A mahant (English pronunciation: /məˈhʌnt/) is a religious superior, in particular the chief priest of a temple or the head of a monastery.[1] The Hindi word mahant is from Prakrit mahanta-, from Sanskrit mahat "great".[2] The priest, pundit, gyani, or pastor of any well-known religious place would be a mahant. In the Swaminarayan Hindu Faith, the mahant is an ascetic, who is the head and leader of the temple and has religious responsibilities as a preacher. [3]