Gopalanand Swami
| Gopalanand Swami | |
|---|---|
 Gopalanand Swami | |
| Born |
Khushal Bhatt 1 February 1781 Todla village, Maratha Empire (present-day Gujarat, India) |
| Died |
11 October 1852 (aged 71) Vadtal, British India (present-day Gujarat, India) |
| Guru | Swaminarayan |
| Prominent Disciple(s) | Nirgundasji Swami, Bhagatji Maharaj, Jaga Bhakta |
Gopalanand Swami (Devnagari: गोपालान्द स्वामी) (1781–1852) was one of most prominent of the 500 paramhansas who was ordained by Swaminarayan and is held in high regards by multiple Swaminarayan sects.[1][2]
Biography
Born Khushal Bhatt, he was born in the village of Torda in Idar Tehsil (Pre-Independence Era), Currently in Bhiloda Taluka, Sabarkantha district, in north-eastern Gujarat. Torda is surrounded by mountains.[3] His father was an audichiya brahmin, Motiram Sharma and his mother was Kushaladevi Thakar. Gopalanand Swami pursued deep study and showed great interest of grammar, Indian philosophy of Nyaya and Vedanta. Gopalanand Swami was a scholar, with knowledge in Vyakaran (grammar), Nyaya, Mimasa, Astrology etc. Swaminarayan gave diksha (the becoming of a saint in which vows such as celibacy and renunciation of all personal possessions and of all worldly duties, including family ties are taken) to Gopalanand Swami in Vadodara, Gujarat. Swaminarayan held Gopalanand Swami in very high regard and he had mastered Ashtang yoga. Gopalanand Swami died in 1850 in Vadtal.[3]
Responsibility of the Swaminarayan Sampraday
Before Swaminarayan died in Vadtal, he left responsibility of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and the Acharyas in his hands.[4] Further, it is said that Swaminarayan had asked Brahmanand Swami to overlook the completion of the Junagadh Temple because he knew Brahmanand Swami had powers to bring a person back to life after death. He therefore instructed Gopalanand Swami not to inform Brahmanand Swami about his death till after the cremation of his mortal remains.[3]
Sarangpur temple
Gopalanand Swami arranged for an idol of Kastabhanjan Dev Hanuman to be installed in the Sarangpur temple which is said to have come alive and moved when installed by him.[1]
Gopalanand Swami ni Vato
Gopalanand Swami ni Vato is a text published by Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Maninagar, Ahmedabad. The writing's are about divine talks throughout Gopalanand Swami's life[5]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Williams 2001, pp. 128
- ↑ Behramji Merwanji Malabari, Krishnalal M. Jhaveri, Malabari M. B (1997), Gujarat and the Gujaratis, Asian Educational Services, ISBN 81-206-0651-5, retrieved May 18, 2009 Page 263 - 269
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Nand Santos - Gopalanand Swami
- ↑ Williams 2001, pp. 35, 36
- ↑ http://www.swaminarayangadi.com/publications/all/scriptures_view.php?id=26
References
- Williams, Raymond (2001), Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism, Cambridge University Press, ASIN 052165422, ISBN 978-0-521-65422-7
- Gopalanand Swami
- Nand Santos - Gopalanand Swami
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