The Swaminarayan Sampraday began as the Uddhav Sampraday and was led by Ramanand Swami. In 1799, Swaminarayan, then known as Neelkanth Varni, was initiated into the Uddhav Sampraday as an ascetic (Sadhu) by his guru, Ramanand Swami, and given the name “Sahajanand Swami”. At the age of 21, Neelkanth Varni was given the leadership of the sect known as Uddhav Sampraday with the blessings of Ramanand Swami, who handed him control of the religious diocese shortly before his death. Fourteen days after Ramanand Swami died, Neelkanth Varni, now known as Sahajanand Swami, held a large gathering of followers at the town of Faneni. It was during this meeting that Swaminarayan introduced what he termed “the father of all Mantras”, and then he was known as Swaminarayan. It should be noted that there was no swami who he had appointed his successor or as an ideal devotee at that time. The name refers wholly and solely to one entity, Swaminarayan. Thereafter the name “Swaminarayan Sampraday” came into existence
Swaminarayan (3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830),also know as Sahajanand Swami, is the central figure in amodern sect of Hinduism known as the Swaminarayan Faith.Swaminarayan Hinduism,also known as the swaminarayan faith or the swaminarayan sect,is a modern tradition in the Vaishnava denomination of hinduism, in which followers offer devotion to and worship Swaminarayan as the Supreme manifestation of God.
Since its origin, Swaminarayan Hinduism has been noted by its preservation of Gujarati cultural and linguistic traditions, devotion to the personality of Swaminarayan as supreme god, dedication to social service and a strict ethical code including uncompromising segregation of the genders.
The Swaminarayan Sampraday has its roots in the Vedas. It follows the Vaishnava tradition and to its followers represents a form of Hinduism. The faith focuses on salvation through total devotion (or bhakti) to the God developed through virtues (dharma), spiritual wisdom (gnana) and detachment (vairagya). The Swaminarayan Sampraday is devotion-focused and advocates God within the disciplines of virtues. Swaminarayan propagated a philosophy called Vishistadvaita, which says that God is supreme, has a divine form, is the all-doer and is completely independent. He simply stated that souls (jiva) never merge or dissolve into God and neither are they part of God, but are always subservient to God. Redemption consists in the realisation of ekantik dharma, comprising righteousness, right knowledge, detachment and devotion to that God.
The Swaminarayan Sampraday aims to consolidate characters in society, families and individuals by mass motivation and individual attention, through elevating projects for all, irrespective of class, creed, color and country. The organization believes that the hallmark of the Swaminarayan devotee is that he or she devoutly begins the day with pooja and meditation, works or studies honestly, and donates regular hours in serving others. Swaminarayan’s lifetime objective for the organisation was to establish a permanent system of achieving the ultimate redemption from the cycle of life and death (aatyantik kalyaan).
In 1826 at Vadtal on Prabodhini Ekadashi of Vikram Samvat 1882 , Swaminarayan established the dual Acharyaship in Dharmavanshi Acharyas, whom he intended as his successor. “Dharmavanshi” means “belonging to the lineage of Dharmadev” – the father of Swaminarayan.
Swaminarayan enthroned his two adopted sons, Acharya Maharajshree Ayodhyaprasad Pande and Acharya Maharajshree Raghuvir Pande, who were the sons of his brothers Rampratapji and Ichcharamji, as the spiritual leaders of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi headquartered at Ahmedabad and the Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi headquartered at Vadtal respectively. He installed them as the Acharyas for all followers, including householders and ascetics. Swaminarayan gave sole authority to these two individuals to install murtis in temples and to initiate sadhus and householders into the Sampraday. He did this using a legal document known as “Desh Vibhag no Lekh”, which he dictated and was written by Shukanand Swami. Learned saints and elder satsangis witnessed this document.
The Acharyas of the Sampraday are administrative heads, spiritual leaders and the gurus of their followers. Since the acharyas are supposed to refrain from contact with the opposite sex, except close relations, the acharyas’ wives are the gurus for female members of the sect, and must avoid contact with unfamiliar men.
The Acharyas are responsible for:
- Initiating followers into the organisation with a Samanya Diksha by giving the guru-mantra
- Initiating monks-sadhus by giving them the Maha-Bhagwadi Diksha
- Perform murti-pratishtha, installing deities in the temples
- Authenticating scriptures of the Sampraday
- Acting as the Guru and leader of the entire Sampraday
Acharya Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj
Born on :21st Mar 1812
Became Acharya on :10th Nov 1826
Death :9th Feb 1863
Term :37 Years
Acharya Shree Bhagvatprasadji Maharaj
Born on : 11th Oct 1838
Became Acharya on : 09th Feb 1863
Death : 12th Aug 1879
Term : 17 Years
Acharya Shree Viharilalji Maharaj
Born on :19th Apr 1852
Became Acharya on :12th Aug 1879
Death :27th Sep 1899
Term :20 Years
Acharya Shree Laxmiprasadji Maharaj
Born on :15th Aug 1892
Became Acharya on :27th Sep 1899
Death :24th Apr 1909
Term :10 Years
Acharya Shree Shripatiprasadji Maharaj
Born on :18th Aug 1875
Became Acharya on :26th Apr 1909
Death :12th Feb 1931
Term :22 Years
Acharya Shree Anandprasadji Maharaj
Born on :22nd Jul 1906
Became Acharya on :12th Feb 1931
Death :08th Jul 1974
Term :28 Years
Acharya Shree Narendraprasadji Maharaj
Born on :25th Jan 1930
Became Acharya on :30th Apr 1959
Death :1986
Term :25 Years
Acharya Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj
Born on :16th Aug 1949
Became Acharya on :1984
Death :Present
Term :18 Years
Acharya Shree Rakeshprasadji Maharaj
Born on :23rd Jul 1966
Became Acharya on :31st Jan 2003
Death :Present
Term :Present
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Vadtal, the head quarter of Shri LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi. This temple contains three main shrines. Among which the central shrine is consecrated by installing the idols of Shri LaxmiNarayan Dev. On the right of this, the idols of Shri Radha Krishna accompanied with Supreme Lord Shri Swaminarayan in the form of Shri HariKrishna Maharaj are installed and on the left of Shri LaxmiNarayan Dev the idols of Shri Vasudev, Shri Dhamapita and Bhaktimata are installed. These idols in the temple were installed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan on 3rd November 1824, amidst the holy chants of Vedic hymns and devotional fervor of the installation ceremony.
The temple in Vadtal, also known as Vadtal Swaminarayan. This temple having lotus shaped plinth is a rare architectural specimen. The nine domes on the temple adores the elevation of the temple. The temple was got constructed under the able guidance of Sadguru Shree Brahmanand Swami. The pillars of the temple bear colorful stone carvings. The construction-work was completed within just fifteen months by the grace of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The walls of the temple are decorated with colorful representations from the Ramayana.
