Shastriji maharaj biography of albert

Indian spiritual leader

Shastriji Maharaj (31 January 1865 – 10 Haw 1951), born Dungar Patel^[1]: 3 duct ordained Shastri Yagnapurushdas, was graceful swami of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and founder of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).^[2]: 22 Several branches accept him in the same way the third spiritual successor always Swaminarayan in the lineage quite a lot of Aksharbrahma Gurus through whom Swaminarayan manifests, which began with Gunatitanand Swami.^{[3]: 61–62 [4][5]: 329–330} Born in a kinfolk of farmers in central State, India, he became a master within the Vadtal diocese break into the Swaminarayan Sampradaya at loftiness age of 17 where why not?

was given the name Yagnapurushdas Swami.^[1]: 35 The prefix Shastri was later added in recognition pale his eminent scholarship in Indic and the Hindu scriptures.^{[1]: 40 [2]: 22} Type established BAPS after a ecclesiastical split from the Vadtal bishopric of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.^[6]: 54

Shastriji Maharaj is credited with establishing BAPS on 5 June 1907 Mortify in Bochasan, Gujarat^[6] to proliferate the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana (worship infer Akshar (guru) and Purushottama (Swaminarayan)), which according to him esoteric been revealed by Swaminarayan tell off was passed on to him from his own guru, Bhagatji Maharaj.

As staunch proponent female this mode of worship, earth consecrated the sacred images rejoice Swaminarayan (as a manifestation sell like hot cakes Purushottam) and Gunatitanand Swami (as a manifestation of Akshar) wrench the central shrines of older mandirs in the towns dead weight Bochasan, Sarangpur, Atladara (now effect area of Vadodara), Gondal, humbling Gadhada in Gujarat, India.^[7]: 365

In illustriousness early 1950s, having successfully place the foundations of BAPS, elegance appointed Pramukh Swami Maharaj whilst its administrative head to encourage under Yogiji Maharaj, whom operate appointed as his spiritual successor.^[6]: 60

Early life

Dungar Patel was born shaking 31 January 1865 in Mahelav into a deeply religious family.^[8]: 2 His parents, Dhoribhai and Hetba Patel had 4 other race, Mathurbhai, Laldas, Sonaba and Raliatben, of which Dungar was rectitude youngest.^[1]: 3 Various anecdotes of Shastriji Maharaj's childhood demonstrate his prematurely spiritual inclination and intellectual adroitness.

These include his preference promote building mandirs out of dauntlessness while other children his obliterate played with toys, his liturgy of religious fasts from marvellous young age^[9] and an ad-lib recital of the Mahabharata journey the entire village.^[1]: 21 He foremost received formal education at grandeur village school under the teaching of Gangaram Mehta of Alindra.^[1]: 13 In addition to this, Dungar often interacted with swamis hit out at the Swaminarayan temple in Mahelav and began studying the Bhagavad Gita and other Hindu bhagavad-gita under them.

This initial training would be further enhanced entry Vignananand Swami^[8]: 13 an illustrious obtain eminent swami who had antique initiated by Swaminarayan.

Dungar firstly came into contact with Vignananand Swami during the Chaitra party in 1881^[1]: 23 whereupon the Authority impressed Dungar with his worship and renunciation of material objects.

Having found a suitable 1 swami to learn under inlet Vignananand Swami, Dungar decided hold forth become a swami himself^[8]: 22 view live a life of immaterial service and asceticism. During that period, Dungar immersed himself rejoinder devotional service and scriptural study.^[1] His meticulousness and dedication be introduced to his duties caught the care for of Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj (the Acharya of the Vadtal diocese)^[1][10] and Gordhanbhai Kothari (Chief Ranger of the Vadtal diocese),^[1][10] both of whom shared a liking and admiration for Dungar ditch would persist despite the divine differences that would later emerge.^[1]

Dungar continued to excel in government studies of the Sarasvat^[1] courier other Sanskrit texts.

He was also very adept in synagogue management. Taking note of that, Vignananand Swami entrusted him, as still in his teens, right the administrative duties of Surat mandir^[1] with a view fall foul of initiating him as a guru at the earliest opportunity.

As a swami

Dungar was initiated brand a Swaminarayan swami on 29 November 1882 in Vadtal fail to see Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj,^[1] the attitude of the Vadtal diocese spend the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.

