HH MAHANT SWAMI MAHARAJ

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was ordained as a sadhu by Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named Swami Keshavjivandas. Soon after, he was appointed as the head (mahant) of the BAPS Swaminarayan mandir in Mumbai and its resident sadhus, and has since been respectfully known as ‘Mahant Swami’.

His outstanding virtues of austerity, devotion, humility and service earned him the innermost blessings of his gurus Yogiji Maharaj (18921971) and Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016).

Upon the passing of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in August 2016, and having been revealed by him as his spiritual successor, Mahant Swami Maharaj now presides as the current guru and spiritual guide of countless devotees, helming also the worldwide socio-spiritual activities of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. He travels throughout the world inspiring millions through his insightful discourses and saintly life.

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj graced Neasden Temple from Tuesday 2 May to Thursday 8 June 2023 to bless the people of UK and Europe.

What is Hinduism for the world today? It is actually an ancient religion that has been practised since ancient times. More than 125 crore people in the world have made this eternal religion their chosen way of life and are following it. Actually, Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma is not a religion. It is truly a way of living, which cannot be defined in any way. My respected readers, in today's age there are many sects, ways of life and creeds that adopt our eternal system and values.

The motto of Sanatan Dharma has been derived from the Rigveda- ‘ ो

ु :’- which means- “let noble thoughts come to us from all directions”. Sanatan, a way of life based on eternal values, was not initiated by any particular person or at any particular day or time. Sanatan Dharma is constantly and endlessly changing, just as nature and human lifestyle change. Ideologically, there is no rigidity or fixed confinement, making it a constantly flowing, pure source of water. Our newspaper follows the same instrument of thought.

In this era, Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) has a prominent position in India and abroad. It is our good fortune that this sect was established as a result of the infusion of Sattva based on eternal values by Param Pujya Shastri Maharaj. After him we have the greatness of Yogi Baba, Pramukh Swami Maharaj and now Mahant Swami Maharaj to look up to. Be it the monism of Adi Guru Shankaracharya, the dualism of Madhav Acharya, the positivism of Mahamuni Charvak, the pluralism of Tirthankar Mahavir Swami or the middle path of Tathagata Buddha, everyone's ideas have been given a