Supreme Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Manifestation: 9th day of the bright half of Chaitra in Samvat 1837 (3rd of April 1781), Monday.
Manifestation Place : Village – Chhapaiya, Taluka – Mankapur, District – Gonda, State – Uttar Pradesh, India
Nicknames : Hari, Krishna, Harikrishna, Nilkanth, Ghanshyam, Sahajanand swami, Narayan muni, Shreeji Maharaj and Swaminarayan.
Mother : Bhaktimata
Father : Dharmapita
Brother : Rampratapbhai, Ichharambhai
Childhood : Samvat 1837 to Samvat 1849 - 11 years
Penance time : Samvat 1849 to Samvat 1856 - 07 years
In Satsang : Samvat 1856 to Samvat 1886- 31 years
Manifestation of Swaminarayan Mahamantra : Samvat 1858, 11th day of the dark half of Magshar
Followers : 2 Million Devotees and 3000 saints
Mandirs : Six Shikharbandh temples: Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Dholera, Junagadh, Vadtal, and Gadhada
Significant Accomplishments :

1. Established a unique Swaminarayan sect among all religions.
2. Published a scripture called the Shikshapatri as a code of conduct, Vachanamrut, an iconic representation of philosophy, giving five commandments for all devotees and sants to abide by.
3. Imparted the pure knowledge of the soul and God and propagated His eternal philosophy of ultimate Upasana.
4. Gave His own Supreme and unique “vishishtadvait” principle.
5. Created a cadre of true sants who lead a pure and pious life. All the while explaining the distinction between a true saint and a hypocritical saint.
6. Continued the eternal tradition of salvation through satpurushes.
7. Gave women a special status in society and empowered them.
8. Put an end to evil and absurd customs such as dowry, drowning baby girls in milk, and the Sati system.
9. To finish His incomplete mission, blessed to manifest as mukta. Afterward, manifested as ‘Shreeji Sankalp murti Jivanpran Abajibapashri’ and propagated the Supreme Upasana and knowledge of Anadimukta.

Shriji Sankalp Murti Jivanpran Abjibapashri

Manifestation : 11th day of the bright half of Kartak in Samvat 1901 (20th November 1844), Monday.
Manifestation Place : Village – Baladiya (Vrushpur), Taluka – Bhuj, District – Kutch, State – Gujarat, India
Mother : Devuba
Father : Panchapita
Establishment of Karan Satsang : To propagate the belief of the Omnipresence of god, Abajibapashri cleared the distinction between Karya and Karan. Karya is a means to reach the goal. It includes; Diocese, Acharya, guru, sants, temples, and celebrations of festivals. Karan is the final destination, which is Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s Murti. In order to remain focused on the Karan, Abjibapashri established Karan Satsang to unite with Murti.
Principle Explained : Purified the prevailing false beliefs regarding Upasana within the sect and bestowed the Supreme principles given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan, “Bhagwan Swaminarayan is the sole eternal God, who is unique and none are like Him,” and “The status of an Anadimukta is the ultimate and final status. All must one day achieve it.”
Significant Accomplishments:

1. Rectified the misunderstanding that the Supreme God is not present on the earth since He left the earth and explained that He is always present in the form of His Murti.
2. Revealed underlying meanings hidden in the Vachanamrut scripture.
3. Gave knowledge of anvay and vyatirek forms of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and explained that He (Bhagwan Swaminarayan) is the only Supreme God.
4. Explaining the status of an Anadimukta as it is, by His blessings, infinite souls experience the bliss of Murti.
5. He solidified the code of conduct in the religion by complying with the commandments among the saints and devotees by his own acts in actual life.
6. Celebrated six grand yajnas to grant eternal salvation to infinite souls.
7. Imparted the supreme technique of Pratilom meditation and operated uninterrupted practices for the devotees.
8. To protect the properties of the Swaminarayan sect, he established ‘Satsang Mahasabha.’
9. Gave blessings for the manifestation of Guruvarya Param Pujya Anadimukta Devnandandasji Swamishri (Gurudev Bapji), the propagator of the principles of Karan Satsang.

