Pooja

1. 'Nitya' means daily and Pooja is to worship God, therefore Pooja performed every day is known as Nitya Pooja. The scriptures declare that the early hours of the morning are considered auspicious and the mind is more peaceful at that time than at the any other time of the day.

2. Devotees should perform Pooja in order to show how the body that has been given to us by God is being used to serve Him first. The best time to get up is 6am as this time is most ideal to perform spiritual activities, it is also known as Brahm-Mahurata.

3. Murti that should be in the Pooja are that of Lord Shree Swaminarayan, since He is Almighty God Supreme, NarNarayan Dev, and also the charanarvind of Lord Shree Swaminarayan. Images of Lord should be restricted to God and God only; there should not be any images of any other entities in the Pooja.

4. By performing pooja, one is brought closer to Lord and is enabled to have a positive start to the day because they begin the day with being at one with Lord. Meditation upon Lord Swaminarayan in this way, gives one inner peace and keeps one focused throughout the day.

5. One can receive a pooja from ones local mandir, along with this one obtains kaachi murti (Murti has not been sanctified). If one wishes to obtain Paaki murti (Murti which has been sanctified) then one must go to Gadiwala Ba.

6."All my disciples should get up daily before sunrise…" Shikshapatri Shlok 49. It is the most purest and pious part of the day. It is said that one who undertakes a problem during this time will succeed in finding a solution to ones problem. Those who perform pooja during such time will receive endless more punya (good deeds) for their act. Those who perform pooja after sunrise, may not receive as much punya but will still receive something.

In terms of Mansi Pooja the times of performing these are:

First one: Early in the morning preferably in ones pooja
Second one: At lunchtime between 11am - 1pm
Third one: Afternoon between 3pm - 4pm
Fourth one: Early evening between 5pm - 7.30pm
Fifth one: Late evening at around the time of 10pm

The Satsangi should perform the calls of nature and then shower or bathe with clean water, so that we are clean when we go near God. After bathing, devotees should cover themselves with one cloth on the upper body (which should also cover the head) and another piece on the lower body. The clothes used for Pooja should be fresh, clean and be kept separate from those worn during the day. The Swaminarayan Mahamantra should be recited and the image of Lord Swaminarayan should be remembered during all these activities.

"All my disciples should get up daily before sunrise, offer prayers to Lord Shri Krishna and then go to answer the call of nature. Thereafter, sitting in one place they shall brush their teeth, bathe in clean water and then wear one washed cloth around the waist and one around the upper part of the body. Then they shall sit in a clean place, on a suitable clean cloth, untouched by others, facing north or east and shall perform aachman."

For performing Pooja, a devotee should sit on the floor (on a clean cloth) and if possible, in a silent environment.