Sri Pramukhswami maharaj

PRAMUKH SWAMI MAHARAJBorn: 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.”

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.

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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.”

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, BAPSencompasses 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.

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.

INTERFAITH HARMONYPramukh 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).

AS SPIRITUAL GUIDEPramukh 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.”

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.

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