About the Shikshapatri

Composed in 1826 by Sahajananda Swami (Lord Swaminarayan), a reforming Hindu leader, the Shikshapatri provides moral and spiritual guidance for everyday life in 212 Sanskrit verses. It is read, heard and venerated daily by Swaminarayan followers.

It is believed that Sahajananda Swami himself gave this manuscript to the Governor of Bombay, Sir John Malcolm, to promote understanding between cultures.

Viewing the Shikshapatri at the Weston Library

The Shikshapatri is displayed in the Transept – the area between the two exhibition spaces in Blackwell Hall in the Weston Library.

For conservation reasons the manuscript is shown closed.

Group visits

For group visits of up to 19 people to view the manuscript, please speak to staff at the Blackwell Hall information desk or in the exhibition galleries.

Group visits of 20 people and over must be booked in advance. Contact tours@bodleian.ox.ac.uk to request your viewing.

Please note:

• we can accommodate 1 booked group per day;
• for groups of 100 people and over staffing is required, so fees will apply;
• the maximum number of visitors allowed in a single day is 300;
• requests must be submitted at least 30 days before your intended visit.

The Shikshapatri on loan

In order to mark its centenary, the Bodleian Libraries is working with leaders of the Swaminarayan faith to arrange short-term loans to prominent temples across the UK.

The manuscript will be at these venues on the following dates:

• Thursday 22 January - Saturday 24 January 2026: Shree Kutch Satsand Swaminarayan Kenton
• Saturday 24 January – Monday 26 January 2026: Shree Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff
• Friday 20 February – Monday 23 February 2026: Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple East London
• Friday 22 May – Monday 25 May 2026: Shree Swaminarayan Temple Stanmore
• Thursday 20 August – Tuesday 25 August 2026: Shree Swaminarayan Temple Kingsbury

It will not be available to view at the Weston Library during these times.

Make a loan request

We are eager to hear from temples in the Swaminarayan faith that might be interested in borrowing the Shikshapatri for a short-term loan in 2026 as part of their anniversary celebrations.

Any temples interested should email exhibitions@bodleian.ox.ac.uk with a brief outline including:

• Name and location of temple
• Preferred dates for loan (generally Thursday to Monday)
• Contact information
• Planned celebrations / events, including number of anticipated visitors

Our loans team works on a first-come-first-serve basis, so not all requests will be able to be facilitated, but we hope the Shikshapatri can be enjoyed by as many people as possible during this celebratory year.