He was given the name Yagnapurushdas Swami.^[6]: 55 After his initiation, Shastri Yagnapurushdas resumed his duties as ranger of Surat mandir^[1] and drawn-out to serve under Vignanand Maharishi. Soon, a large festival was held in Surat and strike swamis and devotees, including Bhagatji Maharaj, came to celebrate integrity occasion.^[8] During the evening speech, Shastri Yagnapurushdas wondered how Bhagatji Maharaj, a tailor by business, could simultaneously stitch and claim with such profound spirituality.

Bhagatji Maharaj answered Yagnapurushdas' unasked investigation by saying, "A man supporting true knowledge has countless content and can see from anywhere."^[1]

Intrigued by this experience, Shastri Yagnapurushdas began spending increasing amounts acquire time listening to Bhagatji Maharaj's discourses, eventually accepting him gorilla his guru.

Once, Bhagatji Maharaj explained that only after incident Swami Gunatitanand as Akshar pointer Shriji Maharaj as Narayan could one be said to plot complete faith in Swaminarayan. Shastri Yagnapurushdas was skeptical of that statement since his guru, Vignananand Swami, who had been smashing paramhansa under Swaminarayan for multitudinous years, had never mentioned unambiguousness before.

However, when Vignananand Mentor confirmed that he also held in this truth, having heard it on numerous occasions deviate Swaminarayan himself, Shastri Yagnapurushdas was convinced.^[11] Thereafter, Bhagatji Maharaj began explaining the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana test Shastri Yagnapurushdas. One important dissertation involved Vachnamrut Loya 12,^[11] which explained the concept of Akshar and Purushottam.

Bhagatji Maharaj explained that Gunatitanand Swami was character ideal devotee of Swaminarayan person in charge all devotees should aspire realize become like him in arrangement to develop firm conviction comic story Purushottam. Shastri Yagnapurushdas became first-class staunch proponent of the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana and began spreading that philosophy despite opposition from remorseless members of the Vadtal episcopate of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.^[6] Slip up Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastri Yagnapurushdas as well refined his knowledge of excellence major Hindu scriptures and primacy Vachanamrut before undergoing periods exert a pull on tutelage under Tyaganand Brahmachari^[1] queue undertaking a course on Indic studies under the famous Rangacharya of the Madhva Sampradaya.^[1] Diadem powerful intellect and thirst fulfill knowledge had a profound contact on Rangacharya and they pass away close friends.

During the murti-pratishta of the Lakshmi-Vadi mandir providential Gadhada, the famous Sanskrit man of letters, Shri Mahidhar Shastri challenged branchs of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya presage a debate.^[8] Mahidhar Shastri laughed in derision when he proverb the young Shastri Yagnapurushdas ascending up to confront him.

Take into account this point, Rangacharya said, "The virtuous are revered due get as far as their virtue, not their making out or age.^[1]" Shastri Yangnapurushdas went on to comprehensively defeat Mahidhar Shastri and further enhanced reputation as a scholar par-excellence. After this incident, Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj began to take dexterous personal interest in Shastri Yagnapurushdas's studies, once confiding to Bhagatji Maharaj that, "Yagnapurushdas's studies junk essential to the advancement touch on the Sampradaya."^[10] Shastri Yagnapurushdas drawn-out to serve under Bhagatji Maharaj and formed a close pledge with his guru.

After significance death of Bhagatji Maharaj partner 7 November 1897, Shastri Yagnapurushdas firmly took on the electric blanket of propagating the Akshar-Purushottam thinking.

Formation of BAPS

Main article: Akshar-Purushottam Darshan

The foundations for the foundation of BAPS were laid speedy 1905 when a combination break into factors caused Shastri Yagnapurushdas turn into leave the Vadtal temple.

Rank major reason for Shastri Yagnapurushdas' departure was his belief confine the doctrine of Akshar-Purushottam, as to Gunatitanand as "the true idealistic successor of Swaminarayan."^[6]: 55 His selection of Gunatitanand Swami as interpretation personal form of Akshar was a paradigm shift that in a state to "opposition and hostility"^[7]: 363 circumvent many within the Vadtal diocese.^[7]

A major incident that exacerbated the hostility was Shastriji Maharaj's stipulation that Acharya Kunjvihariprasadji declare the murtis of Akshar (Gunatitanand Swami) and Purushottam (Swaminarayan) of great consequence the Vadhwan mandir if Shastriji Maharaj assisted in providing dignity land for the temple.^[1] Gordhanbhai Kothari's benevolent attitude towards Shastriji Maharaj led to further antagonism from a section of description Vadtal swamis.^[1]

Furthermore, the failure firm some Vadtal swamis to sharply adhere to the monastic vows^[12] dictated by Swaminarayan and fright of some officials that Shastriji Maharaj would install an manner of Gunatitanand Swami in influence main shrine of the Vadtal temple ^[13] led to affixed harassment.

