Biography of Lord Swaminarayan

The Purpose Of His Avatar

Swaminarayan Bhagwan incarnated on earth, along with His dham and some of His muktas, to establish ekantik dharma, and grant kalyan to those who became His bhaktas. He incarnated at Dharma-Dev's house in Chhapaiya in Kaushal-Desh, to save Bhakti-Mata and Dharma-Dev from harassment by demons. He also incarnated to take mumukshu bhaktas to Akshardham, by imparting knowledge of His svarup, dharma, vairagya, and bhakti.

While on earth, He established ekantik dharma, which had been destroyed many years ago, and He destroyed adharma. He initiated over 2000 sadhus, of which 500 were initiated as paramhans. Also, He built mandirs, and installed murtis, which will always remain on earth. In this way, Bhagwan forever resides on this earth through His sadhus and His murtis. Swaminarayan Bhagwan also wrote and narrated shastras, authenticated ancient shastras, and instructed His sadhus to write shastras.

Personal Details

Born on the auspicious day of Ramnavmi

Later moved to Ayodhya

Son of Bal-Sharma and Bhagyavati. Born Kartik sud 11, VS 1796 in Itar.

Daughter of Krishna-Sharma and Bhavani. Born Kartik sud 15, VS 1798 in Chhapaiya.

Rampratapji (married to Suvasini-Bai), Ichharamji (married to Variyari-Bai)

Sam Ved, Kauthmi Shakha

Initiated by Ramanand Swami in Piplana

Key Milestones

Van-Vicharan

Start dateAshadh sud 10, VS 1849

Age at start11 years, 3 months, 1 day

PlaceAyodhya

Length7 years, 1 month, 11 days

End dateShravan vad 6, VS 1856

Age at end18 years, 4 months, 12 days

PlaceLoj

Bhagvati Diksha

Age19 years, 7 months, 2 days

DateKartik sud 11, VS 1857

PlacePiplana

Head Of The Sampraday

Age20 years, 7 months, 2 days

DateKartik sud 11, VS 1858

PlaceJetpur

Satsang

Years in satsang30 years, 9 months, 19 days

Time on earth49 years, 2 months, 1 day

Left earthJyeshth sud 10, VS 1886

Accomplishments On Earth

Establishing Dharma

Established ekantik dharma, and destroyed adharma

Initiated over 2000 sadhus, of which 500 were initiated as paramhans — He remains on earth through these sadhus

Built mandirs, and installed murtis for bhaktas to always have the darshan of Bhagvan's murti

Established two seats of leadership (gadi), and two acharyas to protect and promote the sampraday

Shastras & Scriptures

Revealed the philosophy of the Veds in simple words

Wrote shastras, and authenticated ancient shastras, and shastras written by His sadhus

Summarised the essence of all the shastras in the Shikshapatri

Social Reform

Opened charity-houses for the poor

Organised food and water aid for people during times of drought

Stopped the practice of sati, as it was suicide/murder (some were forced) — human life is only given and taken by Bhagvan

Stopped female infanticide (killing of baby girls)

Encouraged the bhaktas to educate females, which meant they were able to give talks about Bhagvan

Stopped the sacrifice of animals in yagnas

Unity & Relationships

Allowed members from all varnas (castes) into the Swaminarayan Sampraday. He instructed His paramhans to collect alms from all sections of society and appointed people from the lower varnas of society as His personal attendants.

Dispelled the myth that moksh was not attainable by everyone. He taught mumukshu bhaktas that the jeev is neither male nor female and that everyone is equal in the eyes of Bhagvan

Had good relationships with the British Imperial Government, so they gifted Him with land to build a mandir in Amdavad

Maintained good relationships with people of other religions; had followers from other religions; even though some of His attendants were Muslims, they wore a kanthi and followed the panch-vartman

Gave the Governor of Bombay, Sir John Malcolm, a copy of the Shikshapatri (is kept in Bodleian Library in Oxford UK)

Bhagwan forever resides on this earth through His sadhus and His murtis.