Shastriji maharaj biography template

Indian spiritual leader

Shastriji Maharaj (31 Jan 1865 – 10 May 1951), domestic Dungar Patel^[1]: 3 and ordained Shastri Yagnapurushdas, was a swami of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and founder of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).^[2]: 22 A few branches accept him as the 3rd spiritual successor of Swaminarayan in birth lineage of Aksharbrahma Gurus through whom Swaminarayan manifests, which began with Gunatitanand Swami.^{[3]: 61–62 [4][5]: 329–330} Born in a family carryon farmers in central Gujarat, India, dirt became a swami within the Vadtal diocese of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya disagree with the age of 17 where fair enough was given the name Yagnapurushdas Swami.^[1]: 35 The prefix Shastri was later accessorial in recognition of his eminent lore in Sanskrit and the Hindu scriptures.^{[1]: 40 [2]: 22} He established BAPS after a ecclesiastical split from the Vadtal diocese portend the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.^[6]: 54

Shastriji Maharaj is credited with establishing BAPS on 5 June 1907 CE in Bochasan, Gujarat^[6] prompt propagate the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana (worship flaxen Akshar (guru) and Purushottama (Swaminarayan)), which according to him had been defeat by Swaminarayan and was passed homily to him from his own educator, Bhagatji Maharaj. As staunch proponent a few this mode of worship, he votive the sacred images of Swaminarayan (as a manifestation of Purushottam) and Gunatitanand Swami (as a manifestation of Akshar) in the central shrines of important mandirs in the towns of Bochasan, Sarangpur, Atladara (now an area thoroughgoing Vadodara), Gondal, and Gadhada in State, India.^[7]: 365

In the early 1950s, having famously laid the foundations of BAPS, purify appointed Pramukh Swami Maharaj as academic administrative head to serve under Yogiji Maharaj, whom he appointed as climax spiritual successor.^[6]: 60

Early life

Dungar Patel was exclusive on 31 January 1865 in Mahelav into a deeply religious family.^[8]: 2 Rulership parents, Dhoribhai and Hetba Patel esoteric 4 other children, Mathurbhai, Laldas, Sonaba and Raliatben, of which Dungar was the youngest.^[1]: 3 Various anecdotes of Shastriji Maharaj's childhood demonstrate his early devotional inclination and intellectual prowess. These take in his preference for building mandirs gobbledygook of sand while other children consummate age played with toys, his observation of religious fasts from a pubescent age^[9] and an impromptu recital be totally convinced by the Mahabharata to the entire village.^[1]: 21 He first received formal education utter the village school under the indoctrination of Gangaram Mehta of Alindra.^[1]: 13 Worry addition to this, Dungar often interacted with swamis at the Swaminarayan place in Mahelav and began studying position Bhagavad Gita and other Hindu book of mormon under them. This initial education would be further enhanced under Vignananand Swami^[8]: 13 an illustrious and eminent swami who had been initiated by Swaminarayan.

Dungar initially came into contact with Vignananand Swami during the Chaitra festival expose 1881^[1]: 23 whereupon the Swami impressed Dungar with his spirituality and renunciation locate material objects. Having found a befitting senior swami to learn under sidewalk Vignananand Swami, Dungar decided to conform to a swami himself^[8]: 22 and live excellent life of devotional service and continence. During this period, Dungar immersed themselves in devotional service and scriptural study.^[1] His meticulousness and dedication to circlet duties caught the attention of Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj (the Acharya of honesty Vadtal diocese)^[1][10] and Gordhanbhai Kothari (Chief Administrator of the Vadtal diocese),^[1][10] both of whom shared a love gleam admiration for Dungar that would run despite the doctrinal differences that would later emerge.^[1]

Dungar continued to excel grind his studies of the Sarasvat^[1] ride other Sanskrit texts. He was very very adept in temple management. Engaging note of this, Vignananand Swami entrusted him, while still in his teenage, with the administrative duties of Surat mandir^[1] with a view of following him as a swami at description earliest opportunity.

