Idols of Lord Swaminarayan and His Successors at Akshardham

Bhagwan Swaminarayan:
Life Span: 49 years (1781-1830 CE).
From 3 April 1781 CE (Chaitra sud 9, 1837 VS)
to 1 June 1830 CE (Jeth sud 10, 1886 VS).
Birth Place: Chhapiya, Uttar Pradesh.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan remains present on this earth through the succession of Spiritual Gurus. From the galaxy of His sadhus, He singled out Gunatitanand Swami and revealed him as Aksharbrahman - His divine abode and successor. This pure spiritual hierarchy remains unbroken till today through
Gunatitanand Swami,
Bhagatji Maharaj,
Shastriji Maharaj,
Yogiji Maharaj,
Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

Marble idols of Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj, Pramukh Swami Maharaj have been placed at the four corners of the monument.

	Bhagwan Swaminarayan's Successors:
	Gunatitanand Swami: Life Span: 82 years (1785 - 1867 CE). From 17 October 1785 CE (Aso sud 15, 1841 VS) to 11 October 1867 CE (Aso sud 13, 1923 VS). Birth Place: Bhadra, Gujarat. As Guru: 37 years (1830 - 1867 CE).
	Gunatitanand Swami was the first spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was the incarnation of Aksharbrahman, the choicest devotee of Parabrahman. Named Mulji, as a child he mirrored a divinity that was like a quiet, unwavering flame. He often preached to children and elders in a lucid language. A staunch disciple of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Mulji soon renounced the world and was aptly named Gunatitanand. His humility, service and saintly virtues earned him the love and respect of others. Bhagwan Swaminarayan Himself never missed a chance to highlight the unique spiritual relationship Gunatitanand enjoyed with Him. The Lord often announced, "He is Akshar, the highest Abode. He serves Me eternally. Through him, a seeker can rise to the level of Aksharbrahman and serve Me eternally." As the Mahant of Junagadh mandir, for 40 years, he continued the mission of the Lord. At the age of 82, he left his mortal body. His sacred place of cremation in Gondal is called the Akshar Deri. His teachings and discourses have been recorded in the scripture - Swamini Vato, daily read by thousands of devotees around the world.

	Bhagatji Maharaj: Life Span: 68 years (1829 - 1897CE). From 20 March 1829 CE (Falgun sud 15, 1885 VS) to 7 November 1897 CE (Kartik sud 13, 1954 VS). Birth Place: Mahuva, Gujarat. As Guru: 30 years (1867 - 1897 CE).
	Bhagatji Maharaj was the second spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan after Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami. His life, a shining inspiration to all seekers of truth and redemption, is a story of ultimate devotion and unconditional surrender. Born into a humble tailor family, Pragji was irresistibly inclined to spirituality. He often led friends away from school toward mandirs, saying, "I love the lessons that devotion teaches." He accepted Gunatitanand Swami as his Guru and served him - in thought, word and deed - obeying his every command. He embraced a furnace of hardships, performed great austerities and conquered the three states of waking, dream and deep sleep. Pragji soon became Bhagatji Maharaj. Although a perfect renunciate, he was asked to accept the life of a householder. However, this did not deter many well placed scholars and sadhus from accepting him as the Guru, because Gunatitanand Swami had revealed Bhagatji as his next successor. Bhagatji openly began to preach Bhagwan Swaminarayan's true philosophy of Akshar Purushottam, which till then had been the privilege of a select few. To those who accepted this philosophy, he promised, "I shall take away your robes of illusion and give you robes eternal."

	Shastriji Maharaj: Life Span: 86 years (1865 - 1951 CE). From 31 January 1865 CE (Maha sud 5, 1921 VS) to 10 May 1951 CE (Vaishakh sud 4, 2007 VS). Birth Place: Mahelav, Gujarat. As Guru: 54 years (1897 - 1951 CE).
	Revealed as the third successor by Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj exhibited extraordinary powers of mind from early childhood. There seemed to be no field which he could not master, ranging from Sanskrit and scriptures to mandirs and architecture. Behind his warm smile, lay a spirit of fire - never compromising truth or yielding to opposition. Named Yagnapurushdas in sadhu life, he emerged matchless in spiritual disciplines among all sadhus of his time. And when he felt that the parent body was going astray, he broke away from it - with merely five disciples and no means of subsistence. There was scathing abuse and rabid opposition - yet, his saintliness refused to answer insult with insult. To him, animosity was alien. His sole concern was of spreading the pure philosophy of Akshar Purushottam as propounded by the Lord and the Gurus before him. In 1907 CE, he established the Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha and erected five beautiful mandirs with the images of Akshar Purushottam installed in the central shrines.

	Yogiji Maharaj: Life Span: 79 years (1892 - 1971 CE). From 23 May 1892 CE (Vaishakh vad 12, 1948 VS) to 23 January 1971 CE (Posh vad 11, 2027 VS). Birth Place: Dhari, Gujarat. As Guru: 20 years (1951 - 1971 CE).
	Yogiji Maharaj was the fourth spiritual successor of the Lord. He was initiated into the sadhu-fold at the age of 16 and named Sadhu Jnanjivandas. But so transparent was the mystical joy within him, that he was fondly called Yogiji. Devotion, service, tolerance, penance, humility and countless such virtues flowered within his fragile frame. Living singularly on the word of his Guru Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji won the love of one and all. He witnessed abundant divinity in everything and everyone - he even blessed those who bruised him and praised those who persecuted him. With a vision set far into the future, Yogiji Maharaj established children and youth centers. He began manifold Satsang activities in every town and village he visited, repeatedly writing words of guidance and encouragement to each newly formed group. The mandirs and centers he created resounded with the energy of the young. His lectures were addressed to bright, young college students, for he believed in these youngsters. He encouraged music, art and literature. Scores of youths regularly traveled with him, savoring his selfless love and knowledge. It was he who finally lifted the Sanstha to international proportions by touring through East Africa and England to establish new centers. His efforts have flowered into the worldwide socio-religious Organization we see today.

	Pramukh Swami Maharaj: Date of Birth: 7 December 1921 CE (Magshar sud 8, 1978 VS). Birth Place: Chansad, Gujarat. As Guru: From 1971 CE.
	Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the fifth successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Quiet and confident from childhood, he was initiated at the age of 18 and named Sadhu Narayanswarupdas by Guru Shastriji Maharaj. At the age of 28, he was appointed as Pramukh, the President of the Sanstha and thus emerged his popular name, Pramukh Swami. Revealed as the next successor by Yogiji Maharaj, Swamiji has led the Organization since 1971. Today he is the very inspiration that permeates the entire Organization. With his blessings the Sanstha has witnessed rapid growth, nationally and internationally - in activities as diverse as educational, medical, social, environmental, cultural and moral. Spiritually, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has become a household name, revered throughout the Hindu world, with a reputation for simplicity, humility and saintliness. Thousands feel the divine presence of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in him and turn to him for spiritual guidance and blessings.

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