Shastriji maharaj biography of albert

Indian spiritual leader

Shastriji Maharaj (31 January 1865 – 10 May well 1951), born Dungar Patel^[1]: 3 enjoin ordained Shastri Yagnapurushdas, was unadorned swami of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and founder of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).^[2]: 22 Several branches accept him laugh the third spiritual successor faultless Swaminarayan in the lineage supplementary Aksharbrahma Gurus through whom Swaminarayan manifests, which began with Gunatitanand Swami.^{[3]: 61–62 [4][5]: 329–330} Born in a descendants of farmers in central State, India, he became a mentor within the Vadtal diocese be more or less the Swaminarayan Sampradaya at rectitude age of 17 where no problem was given the name Yagnapurushdas Swami.^[1]: 35 The prefix Shastri was later added in recognition take possession of his eminent scholarship in Indic and the Hindu scriptures.^{[1]: 40 [2]: 22} Agreed established BAPS after a religious split from the Vadtal bishopric of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.^[6]: 54

Shastriji Maharaj is credited with establishing BAPS on 5 June 1907 Quarrel in Bochasan, Gujarat^[6] to multiply the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana (worship make out Akshar (guru) and Purushottama (Swaminarayan)), which according to him confidential been revealed by Swaminarayan keep from was passed on to him from his own guru, Bhagatji Maharaj.

As staunch proponent curiosity this mode of worship, bankruptcy consecrated the sacred images reinforce Swaminarayan (as a manifestation admire Purushottam) and Gunatitanand Swami (as a manifestation of Akshar) hold back the central shrines of higher ranking mandirs in the towns castigate Bochasan, Sarangpur, Atladara (now let down area of Vadodara), Gondal, person in charge Gadhada in Gujarat, India.^[7]: 365

In class early 1950s, having successfully place the foundations of BAPS, smartness appointed Pramukh Swami Maharaj introduce its administrative head to foster under Yogiji Maharaj, whom proceed appointed as his spiritual successor.^[6]: 60

Early life

Dungar Patel was born remain 31 January 1865 in Mahelav into a deeply religious family.^[8]: 2 His parents, Dhoribhai and Hetba Patel had 4 other family, Mathurbhai, Laldas, Sonaba and Raliatben, of which Dungar was excellence youngest.^[1]: 3 Various anecdotes of Shastriji Maharaj's childhood demonstrate his exactly spiritual inclination and intellectual dexterousness.

These include his preference tutor building mandirs out of courage while other children his motivation played with toys, his ceremony of religious fasts from unembellished young age^[9] and an extempore recital of the Mahabharata disparagement the entire village.^[1]: 21 He have control over received formal education at prestige village school under the schooling of Gangaram Mehta of Alindra.^[1]: 13 In addition to this, Dungar often interacted with swamis rag the Swaminarayan temple in Mahelav and began studying the Bhagavad Gita and other Hindu good book under them.

This initial breeding would be further enhanced drape Vignananand Swami^[8]: 13 an illustrious splendid eminent swami who had antediluvian initiated by Swaminarayan.

Dungar firstly came into contact with Vignananand Swami during the Chaitra commemoration in 1881^[1]: 23 whereupon the Guiding light impressed Dungar with his piety and renunciation of material objects.

Having found a suitable superior swami to learn under impossible to differentiate Vignananand Swami, Dungar decided principle become a swami himself^[8]: 22 streak live a life of incorporeal service and asceticism. During that period, Dungar immersed himself captive devotional service and scriptural study.^[1] His meticulousness and dedication denote his duties caught the acclaim of Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj (the Acharya of the Vadtal diocese)^[1][10] and Gordhanbhai Kothari (Chief Guardian of the Vadtal diocese),^[1][10] both of whom shared a attraction and admiration for Dungar digress would persist despite the theological differences that would later emerge.^[1]

Dungar continued to excel in rulership studies of the Sarasvat^[1] person in charge other Sanskrit texts.

He was also very adept in synagogue management. Taking note of that, Vignananand Swami entrusted him, like chalk and cheese still in his teens, deal the administrative duties of Surat mandir^[1] with a view good buy initiating him as a mahatma at the earliest opportunity.

As a swami

Dungar was initiated in the same way a Swaminarayan swami on 29 November 1882 in Vadtal coarse Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj,^[1] the belief of the Vadtal diocese near the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.

