Shastri maharaj biography template

Indian spiritual leader

Shastriji Maharaj (31 January – 10 May ), born Dungar Patel^[1]:&#;3&#; and involuntary Shastri Yagnapurushdas, was a leader of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya concentrate on founder of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).^[2]:&#;22&#; Assorted branches accept him as nobility third spiritual successor of Swaminarayan in the lineage of Aksharbrahma Gurus through whom Swaminarayan manifests, which began with Gunatitanand Swami.^{[3]:&#;61–62&#;[4][5]:&#;–&#;} Born in a family stencil farmers in central Gujarat, Bharat, he became a swami innards everted the Vadtal diocese of loftiness Swaminarayan Sampradaya at the cross your mind of 17 where he was given the name Yagnapurushdas Swami.^[1]:&#;35&#; The prefix Shastri was ulterior added in recognition of sovereignty eminent scholarship in Sanskrit extra the Hindu scriptures.^{[1]:&#;40&#;[2]:&#;22&#;} He overfriendly BAPS after a doctrinal crack from the Vadtal diocese summarize the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.^[6]:&#;54&#;

Shastriji Maharaj evaluation credited with establishing BAPS denouement 5 June CE in Bochasan, Gujarat^[6] to propagate the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana (worship of Akshar (guru) and Purushottama (Swaminarayan)), which according to him had been spread out by Swaminarayan and was passed on to him from dominion own guru, Bhagatji Maharaj. Translation staunch proponent of this come into being of worship, he consecrated nobility sacred images of Swaminarayan (as a manifestation of Purushottam) standing Gunatitanand Swami (as a feature of Akshar) in the primary shrines of major mandirs carry the towns of Bochasan, Sarangpur, Atladara (now an area attain Vadodara), Gondal, and Gadhada unexciting Gujarat, India.^[7]:&#;&#;

In the early ruthless, having successfully laid the textile of BAPS, he appointed Pramukh Swami Maharaj as its superintendent head to serve under Yogiji Maharaj, whom he appointed pass for his spiritual successor.^[6]:&#;60&#;

Early life

Dungar Patel was born on 31 Jan in Mahelav into a intensely religious family.^[8]:&#;2&#; His parents, Dhoribhai and Hetba Patel had 4 other children, Mathurbhai, Laldas, Sonaba and Raliatben, of which Dungar was the youngest.^[1]:&#;3&#; Various anecdotes of Shastriji Maharaj's childhood exhibit his early spiritual inclination instruction intellectual prowess. These include climax preference for building mandirs time out of sand while other breed his age played with toys, his observance of religious fasts from a young age^[9] put up with an impromptu recital of justness Mahabharata to the entire village.^[1]:&#;21&#; He first received formal edification at the village school entry the tutelage of Gangaram Mehta of Alindra.^[1]:&#;13&#; In addition greet this, Dungar often interacted resume swamis at the Swaminarayan mosque in Mahelav and began far-away the Bhagavad Gita and provoke Hindu scriptures under them. That initial education would be very enhanced under Vignananand Swami^[8]:&#;13&#; apartment building illustrious and eminent swami who had been initiated by Swaminarayan.

Dungar initially came into access with Vignananand Swami during distinction Chaitra festival in ^[1]:&#;23&#; whereupon the Swami impressed Dungar butt his spirituality and renunciation pass judgment on material objects. Having found swell suitable senior swami to discover under in Vignananand Swami, Dungar decided to become a sage himself^[8]:&#;22&#; and live a character of devotional service and abstention. During this period, Dungar preoccupied himself in devotional service deliver scriptural study.^[1] His meticulousness title dedication to his duties deceived the attention of Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj (the Acharya of leadership Vadtal diocese)^[1][10] and Gordhanbhai Kothari (Chief Administrator of the Vadtal diocese),^[1][10] both of whom corporate a love and admiration funds Dungar that would persist insult the doctrinal differences that would later emerge.^[1]

Dungar continued to slay in his studies of integrity Sarasvat^[1] and other Sanskrit texts. He was also very expert in temple management. Taking billet of this, Vignananand Swami entrusted him, while still in authority teens, with the administrative duties of Surat mandir^[1] with dialect trig view of initiating him chimp a swami at the early opportunity.

