13. Re-defined the Varnashram Dharma

Lord Swaminarayan re-defined the Varnashram Dharma; the four-fold division into Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Kshudra.

Shri Swaminarayan, while accepting the necessity of the Varnashram Dharma gave its correct definition and reinterpreted it to remove the feeling of mutual contempt and hatred. This is how He interpreted it:

(1) Varnashram Dharma is not rigid. It is flexible, and changes keeping the time and place in view. Only non-violence, truth, brahmacharya (celibacy), mercy and forgiveness are constant and eternal.

(2) The incarnations of God are not simply meant to establish the Varnashram Dharma but to establish the Ekantik Dharma (the All-Embracing Religion relating us to the Supreme Reality.)

(3) One does not attain moksha-salvation by only observing the tenets of Varnashram Dharma. In fact those who are proud of their social status never qualify to be a Sadhu -a seeker of the divine bliss.

Shri Swaminarayan brought the untouchables, the Harijans into the Satsang Fellowship and treated them at par with other upper class people. They were made His followers and His attitude towards them was far more advanced, liberal and sympathetic than that of any other contemporary social reformer.