Shree Bhagwan Swaminarayan Akshar Purushottam Guru Parampara
Guru Parampara
1785 – 1867 CE
Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s first spiritual successor was Mul Aksharbrahm Gunatitanand Swami. He worked tirelessly extolling the greatness of Bhagwan Swaminarayan as avatari, the supreme God, and the glory of the satpurush.
1829 – 1897 CE
Bhagatji Maharaj was Gunatitanand Swami’s choicest devotee and became his successor. Bhagatji Maharaj preached about the greatness of Gunatitanand Swami as Aksharbrahm. He explained that Gunatitanand Swami was the physical form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and that surrender to him was the only means for redemption.
Guru Parampara
1865 – 1951 CE
Shastri Maharaj realised Bhagatji Maharaj as a Gunatit Saint as described by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (Vach G I 27) in whom God was manifest fully. Shastri Maharaj was the founder of the Akshar Purushottam movement, which is for the dual worship of Akshar with Purushottam; he also constructed the first temples dedicated to them.
1892 – 1971 CE
Yogiji Maharaj was the fourth spiritual heir to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and was the successor to Shastriji Maharaj. He furthered the growth of the Akshar Purushottam movement, took the satsang abroad to East Africa and England as well initiating the Bal Mandal. He is best known for preparing a number of spiritual heirs to undertake a variety of missions.
Guru Parampara Guruhari Param Pujya Pappaji Maharaj
1916 – 2006 CE
Born on 1st September 1916, Babubhai at the age of nine pledged that he would 'bring heaven on earth‘. In 1945, Babubhai began to be drawn by a higher spiritual force. In 1950 he had his first experience that some spiritual power does exist. On 1st June 1952, Babubhai realised Yogiji Maharaj as an incarnation of God. Yogiji Maharaj explicitly proclaimed Babubhai's mission in life when he said "What is wrong in beno dedicating their lives to God and becoming Sadhus? - Maharaj will assist.' At the young age of 36, Babubhai had displayed such high values and virtues that he earned the trust of Yogiji Maharaj. In spite of his young age, beno put their trust in Babubhai and began their sadhana to attain a constant communion with God as per Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s wish (Vach. G III 26). Yogiji Maharaj also gave Babubhai the responsibility of mentoring santo and grahusto. At the behest of Yogiji Maharaj, 1963 saw the inauguration of 'Gunatit Jyot' a sadhana mandir (temple for beno striving to achieve constant communion with God) in Vidyanagar, on the plot of land owned by Babubhai. On 21st June 1966, Gunatit Jyot was formally established. The Jyot now comprises of over 450 Vrat Dhari Beno who are dedicating their lives to God. In 1967, Pappaji initiated eight bhaio who took their vows - Anoopam Mission was established and a new class of vocational youths came into existence. Thus the Gunatit Samaj was made up of four factions: santo, beno, bhaio and grahusto with Pappaji being the 'heart' of this Gunatit Samaj. Thus Babubhai fondly became known as 'Pappaji' by the whole Gunatit Samaj. Remaining constantly in a state known as Gunatit-bhav (a total oneness with God), Pappaji through his great compassion has redeemed many souls from worldly attachments and has assisted them in realising the status of a supreme-human being (mahamanuv). On 28th May 2006, Pappaji returned to Akshardham.
Guru Parampara Param Pujya Sonaba was an ardent follower of Shastriji Maharaj and Yogimaharaj. It was by Yogiji Maharaj's command that she allowed her daughters, Param Pujya Taraben and Param Pujya Jyotiben, to take vows and join Gunatit Jyot, under the spiritual guidance of Param Pujya Pappaji.
1906 – 1995 CE
Param Pujya Ben (aka Shantaben Popat) was very devout and spiritually awakened from early childhood. She had darshan of Bal Krishna who played ras with her, and had darshan of Shankar Bhagwan, who guided her to follow 'Swaminarayan'. Although she married very young and was widowed in her early twenties, her heart was in constant search for 'God‘ and to become a sadhu. She found him in Yogiji Maharaj, whom she followed from Africa to India. Yogiji Maharaj asked her to take guidance from the sisters at Tardev and Pappaji. This she did with the utmost sincerity, not only for herself, but for all those who followed her from Africa. Today, she is a great Gunatit Swaroop.
Param Pujya Taraben was one of the first beno who wanted to dedicate her life to Bhagwan Swaminarayan . She realised Yogi Maharaj to be an incarnation of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and also realised that Pappaji was one with Yogiji Maharaj. Hence she is known as 'Avibhakta Atma', in constant communion with Paratma (God). Yogiji Maharaj heeded this lone soul's prayers and requested Pappaji to take on the task of guiding Taraben, Jyotiben and other sisters in their sadhana. 1930 – 2004 CE
Param Pujya Jyotiben took her vows into the sisterhood with Taraben, and is one of the pillars of the establish. She is natually very bold, adventurous, influential, pragmatic and progressive in introducing new ideas for the growth of Gunatit Jyot. Even today, she is inexhaustible and very prolific in serving the Lord.
Guru Parampara Param Pujya Didi (aka Hansaben Dave) took her vows to join Taraben and Jyotiben after having observed their progress. She became known as Didi because she was like an elder sister, very loving and affectionate towards everyone. Her talents lay in the arts and she has written many scripts for cultural programmes, and has composed countless bhajans (songs of praise).
Param Pujya Deviben was one of the first educated women to be inspired to join the sisters at Tardev. She had a promising career in law when she decided to take her vows against the wishes of her parents. They approached Yogiji Maharaj to ask her to return home to them. She did return home at the behest of Pappaji, however upon observing her resolve and determination, her parents relented and allowed her to continue her chosen spiritual path. She has acheived spiritual equanimity by denial of her innate intelligence and believing everyone to be the instrument of the Lord for the annihilation of her 'self'.
Param Pujya Jasuben was a 'Grahasta' (married person) who frequently visited Pappaji, Ba and the sisters at Tardev. She marvelled at the joys of leading such a spiritual life and wondered why God had not shown her this path earlier in her life. One day, she made a solemn vow, that she too would attain such spiritual bliss. In 1966, she requested Pappaji to allow her and her family to live in Vidyanagar for seva. She renounced her family life and today she is also one of the great eight elders of Gunatit Jyot.
Param Pujya Paduben was born and brought up in an atmosphere of luxury and abundance and yet still felt that something was lacking in her life. She realised what this was when she had the darshan of Pappaji. His philosophy of the sadhana system to achieve spiritual enlightenment convinced her to take the spiritual path. She put it into practice Pappaji’s teachings and reached this goal within a very short time and at a very young age. Today she is also one of the elders of Gunatit Jyot.