A follower of Swaminarayan is referred to as a Satsangi (Devnagari: सत्सन्गी). There are eight important things in the life of a Satsangi.

Kanthi

Lord Swaminarayan instructed his followers to wear a double stranded kanthi to symbolise Krishna

Krishna

Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...

 and Radha

Radha

Radha , also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism...

. The length at which a person should wear a kanthi is also standardised to the level of the heart, the place in which god is said to reside.

The kanthi is a double stranded necklace made of Tulsi

Tulsi

Ocimum tenuiflorum Ocimum tenuiflorum Ocimum tenuiflorum (also tulsi, tulasī, or Holy Basil is an aromatic plant in the family Lamiaceae which is native throughout the Old World tropics and widespread as a cultivated plant and an escaped weed. It is an erect, much branched subshrub 30–60 cm...

. This is a significant symbol of the Swaminarayan Sampraday

Swaminarayan Sampraday

Swaminarayan Sampraday , known previously as the Uddhav Sampraday, is a Hindu sect established by Swaminarayan...

, and has been directly referred to by Lord Swaminarayan in the Shikshapatri

Shikshapatri

The Shikshapatri is a religious text consisting of two hundred and twelve verses, written in Sanskrit by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The Shikshapatri is a key scripture to all followers of the Swaminarayan faith and is considered the basis of the faith.The Shikshapatri was written in Vadtal on February...

, where he mentions in Slokh 41-44 that all his disciples that have been initiated by the Acharya

Acharya

In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...

, must wear the Kanthi and a Tilak Chandlo.

Tilak Chandlo

The Tilak

Urdhva Pundra Tilak

Urdhva Pundra tilak or Udharva Marka is a yellow U mark on the forehead made with chandan and a red dot in the centre usually made out of kumkum worn by members of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. The yellow U mark signifies the Swaminarayan's feet, while the red dot signifies Lakshmi. Urdhva Pundra...

 is the name of the ‘U’ shape and the Chandlo is the circular dot between the tilak. The tilak is said to be Urdhva Pundra. Urdhva Pundra represents the shape of the lotus

Lotus (plant)

Lotus identifies various plant taxa:* Nelumbo, a genus of aquatic plants with showy flowers** Nelumbo nucifera, the Sacred or Indian lotus** Nelumbo lutea, the American or Yellow lotus...

 feet of Lord Swaminarayan.

The chandlo is made from red powder (kum kum or saffron

Saffron

Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel...

), which symbolises Laxmiji

Lakshmi

Lakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...

 (Goddess of Prosperity) living in the heart of Lord Swaminarayan.

The tilak is adorned by male satsangis on four parts of their body using Gopichandan (a yellow paste sanctified by the Gopi

Gopi

Gopi is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning 'cow-herd girl'. In Hinduism specifically the name gopi is used more commonly to refer to the group of cow herding girls famous within Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion to Krishna as described in the stories of Bhagavata Purana and...

s, which is found on the banks of the Lake Gopi in Dwarka

Dwarka

Dwarka also spelled Dvarka, Dwaraka, and Dvaraka, is a city and a municipality of Jamnagar district in the Gujarat state in India. Dwarka , also known as Dwarawati in Sanskrit literature is rated as one of the seven most ancient cities in the country...

). It is impressed on the forehead, chest and both the upper arms.

Mala

The Mala is threaded with 108 beads and one larger bead. It is principally used as a counter whilst reciting the names of God. The almighty god supreme has thousands of names, the main names are shortlisted into 108, and this is the reason for 108 beads.

Nitya Pooja

Nitya means daily and pooja means worshipping God. Therefore pooja performed every day is known as Nitya Pooja.

Mandir (Temple)

Lord Swaminarayan himself stated that he resides in four places - Temples, Scriptures, Acharya

Acharya

In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...

s and saint

Saint

A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...

s.

Darshan

Darshan is a form of worship

Worship

Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...

. It is a way of connecting a devotee to god and to gain his blessings.

Aarti

Aarti

Aarti

Aarti , also spelled arathi, aarthi is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a form of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to one or more deities...

 is a religious ceremony performed to gain darshan and blessing of god.

Aarti is conducted by the singing of a special prayer to God and the playing of musical instruments. Muktanand Swami

Muktanand Swami

Muktanand Swami was a sadhu and paramahansa of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.-Biography:He was born Mukund Das to Anandram and Radhabai in Amreli, Gujarat in 1758....

 composed the words of the Swaminarayan Aarti as expression that Lord Swaminarayan is almighty God supreme.

Vandu and Chesta Pad

Gopalanand Swami

Gopalanand Swami

Gopalanand Swami was a saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and one of Swaminarayan's paramhansas.-Biography:...

 requested Premanand Swami

Premanand Swami

Premanand Swami was a saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and one of Swaminarayan's paramhansas.- Biography :...

 to compile the Chesta Pad after the Lord's departure, which vividly describes Lord Swaminarayan's daily routine and habits.

For the purpose of meditation the Vandu Pad was compiled by Premanand Swami on the 14th day of the dark half of the month of Maha Vikram Samvat 1880, during the presence of Lord Swaminarayan. The Vandu Pad describes the beauty and appearance of Lord Swaminarayan.

The tradition of reciting these Pads has remains an important part of the evening ceremony at Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs.

Conduct of a Satsangi

A Satsangi must show :

• Reverence for the Lord
• Reverence for the Shastras
• Reverence for the Acharya of the Gadi the Satsangi comes under (NarNarayan Dev Gadi
  NarNarayan Dev Gadi
  The Naranarāyan Dēv Gadī , named after NarNarayan Dev, is one of the two Gadis that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is headquartered at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad and controls the Uttar Vibhag....
  
   or LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi
  LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi
  The Laxminarayan Dev Gadi is one of the two Gadis that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is headquartered at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal and controls the Dakshin Vibhag....
  
  )
• Reverence for festivals
• Reverence for elders
• Overall good conduct