BHAGWAN SWAMINARAYAN

Bhagwan SWAMINARAYAN was born in 1781 in Chhapaiya( U.P.), in the northern part of India. on Monday, the ninth day of bright half or Chaitra of Samvat year 1837, 2nd April, 1781 at 10 Hrs. 10 Minutes. Night. His Father`s & mother`s original name were HARIPRASAD & PREMVATI. Now they are called by DHARMA - BHAKTI.His Childhood's name was GHANSHYAM. After spending his childhood years in Chhapaiya and Ayodhya He left home at the tender age of eleven. At that time he was known as NILKANTH. He travelled the whole of India alone for seven long years, finally settling in Gujarat at the age of eighteen. At lodge village he meet Sukhanand swami, Muktanand swami. At piplana he met Ramananad swami. Here he got Mahadiksha.After that he was known as SAHAJANAND SWAMI.He founded the Swaminarayan Sampradaya - a Vaishnav stream of Hinduism - at the age of twenty-one, outlawing superstitions, addictions, violent sacrifices, window-burning and social evils in Gujarat 200 years ago. He and His 3000 paramhansas elevated the poor and ignorant from bad habits and inspired faith and devotion to God. Bhagwan Swaminarayan himself made six temples. (1 ) Ahmedabad (2) Bhuj (3) Vadtal (4) Dholera (5) Junagadh (6) Gadhada. For Administerative purpose Bhagvan Swaminarayan established two division of his Gadi (1) Vadtal Desh (2) Ahmedabad Desh. Vadtal Desh’s First Aacharya was Raghuvirprasadji Maharaj and at present Ajendraprasadji Maharaj. Ahmedabad Desh’s First Aacharya was Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj and at present Tejendrprasadji Maharaj.

One day i.e. on the 10th day of bright half of Jeth of Samvat year 1856 (Jeth is the last i.e. 12th month of the year 1886) Lord Swaminarayan gathered all the leading Tyagis and Gruhasthas before Him at Gadhada and with a very calm and serene tone said to them, "I have fully realized My mission i.e. Avatar Karya and have established a royal path by following which one can easily reach Akshar Dham, the abode of God supreme. I, now with to depart from this world. I promise you all that henceforward I will meet you all through My idols established In the temples and through My Shikshapatri." So saying He closed His eyes.

Jay Swaminarayan.

Dharma-Bhakti