1. Ayodhyaprasad Maharaj, the first Acharya of Ahmedabad diocese, and Reverend Gunatitanand swami also understood the immense glory of Bapashri. Ex-Acharya Shri Keshavprasad Maharaj and Acharya Shri Purushottamprasad Maharaj also understood his immense glory, listened to his discourses, and received blessings of Murti’s bliss from Bapashri.
2. year, for longer than six months, more than 500 sadgurus of Amadavad, Muli, Vadatal, Gadhdha, Bhuj, etc., visit Baladiya to be in the divine presence of Bapashri. They offer prayers, ask for blessings, and place their heads at the feet of Bapa. They say, “Bapa, please bless us with ultimate salvation." Seeking such blessings, Bapa replies, "Go, your wish is fulfilled, fulfilled, and fulfilled...” Amidst these enthusiastic aspirants, they receive the divine darshan of the murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and become the eternal enjoyers of the divine murti.
3. Ex-Acharyas, sadgurus, and devotees would also come to seek the guidance of Bapashri at Baladiya, to resolve traditional, ecclesiastical issues and make crucial decisions.
4. Due to their divine influence, sants and devotees of Bhagwan Swaminarayan adhere strictly to the five spiritual vows and dharma. They had a strong desire to follow even the slightest command of Shriji Maharaj, and no one could disobey even his slightest order.
5. In mandirs, Bapashri instills the murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, and they do it with their own divine hands.
6. They were famous as 'Samadhiwala Abjibhai’. So when they went into a state of samadhi, thousands of sants and devotees would gather around to witness their unique state and enjoy his divine state.
7. They used to perform big yagna where thousands of devotees would come to seek their darshan and blessings of salvation.
8. They were so well-known in their community that it was said, "If you want to experience the joy of Shreeji Maharaj's murti in the present time, go to Abjibapashri at Baladiya." Indeed, He is ‘swatah sidhh maha Anadimukta’ who grants the bliss of murti.
9. Thousands of devotees and saints flock to Baladiya to experience the divinity and divine presence of Abajibapashri. As a result, they feel a cessation of their malevolent thoughts and desires upon entering the premises of Baladiya.

Anadimukta Sadguru Shri Gopalanand swami

Manifestation : 8th day of the bright half of Maha in Samvat 1837
Manifestation Place : Village – Torda, Taluka – Bhiloda, District – Sabarkantha, State – Gujarat, India
Name as Householder : Khushal Bhatt
Mother : Jiviba
Father : Motiram Bhatt
Guru : Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Sant diksha 8th day of the dark half of Kartak in Samvat 1864 at Gadhada in Dada Khachkar's court by Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Honors : Yog murti (an idol of eight folded Yoga), Spiritual head of the Swaminarayan sect, Khuniya Gyanvala (To propagate Supreme principles silently, He used to preach in solitude)
Presidency : Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Himself appointed him (Gopalanand swami) as the president of both the acharyas of Ahmedabad and Vadtal dioceses
Significant Accomplishments :

1. He was the first to take up the mission to propagate the pure Upasana of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Since He used to explain the Upasana of the Supreme God in hiding in secretive places, He was known as the ‘Khuniya Gyanvala.’
2. After Bhagwan Swaminarayan disappeared into his human form, He led the Swaminarayan sect and further expanded it.
3. He wrote scriptures highlighting the Supreme knowledge and principles of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and was one of the authors in the compilation of the Vachanamrut.
4. Established the constitution and customs of the Swaminarayan sect to bring uniformity in the conduct of all the sants and devotees regarding the compliance of the code of religion and precept.
5. Gave the sect an extraordinary scripture of his talks ‘Shri Gopalanand swami ni vato’.

1. By the grace of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, He had divine powers. He could instantly destroy the universe or stop the sun and moon’s revolutions with just a thought.
2. Out of the 3000 ‘nand’ sants, Bhagwan Swaminarayan exhibited His might the most through Gopalanand swami.
3. The nearest and dearest sant of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
4. By His wish, many sinful souls attained Akshardham, the bliss of Murti.

Anadimukta Sadguru Shri Nirgundasji swami

Manifestation : 9th day of the bright half of Chaitra in Samvat 1880
Manifestation Place : Village – Chuda, Taluka – Chuda, District – Surendranagar, State – Gujarat, India
Name as Householder : Nanjibhai Jani
Mother : Amrutba
Father : Kalidasbhai Jani
Brothers : Harishankarbhai, Popatbhai, Harjivanbhai
Guru : Anadimukta Sadguru Gopalanand swami
Sant diksha : In Samvat 1896 in Vadtal.
Honors : Swamishri, Bapji
Significant Accomplishments :

1. He publicly propagated Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s supremacy, for which He endured a lot of difficulties, hostility, and hatred.
2. He helped many sants and devotees in understanding the glory of Jivanpran Abjibapashri.
3. He wrote a scripture called ‘Sadguru Nirgundasji swami ni Vato’, which includes the Supreme deeds of Shriji Maharaj during his role-play as a human.