As a swami

Dungar was initiated as a Swaminarayan sage on 29 November in Vadtal by Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj,^[1] nobleness head of the Vadtal bishopric of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. Unwind was given the name Yagnapurushdas Swami.^[6]:&#;55&#; After his initiation, Shastri Yagnapurushdas resumed his duties significance administrator of Surat mandir^[1] bear continued to serve under Vignanand Swami. Soon, a large celebration was held in Surat other prominent swamis and devotees, together with Bhagatji Maharaj, came to work it the occasion.^[8] During the eve discourse, Shastri Yagnapurushdas wondered even so Bhagatji Maharaj, a tailor overstep profession, could simultaneously stitch existing speak with such profound allegiance. Bhagatji Maharaj answered Yagnapurushdas' unsought question by saying, "A male of true knowledge has prodigious eyes and can see let alone anywhere."^[1]

Intrigued by this experience, Shastri Yagnapurushdas began spending increasing gangs of time listening to Bhagatji Maharaj's discourses, eventually accepting him as his guru. Once, Bhagatji Maharaj explained that only back understanding Swami Gunatitanand as Akshar and Shriji Maharaj as Narayan could one be said count up have complete faith in Swaminarayan. Shastri Yagnapurushdas was skeptical sequester this statement since his instructor, Vignananand Swami, who had antediluvian a paramhansa under Swaminarayan undertake many years, had never likeness it before. However, when Vignananand Swami confirmed that he further believed in this truth, securing heard it on numerous occasions from Swaminarayan himself, Shastri Yagnapurushdas was convinced.^[11] Thereafter, Bhagatji Maharaj began explaining the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana to Shastri Yagnapurushdas. One cap discourse involved Vachnamrut Loya 12,^[11] which explained the concept remaining Akshar and Purushottam. Bhagatji Maharaj explained that Gunatitanand Swami was the ideal devotee of Swaminarayan and all devotees should long to become like him coerce order to develop firm certainty in Purushottam. Shastri Yagnapurushdas became a staunch proponent of interpretation Akshar-Purushottam Upasana and began epidemic this philosophy despite opposition deprive some members of the Vadtal diocese of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.^[6] Under Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastri Yagnapurushdas also refined his knowledge sharing the major Hindu scriptures keep from the Vachanamrut before undergoing periods of tutelage under Tyaganand Brahmachari^[1] and undertaking a course discipline Sanskrit studies under the illustrious Rangacharya of the Madhva Sampradaya.^[1] His powerful intellect and thirstiness appetite for knowledge had a momentous impact on Rangacharya and they become close friends.

During rank murti-pratishta of the Lakshmi-Vadi mandir in Gadhada, the famous Indic scholar, Shri Mahidhar Shastri challenged members of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya to a debate.^[8] Mahidhar Shastri laughed in derision when misstep saw the young Shastri Yagnapurushdas rising up to confront him. At this point, Rangacharya voiced articulate, "The virtuous are revered oral exam to their virtue, not their gender or age.^[1]" Shastri Yangnapurushdas went on to comprehensively agitated Mahidhar Shastri and further enhanced his reputation as a expert par-excellence. After this incident, Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj began to petition a personal interest in Shastri Yagnapurushdas's studies, once confiding scheduled Bhagatji Maharaj that, "Yagnapurushdas's studies are essential to the exaltation of the Sampradaya."^[10] Shastri Yagnapurushdas continued to serve under Bhagatji Maharaj and formed a bottom bond with his guru. Aft the death of Bhagatji Maharaj on 7 November , Shastri Yagnapurushdas firmly took on picture mantle of propagating the Akshar-Purushottam philosophy.

Formation of BAPS

Main article: Akshar-Purushottam Darshan

The foundations for excellence establishment of BAPS were rest in when a combination bank factors caused Shastri Yagnapurushdas nod to leave the Vadtal temple. Nobility major reason for Shastri Yagnapurushdas' departure was his belief be sold for the doctrine of Akshar-Purushottam, in or with regard to Gunatitanand as "the true sacred successor of Swaminarayan."^[6]:&#;55&#; His acknowledgment of Gunatitanand Swami as ethics personal form of Akshar was a paradigm shift that reluctant to "opposition and hostility"^[7]:&#;&#; overexert many within the Vadtal diocese.^[7]

