|| Shree Swaminarayano Vijaytetaram ||

VADTALDHAMShree Swaminarayan Mandir

I.S.S.O. of Chicago (Member of I.S.S.M.)397 Northgate Parkway • Wheeling, IL 60090, USA

Phone: (847) 808-9980www.ShriSwaminarayan.org

Activity Book

Level 1Book 1

S.G.B.Y.M.

2

|| Shree Swaminarayano Vijaytetaram ||Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Wheeling, IL.

This book is dedicated to the teachers and students of S.G.B.Y.M. for their continued journey towards spiritual knowledge. The S.G.B.Y.M. classes meet every Sunday.

Collection of activities in this book are compiled by:

Mr. Lakulish PatelMr. Hasit Patel

Mr. Surendra BrahmbhattMr. Priten Patel

First Edition : 500 copiesSamvat : 2068 Jeth Sud 7

Date : May 27, 2012

Inspired & blessed by:H.H. 1008 Acharya Shree Ajendraprasadji MaharajH.H. 108 Lalji Shree Nrigendraprasadji Maharaj

Published by:Shree Swaminarayan Temple

I.S.S.O. of Chicago (Member I.S.S.M.)Shree Ghanshyam Bal Yuvak Mandal

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir397 Northgate ParkwayWheeling, IL 60090

Phone : (847) 808-9980website: www.ShriSwaminarayan.org

3Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan - Wheeling (Chicago, USA)

4

Following the footsteps showed by Shriji Maharaj for youth generation; our intent is to prepare children with the higher morals and knowledge about Hinduism/Swaminarayan Sampraday, allowing preservation and enhancement of our culture/values for the future. With Lord Shree Swaminarayan’s blessings and the outstanding enthusiasm of SGBYM members, the SGBYM has exceeded all of its short-term goals and is progressing forward with even higher momentum. This book will introduce the children to our Indian culture and the Hindu religion. The various fun activities compiled in this book will provide basic knowledge about the facts of India and USA; in addition with festivals celebrated in India. This book is our attempt to impart knowledge about Swaminarayan sampraday through variety of activities that the children can enjoy. Please forgive us for any errors or omissions in this book and notify the Mandir for any mistakes or suggestions to improve this activity book. This book contains activities that are used in SGBYM classes and satsangi children. It may not be used inappropriately.

Influence and blessings from current resident Santos:P.P. Swami Nirbaycharandasji

P.P. Swami NishkamsworupdasjiParshad Pravin Bhagat

Preface

5

Lotus Feet of Lord SwaminarayanMatch 16 Pag Chinhas with their names

ANKUSH

MEEN

VYOM

TRIKON

ASHTAKON

DHANUSH

GAUPAD

SWASTIK

JAMBU

JAV

KAMAL

UDHVAREKHA

KALASH

DHVAJ

VJRA

ARDHACHANDRA

Right Foot

Left Foot

6

Down2. What do we celebrate on 15th August every year? _______________

3. _____________ is the festival of Lord Ganesh. It is a 10 day long festival.

6. _______________ is the festival celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva.

7. Name the festival that popularly known as “festival of lights”:

_______________. On these days families at home perform traditional

activities with family members. It is one of the most important festivals of the year.

9. _________________ is the festival celebrating the relationship

between brothers and sisters. On this day sister ties a sacred thread on brother’s wrist.

11. _____________ is the festival celebrating birth of Lord Swaminarayan.

Across1. _________________ is the festival celebrating birth of Lord Ram.

4. ______________ is the major festival celebrated for 2 days during the

month of January. It is also known as kite flying festival.

5. ______________ is celebrated to recall the birth of Lord Hanuman.

Hanumanji is a great devotee of Lord Ram.

8. One of the religious spring festivals celebrated in March: _____________.

It is also known as festival of colors.

9. ________________ is known as Chariot Festival. This festival was

originated in Jagannath Puri on eastern coast of India.

10. ________________ is a festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna’s favorite musical instrument is flute.

12. _______________________ is the day celebrating victory of

Lord Ram over the Demon King Raavan. It is celebrated after 9 days of Navratri.

13. What do we celebrate on 26th January every year? _______________

14. _____________ is a festival when we eat Rice Krispies with Sweetened

Milk (Dudh Pauva). It is also a harvest festival celebrated on the Full Moon Day.

