.

Prof. Shrutiprakashdas Swami, Director, AARSH, Gandhinagar
Mahamahopadhyaya Bhadreshdas Swami, Head, BAPS Swaminarayan Research
Institute, Swaminarayan Akshardham,New Delhi
Dr. Atmatruptdas Swami, Assoc. Prof., AARSH, Gandhinagar
Prof. Sukanta Kumar Senapati, Vice-Chancellor, SSSU, Veraval
Dr. Dashrath Jadav, Registrar, SSSU, Veraval

Sadhu Gnantruptdas, Asst. Prof., BAPS Swaminarayan Sanskrit Mahavidyalay, Sarangpur
Dr. Janakisharan Acharya, Asst. Prof. & Dean of Darshan Faculty SSSU, Veraval
Shri Sagar Acharya, Principal(I/C), BAPS Swaminarayan Sanskrit Mahavidyalay, Sarangpur
Shri Hiteshkumar Jani, Asst. Administrator, SSSU, Veraval
Shri Tejas Waghela, Librarian, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanskrit Mahavidyalay, Sarangpur

• Registered participants should send their abstracts to the e-mail [email protected] by 31st October 2023.
• The research’s objective, methodology, and conclusion must be clearly stated in the abstract.
• Participants must submit an abstract of up to 500 words in Sanskrit, Hindi, Gujarati, or English.
• Please type your research summary in MS Word and submit it. Kokila (Font Size 18) for Sanskrit & Hindi, Cormorant Garamond (Font Size 12) for English and Noto Serif (Font Size 14) for Gujarati. Fonts for all four languages can be obtained from this link:
• Link – https://shorturl.at/dfsC1
• After examining the research summary, selected participants will be invited to partake.

• Participants will be allowed only after submitting their full conference papers by January 10, 2024.
• This conference will be conducted both online and offline mediums.
• The length of the research paper should not exceed 2500 words.
• The conference paper must be submitted (as a soft copy) through Email.
• All papers will be reviewed by the conference committee. Only selected papers will be presented at the conference.
• The research participant will have to pay the transportation fee himself.
• Mahavidyalay will arrange accommodations and meals for selected participants.

For more information, contact +91 9725205602/03
Or Email: [email protected]

Last date for Acceptance Form: 15th October 2023

Abstract Submission: 31st October 2023

Last date for Research Paper Submission: 10th January 2024

• The Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana in the Vedic lineage.
• The Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana – A dialogue with other darśanas.
• Contributions of the Akṣarabrahman gūrū to the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana.
• Contributions of swamis and devotees to the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana.
• The transmission of the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana.
• The history of the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana.
• Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana: A Lived Principle.

• Students currently enrolled in a Master’s program or higher, professors, and principals from any university or academic institution are eligible to participate in the conference. Participate can register in this conference free of cost.
• The approval notification for the selected research summaries will be informed by November 15.
• Registration is mandated to participate in the conference. The link for this is provided below.
• Registration link: https://forms.gle/HaD5kGGQP2npqXAPA
• October 15, 2023, will be the final date for registration.