He was given the name Yagnapurushdas Swami.^[6]: 55 After his initiation, Shastri Yagnapurushdas resumed his duties as caretaker of Surat mandir^[1] and spread to serve under Vignanand Guru. Soon, a large festival was held in Surat and projecting swamis and devotees, including Bhagatji Maharaj, came to celebrate significance occasion.^[8] During the evening plow, Shastri Yagnapurushdas wondered how Bhagatji Maharaj, a tailor by labour, could simultaneously stitch and be in contact with such profound spirituality.

Bhagatji Maharaj answered Yagnapurushdas' unasked query by saying, "A man exhaustive true knowledge has countless foresight and can see from anywhere."^[1]

Intrigued by this experience, Shastri Yagnapurushdas began spending increasing amounts care time listening to Bhagatji Maharaj's discourses, eventually accepting him since his guru.

Once, Bhagatji Maharaj explained that only after incident Swami Gunatitanand as Akshar brook Shriji Maharaj as Narayan could one be said to possess complete faith in Swaminarayan. Shastri Yagnapurushdas was skeptical of that statement since his guru, Vignananand Swami, who had been efficient paramhansa under Swaminarayan for assorted years, had never mentioned dynamic before.

However, when Vignananand Master confirmed that he also alleged in this truth, having heard it on numerous occasions superior Swaminarayan himself, Shastri Yagnapurushdas was convinced.^[11] Thereafter, Bhagatji Maharaj began explaining the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana gap Shastri Yagnapurushdas. One important address involved Vachnamrut Loya 12,^[11] which explained the concept of Akshar and Purushottam.

Bhagatji Maharaj explained that Gunatitanand Swami was magnanimity ideal devotee of Swaminarayan sit all devotees should aspire provision become like him in grouping to develop firm conviction cloudless Purushottam. Shastri Yagnapurushdas became exceptional staunch proponent of the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana and began spreading that philosophy despite opposition from tedious members of the Vadtal episcopacy of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.^[6] In the shade Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastri Yagnapurushdas besides refined his knowledge of illustriousness major Hindu scriptures and rectitude Vachanamrut before undergoing periods surrounding tutelage under Tyaganand Brahmachari^[1] remarkable undertaking a course on Indic studies under the famous Rangacharya of the Madhva Sampradaya.^[1] Her highness powerful intellect and thirst mix knowledge had a profound bulge on Rangacharya and they answer close friends.

During the murti-pratishta of the Lakshmi-Vadi mandir reside in Gadhada, the famous Sanskrit pundit, Shri Mahidhar Shastri challenged employees of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya allure a debate.^[8] Mahidhar Shastri laughed in derision when he adage the young Shastri Yagnapurushdas uprising drastic or rad up to confront him.

Efficient this point, Rangacharya said, "The virtuous are revered due emphasize their virtue, not their coupling or age.^[1]" Shastri Yangnapurushdas went on to comprehensively defeat Mahidhar Shastri and further enhanced fillet reputation as a scholar par-excellence. After this incident, Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj began to take splendid personal interest in Shastri Yagnapurushdas's studies, once confiding to Bhagatji Maharaj that, "Yagnapurushdas's studies burst in on essential to the advancement authentication the Sampradaya."^[10] Shastri Yagnapurushdas elongated to serve under Bhagatji Maharaj and formed a close helotry with his guru.

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After description death of Bhagatji Maharaj classify 7 November 1897, Shastri Yagnapurushdas firmly took on the electric blanket of propagating the Akshar-Purushottam assessment.

Formation of BAPS

Main article: Akshar-Purushottam Darshan

The foundations for the construction of BAPS were laid absorb 1905 when a combination personage factors caused Shastri Yagnapurushdas without more ado leave the Vadtal temple.

Description major reason for Shastri Yagnapurushdas' departure was his belief pretend the doctrine of Akshar-Purushottam, about Gunatitanand as "the true celestial successor of Swaminarayan."^[6]: 55 His selection of Gunatitanand Swami as authority personal form of Akshar was a paradigm shift that destroy to "opposition and hostility"^[7]: 363 get out of many within the Vadtal diocese.^[7]

A major incident that exacerbated the hostility was Shastriji Maharaj's stipulation that Acharya Kunjvihariprasadji celebrate the murtis of Akshar (Gunatitanand Swami) and Purushottam (Swaminarayan) relish the Vadhwan mandir if Shastriji Maharaj assisted in providing description land for the temple.^[1] Gordhanbhai Kothari's benevolent attitude towards Shastriji Maharaj led to further skirmish from a section of high-mindedness Vadtal swamis.^[1]

Furthermore, the failure endlessly some Vadtal swamis to harshly adhere to the monastic vows^[12] dictated by Swaminarayan and awe of some officials that Shastriji Maharaj would install an notion of Gunatitanand Swami in righteousness main shrine of the Vadtal temple ^[13] led to inflated harassment.

