Mahant Swami Maharaj

Mahant Swami Maharaj
Born Vinu Patel
(1933-09-13)13 September 1933
Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, British India
Titles/honours Mahant
Guru Yogiji Maharaj, Pramukh Swami Maharaj
Quotation "Unity is the greatest Strength."

Mahant Swami Maharaj (born Vinu Patel, 13 September 1933;[1] ordained Sadhu Keshavjivandas) is the present guru and president of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, an international Hindu socio-spiritual organization. BAPS regards him as the sixth spiritual successor of Swaminarayan, following Gunatitanand Swami, Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj, and Pramukh Swami Maharaj.[2][3][4] He is believed by his followers to be in constant communion with Swaminarayan, and ontologically, the manifestation of Akshar, the eternal abode of Swaminarayan.[2]

Mahant Swami Maharaj received initiation as a Hindu swami from Yogiji Maharaj in 1961.[5][6] Mahant Swami Maharaj was revealed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj as his future spiritual and administrative successor in 2012,[7] roles he commenced upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj's death in 2016.[3][8]

Early life

Childhood and Education

Vinu was born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India on 13 September 1933. His parents, Manibhai Naranbhai Patel and Dahiben Patel[1][9] were both followers of Shastriji Maharaj and the Akshar Purushottam Upasana. Shastriji Maharaj visited the newborn a few days post-birth and named the child Keshav, although his family referred to him by his nickname, Vinu.

Vinu completed his primary and secondary education at an English-medium school within the local township, and then completed his 12th grade at the Christian College of Jabalpur. He then attended the College of Agriculture in his father’s native town of Anand, Gujarat, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture.[3][5]

Early Inspiration for Monastic Order

During his college years (1951-1952), Vinu first met Yogiji Maharaj, the spiritual successor of Shastriji Maharaj. Impressed by Yogiji Maharaj’s life and teachings, Vinu traveled with Yogiji Maharaj during his summer vacations, and was inspired to enter the monastic life.[1][5]

Early Years as a Sadhu

At age 24, in 1957, he received novitiate initiation, parshad diksha,[1] and was renamed Vinu Bhagat. During this initial training phase, he accompanied Yogiji Maharaj on his travels, looking after Yogiji Maharaj’s daily correspondence with devotees. At age 28, in 1961, Vinu Bhagat was given bhagwati diksha,[1] initiated as a swami, in Gadhada and named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. He was one of 51 youths receiving initiation into the monastic order that day.[7] This group of 51 was initially placed in Mumbai to study Sanskrit, with Swami Keshavjivandas appointed as their group head or Mahant at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Dadar, Mumbai. Thus, he became known throughout BAPS as Mahant Swami.[1][5]

Service Under Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Mahant Swami Maharaj initially met Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1951 and traveled extensively with him. After Yogiji Maharaj’s death in 1971, Mahant Swami Maharaj served under Pramukh Swami Maharaj in many of the sanstha’s festivals, youth activities, and ongoing temple[10] and Akshardham projects worldwide.[5][11][3][12][13]

Significance in BAPS

Appointment as President

On 20 July 2012, in the presence of senior sadhus in Ahmedabad, Pramukh Swami Maharaj revealed that Mahant Swami Maharaj would be his spiritual successor upon his own passing and wrote a letter in his own handwriting to this effect. Therefore, on 13 August 2016, Mahant Swami Maharaj became the sixth spiritual successor in Swaminarayan’s lineage of Gunatit gurus.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mahant Swami formally installed as new head of BAPS, here is his first speech". DeshGujarat News from Gujarat. 2016-08-14. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  2. 1 2 Pandya, Samta (January 2016). "The Case of Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha" (PDF). Sect Culture and Social Service.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Mahant Swami Maharaj Sadhu Keshavjivandas succeeds Pramukh Swami as Guru and President of BAPS". DeshGujarat News from Gujarat. 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  4. ↑ "Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Hindu guru and Neasden Temple founder – obituary". Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj" (PDF). BAPS.org. BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  6. ↑ Ludwig Brent, Peter (1973). Godmen of India. Penguin Books Ltd. p. 12. ISBN 9780140034608.
  7. 1 2 "HH Mahant Swami Sadhu Keshavjivandas to be spiritual successor of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj". www.gg2.net. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  8. 1 2 "Final Darshan and Rites of Pramukh Swami Maharaj". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2016-08-13.
  9. ↑ "Mahant Swami takes charge". www.easterneye.eu. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
  10. ↑ Wind, James P. (1994). American Congregations, Volume 1: Portraits of Twelve Religious Communities. University of Chicago Press. p. 627.
  11. ↑ Academy, Himalayan. "Education: Taking Youth Conventions to the Next Level - Magazine Web Edition > October/November/December 2014 - Publications - Hinduism Today Magazine". www.hinduismtoday.com. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  12. ↑ Choudhury, Imran (11 September 2015). "Value of peace and tolerance". Eastern Eye.
  13. ↑ "Mark of true devotion". Eastern Eye. 28 August 2015.
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