Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi

Ghanshyam Maharaj in the Akshar Bhuvan at the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi headquarters

The Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi (Devnagari: लक्षिमिनारायन देव गदी) is one of the two gadis (thrones) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is headquartered at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal and controls the Dakshin Vibhag.

The current Acharya of this gadi is H.H. 1008 Shree Acharya Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj.[1][2]

History

In Vadtal, on Prabodhini Ekadashi of Vikram Samvat 1882, Swaminarayan adopted his nephews Ayodhyaprasadji Pande (Son of elder brother Rampratapji) and Raghuveerji Pande (Son of younger brother Ichcharamji) as his sons. Establishing the two Gadis i.e. Nar Narayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Ahmedabad and Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Vadtal, Swaminarayan instructed the two cousins to draw lots, to decide who would be seated on which Gadi.

Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj was appointed the inaugural Acharya of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi (also known as the Uttar Vibhag - Northern division), whilst Raghuveerji Maharaj became the inaugural Acharya of the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi (also known as the Dakshin Vibhag - Southern division).[3]

The administrative division between the two is set forth in minute detail in a document written by Swaminarayan, called Desh Vibhag Lekh. The method by which future Acharyas are to be appointed is enshrined in the document Desh Vibhag Lekh.[4]

Swaminarayan then instructed all the followers present to do pooja of their respective acharyas.

Acharyas

The following table lists all the Acharyas of the Vadtal Gadi till date.[5]

Acharya Number Name of Acharya Born on Became Acharya on Death Term
1 Acharya Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj 21 Mar 1812 10 Nov 1826 9 Feb 1863 37 Years
2 Acharya Shree Bhagvatprasadji Maharaj 11 Oct 1838 9 Feb 1863 12 Aug 1879 17 Years
3 Acharya Shree Viharilalji Maharaj 19 Apr 1852 12 Aug 1879 27 Sep 1899 20 Years
4 Acharya Shree Laxmiprasadji Maharaj 15 Aug 1892 27 Sep 1899 24 Apr 1909 10 Years
5 Acharya Shree Shripatiprasadji Maharaj 18 Aug 1875 26 Apr 1909 12 Feb 1931 22 Years
6 Acharya Shree Anandprasadji Maharaj 22 Jul 1906 12 Feb 1931 8 Jul 1974 28 Years
7 Acharya Shree Narendraprasadji Maharaj 25 Jan 1930 30 Apr 1959 1986 25 Years
8 Acharaya Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj 16 Aug 1949 13 May 1984 Present

Organisations

Laxmi Narayan with Rancchodrai at the Swaminarayan temple in New Jersey (Somerset)

Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul, Rajkot

A gurukul is a place of learning. Started by Dharmajivandas Swami in 1948 in Rajkot, the organisation imparts education to thousands of students in various parts of India today. Gurukuls have been established in places like Junagadh, Surat, Hyderabad, Taravada, Navsari, Bangalore, Dallas, USA, Vidyanagar and Narmada over the years.[6] The current head of this organisation is Guru Shree Devkrushndasji Swami. The Acharya of the Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi (1008 Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj), however, is the highest spiritual authority at the Gurukuls.

International Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha of Vadtal

The International Shri Swaminarayan Sanstha of Vadtal(ISSSV) is an organisation based in USA that comes under the Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi, Vadtal under disputed Acharya Rakeshprasadji.[7] It has temples in various parts of the country.[8]



SS-AUSM and ISSM

The International Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal is an organization which comes under the Vadtal Gadi under present acharya 1008 Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj. Shree Swaminarayan Agyna Upasana Satsang Mandal (SS-AUSM) is the UK version of ISSM. They have temple across the United States of America and chapters in the UK.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ http://www.swaminarayanvadtalgadi.org/acharyas/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "Vadtal Gadi". Swaminarayanvadtalgadi.org. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  3. ↑ Williams, Raymond (2001). Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 35. ISBN 0 521 65279 0.
  4. ↑ Williams, Raymond (2001). Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 36–37. ISBN 0 521 65279 0.
  5. ↑ "Acharya Maharajshree Janmotsav Celebration – Junagadh | SVG". swaminarayanvadtalgadi.org. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "Introduction to the Shri Swaminarayan Gurukul".
  7. ↑ Williams 2004, pp. 145
  8. ↑ Williams 2001, pp. 229
  9. ↑ SS-AUSM and ISSM

References

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