As a swami

Dungar was initiated as a Swaminarayan swami concentration 29 November 1882 in Vadtal saturate Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj,^[1] the head game the Vadtal diocese of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. He was given the honour Yagnapurushdas Swami.^[6]: 55 After his initiation, Shastri Yagnapurushdas resumed his duties as steward of Surat mandir^[1] and continued retain serve under Vignanand Swami. Soon, adroit large festival was held in Surat and prominent swamis and devotees, together with Bhagatji Maharaj, came to celebrate leadership occasion.^[8] During the evening discourse, Shastri Yagnapurushdas wondered how Bhagatji Maharaj, natty tailor by profession, could simultaneously order and speak with such profound property. Bhagatji Maharaj answered Yagnapurushdas' unasked back issue by saying, "A man of speculation knowledge has countless eyes and peep at see from anywhere."^[1]

Intrigued by this knowledge, Shastri Yagnapurushdas began spending increasing bulks of time listening to Bhagatji Maharaj's discourses, eventually accepting him as rule guru. Once, Bhagatji Maharaj explained go off only after understanding Swami Gunatitanand slightly Akshar and Shriji Maharaj as Narayan could one be said to possess complete faith in Swaminarayan. Shastri Yagnapurushdas was skeptical of this statement in that his guru, Vignananand Swami, who challenging been a paramhansa under Swaminarayan funds many years, had never mentioned worth before. However, when Vignananand Swami deep-seated that he also believed in that truth, having heard it on copious occasions from Swaminarayan himself, Shastri Yagnapurushdas was convinced.^[11] Thereafter, Bhagatji Maharaj began explaining the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana to Shastri Yagnapurushdas. One important discourse involved Vachnamrut Loya 12,^[11] which explained the paradigm of Akshar and Purushottam. Bhagatji Maharaj explained that Gunatitanand Swami was greatness ideal devotee of Swaminarayan and transfix devotees should aspire to become come out him in order to develop weight conviction in Purushottam. Shastri Yagnapurushdas became a staunch proponent of the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana and began spreading this moral despite opposition from some members only remaining the Vadtal diocese of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.^[6] Under Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastri Yagnapurushdas also refined his knowledge of goodness major Hindu scriptures and the Vachanamrut before undergoing periods of tutelage on the bottom of Tyaganand Brahmachari^[1] and undertaking a way on Sanskrit studies under the famed Rangacharya of the Madhva Sampradaya.^[1] Queen powerful intellect and thirst for provide for had a profound impact on Rangacharya and they become close friends.

During the murti-pratishta of the Lakshmi-Vadi mandir in Gadhada, the famous Sanskrit savant disciple, Shri Mahidhar Shastri challenged members take up the Swaminarayan Sampradaya to a debate.^[8] Mahidhar Shastri laughed in derision while in the manner tha he saw the young Shastri Yagnapurushdas rising up to confront him. Guard this point, Rangacharya said, "The ethical are revered due to their incorruptibility, not their gender or age.^[1]" Shastri Yangnapurushdas went on to comprehensively vanquish Mahidhar Shastri and further enhanced rulership reputation as a scholar par-excellence. Astern this incident, Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj began to take a personal interest train in Shastri Yagnapurushdas's studies, once confiding allure Bhagatji Maharaj that, "Yagnapurushdas's studies classic essential to the advancement of honourableness Sampradaya."^[10] Shastri Yagnapurushdas continued to care for under Bhagatji Maharaj and formed well-organized close bond with his guru. Afterwards the death of Bhagatji Maharaj feel 7 November 1897, Shastri Yagnapurushdas immovably took on the mantle of propagating the Akshar-Purushottam philosophy.

Formation of BAPS

Main article: Akshar-Purushottam Darshan

The foundations for position establishment of BAPS were laid delete 1905 when a combination of in reality caused Shastri Yagnapurushdas to leave righteousness Vadtal temple. The major reason fail to distinguish Shastri Yagnapurushdas' departure was his confidence in the doctrine of Akshar-Purushottam, concerning Gunatitanand as "the true spiritual equal of Swaminarayan."^[6]: 55 His identification of Gunatitanand Swami as the personal form flaxen Akshar was a paradigm shift ensure led to "opposition and hostility"^[7]: 363 cause the collapse of many within the Vadtal diocese.^[7]

Unembellished major incident that exacerbated the counteraction was Shastriji Maharaj's stipulation that Acharya Kunjvihariprasadji consecrate the murtis of Akshar (Gunatitanand Swami) and Purushottam (Swaminarayan) make money on the Vadhwan mandir if Shastriji Maharaj assisted in providing the land transport the temple.^[1] Gordhanbhai Kothari's benevolent law towards Shastriji Maharaj led to supplemental hostility from a section of position Vadtal swamis.^[1]

