9th International Bhakti Conference
23-26 July 2003, Heidelberg, Germany

From 23-26 July 2003, over 60 leading scholars representing universities from the USA, UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, Hungary, France, Japan and India convened for the 9th International Bhakti Conference at the prestigious Heidelberg University in Germany.

Throughout the three-day conference, which is held every three years, 38 scholarly papers on the topic of bhakti were presented by these highly accomplished academicians.

Scholars had come from such highly reputed universities as, Harvard, Cornell, Berkeley, Oxford and others.

Representing BAPS, Shri Janak M. Dave, Research Associate at AARSH, Gandhinagar, presented a paper entitled 'Dharma and Bhakti are Identical: Lord Swaminarayan.' Based on Vachanamrut Gadhada III-21, the paper established Shriji Maharaj's view that bhagvat dharma and bhakti are identical.

Following the paper presentation, questions were asked by the academics.

Many of these leading scholars appreciated this unique view taught by Shriji Maharaj.

In addition, these scholars also gained some insight into the philosophy of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the current activities of the BAPS.