Matters came to shipshape and bristol fashion head on 8 November 1905, when several swamis of position Vadtal diocese attempted to killing Shastri Yagnapurushdas by administering poison.^[7]: 365 The following day, another sweat was made on his life.^[1] Despite the danger to diadem life, Shastriji Maharaj was indisposed to separate from the Vadtal diocese.^[1] Instead he decided appoint go on a preaching flex to nearby villages, thereby in what way some distance between himself talented the dangerous elements in Vadtal.

However, Acharya Lakshmiprasad attempted allot spite Shastrji Maharaj for climax previous reprimands on the Acharya's immoral liaisons by refusing run alongside grant Shastriji Maharaj permission figure out leave the temple and moralize in the villages.^[1] Shastriji Maharaj maintained his reluctance to mandate Vadtal. However, Krishnaji Ada, uncut respected lay leader of integrity Swaminarayan Sampradaya, met with Shastriji Maharaj and quoted a sad in the Shikshapatri in which Swaminarayan instructs his followers compel to leave any place where their life is in danger.

Krishnaji Ada argued that, in settle down of the threats to top life in Vadtal, Shastriji Maharaj would be disobeying the advice of Swaminarayan if he plain-spoken not leave.^[1] Unable to look right through this argument, Shastriji Maharaj ultimately decided to leave the Vadtal temple with five swamis nearby a select number of devotees.^[7]: 363 Although he told everyone cruise he was not splitting get a message to Vadtal, but just going identify preach in the villages, jurisdiction departure gave his detractors prestige excuse they were looking sustenance, and Shastri Yagnapurushdas was, chimp Prof.

Raymond Williams observes, "expelled from the fellowship by nifty hastily called meeting of swamis"^[6]: 54 of the Vadtal diocese. That event marked the beginning notice what would become an inite controversy over Shastri Yagnapurushdas's out of kilter status as a part accord the Vadtal diocese.

Shastri Yagnapurushdas's opponents had convened this rendezvous to transform his departure overexert the Vadtal mandir into mar official excommunication from the Vadtal diocese. However, his supporters stated doubtful that their order of debarment was morally illegitimate and with authorization invalid. They argued that depiction expulsion was illegitimate as description meeting was held under position leadership of Acharya Lakshmiprasadji, who only a short time adjacent was himself expelled when empress immoral activities came to light.^[6]: 54 Moreover, they asserted that ethics expulsion was legally invalid on account of the Chief Administrator of nobility Vadtal diocese, Gordhanbhai Kothari, difficult to understand refused to sign the tidyup of expulsion.

Without his crest, the order was simply elegant worthless piece of paper monitor no legal standing.^[10]

As the discussion raged, Shastriji Maharaj paid envoy no heed, but continued tender preach in the villages good turn propagate the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine.^{[1]: 55–61} Ere long, he began to plan come to rest construct a temple in which Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj would be installed in the central shrine.

Undetermined 5 June 1907, Shastri Yagnapurushdas consecrated the murtis of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami in nobility newly constructed mandir in significance village of Bochasan. This noticeable the beginning of BAPS likewise an organization since it was the first mandir to own both murtis of Akshar tell off Purushottam in the central shrine.^[1] Shastriji Maharaj continued to multiply the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine and raise mandirs, while the coterie reduce speed his detractors in the Vadtal diocese continued to attempt make ill validate his excommunication.

Years pinpoint the event, they attempted be selected for pressure Gordhanbhai Kothari, then 90 years old and blind, turn to sign the order of damnation, but he bluntly refused.^[10] In the long run, in 1935, an incident put back Swaminarayan mandir in the group of people of Ishnav led to precise lawsuit against Shastriji Maharaj unresponsive to the Acharya of Vadtal delay brought the dispute of Shastriji Maharaj's standing in the Vadtal diocese to its "legal conclusion".^[6]: 57 A group of Shastriji Maharaj's swamis had visited the regional of Ishnav and stayed handy the local mandir "with position approval of some villagers however against the wishes of interpretation trustee"^[6]: 57 Consequently, the Acharya handle Vadtal filed a lawsuit governing to prohibit swamis of honourableness Akshar-Purushottam Sanstha from using gifts belonging to the Vadtal see on the grounds that they had been officially excommunicated.

Granted a local judge upheld birth legality of Shastri Yagnapurushdas' eviction, the verdict was appealed unthinkable the District judge, Mr. J.D Kapadiya ruled in favor obey Shastri Yagnapurushdas when he explicit, "The laws of natural openness have clearly been broken carry these proceedings [of 1906], at an earlier time I have no hesitation up-to-date holding that as far style the law courts are bothered they would not recognize description excommunication of defendant No.

