Muktanand Swami (Devnagari: मुक्त्तान्द स्वामी)(1758-1830) was a sadhu and paramahansa of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.[1][2]
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He was born Mukund Das to Anandram and Radhabai in Amreli, Gujarat in 1758. [3]
When children of his age group were indulging in sports, and games Mukund sat quietly in seclusion with the closed eyes. Mukund Das learnt Vedas, scriptures and music from two teachers - Jaduram and Hathiram, both of whom were scholars in literature and fine arts. [3]
Muktanand Swami was considered the principal disciple of Ramanand Swami. He mastered the eight folded yogic state. [4]
In Loj, Sadhu Sukhanand a fellow saint and devotee residing at the hermitage found a young saint with divine aura bathing by a well near the village. Impressed by the sight of the divine attributes he took the young brahmchari to hermitage and introduced him to Muktanand Swami. Muktanand Swami found himself drawn towards the divine presence of the youthful saint and coming forward offered pranams. On a mutual introduction, Muktanand Swami gathered that the visitor was the son of DharmaDev and BhaktiDevi, and had spent seven years in the seclusion of the mountains and forests. His present name was Varniraj (forestdweller) Nilkanth Varni (Lord Swaminarayan). Nilkanth Varni stayed on in Loj to meet Ramanand Swami who was in Bhuj at that time. [5]
Satsang gives great importance to Muktanand Swami, because the foundation of this great sect was laid by him by closing interactive window between hermitage and neighbour, and separated women from the gents in Satsang Sabha on instance from Nilkanth Varni. [6]
He, though in age was senior to Nilkanth Varni (Renamed Sahajanand Swami by Ramanand Swami), but in succession to Ramanand Swami he proposed Sahajanand Swami as the successive preceptor and head of the sect. Thus Muktanand Swami lived under the auspices of Sahajanand Swami who always respected him like a Guru.[7]
Muktanand Swami was instrumentalist and vocalist besides being a saint. He was equally at ease in dancing. Swaminarayan called him 'The mother of Satsang' because of his motherly love, tolerance and smooth interaction. He chose Muktanand Swami to represent the Swaminarayan Sampraday at the Gathering of Vadodara, where the latter was victorious.
Muktanand Swami has written a lot of poetry. He composed poems spontaneously. 'Mukund Bavani' is a collection of his devotional poetry. 'Muktanand Kavya' is the collection of his works. The Aarti that is sung in all Shri Swaminarayan Temple's, Jay Sadguru Swami was written by Muktanand Swami in praise of Shri Hari or Swaminarayan. [8] He has also written books on several subjects.
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