Girnar has a spiritual history of great yogis and sadhus who have resided and performed sadhna and guided aspirants towards God-realization. In the annals of the Swaminarayan Sampraday Junagadh and the district of Junagadh have been sanctified by Bhagwan Swaminarayan after he had completed his seven year sojourn throughout India as Nilkanth Varni. Nilkanth Varni first came to Loj and met Ramanand
Swami at Piplana. On 2 May 1828 (V.S. 1884, Vaishakh vad 3) Bhagwan Swaminarayan performed the pratishtha and opening ceremony of the Swaminarayan Mandir in Junagadh. Shriji Maharaj appointed Gunatitanand Swami as the mahant, and the latter spread the glory and message of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He stayed in Junagadh for 40 years and 4 months. In the Swaminarayan Sampraday Gunatitanand Swami is revered as Mul Akshar and the ideal Devotee of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj and Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj revealed the glory of Gunatitanand Swami as Mul Akshar and established the murtis of Akshar and Purushottam. To pay obeisances to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami, HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired the newly built BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir (shikharbaddh) at Akshar Vadi in Junagadh. The three-day pratishtha festival took place from 30 April to 3 May 2006.