Anadimukta Sadguru Shri Ishwarcharandasji swami

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Manifestation : 2nd day of the bright half of Chaitra in Samvat 1918
Manifestation Place : Village – Aslali, Taluka – Daskroi, District – Ahmedabad, State – Gujarat, India
Name as Householder : Becharbhai
Mother : Jiviba
Father : Amthabhai
Brothers : Kasibhai
Guru : Anadimukta Sadguru Nirgundasji swami
Sant diksha : Initiated as a sant in the month of Kartak in Samvat 1942 in Ahmedabad.
Honors : Punjab Mail (one of the bold and fastest trains during that time in India), Nidar siddhantvadi, Sadgurubapa, Sadgurushri, Ishwar murti
Head : Swaminarayan mandir, Jetalpur
Significant Accomplishments :

1. Abjibapashri explained the sacred Vachanamrut scripture and its cryptic knowledge in its true sense. Sadguru Ishwarbapa compiled that knowledge for eighteen years into two important scriptures: Vachanamrut with annotations called ‘Rahasyarth pradipika tika sah Vachanamrut’ and ‘Abjibapashri ni Vato.’
2. He Propagated Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s original principles, as explained by Jivanpran Abjibapashri in public.
3. He explained the divine majesty of Jivanpran Abjibapashri to many souls.
4. He led the ‘Satsang Maha Sabha’ to purify administration in the Swaminarayan Sect.
5. Published the religious scripture, ‘Abjibapashri Jivan Charitra.’
6. He was the first to publish the ‘Shree Brahmsutrabhashya Ratna’ scripture by Sadguru Muktanand swami.
7. He started the tradition of sant diksha through Bhagwan Swaminarayan via a medium of sadhu – guru on the following basis: a) Omnipresence of Bhagwan through murti. b) As per the verdicts of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in Vadtal 18, He (Bhagwan Swaminarayan) is the Acharya of the whole sect.

Anadimukta Sadguru Shri Vrundavandasji swami

Manifestation : In Samvat 1906
Manifestation Place : Village – Bharasar, Taluka – Bhuj, District – Kutch, State – Gujarat, India
Name as Householder : Shamjibhai
Guru : Diksha Guru - Sadguru Madhavpriyadasji swami, Gyan Guru-Jivanpran Abajibapashri
Sant diksha : Initiated as a sant in Samvat, 1924 in Ahmedabad.
Honors : Gyan Acharya (scholar of philosophy), Sadgurushri
Head : Swaminarayan mandir, Dholka
Significant Accomplishments :

1. Played an important role in propagating the status of an Anadimukta.
2. He helped in writing the ‘Abjibapashri ni Vato’ scripture.
3. He helped to propagate the original principles of Bhagwan Swaminarayan as explained by Abjibapashri and explained the majesty of Abjibapashri to many people.
4. Later, His discourses have been published in the scripture ‘Shree Vrundavan Swami ni Vato’, which serves the divine knowledge of the status of Anadimukta.

Anadimukta Sadguru Shri Keshavpriyadasji swami

Manifestation : In Samvat 1936
Manifestation Place : Village – Chanpar, Taluka – Muli, District – Surendranagar, State – Gujarat, India
Name as Householder : Hirabhai
Mother : Hariba
Father : Mandalbhai
Brother : Pragjibhai, Jethabhai, Pitambarbhai
Guru : Diksha Guru - Murlimanohardasji swami, Gyan Guru - Jivanpran Abajibapashri
Sant diksha : Initiated as a sant on the 9th day of the bright half in Samvat 1951.
Honors : Muni swami, Purani
Head : (1) Swaminarayan mandir, Bhuj, (2) Swaminarayan mandir, Patdi.
Significant Accomplishments :

1. Had immensely pleased Abajibapashri and became worthy of His grace.
2. Wrote the following scriptures: ‘Shikshapatri Raharshyarth,’ ‘Purushottam Lillamrut Sukhsagar’, ‘Abajibapashri Jivanvrutant’, etc.
3. Propagated the original principles of Bhagwan Swaminarayan publicly, as explained by Jivanpran Abajibapashri. Also, explained the majesty of Abajibapashri.
4. Blessed Keshavbhai, for the manifestation of HDH Swamishri.
5. Their state of meditation was amazing. Therefore, they became famous by the name of 'Muniswami'.