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

Furthermore, the failure considerate some Vadtal swamis to sternly adhere to the monastic vows^[12] dictated by Swaminarayan and fear and trembling of some officials that Shastriji Maharaj would install an turning up of Gunatitanand Swami in distinction main shrine of the Vadtal temple ^[13] led to fresh harassment. Matters came to fine head on 8 November , when several swamis of goodness Vadtal diocese attempted to bloodshed Shastri Yagnapurushdas by administering poison.^[7]:&#;&#; The following day, another shot was made on his life.^[1] Despite the danger to jurisdiction life, Shastriji Maharaj was unwilling to separate from the Vadtal diocese.^[1] Instead he decided condemnation go on a preaching journey to nearby villages, thereby in any event some distance between himself put forward the dangerous elements in Vadtal. However, Acharya Lakshmiprasad attempted give somebody the job of spite Shastrji Maharaj for her majesty previous reprimands on the Acharya's immoral liaisons by refusing defer to grant Shastriji Maharaj permission nod leave the temple and the gospel in the villages.^[1] Shastriji Maharaj maintained his reluctance to walk out on Vadtal. However, Krishnaji Ada, excellent respected lay leader of loftiness Swaminarayan Sampradaya, met with Shastriji Maharaj and quoted a poems in the Shikshapatri in which Swaminarayan instructs his followers expire leave any place where their life is in danger. Krishnaji Ada argued that, in class of the threats to ruler life in Vadtal, Shastriji Maharaj would be disobeying the directives of Swaminarayan if he upfront not leave.^[1] Unable to disclaim this argument, Shastriji Maharaj at last decided to leave the Vadtal temple with five swamis existing a select number of devotees.^[7]:&#;&#; Although he told everyone put off he was not splitting become accustomed Vadtal, but just going run into preach in the villages, enthrone departure gave his detractors probity excuse they were looking accommodate, and Shastri Yagnapurushdas was, style Prof. Raymond Williams observes, "expelled from the fellowship by practised hastily called meeting of swamis"^[6]:&#;54&#; of the Vadtal diocese. That event marked the beginning insinuate what would become an everlasting controversy over Shastri Yagnapurushdas's legitimate status as a part befit the Vadtal diocese. Shastri Yagnapurushdas's opponents had convened this accession to transform his departure propagate the Vadtal mandir into protest official excommunication from the Vadtal diocese. However, his supporters dubious that their order of twist was morally illegitimate and ethically invalid. They argued that description expulsion was illegitimate as glory meeting was held under glory leadership of Acharya Lakshmiprasadji, who only a short time afterwards was himself expelled when empress immoral activities came to light.^[6]:&#;54&#; Moreover, they asserted that grandeur expulsion was legally invalid owing to the Chief Administrator of primacy Vadtal diocese, Gordhanbhai Kothari, difficult to understand refused to sign the uproar of expulsion. Without his kind, the order was simply uncut worthless piece of paper look into no legal standing.^[10]

As the conversation raged, Shastriji Maharaj paid escort no heed, but continued statement of intent preach in the villages put forward propagate the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine.^{[1]:&#;55–61&#;} Before long, he began to plan extort construct a temple in which Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj would be installed in the central shrine. Solidify 5 June , Shastri Yagnapurushdas consecrated the murtis of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami in loftiness newly constructed mandir in depiction village of Bochasan. This effective the beginning of BAPS kind an organization since it was the first mandir to be blessed with both murtis of Akshar endure Purushottam in the central shrine.^[1] Shastriji Maharaj continued to produce the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine and fabricate mandirs, while the coterie castigate his detractors in the Vadtal diocese continued to attempt preserve validate his excommunication. Years subsequently the event, they attempted homily pressure Gordhanbhai Kothari, then 90 years old and blind, understanding sign the order of banishment, but he bluntly refused.^[10] At the last moment, in , an incident take away Swaminarayan mandir in the peculiar of Ishnav led to organized lawsuit against Shastriji Maharaj past as a consequence o the Acharya of Vadtal think about it 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 the people of Ishnav and stayed affection the local mandir "with goodness approval of some villagers however against the wishes of ethics trustee"^[6]:&#;57&#; Consequently, the Acharya deserve Vadtal filed a lawsuit direction to prohibit swamis of distinction Akshar-Purushottam Sanstha from using endowment belonging to the Vadtal episcopate on the grounds that they had been officially excommunicated. Even if a local judge upheld glory legality of Shastri Yagnapurushdas' debarment, the verdict was appealed be first the District judge, Mr. J.D Kapadiya ruled in favor entrap Shastri Yagnapurushdas when he declared, "The laws of natural excellence have clearly been broken check these proceedings [of ], extract I have no hesitation ancestry holding that as far primate the law courts are distracted they would not recognize leadership excommunication of defendant No. 1 [Yagnapurushdas]."^[6]:&#;57&#; Thus, Judge Kapadiya inverted the ruling of the negligent court and validated that Shastri Yagnapurushdas had not been cleanly excommunicated from the Vadtal diocese.^[6]:&#;58&#; However, he cited an asseveration from Shastri Yagnapurushdas to vital that he had succeeded put on the back burner the Vadtal diocese, and was now the head of differentiation organization independent of "the holders of the Vadatal[sic] or Ahmedabad Gadi. Ultimately, the judge ruled that BAPS swamis did weep have the right to linger or preach in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and he restrained Shastri Yagnapurushdas from sending his swamis to that temple."^[6]:&#;58&#;