15. __________________ is a festival of worship of Goddess Shakti

(Amba Ma) and dance and festivities. It is a festival celebrated for 9 nights.

16. ____________ is celebrated to recall Shriji Maharaj’s cooking for Bhakto’s.

Indian Festivals - Crossword Puzzle

7

Indian Festivals - Crossword Puzzle

8

About Shriji Maharaj - Crossword Puzzle

Down:

2. ______________ was the first Acharya of Narnarayan Dev Gadi.

6. ______________ is the Guru of Shriji Maharaj. He was also

founder and head of Uddhav Sampraday.

7. ______________ was the first Acharya of Laxminarayan Dev Gadi.

11. Name the place where Maharaj built 6th temple: ______________

Across:

1. __________________ is the elder brother for Shriji Maharaj.

3. __________________ is the place where 3rd Temple was built

by Shriji Maharaj. It is a place, where Shriji Maharaj wrote Shikshapatri.

4. Name the place where Shriji Maharaj built 4th temple: ____________

5. Shriji Maharaj is the author of the book Scripture named: __________

8. ___________________ is the mother of Shriji Maharaj.

9. ___________________ is the bhabhi of Shriji Maharaj.

10. Name the place where Shriji Maharaj built 5th Temple: ___________

12. ___________________ is the birth place of Shriji Maharaj.

13. _________________ is the younger brother of Shriji Mahraj.

14. _________________ is the first temple built by Shriji Maharaj

and the first temple of Swaminarayan Sampraday.

15. _________________ is the place where Shriji Maharaj built

the 3rd Temple. This place also experienced earthquake on India’s 52nd Republic Day

(26th January) in 2001. After the destructions new temple was built on the same place.

16. ___________________ is the Father of Shriji Maharaj.

9

About Shriji Maharaj - Crossword Puzzle

Ahmedabad - 1824 A.D.

Bhuj - 1823 A.D.

Vadtal - 1824 A.D.

Dholera - 1826 A.D.

Junagadh - 1828 A.D. Gadhpur - 1828 A.D.

Wheeling - 1991 A.D.

10

Shriji Maharaj’s Devotees Seek-A-Word

Look for:

DADAKHACHAR SURAKHACHAR MANCHAKHACHAR

PARVATBHAI ZINABHAI JOBANPAGI

JIVUBA LADUBA MAYARAMBHATT

LADHIBA RAJBAI GANGAMA

11

10 Scriptures Suggested by Shriji Maharaj to Read

SAIRATHKSIPH

AHTACMUVRAN

OUFR-DEVSA

VINSUH-HRSAMNAASAT

NYGKAYAAVYL-TIRSIM

RIMHASD-VAAGTBH-GTAI

RIHS-VEDVUSA-MYHMAATA

NIVDURTII

SYVA-HSASURT

-

-

-

-

- -

- -

-

SADHIRM-BATVAGH

Unscramble the scriptures

12

Hindu Calendar Months

Fill in the Blank: “____________” is the calendar established by Indian King Vikramaditya and is followed by Indian culture.

Shuffled Order:

BHADARVO

JETH

FAGAN

MAGSHAR

CHAITRA

ASHADH

ASO

POSH

KARTAK

SHRAVAN

VAISHAKH

MAHA

Correct Order:

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

Arrange Hindu Calendar Months in Correct Sequence

13

Connect the Dots & Color

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1

2

3

45 6

7

8

910

11

12

13

1415

161718

19

20

21

22

23

1

2

34

5 67

8

9

10

11

12

13

1415 16

17

18

19

20

21

2223 24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

373839

40

41

42

43

44

45

4647 48

49

50

51

52

53

54

555657

58

59

60

616263

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

727374

7576

77

78

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

86

87

88

89

90

9192 93 94

95

96

97

98

99100

101

102

103

104105

106107

108

109110111

112113

114

115

14

Name of Santos / ParamhansSeek-A-Word

Look for:

MUKTANAND BRAHMANAND PREMANAND

SHUKANAND DEVANAND ATMANAND

GUNATITANAND GOPALANAND AKHANDANAND

VYAPAKANAND NITYANAND ANANDANAND

15

1

2

34

5

67

8

9

10

11

12

13

141516

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

2627 28 29 30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

4243

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

Connect the Dots & Color

Name the Musical Instrument __________________

16

Facts About India

Down:

1. Name the person who is called “Father of Nation” in

India: _______________

2. What do we call the wheel located in the Center of

Indian Flag? _____________

4. _____________ is the Capital of India.

