Sacred Hindu Shikshapatri Text On Tour to Mark Bicentenary
The Shikshapatri by Sahajananda Swami (Lord Swarminarayan)
One of the world’s most significant Hindu scriptures has left the University of Oxford's Bodleian Libraries and is on a historic tour across the United Kingdom.
Marking the 200th anniversary of the Shikshapatri, the rare manuscript is traveling to major temples around the country in a collaboration with leaders of the Swaminarayan faith, offering an expected 20,000–30,00 people a rare opportunity to view the sacred text.
Written in 1826 by Sahajananda Swami (Lord Swarminarayan, 1781-1830), the Shikshapatri - meaning ‘a letter of teachings’ - serves as a guide to ethical and spiritual living. Composed in Vadtal in Gujarat, on the ‘5th day of the bright half of the month’, it contains 212 shloks (rhyming Sanskrit verses) that distil key principles from Hindu scripture.
Recited daily by Swaminarayan followers, the text has been printed millions of times globally. The Bodleian’s manuscript, however, holds historical significance as one of the oldest known copies of the text provided by the author himself.
On February 26, 1830, Sahajananda Swami personally presented this copy to Sir John Malcolm, the then Governor of Bombay. At a time of colonial upheaval, the text offered guidance for ethical conduct and living. Today, the Shikshapatri continues to shape the daily lives of millions of devotees, promoting principles including non-violence, vegetarianism, honesty, and the avoidance of sinful behaviours.
Usually on display in the Weston Library, the manuscript’s 2026 tour represents a rare moment when this important object will be shared directly with the communities for whom it holds deep spiritual significance. The tour is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors and will offer an opportunity for reflection on a text that continues to guide religious life around the world.
Among the prominent temples hosting the tour are
Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Willesden (Marych 23-30), Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Stanmore (May 13-18), and Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Kingsbury (August 20-25).
"By sharing this historic manuscript with temples and communities across the UK, the Bodleian Libraries hope to honour both its cultural significance and its enduring message," said Dr Gillian Evison, Keeper of Asian and Middle Eastern Collections. "Two centuries after it was first written, the Shikshapatri’s call for compassion, ethical living and social harmony continues to resonate in an increasingly complex world."
