BHAGWAN SWAMINARAYAN AND THE GURU PARAMPARA

Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830 CE) founded the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a renowned Vaishnav Hindu tradition, at the beginning of the 19th century. Largely based in Gujarat, it has gradually flourished across many parts of India and various countries around the world. Bhagwan Swaminarayan – worshipped as the supreme God by countless people – revealed the Vedic theology of Akshar-Purushottam as the basis of the Sampradaya.

Childhood Teenage Years

Bhagwan Swaminarayan manifested on the auspicious day of Rama Navmi in Chhapaiya, near Ayodhya, in North India. Known as Ghanshyam in his childhood, he was pious, studious and virtuous; his divine aura brought peace and joy to all.

At the age of 11, Bhagwan Swaminarayan renounced his home and embarked on a 7year, 8,000-mile pilgrimage of India, during which he was known as Nilkanth. He walked barefoot throughout India and parts of Nepal, braving extremes of heat and cold and visiting many sacred sites.

hment and upliftment, de ual aspirants.

HIS HOLINESS MAHANNT SWAMI MAHARAJ countless spiritu