Swaminarayan Saga Life and Work of Bhagwan Swaminarayan

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Bhagwan Swaminarayan was a torchbearer of Indian Culture who ushered in a moral and spiritual renaissance in 19th century Gujarat. Through his travels and spiritual charisma he liberated thousands from the mire of vices and superstitions. His unique contributions for the uplift of society and blessing the devotees with moksha ranks him as one of the leading spiritual lights of India.

Swaminarayan Saga portrays the life and work of Bhagwan Swaminarayan through 32 graphics and brief scripts. His legacy is still vibrant today through mandirs, sacred texts, celebrations, social services and the tradition of Gunatit gurus.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan, known in his childhood days as Ghanshyam and later on as Swami Sahajanand, was born on 3 April 1781 CE to a Brahmin family in Chhapaiya, near Ayodhya, in north India. At the tender age of ten, he showed his precocity by winning a scriptural debate with scholars in Benares.

At the age of 11, he renounced his home and toured India barefooted, wearing only a loincloth. For seven years he visited various holy places and ashrams. Finally, he settled in Loj, Gujarat, and became a disciple of a Vaishnav guru, Ramanand Swami.

At the age of 21, Ramanand Swami appointed him as his spiritual successor. On that occasion he asked Ramanand Swami to bless him with the boon that his devotees be relieved from pain and misery and that, instead, he suffer the miseries a thousand-fold. Thereafter, he travelled in Gujarat for about three decades, ushering in a moral and spiritual renaissance. He uplifted women by abolishing the social evils of sati and female infanticide. To keep religious institutions free from immoral practices he arranged for separate seating arrangements for men and women during religious assemblies. He initiated 500 paramhansas in one night at Kalvani, prescribing to them the five cardinal vows of nishkam (celibacy), nirlobh (non-greed), nisswad (non-taste), nissneh (non attachment) and nirman (humility).

The Vachanamrut and Shikshapatri (moral codes of conduct) are unique sacred texts spoken and written by him. He built six mandirs in Ahmedabad, Dholera, Vartal, Bhuj, Junagadh and Gadhada, installing his own murti in Vartal mandir.

He was Purna Purushottam - the Supreme Godhead - and Gunatitanand Swami was his foremost disciple and referred to as Akshar or Aksharbrahman. He stated that one becomes eligible for the ultimate worship of Purushottam only when one attains the virtues of Askharbrahman. Bhagwan Swaminarayan concluded his earthly existence in 1830 CE, but has remained present on earth through his successors: Gunatitanand Swami (1785-1867), Bhagatji Maharaj (1829-1897), Shastriji Maharaj (1865-1951), Yogiji Maharaj (1892-1971) and, presently, Pramukh Swami Maharaj (b. 1921).

**Contents and Sample Pages**