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SwaminarayanSwaminarayan (April 2, 1781) was born Ghanshyam Maharaj to a brahmin family in the village of Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh. His father's name was Hariprasad Pande (dharmadev) and his mother's name was Premvati (Bhaktimata). He also had two brothers, Rampratapji Pande, the older brother, and Icharamji Pande, the younger brother. After serving his parents, he left home at the age of 11 to travel the whole of India on a holy pilgrimage, eventually settling in Gujarat where he founded a religious community at age 21. Maharaj later became known as Swamminarayan after the mantra he taught. Swaminarayan was known by many names such as Shreeji Maharaj, Shri Hari and Sahajanand. He established temples at; Ahmedabad, Bhuj, Muli, Vadtal, Junagadh, Dholera, Dholka, Gadhpur & Jetalpur – installing images of various manifestations of God, such as Nar Narayan Dev, Laxmi Narayan Dev, Radha Krishna, Radha Raman, Revti Baldevji, etc. Shreeji Maharaj made Gadhpur his home, in recognition of the exceptional devoted love from Dada Khachar. At Vadtal, Shreeji Maharaj established the dual Acharyaship, in direct succession to Himself. This he did by means of a legal document (known as Desh Vibhagno Lekh), which he dictated and had written by Shukanand Swami. Learned saints and elder satsangis witnessed this document. Copies were presented to his adopted sons Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj (Son of Rampratapji Pande)& Raghuveerji Maharaj (Son of Icharamji Pande) both are grandsons of Hariprasadji Pande (Dhramadev) – these are currently in the possession of the current Acharyas. Shreeji Maharaj appointed Shri Raghuveerji Maharaj to the Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi at Vadtal, and Shri Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj to the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi at Ahmedabad. Presently, HH Acharya Maharajshri Shri Rakeshprasadji Maharaj adorns the illustrious seat of Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi, whilst HH Acharya Maharajshri Shri Koshlandraprasadji Maharaj adorns the illustrious seat of Nar Narayan Dev Gadi at Ahmedabad. It is the uniqueness of the authentic bonafide Swaminarayan Sampraday, that the closest a tyagi (saint) comes to leadership is being appointed the Mahant Swami (head-saint) of a Shikharbandh Temple. At all times, the true saints of the Sampraday take their instructions from the Acharya, their ultimate guru and leader. External links
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