2. PRAMUKH SWAMI MAHARAJ
Born: Shantilal Patel
7 December 1921(age 93)
Chansad, Vadodara, India.
Honor : Shastri (Scholar).
Guru : Shastri Yagnpurusdas, Sadhu Gangajivandas.
Quotation : “ In the joy of others, lies our own.”
His parents, Motibhai and Diwaliben Patel, were disciples of
Shastriji Maharaj and followers of the Akshar Purushottam
faith. Motibhai and Diwaliben were both involved in the
Swaminarayan fellowship; Diwaliben’s family’s association
with the Swaminarayan fellowship extended to the time of
Bhagatji Maharaj.Shastriji Maharaj had blessed young
Shantilal at birth, and had told his father, “This child is ours;
when the time is ripe, please give him to us. He will lead
thousands to the devotion of God. Through him, thousands
will attain liberation.”
3. ENTERING THE MONASTIC LIFE
On 7 November 1939, when
Shantilal was seventeen years
old, he received a letter from
his guru, Shastriji Maharaj,
asking him to join the
sadhus. His parents gave
their permission and
blessings, and Shantilal left
home that day to join
Shastriji Maharaj and his
sadhus.
Soon thereafter, on 10
January 1940 at the Akshar
Deri in Gondal, Shanti
Bhagat was given the
bhagvati diksha , initiated as
a sadhu, and named Sadhu
Narayanswarupdas
(meaning “the form of
Narayan”).
Sadhu Narayanswarupdas
committed himself to
lifelong dedication and
service to God and
humanity.
4. CONTINUE……
On 21 May 1950 at Ambli-Vali Pol in Amdavad, Shastriji
Maharaj appointed Shastri Narayanswarupdas, then merely
28 years of age, as the administrative president (‘’Pramukh‘’)
of BAPS. Since that time, Shastri Narayanswarupdas has been
widely known as “Pramukh Swami.”
5. GLOBAL GROWTH
Under Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s
leadership, BAPS has rapidly grown
into a global Hindu organization
and has witnessed a significant
expansion in many measurable
parameters. Currently, BAPS
encompasses over one million devotees, more than 900 sadhus,
3,300 mandirs and congregations, over 7,200 weekly
assemblies, and a host of humanitarian and charitable
activities. Pramukh Swami accompanied Yogiji Maharaj on
their spiritual tour of East Africa in 1960 as well as in 1970,
and embarked upon his first overseas visit as the ‘’guru‘’, or
spiritual leader, of BAPS in 1974. In the decades that have
followed, his 27 international spiritual tours have spanned
over fifty countries in five continents.
6. TEMPLES
Pramukh Swami Maharaj
has inaugurated hundreds
of temples and centers
around the world, leading
to his recognition by the
Guinness Book of World
Records for having
consecrated the greatest
number of Hindu temples.
In discussing BAPS’ efforts to construct traditional Hindu
temples around the world, Pramukh Swami emphasizes
the importance of such houses of worship in modern
society and values and faith they inspire in members of
the community.
7. INTERFAITH HARMONY
Pramukh Swami also encouraged his fellow spiritual leaders
to teach their followers that religion does not grow by
quantity of followers, but by quality of spirituality. In his
words, “a Hindu should become a better Hindu, a Jew should
become a better Jew, a Christian should become a better
Christian, a Muslim should become a better Muslim. If the
follower of every religion becomes a better and true follower
then our world will be a much better world.”
Followers believe that by associating with Pramukh Swami
Maharaj, they may rid themselves of their vices, baser
instincts, and worldly attachments. Earning the grace of the
guru, devotees believe, will enable them to achieve liberation
in which they would escape the cycle of births and deaths
and attain ‘’Akshardham‘’ (God’s divine abode).
8. AS SPIRITUAL GUIDE
Pramukh Swami is approached by many followers for
guidance in all aspects of life. Devotees frequently take to
him matters of personal, family, and business affairs and seek
his guidance.
Women cannot directly receive advice from Pramukh Swami
due to his vows as a sadhu in the Swaminarayan tradition
that prohibit him from interacting directly with females.
Women have to ask male relatives to approach Pramukh
Swami on their behalf, or have written messages sent to him
to ask for guidance.
Raymond Williams reports that through such pastoral
counseling, “Pramukh Swami instructs his followers to
believe in God, because without belief in the inspiration of
God and faith, nothing is possible.”
9. CONTINUE…..
Pramukh Swami Maharaj has said that the purpose of his
providing advice on such a range of matters is not to
establish the devotees in business or to enable them to
become wealthy, but to relieve them of anxieties about
mundane affairs so they can attend to their spiritual
progress.
On March 6, 2013, Pramukh Swami Maharaj appointed
Sadhu Keshavjivandas, also known as Mahant Swami, to
answer questions and provide guidance to the follower-devotees
of the faith, citing health issues and old age as
preventing him from meeting devotees in person.