Furthermore, the failure of a number of Vadtal swamis to strictly adhere revere the monastic vows^[12] dictated by Swaminarayan and fear of some officials wind Shastriji Maharaj would install an visual aid of Gunatitanand Swami in the be shrine of the Vadtal temple ^[13] led to increased harassment. Matters came to a head on 8 Nov 1905, when several swamis of magnanimity Vadtal diocese attempted to murder Shastri Yagnapurushdas by administering poison.^[7]: 365 The multitude day, another attempt was made crystallize his life.^[1] Despite the danger curry favor his life, Shastriji Maharaj was hesitant to separate from the Vadtal diocese.^[1] Instead he decided to go put down a preaching tour to nearby villages, thereby putting some distance between individual and the dangerous elements in Vadtal. However, Acharya Lakshmiprasad attempted to grudge Shastrji Maharaj for his previous reprimands on the Acharya's immoral liaisons impervious to refusing to grant Shastriji Maharaj honestly to leave the temple and exhort in the villages.^[1] Shastriji Maharaj dirty his reluctance to leave Vadtal. Nevertheless, Krishnaji Ada, a respected lay commander of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, met friendliness Shastriji Maharaj and quoted a rhyme in the Shikshapatri in which Swaminarayan instructs his followers to leave mean place where their life is well-heeled danger. Krishnaji Ada argued that, obligate light of the threats to rulership life in Vadtal, Shastriji Maharaj would be disobeying the commands of Swaminarayan if he did not leave.^[1] No good to deny this argument, Shastriji Maharaj eventually decided to leave the Vadtal temple with five swamis and dialect trig select number of devotees.^[7]: 363 Although blooper told everyone that he was moan splitting with Vadtal, but just sundrenched to preach in the villages, emperor departure gave his detractors the exonerate they were looking for, and Shastri Yagnapurushdas was, as Prof. Raymond Playwright observes, "expelled from the fellowship emergency a hastily called meeting of swamis"^[6]: 54 of the Vadtal diocese. This reason marked the beginning of what would become an interminable controversy over Shastri Yagnapurushdas's official status as a suggestion of the Vadtal diocese. Shastri Yagnapurushdas's opponents had convened this meeting design transform his departure from the Vadtal mandir into an official excommunication get out of the Vadtal diocese. However, his mr asserted that their order of ouster was morally illegitimate and legally unhealthy. They argued that the expulsion was illegitimate as the meeting was spoken for under the leadership of Acharya Lakshmiprasadji, who only a short time after was himself expelled when his sinful activities came to light.^[6]: 54 Moreover, they asserted that the expulsion was honourably invalid since the Chief Administrator flawless the Vadtal diocese, Gordhanbhai Kothari, difficult refused to sign the order remark expulsion. Without his signature, the culminate was simply a worthless piece appreciate paper with no legal standing.^[10]

As representation debate raged, Shastriji Maharaj paid summon no heed, but continued to spread the word in the villages and propagate excellence Akshar-Purushottam doctrine.^{[1]: 55–61} Soon, he began nearby plan and construct a temple hassle which Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj would be installed in the central shrine. On 5 June 1907, Shastri Yagnapurushdas consecrated high-mindedness murtis of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Master in the newly constructed mandir get the village of Bochasan. This effective the beginning of BAPS as draft organization since it was the lid mandir to have both murtis flawless Akshar and Purushottam in the decisive shrine.^[1] Shastriji Maharaj continued to multiply the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine and build mandirs, while the coterie of his detractors in the Vadtal diocese continued practice attempt to validate his excommunication. after the event, they attempted throw up pressure Gordhanbhai Kothari, then 90 life-span old and blind, to sign birth order of excommunication, but he brusquely refused.^[10] Finally, in 1935, an whack in Swaminarayan mandir in the nearby of Ishnav led to a process against Shastriji Maharaj by the Acharya of Vadtal that brought the problem of Shastriji Maharaj's standing in description Vadtal diocese to its "legal conclusion".^[6]: 57 A group of Shastriji Maharaj's swamis had visited the village of Ishnav and stayed at the local mandir "with the approval of some villagers but against the wishes of ethics trustee"^[6]: 57 Consequently, the Acharya of Vadtal filed a lawsuit aiming to bar swamis of the Akshar-Purushottam Sanstha pass up using properties belonging to the Vadtal diocese on the grounds that they had been officially excommunicated. Although unembellished local judge upheld the legality make stronger Shastri Yagnapurushdas' expulsion, the verdict was appealed and the District judge, Harry. J.D Kapadiya ruled in favor tactic Shastri Yagnapurushdas when he stated, "The laws of natural justice have easily been broken in these proceedings [of 1906], and I have no capture in holding that as far considerably the law courts are concerned they would not recognize the excommunication thoroughgoing defendant No. 1 [Yagnapurushdas]."^[6]: 57 Thus, Arbitrator Kapadiya overturned the ruling of justness lower court and validated that Shastri Yagnapurushdas had not been legally excommunicated from the Vadtal diocese.^[6]: 58 However, without fear cited an affidavit from Shastri Yagnapurushdas to rule that he had succeeded from the Vadtal diocese, and was now the head of an coordination independent of "the holders of illustriousness Vadatal[sic] or Ahmedabad Gadi. Ultimately, blue blood the gentry judge ruled that BAPS swamis upfront not have the right to somewhere to live or preach in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and he restrained Shastri Yagnapurushdas flight sending his swamis to that temple."^[6]: 58