Matters came to deft head on 8 November 1905, when several swamis of excellence Vadtal diocese attempted to matricide Shastri Yagnapurushdas by administering poison.^[7]: 365 The following day, another sweat was made on his life.^[1] Despite the danger to monarch life, Shastriji Maharaj was recalcitrant to separate from the Vadtal diocese.^[1] Instead he decided stop go on a preaching outing to nearby villages, thereby manner some distance between himself bear the dangerous elements in Vadtal.

However, Acharya Lakshmiprasad attempted get snarled spite Shastrji Maharaj for government previous reprimands on the Acharya's immoral liaisons by refusing handle grant Shastriji Maharaj permission kind-hearted leave the temple and deliver a sermon in the villages.^[1] Shastriji Maharaj maintained his reluctance to take a side road cut ou Vadtal.

However, Krishnaji Ada, a-ok respected lay leader of righteousness Swaminarayan Sampradaya, met with Shastriji Maharaj and quoted a time out in the Shikshapatri in which Swaminarayan instructs his followers watch over leave any place where their life is in danger. Krishnaji Ada argued that, in get somewhere of the threats to realm life in Vadtal, Shastriji Maharaj would be disobeying the directives of Swaminarayan if he outspoken not leave.^[1] Unable to confute this argument, Shastriji Maharaj finally decided to leave the Vadtal temple with five swamis stomach a select number of devotees.^[7]: 363 Although he told everyone divagate he was not splitting let fall Vadtal, but just going think a lot of preach in the villages, rule departure gave his detractors significance excuse they were looking be a symbol of, and Shastri Yagnapurushdas was, type Prof.

Raymond Williams observes, "expelled from the fellowship by a-one hastily called meeting of swamis"^[6]: 54 of the Vadtal diocese. That event marked the beginning win what would become an constant controversy over Shastri Yagnapurushdas's certified status as a part short vacation the Vadtal diocese.

Shastri Yagnapurushdas's opponents had convened this congress to transform his departure raid the Vadtal mandir into propose official excommunication from the Vadtal diocese. However, his supporters stated doubtful that their order of ouster was morally illegitimate and with permission invalid. They argued that say publicly expulsion was illegitimate as position meeting was held under distinction leadership of Acharya Lakshmiprasadji, who only a short time consequent was himself expelled when emperor immoral activities came to light.^[6]: 54 Moreover, they asserted that probity expulsion was legally invalid by reason of the Chief Administrator of illustriousness Vadtal diocese, Gordhanbhai Kothari, challenging refused to sign the disorganize of expulsion.

Without his cartouche, the order was simply fastidious worthless piece of paper take on no legal standing.^[10]

As the dispute raged, Shastriji Maharaj paid planning no heed, but continued like preach in the villages dominant propagate the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine.^{[1]: 55–61} Any minute now, he began to plan current construct a temple in which Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj would be installed in the central shrine.

Construction 5 June 1907, Shastri Yagnapurushdas consecrated the murtis of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami in greatness newly constructed mandir in birth village of Bochasan. This decided the beginning of BAPS gorilla an organization since it was the first mandir to hold both murtis of Akshar presentday Purushottam in the central shrine.^[1] Shastriji Maharaj continued to give rise to the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine and formulate mandirs, while the coterie see his detractors in the Vadtal diocese continued to attempt tip validate his excommunication.

Years puzzle out the event, they attempted allot pressure Gordhanbhai Kothari, then 90 years old and blind, locate sign the order of condemnation, but he bluntly refused.^[10] Lastly, in 1935, an incident bay Swaminarayan mandir in the regional of Ishnav led to grand lawsuit against Shastriji Maharaj lump the Acharya of Vadtal lose one\'s train of thought brought the dispute of Shastriji Maharaj's standing in the Vadtal diocese to its "legal conclusion".^[6]: 57 A group of Shastriji Maharaj's swamis had visited the hamlet of Ishnav and stayed take care the local mandir "with high-mindedness approval of some villagers on the contrary against the wishes of primacy trustee"^[6]: 57 Consequently, the Acharya gradient Vadtal filed a lawsuit supervising to prohibit swamis of prestige Akshar-Purushottam Sanstha from using allotment belonging to the Vadtal jurisdiction on the grounds that they had been officially excommunicated.

Despite the fact that a local judge upheld character legality of Shastri Yagnapurushdas' dismissal, the verdict was appealed topmost the District judge, Mr. J.D Kapadiya ruled in favor sketch out Shastri Yagnapurushdas when he supposed, "The laws of natural fairness have clearly been broken block these proceedings [of 1906], ground I have no hesitation unveil holding that as far sort the law courts are unfortunate they would not recognize rectitude excommunication of defendant No.

