Swaminarayan Faith:
The Swaminarayan faith is a modern tradition of Hinduism in which followers devote and worship Swaminarayan as the supreme lord. This faith has instilled high morals, love and compassion for all irrespective of caste, creed, color or gender. Today the Swaminarayan movement is thriving with millions of followers and thousands of temples worldwide. Life Sketch of Bhagwan Swamina
rayan:
The supreme lord incarnated in the rustic village of Chhappaiya (N. India) on April 3rd, 1781 and was named Ghanshyam. At the age of 3 months, an astrologer named Markandeya revealed to Dharmadev (father) and Bhaktimata (mother) that Ghanshyam is an extraordinary child endowed with virtues of austerity, detachment, leadership, truth. Ghanshyam performed numerous miracles in his tender young age proving his supremacy. For instance, he studied all the holy scriptures including the Vedas, Upanishads etc at a mere age of 7 and formulated a small "Gutko" (book) that stored the essence of those scriptures. At the tender age of 11 Ghanshyam left his home, Ayodhya, for the Himalayas to begin his life work of establishing Ekantik Dharma. Ghanshyam’s journey through the dense forests and high mountain peaks of India attributed him the name Nilkanth. Throughout his journey, Nilkanth traveled the rigid lands of India barefoot and visited important sacred shrines of India in order to re-infuse sacredness in them, and to redeem countless souls. After 7 years and over 12,000 km of arduous travelling, Nilkanth visited over 177 shrines, sacred places and monasteries. In 1799, he arrived in the remote village of Loj, Gujarat where he met Muktanand Swami, who was the disciple of Ramanand Swami. Captured by Sadguru Shri Muktanand Swami's saintliness, he decided to stay amongst these sadhus. As time went by, Ramanand swami addressed to his followers that he had long proclaimed himself as a mere drumbeater in a play, heralding the arrival of the main character “Nilkanth”. A year later in 1801, Ramanand Swami ceremoniously appointed 21 year old Sahajanand Swami as the head of the fellowship in Jetpur. After gaining leadership, Sahajanand Swami performed many tasks for the improvement of souls. He provided his devotees with the mahamantra Swaminarayan, advocated non-violence, performed social activities such as digging of wells and providing food to the needy, initiated over 2000 saints, gave refuge to over 2 million devotees, built 6 grand temples, wrote the shikshapatri and performed many such activities. Having established an everlasting path of salvation, at the age of 49, Bhagwan Swaminarayan completed his mission on Earth and returned to his divine abode, Akshardham, on June 1st 1830 CE. The Founder:
H.D.H Sadguru Shastri Shri Ghanshyamprakashdasji Swami (Pujya Guruji), the founder of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Kandari, was born on July 26th, 1958 on the auspicious day of Adhik Shravan Sud Ekadashi in the remote village of Vedavadar, Gujarat, India. From a very young age, Vinod (Pujya Guruji’s childhood name) was quite brilliant and studious. He had a natural inclination for spiritual learning and for reading religious scriptures. Even in primary school, he consistently demonstrated his conviction of Lord Swaminarayan’s supremacy. In addition, he sought the pure life of Lord Swaminarayan’s saints life as means to obtain supreme spiritual realization and salvation. After his Guru, Sadguru Shri Nandkishordasji Swami, he became the sixth successor in the distinguished spiritual lineage of Sadguru Shri Muktanand Swami. Despite ever-growing responsibilities, along with frequent vicharan (religious tours), he consistently continues to reach out to thousands of individuals and share the doctrines of Lord Swaminarayan. As of now, he has performed 30+ international religious tours which have proved beneficial in positively shaping the lives of many souls. His efforts in serving the community have left many inspired to do the same. For over 10 years, Loyadham Mandir Vadodara has been serving food daily as alms to the poor. He is the founder of numerous institutions in not only India but globally. Over the span of 25 years, Pujya Guruji has established ten institutions. Namely, these include Loyadham Gurukul Kandari, Loyadham Mandir Vadodara, Loyadham Gurukul Navli, and Loyadham Surat. In the United States, Loyadham Mandir NJ, Loyadham Mandir GA, and Loyadham Mandir FL. Many other chapters are also located in various regions of the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Emulating his childhood actions to serve God, today, Pujya Guruji mainly resides in the pious village of Loya where he oversees construction efforts for one of the grandest temples ever established. As a result of