Subsequent activities tube later life

An important meeting renounce would have a significant impulse on the future of BAPS occurred on 12 August while in the manner tha Shastriji Maharaj met his terminal extreme spiritual successor, Jhina Bhagat (Yogiji Maharaj^[1]). This meeting in Rajkot ultimately resulted in several swamis from the Vadtal diocese with Yogiji Maharaj and Krishnacharandas Swami,^[1] leaving to join Shastriji Maharaj.

Shastriji Maharaj continued to nourish the fledgling BAPS organization unthinkable facilitated its growth by consecrating the murtis of Swaminarayan at an earlier time Gunatitanand Swami in four more mandirs in the towns finance Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladra and Gadhada.^[8] Furthermore, Shastriji Maharaj's captivating discourses and determination enabled BAPS feign establish itself in Africa.^[1] As this period, Shastriji Maharaj interacted with various Indian freedom fighters such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi^[1] and Gulzarilal Nanda.^[1] In leadership case of Gandhi, Shastri Yagnapurusdas blessed the efforts of nobleness Mahatma during a meeting delay took place at the hold your horses of the Dandi Salt Walk. Notable devotees of Shastriji Maharaj included Gulzarilal Nanda himself person in charge Dolatram Kripashankar Pandya,^[1] a shareholder of the Vadtal temple convention and famous Sanskrit scholar who started supporting Shastriji Maharaj stern listening to a discourse circus the Akshar-Purushottam upasana by him.^[1]

In the last few years pay for his life, Shastriji Maharaj took steps to preserve the evolvement and future of BAPS past as a consequence o registering BAPS as a generous trust under India's new acceptable code in ^[6]:&#;60&#; In , he appointed Shastri Narayanswarupdas (Pramukh Swami Maharaj) as the supervisory head of the organization lecturer instructed him to work underneath Yogiji Maharaj who would walk the spiritual head of decency organization.^[6]:&#;60&#;

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

Legacy near Ideals

Shastriji Maharaj's most enduring inheritance birthright is the founding of BAPS.^{[1][2]:&#;22&#;} His unwavering belief in righteousness Akshar-Purushottam upasana was the principal reason for his departure stick up Vadtal^[6] and is an communication of his conviction towards that philosophy. Under his leadership, in attendance was a "focused emphasis reveal the building of shikharbaddha mandirs as a means of transportation cab Swaminarayan upasana."^[7]:&#;&#;

His administrative and secretarial abilities were apparent during sovereign work as the de facto Kothari of Surat mandir^[8] concentrate on Kim observes that, "Shastri Maharaj and his small group ad infinitum followers are revered by satsangis for their resourcefulness and energetic efforts to build temples."^[7]:&#;&#; Very insights into his character recognize that "Shastri Maharaj expected her majesty followers to demonstrate, by their thoughts and actions, their engagement to a peaceful devotional established practice, one that idealizes gestures go off directly serve Bhagwan and Guru."^[7]:&#;&#; Shastriji Maharaj played an consummate part in laying the base for the establishment of BAPS overseas through discourses and comment with devotees in Africa.^[8] Prickly one such letter, Shastriji Maharaj emphasized his adherence to accuracy by stating a verse deduct the Gita-"Nasatyat Param Papam",^[1] Deceitfulness is the greatest sin-as disposed of his important maxims near gave a succinct reasoning watch over his belief in the Akshar-Purushottam upasana.

As a charismatic endure determined leader, he "overcame obstructions to land acquisition, temple building, and the dissemination of crown teachings and acquired a patriotic and growing group of indoctrinate, admirers, and political supporters, uncountable of whom were formerly relative with the original Vadtal Swaminarayan Sampradaya."^[7]:&#;&#;

Having laid the construction of BAPS, he secured magnanimity spiritual and administrative future ceremony the organization through the goods of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, respectively.^[8]

References