5. __________ is the National River of India

6. __________ is the National Bird of India

7. __________ is the National flower of India

9. Name the Currency used by India: ________

Across:

3. ________________ is the National Language of India.

8. Name the person who wrote National Anthem of India: ____________

10. _________________ is the National Animal of India.

Crossword Puzzle

17

12

A

B

C

D

EF

G

H

I

3

4

5

6

7

11

14 1516

18

19

17

20

21

22

23

24

25

262728

29

31

30

32

33

3537

39

41

34

36

38

40

42

43

8

9

10

12

13

Connect the Dots & Color

18

Facts About The United States

Down:

1. Name the person who wrote National Anthem of America:

___________________

2. _________ is the capital of The United States

of America.

5. _________ is the National Flower of America.

6. _________ is the National Language of America.

7. ___________ is the National River of America.

8. ___________ is the National Bird of America.

10. What do we celebrate on 4th of July every year?

________________Across:

3. Name the Currency used by America: _________________

4. __________________ is the National Animal of America.

9. Name the person who is called “Founding Father of Nation” in US: __________

Crossword Puzzle

$

19

Color the Picture and Name the BhagwanName of the Bhagwan is ___________

20

Color the Picture and Name the Bhagwan

Name of the Bhagwan is ___________________

Favorite Weapon is ___________________

21

Match The Indian Musical Instruments with The Correct Name

Sitar

Dhol

Tabla

Manjira

Khanjari

Bansuri

Harmonium

Draw a line from the instrument to the name.

22

Different Names of Swaminarayan Bhagwan

Look for:

SAHJANAND SARJUDAS NARAYANMUNI NILKANTH

NARAYAN HARI GHANSHYAM HARIKRISHNA

KRISHNA SHRIJI SWAMINARAYAN

Seek-A-Word

23

Spot the Difference

1) _____________

2) _____________

3) _____________

4) _____________

5) _____________

6) _____________

7) _____________

8) _____________

9) _____________

10) _____________

11) _____________

12) _____________

24

Nilkanth Varni Pilgrimage Routematch names to numbers on map

____ Ayodhya

____ Butolnagar

____ Seerpur

____ Mount Navlakha

____ Pulhashram

____ Badrinath

____ Jagannathpuri

____ Haridwar

____ Ganga Sagar

____ Kapilashram

____ Shri Rangkshetra

____ Manaspur

____ Adi Keshav

____ Adi Kurma

____ Large deep forest

____ Padmanabh

____ Pandharpur

____ Kumarika Khetra____ Kishkindha

____ Gopnath

____ Bhimnath

____ Mongrol

____ Jetalpur

____ Loj

____ River Saryu

____ Bhutpuri

____ Chhapaiya

____ Lake Pampa

____ Burhanpur

____ Nasik

____ Kedarnath

____ Rameshwar

____ Seerpur

____ River Gandki

____ Chutargam

____ Dharampur

25

How Well Do You Know the Aarti.Fill in the blanks

Jay sadguru swami, (prabhu) jay sadguru swami,Sahajanand ____________, (2) balvant bahunami . . . . . . Jay

Charan-saroj ________ ________ kar jodi, (prabhu) vandu kar jodi,Charane shish dharyathi, (2) dukh nakhya todi . . . . . . Jay (1)

Narayan Nar-bhrata dvij kul ______ ______, (prabhu) dvij kul tanu dhari, Pamar patit udharya, (2) aganit nar nari . . . . . . Jay (2)

Nitya nitya nautam lila karta avinashi, (prabhu) karta avinashi,Adasath _________ ________ (2) koti Gaya Kashi . . . . . . Jay (3)

Purushotam pragatnu je ___________ karse, (prabhu) je darshan karse, Kal-karma thi chuti,(2) kutumb sahit tarse . . . . . . Jay (4)

