FOUNDED THE SWAMINARAYAN SAMPRADAYA SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION

Aged 18, Nilkanth settled in the ashram of guru Ramanand Swami in Loj, Gujarat, and accepted initiation into the sadhu-fold. Renamed Sahajanand Swami, his life of discipline, devotion and dedicated service touched all. Before passing away, Ramanand Swami appointed the 20-year-old Sahajanand Swami in his place as the head of the fellowship. Sahajanand Swami then gave the ‘Swaminarayan’ mantra for his devotees to chant and thus came to be known as Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

SOCIAL REFORMS AND WOMEN’S ACTIVITIES

Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s practical spirituality appealed to and attracted people from all strata of society, helping them to regain their lost values and piety. He taught his householder disciples basic moral codes and inspired them to abstain from alcohol, meat-eating, dishonesty, adultery and improper habits of manner and diet. Such was his divine magnetism that he attracted 3,000 youths to be ordained as sadhus (Hindu monks) to lead an austere life of devotion to God and service to society. Among his leading ascetic disciples was Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami.

Sacred Texts

Through his discourses, Bhagwan Swaminarayan revealed the Vedic doctrine of Akshar-Purushottam (Bhakta-Bhagwan), teaching that one must become Aksharrup ('like Akshar') and worship Purushottam to attain Akshardham, the divine abode of God. His spiritual teachings were compiled in his presence by four of his most senior and learned sadhus to form the Vachanamrut shastra.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan initiated many spiritual and social projects in order to remedy society’s ailing conditions and re-ignite fading spirituality. Among other activities, he operated alms-houses, built and replenished wells.

He reformed society which was downtrodden with abhorrent customs, such as the drowning of new-born girls in milk (dudhpiti) and the burning of widows at their husband’s pyre (sati pratha). Bhagwan Swaminarayan denounced such practices and actively worked towards their elimination. He raised the status of women by educating them and encouraged them to take a leading role in their communities. Bhagwan Swaminarayan revolutionised the social landscape by establishing women as an integral part of society. Today in BAPS, women’s activities are integral to its progress.

He was succeeded by: Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj (1829-1897), Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj (1865-1951), Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj (1892-1971), Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016) and, currently, Pragat Brahmaswarup Mahant Swami Maharaj (b. 1933). In his own lifetime, countless devotees revered Bhagwan Swaminarayan as Purushottam – Supreme God.

Mandirs And Succession

Bhagwan Swaminarayan built six magnificent traditional shikharbaddha mandirs to serve as centres of spirituality and service.

But of all the various aspects of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s legacy, the most important was his promise to remain ever-present on earth through the manifest form of Aksharbrahma, the God-realised Sadhu.

It is this succession that has sustained the ideals of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in their pristine form. The first in this spiritual succession was Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami (1785-1867).