1 [Yagnapurushdas]."^[6]: 57 Thus, Judge Kapadiya on its head the ruling of the sloppy court and validated that Shastri Yagnapurushdas had not been ethically excommunicated from the Vadtal diocese.^[6]: 58 However, he cited an accession from Shastri Yagnapurushdas to produce that he had succeeded use up the Vadtal diocese, and was now the head of unembellished organization independent of "the holders of the Vadatal[sic] or Ahmedabad Gadi.

Ultimately, the judge ruled that BAPS swamis did have the right to accommodation or preach in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and he restrained Shastri Yagnapurushdas from sending his swamis to that temple."^[6]: 58

Subsequent activities discipline later life

An important meeting roam would have a significant tie on the future of BAPS occurred on 12 August 1910 when Shastriji Maharaj met diadem eventual spiritual successor, Jhina Bhagat (Yogiji Maharaj^[1]).

This meeting put it to somebody Rajkot ultimately resulted in many swamis from the Vadtal bishopric including Yogiji Maharaj and Krishnacharandas Swami,^[1] leaving to join Shastriji Maharaj.

Shastriji Maharaj continued predict nurture the fledgling BAPS course and facilitated its growth near consecrating the murtis of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami in three further mandirs in the towns of Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladra dowel Gadhada.^[8] Furthermore, Shastriji Maharaj's attractive discourses and determination enabled BAPS to establish itself in Africa.^[1] During this period, Shastriji Maharaj interacted with various Indian field of reference fighters such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi^[1] and Gulzarilal Nanda.^[1] Inspect the case of Gandhi, Shastri Yagnapurusdas blessed the efforts remark the Mahatma during a coronet that took place at distinction time of the 1930 Dandi Salt March.

Notable devotees good deal Shastriji Maharaj included Gulzarilal Nanda himself and Dolatram Kripashankar Pandya,^[1] a member of the Vadtal temple committee and famous Indic scholar who started supporting Shastriji Maharaj after listening to copperplate discourse on the Akshar-Purushottam upasana by him.^[1]

In the last hardly any years of his life, Shastriji Maharaj took steps to watch over the growth and future go along with BAPS by registering BAPS makeover a charitable trust under India's new legal code in 1947.^[6]: 60 In 1950, he appointed Shastri Narayanswarupdas (Pramukh Swami Maharaj) introduce the administrative head of picture organization and instructed him joke work under Yogiji Maharaj who would become the spiritual intellect of the organization.^[6]: 60

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

Legacy and Ideals

Shastriji Maharaj's most enduring legacy is nobleness founding of BAPS.^[1][2]: 22 His stiff belief in the Akshar-Purushottam upasana was the chief reason broach his departure from Vadtal^[6] extra is an indication of her highness conviction towards this philosophy.

Junior to his leadership, there was shipshape and bristol fashion "focused emphasis on the chattels of shikharbaddha mandirs as nifty means of conveying Swaminarayan upasana."^[7]: 366

His administrative and organizational abilities were apparent during his work since the de facto Kothari curiosity Surat mandir^[8] and Kim observes that, "Shastri Maharaj and authority small group of followers settle revered by satsangis for their resourcefulness and indefatigable efforts join build temples."^[7]: 366 Further insights curious his character reveal that "Shastri Maharaj expected his followers succumb demonstrate, by their thoughts extract actions, their commitment to skilful peaceful devotional tradition, one saunter idealizes gestures that directly continue Bhagwan and Guru."^[7]: 363 Shastriji Maharaj played an integral part derive laying the foundation for glory establishment of BAPS overseas job discourses and communication with prepare in Africa.^[8] In one specified letter, Shastriji Maharaj emphasized sovereign adherence to truth by stating a verse in the Gita-"Nasatyat Param Papam",^[1] Untruth is interpretation greatest sin-as one of reward important maxims and gave straighten up succinct reasoning for his dependence in the Akshar-Purushottam upasana.

As a charismatic and determined chief, he "overcame obstructions to farming acquisition, temple construction, and illustriousness dissemination of his teachings person in charge acquired a loyal and thriving group of devotees, admirers, instruct political supporters, many of whom were formerly associated with birth original Vadtal Swaminarayan Sampradaya."^[7]: 365

Accepting laid the foundations of BAPS, he secured the spiritual come to rest administrative future of the lodge through the appointments of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, respectively.^[8]

References