Shriji Mahārāj

Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Shriji Maharaj refers to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, who established the Swaminarayan Sampraday, the principles of which are found in the Vachanamrut.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan was born on April 2, 1781 in Chapaiya, Uttar Pradesh in India. His childhood names was Ghanshyam and Harikrishna. He left home at the age of 11 and traveled across the length and breadth of India as Nilkanth Varni, consecrating the holy places of India with his own holy feet. After 7 year, 1 month and 11 days of travel, he ended his journey in Loj at Ramanand Swami’s āshram. Ramanand Swami gave Nilkanth Varni dikshā into the sadhu-fold and named him Sahajanand and Narayanmuni. Before Ramanand Swami passed away, he handed over the reigns of the sampradāy he built up to the newly initiated Sahajanand Swami.

Sahajanand Swami gave his followers the great mahāmantra ‘Swaminarayan’ on the 13th of Ramanand Swami passing, and instructed all to chant this name. Therefore, Sahajanand Swami became commonly known as Swaminarayan.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan gained devout followers with his love and peaceful nature. He initiated more than 3,000 sadhus who were perfect in renunciation of women and wealth. He instructed them to travel from village to village and preach purity and devotion. Seeing the pure conduct of these sadhus, many learned the lofty qualities of sadhus. They also abandoned superstitions and blind faith.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan removed 3 major practices in Indian society prevalent during his time. First, he stopped the drowning of baby girls in milk at birth, for fear that the burden of dowry would be too much to bear to marry their daughter. Second, he stopped the killing of animals during yagna sacrificed and promoted the sacrifice of grains instead. Third, he stopped the practice of sati, where the widow was forced to burn on her husband’s cremation pyre.

On a spiritual plane, Bhagwan Swaminarayan constructed 6 mandirs: Gadhada, Amdavad, Bhuj, Dholera, Junagadh, and Vartal. He wrote the Shikshapatri containing 212 verses of commands for his followers to abide by. He established the rules of sadhus, householders, acharyas, women, brahmins, etc. His main work, however, was establishing ekāntik dharma, consisting of dharma, gnān, vairāgya, and bhakti, the characteristics of which can be found in the Vachanamrut. Moreover, he introduced Gunatitanand Swami as his abode Akshardham or Aksharbrahma, the upholder of ekāntik dharma and promised to remain eternally present on the earth though such an Ekāntik Satpurush.

That legacy has continued till today. After Gunatitanand Swami followed Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and presently Mahant Swami Maharaj.

Shriji Maharaj is known by many names. His childhood names were Ghanshyam and Harikrishna. During his travels, he was known as Nilkanth Varni. Thereafter, Ramanand Swami gave him the names Sahajanand and Narayanmuni. He himself revealed his own name as Swaminarayan. People also called him Jivanmukta. His devotees lovingly called him Shriji Maharaj, Shri Hari, or simply Maharaj.