Muktanand Swami
Encyclopedia
Swaminarayan Sampraday
Swaminarayan Sampraday , known previously as the Uddhav Sampraday, is a Hindu sect established by Swaminarayan...
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Biography
He was born Mukund Das to Anandram and Radhabai in Amreli, Gujarat in 1758.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
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
, scriptures and music from two teachers - Jaduram and Hathiram, both of whom were scholars in literature and fine arts.
Muktanand Swami was considered the principal disciple of Ramanand Swami. He mastered the eight folded yogic
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
state.
Swaminarayan and Muktanand Swami
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.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.
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
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
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Works
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 VadodaraGathering of Vadodara
The Gathering of Vadodara was a pivotal moment for the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It took place in the year 1820 and is recorded in the holy book Satsangi Jeevan, compiled by Shatanand Swami.-Precursor to the event:...
, 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
Aarti
Aarti , also spelled arathi, aarthi is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a form of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee or camphor is offered to one or more deities...
that is sung in all Shri Swaminarayan Temple's, Jay Sadguru Swami
Jay Sadguru Swami
Jay Sadguru Swami or the Swaminarayan Arti is the arti sung in all Swaminarayan mandirs . Aarti is conducted by the singing of a special prayer to God and also playing of musical instruments. The piece was composed by Muktanand Swami...
was written by Muktanand Swami in praise of Shri Hari or Swaminarayan. He has also written books on several subjects.