Anadimukta Sadguru Shri Devnandandasji swami (Gurudev Param Pujya Bapji)

Manifestation : 1st day of the dark half of Fagan in Samvat 1989 (13th March 1933)
Manifestation Place : Village – Vasan, Taluka – Viramgam, District – Ahmedabad, State – Gujarat, India
પ્રાગટ્યના આશીર્વાદ : શ્રીજીસંકલ્પમૂર્તિ જીવનપ્રાણ અબજીબાપાશ્રીના દિવ્ય આશીર્વાદથી જ તેઓનું પ્રાગટ્ય થયું છે.
Name as Householder : Devubhai
Mother : Dholiba
Father : Jethabhai
Brother : Ratibhai
Guru : Gyan Guru - Anadimukta Sadguru Keshavpriyadasji swami (Sadguru Muni swami)
Sant diksha : Initiated as a sant on the 11th day of the dark half of Ashad in Samvat 2012. (3rd August 1956)
Honors : Vachanamrut Acharya, Bapji, Siddhantwadi Purush, Krantikari Satpurush
Founder : Founded SMVS Swaminarayan Sanstha in 1987
Followers : 200+ sants and women Ascetics, lakhs of Devotees.
Significant Accomplishments :

1. Established temples based on Supreme Upasana, comprising a murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and His muktas to propagate principles.
2. Openly propagated the Supreme principles of Karan Satsang by becoming free from the bondage of sect.
3. Created a cadre of large number of sants and devotees who put into practice the principles, precepts, and code of conduct in their real life.
4. Explains the underlying cryptic meanings of Vachanamrut and Rahasyarth pradipika tika as it is.
5. Built over 50 temples and initiated the land for the construction of over 125 new temples within a brief span of only 30 years.
6. Created a team of more than 10000 volunteers to carry out over 32 small and large-scale social activities.
7. Propagated satsang activities in more than 11 countries, including India, USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Dubai, Bahrain, Kenya, and Uganda.
8. In His presence, He appointed HDH Swamishri as the next successor and glorified his majesty.
9. Created a constitution of SMVS and the sant community to control the discipline and fortify the principles of SMVS, stated by Him.

Anadimukta Sadguru Shri Satyasankalpdasji swami (Guruvarya Param Pujya Swamishri)

Manifestation : 10th day of the dark half of Aso in Samvat 2015 (08th October 1959)
Manifestation Place : Village – Daduka, Taluka – Sanand, District – Ahmedabad, State – Gujarat, India
Blessing : He was manifest by the blessings of Sadguru Keshavpriyadasji swami
Name as Householder : Ghanshyambhai
Mother : Narmadaba
Father : Keshavlal Nadani
Brother : Jagdishbhai Nandani
Guru : Pure Upasana Pioneer Anadimukta Sadguru Devnandandasji Swami (Gurudev Bapji)
Study : B.com, Chartered Accountant (C.A.)
Sant diksha : Initiated as a sant on the 11th day of the bright half of Magshar in Samvat 2037 (18th December 1980), at Ghanshyamnagar temple, Odhav, Ahmedabad.
Presidency : On 28th Dec 2012, Gurudev Bapji declared HDH Swamishri in front of the entire Satsang community as the next spiritual and social successor.
Honor : His Divine Holiness (HDH) Swamishri
Significant Accomplishments :

1. He explained the knowledge of Anadimukta's status and propagated it globally.
2. As soon as he was initiated as a sant, He led up the management of SMVS Swaminarayan Sanstha.
3. Explained, the true divinity and glory of Gurudev Bapji also directs the community on the path of Atmabudhhi with Satpurush.
4. For an ideal, transparent, and smooth management, He established departments and their structure.
5. His discourses, ideal life, and motherly love have directed a society on the pious path of Spirituality. As a result, Divine life, ideal behavior, quality enhancement, and ever focus on god’s grace are a basic virtue reflected in the community.
6. He propagates the Supreme principles of Karan Satsang given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

He was the first to glorify and honor the nickname of swami Devnandandasji swami as ‘Bapji.’ Later, by his vision, the whole sect started recalling Gurudev Bapji as Bapji.

7. In his presence, SMVS grows from bottom to top. However, He always dedicates this success to Gurudev Bapji.
8. Gurudev Bapji’s memorial place has been formally designated the Anadimukta Pithika, thereby further elevated Gurudev Bapji’s stature.
9. Lord Swaminarayan’s very purpose in manifesting on earth was to guide seekers to the state of Anadimukta—eternal liberation. To give concrete shape to that aim, Guruji established Anādimukta Vishvam, a sanctuary where countless aspirants will, through Pratilom Sadhana built on knowledge meditation, experience the bliss of Lord Swaminarayan. This campus will stand as Gujarat’s largest center for focused meditation.