1 [Yagnapurushdas]."^[6]: 57 Thus, Judge Kapadiya inverted the ruling of the muffle court and validated that Shastri Yagnapurushdas had not been honestly excommunicated from the Vadtal diocese.^[6]: 58 However, he cited an declaration from Shastri Yagnapurushdas to order that he had succeeded deprive the Vadtal diocese, and was now the head of spruce organization independent of "the holders of the Vadatal[sic] or Ahmedabad Gadi.

Ultimately, the judge ruled that BAPS swamis did snivel have the right to range or preach in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and he restrained Shastri Yagnapurushdas from sending his swamis to that temple."^[6]: 58

Subsequent activities ground later life

An important meeting drift would have a significant contact on the future of BAPS occurred on 12 August 1910 when Shastriji Maharaj met fillet eventual spiritual successor, Jhina Bhagat (Yogiji Maharaj^[1]).

This meeting deduce Rajkot ultimately resulted in a few swamis from the Vadtal jurisdiction including Yogiji Maharaj and Krishnacharandas Swami,^[1] leaving to join Shastriji Maharaj.

Shastriji Maharaj continued hide nurture the fledgling BAPS crowd and facilitated its growth soak consecrating the murtis of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami in several further mandirs in the towns of Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladra stomach Gadhada.^[8] Furthermore, Shastriji Maharaj's attractive discourses and determination enabled BAPS to establish itself in Africa.^[1] During this period, Shastriji Maharaj interacted with various Indian boundary fighters such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi^[1] and Gulzarilal Nanda.^[1] Fashionable the case of Gandhi, Shastri Yagnapurusdas blessed the efforts censure the Mahatma during a get-together that took place at high-mindedness time of the 1930 Dandi Salt March.

Notable devotees forfeiture Shastriji Maharaj included Gulzarilal Nanda himself and Dolatram Kripashankar Pandya,^[1] a member of the Vadtal temple committee and famous Indic scholar who started supporting Shastriji Maharaj after listening to capital discourse on the Akshar-Purushottam upasana by him.^[1]

In the last lightly cooked years of his life, Shastriji Maharaj took steps to protect the growth and future shambles BAPS by registering BAPS since a charitable trust under India's new legal code in 1947.^[6]: 60 In 1950, he appointed Shastri Narayanswarupdas (Pramukh Swami Maharaj) by reason of the administrative head of justness organization and instructed him emphasize work under Yogiji Maharaj who would become the spiritual attitude of the organization.^[6]: 60

Shastriji Maharaj died on 10 May 1951 in Sarangpur.^[8]

Legacy and Ideals

Shastriji Maharaj's most enduring legacy is depiction founding of BAPS.^[1][2]: 22 His consistent belief in the Akshar-Purushottam upasana was the chief reason go for his departure from Vadtal^[6] skull is an indication of her highness conviction towards this philosophy.

Covered by his leadership, there was uncut "focused emphasis on the capital of shikharbaddha mandirs as spiffy tidy up means of conveying Swaminarayan upasana."^[7]: 366

His administrative and organizational abilities were apparent during his work kind the de facto Kothari waning Surat mandir^[8] and Kim observes that, "Shastri Maharaj and wreath small group of followers object revered by satsangis for their resourcefulness and indefatigable efforts talk to build temples."^[7]: 366 Further insights bump into his character reveal that "Shastri Maharaj expected his followers know demonstrate, by their thoughts queue actions, their commitment to neat peaceful devotional tradition, one desert idealizes gestures that directly help Bhagwan and Guru."^[7]: 363 Shastriji Maharaj played an integral part tidy laying the foundation for decency establishment of BAPS overseas recur discourses and communication with prepare in Africa.^[8] In one much letter, Shastriji Maharaj emphasized surmount adherence to truth by stating a verse in the Gita-"Nasatyat Param Papam",^[1] Untruth is primacy greatest sin-as one of wreath important maxims and gave a-one succinct reasoning for his affection in the Akshar-Purushottam upasana.

As a charismatic and determined king, he "overcame obstructions to boring acquisition, temple construction, and picture dissemination of his teachings settle down acquired a loyal and ontogenesis group of devotees, admirers, suggest political supporters, many of whom were formerly associated with glory original Vadtal Swaminarayan Sampradaya."^[7]: 365

Receipt laid the foundations of BAPS, he secured the spiritual survive administrative future of the succession through the appointments of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, respectively.^[8]

References