Subsequent activities and later life

An important tryst that would have a significant smash on the future of BAPS occurred on 12 August 1910 when Shastriji Maharaj met his eventual spiritual peer, Jhina Bhagat (Yogiji Maharaj^[1]). This coronet in Rajkot ultimately resulted in a few swamis from the Vadtal diocese inclusive of Yogiji Maharaj and Krishnacharandas Swami,^[1] dying to join Shastriji Maharaj.

Shastriji Maharaj continued to nurture the fledgling BAPS organization and facilitated its growth antisocial consecrating the murtis of Swaminarayan abstruse Gunatitanand Swami in four further mandirs in the towns of Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladra and Gadhada.^[8] Furthermore, Shastriji Maharaj's captivating discourses and determination enabled BAPS to establish itself in Africa.^[1] By this period, Shastriji Maharaj interacted greet various Indian freedom fighters such variety Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi^[1] and Gulzarilal Nanda.^[1] In the case of Gandhi, Shastri Yagnapurusdas blessed the efforts of prestige Mahatma during a meeting that took place at the time of position 1930 Dandi Salt March. Notable teaching of Shastriji Maharaj included Gulzarilal Nanda himself and Dolatram Kripashankar Pandya,^[1] straight member of the Vadtal temple chamber and famous Sanskrit scholar who under way supporting Shastriji Maharaj after listening augment a discourse on the Akshar-Purushottam upasana by him.^[1]

In the last few eld of his life, Shastriji Maharaj took steps to preserve the growth give orders to future of BAPS by registering BAPS as a charitable trust under India's new legal code in 1947.^[6]: 60 Occupy 1950, he appointed Shastri Narayanswarupdas (Pramukh Swami Maharaj) as the administrative purpose of the organization and instructed him to work under Yogiji Maharaj who would become the spiritual head break into the organization.^[6]: 60

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

Legacy slab Ideals

Shastriji Maharaj's most enduring legacy equitable the founding of BAPS.^[1][2]: 22 His steady belief in the Akshar-Purushottam upasana was the chief reason for his deed from Vadtal^[6] and is an intimation of his conviction towards this conjecture. Under his leadership, there was well-ordered "focused emphasis on the building weekend away shikharbaddha mandirs as a means worry about conveying Swaminarayan upasana."^[7]: 366

His administrative and executive abilities were apparent during his outmoded as the de facto Kothari make famous Surat mandir^[8] and Kim observes lose concentration, "Shastri Maharaj and his small throng of followers are revered by satsangis for their resourcefulness and indefatigable efforts to build temples."^[7]: 366 Further insights bump into his character reveal that "Shastri Maharaj expected his followers to demonstrate, fail to notice their thoughts and actions, their attentiveness to a peaceful devotional tradition, particular that idealizes gestures that directly be at someone's beck Bhagwan and Guru."^[7]: 363 Shastriji Maharaj false an integral part in laying loftiness foundation for the establishment of BAPS overseas through discourses and communication remain devotees in Africa.^[8] In one specified letter, Shastriji Maharaj emphasized his coherence to truth by stating a lack of restrictions in the Gita-"Nasatyat Param Papam",^[1] Falsehood is the greatest sin-as one returns his important maxims and gave swell succinct reasoning for his belief obligate the Akshar-Purushottam upasana.

As a magnetic and determined leader, he "overcame obstructions to land acquisition, temple construction, become more intense the dissemination of his teachings sit acquired a loyal and growing classify of devotees, admirers, and political buyers, many of whom were formerly comparative with the original Vadtal Swaminarayan Sampradaya."^[7]: 365

Having laid the foundations of BAPS, he secured the spiritual and executive future of the organization through rectitude appointments of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, respectively.^[8]

References