 Swaminarayan, also known as ‘Sahajanand Swami’, is the central figure in a modern sect of Hinduism known as the Swaminarayan Faith, a form of Vaishnavism. Within the faith, Swaminarayan is equated with the Supreme Being, Purushottama, or is venerated as an incarnation of Narayana from the Nara-Narayana deity pair.
Life of Swaminarayan The original name of Swaminarayan was Ghanashyam Pande. Swaminarayan was born in a Brahmin family in Uttar Pradesh in 1781 to Hariprasad Pande and Premvati Pande. Right from his early age he was spiritually inclined. At the age of 11 years, he travelled many places where he met Ramanand Swami. Swaminarayan got admission in his ascetic order known as Uddhav Sampradaya. There he received his spiritual name Sahajanand Swami. In 1802 when Ramanand Swami died, he became the head of the sect. Through his devotion he established the sect that drew many followers. Philosophy of Swaminarayan The teachings of Swaminarayan are regarded as qualified non-dualism or Vishishtadvaita. According to it, the one and infinite Brahmin is considered as the supreme Godhead who has several attributes and traits. He has the ability to manifest himself into five fundamental realities like the Parabrahman, Aksharabrahman, Iswara, Jiva and Maya or Prakriti. These are different modes which stand as real as a Brahmin himself. Texts of Swaminarayan There are many texts that were written by Swaminarayan or his followers that are regarded as Shastras or scriptures within the Swaminarayan sect. Some of the notable Texts written by Swaminarayan are as follows:  Reforms of Swaminarayan Swaminarayan had brought about many changes in the society through his teachings and discourses. Some of the reforms by Swaminarayan are as follows: Swaminarayan Sect Swaminarayan sect is also known as Swaminarayan faith. It is a recent development in the Vaishnava denomination of Hinduism. The sect has been able to incorporate many followers who consider Swaminarayan as their God and ardently worship him. The followers strongly believe that Swaminarayan was an incarnation of Narayana who had descended on Earth to save and guide the common masses. After the death of Swaminarayan in 1830 the sect got divided into three new groups. One group followed the Acharya system which was devised by Swaminarayan himself when he was alive. This group adopted the name "Swaminarayan Sampradaya". The second group believed that Swaminarayan himself nominated a close disciple of his in his lifetime as his spiritual successor. They consider Swami Gunatitananda as his true successor. A third group considered itself as Swaminarayan Gadi and declared Gopalananda Swami as the spiritual successor to Swaminarayan. |
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