his selflessness and motherly-like love for devotees young and old, countless devotees have dedicated themselves to the Loyadham organization as their pathway to worship Lord Swaminarayan. Today, the organization has over 50 sadhus (saints) who have dedicated their lives to the service of God and society. Pujya Guruji has ensured that these saints receive a higher-level education in various fields such as Sanskrit, Music, Poetry, Art, etc. Moreover, individuals who have never been introduced to this Sampraday of Lord Swaminarayan also melt in his divine presence. An event exemplifying this took place on July 30th, 2016, when New Jersey’s Raritan-borough Mayor Mr. Charles McMullin, swayed by his true saintliness, decided to honor him with the Key to the Town of Raritan. Similarly, allured by the saintliness of Pujya Guruji’s disciples, Pro Vice Chancellor of Patanjali University, Dr. Vachaspati Kulvant, specially came for the darshan of Pujya Guruji in 2019. In merely one meeting, he gave up his previous beliefs and accepted Pujya Guruji as his spiritual guru. According to the religious scriptures of the Swaminarayan sampraday, Lord Swaminarayan resides in his Ekantik Saint and does unimaginable work. H.D.H Ghanshyamprakashdasji Swami’s authentic aspirations and the presence of God within him are the very reason that his life is such an inspiration to saints and devotees in the Swaminarayan Sect. Today, his journey as an ideal Satpurush and as an Ekantik Sadhu continue to inspire, positively change, and rejuvenate the lives of thousands of individuals across the world. Bhagwan Swaminarayan conveyed the message of value-based education. He wrote in the Shikshapatri, “propagating true education in the world is the noblest work of all”. Following this principle, H.D.H Shastriji Swami Shri Ghanshyamprakashdasji established ‘Shri Swaminarayan Gurukul’, in the year of 1994 in Kandari, Gujarat (India). The Shri Swaminarayan Gurukul has brought back our ancient system of ‘Gurukul’ in order to spread modern education along with religious virtues within the young generation. In the present day, over 450 students reside in the Gurukul. Events such as Vyasan Mukti, Disaster-relief, Satsang Sabha, Brahmasatra make this Gurukul organization a triangle of educational, social, and spiritual service offered to the society. Another Gurukul in the name of Swaminarayan Sanskar Pith – (SSP), located in Navli (Anand), was established for students studying in English medium schools. This international school is the center of education for more than 250 students. Swaminarayan Gurukul Vadodara is the hub of Satsang Pravrutti. Saints provide special training to Yuvaks to live prosperous spiritual lives even in today's adverse circumstances. In addition, weekly satsang sabha, regular bhaktiyagnas, bal sabha are few of its activities. Moreover, since the past 3 years, over 250 underprivileged people are provided free food in ‘slum’ areas of the city. Swaminarayan Mandir Loyadham in the Surendranagar district is one of the most important and holiest places of pilgrimage. It is where Lord Swaminarayan has spoken 18 Vachanamruts, and performed the first grand festival of Shakotsav. Bhagwan Swaminarayan also built the first ‘Hari Mandir’ of the sampraday in Loya. Today, Sadguru Shastriji Swami Shri Ghanshyamprakashdasji Swami has performed the task of renovating the sacred Hari-mandir and has established the idol of Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj. Not only that, but a primary school, a hospital, and a gaushala have also been built in the village. Plus, the work of a new ‘Shikharbaddh Mandir’ is a project currently in progress. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Loyadham - Macon is the first temple established by Pujya Guruji in the USA. Here, many religious activities such as weekly sabha, bal sabha along with music classes etc. provide spiritual uplifting to devotees. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Loyadham - NJ is home to Piyuda Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj where Saints serve devotees in USA and all over the world with daily Live Katha. Every Saturday, an assembly of about 250 devotees is held weekly where spiritual lectures are given. Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Loyadham - FL is home to a vast institution that caters to the families living in the Southern part of the United States. Weekly assemblies along with cultural and social events are regularly held at this location. Furthermore, youths who have been brought up in American society are provided satsang sanskar by Saints in English. In addition, annually, Youth Shibir is organized by Loyadham Mandir and more than 200 kids and youths take part in this event.