Aa avsar karuna nidhi karuna bahu kidhi, (vhale) _______ _______ kidhi, _______________ kahe mukti, (2) sugam kari sidhi . . . . . . Jay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5)Jay kapi Balvanta, Jay Kapi balvanta,Sura nara muni jana vandita, __________ Hanumanta. (Jay - 1)

Praudhha pratapa, _____________, _____________ JayakariAsura Ripu madanganjane, Bhaya sankathari. (Jay - 2)

Bhoota Pishacha vikata graha, Pidata nahin jampe,______________ Haak sunine, Thara Thara Thara Kampe. (Jay - 3)

Raghuvir sahaya olangyo, _____________ ati bhaariSita shodha le aye, Kapi lanka jari . . . . . . (Jay - 4)

Rama charana Ratidayaka Sharanagat trata_________________ kahe Hanumanta, Vanchhita Faladata (Jay - 5)

26

Spot the Difference

1) _____________

2) _____________

3) _____________

4) _____________

5) _____________

6) _____________

7) _____________

8) _____________

9) _____________

27

Color the Picture and Name the BhagwanName of the Bhagwan is _____

His Favorite Food is ______. His Favorite Pet is ____.

28

Spot the Difference

1) _____________

2) _____________

3) _____________

4) _____________

5) _____________

6) _____________

7) _____________

8) _____________

9) _____________

10) _____________

11) _____________

12) _____________

29

Shriji Maharaj Dress ItemsFill in the blanks

30

Color the PictureGhanshyam Maharaj with Manki

31

Religious Festivals Celebrated at the MandirHindu culture has a rich heritage and numerous festivals with each having their own significance and importance. The festival’s are celebrated throughout the year has its own distinct value and ritual traditions.

Hindus take pride in celebrating festivals, because it is time for getting together as families.The ISSO Wheeling mandir celebrates major Hindu festivals in traditional format with most of the festivities performed on the day of the festival. All festival celebrations are followed by maha-prasad with traditional food items appropriate to the festival. Please call the mandir or visit our web-site to get more details of

festival timings. Some of the major Hindu festivals celebrated at Mandir are:

Festival Date of observance and Significance

Celebrations at ISSO Wheeling mandir

Vasant Panchmi and Shikshaparti Jayanti

Maha sud-5 Shikhsapatri Punjan & Reciting

Maha Shivaratri Maha Vad-13. Birth of Lord Shiva Abhishek of Shivalinga

Holi Full Moon of Phagun month. Commemorates slaying of demoness Holika by Vishnu devotee Prahalad

Lighting of holi fire followed by festival of Color

Rama Navmi and Hari Jayanti

Chaitra Sud-9. Birth date of Lord Rama and Shri

Swaminarayan Bhagvan

Birthday celebrations and Puja

Shri Hanuman Jayanti Chaitra Sud-15. Birth of Hanuman Birthday celebrations and Puja

Wheeling Mandir Patosav Memorial Day weekend. Annual celebration of Foundation day of

Wheeling mandir.

5 day celebration of various katha, yagna and puja. Aankut festival

Rath Yatra Ashadh Sud-2 Rath Yatra & Puja

Hindola Utsav Ashadh Vad-2 Drashan of decorated hindola

Janmashtmi Shravan Vad-8. Birth date of Lord Krsihna

Matki celebration

Independence Day (India) 15th August. India Flag Hosting

Ganesh Chaturthi Bhadarva Sud-12. Birth day of Lord Ganesha

Ganesh Staphna followed by murthi visarjan in the river

Jaljilani Ekadashi Bhadarva Sud-11 Water Pool with boat ride procession.

Navaratri Aaso Sud-1 through Aaso Sud-9. Garba from 8pm onwards with live performance by distinguished Garba

singers and musicians

Vijaya Dashmi (Dusheera) Aaso Sud-10. Slaying of Demon Ravana by Rama Bhagvan. Signifies

victory of good over evil

Puja of Lord Rama

Dhan Terash Aaso vad-13 Laxmi puja

Kali Chaudash, Maruti Punjan Aaso vad-14 Maruti puja

Diwali Aaso Vad-30 Chopda pujan

Hindu New Year Kartak Sud-1 Aankut

These pictures are drawn by the students enrolled in the S.G.B.Y.M. program.

Shree Swaminarayan MandirWheeling, IL. USA