Swaminarayan Faith
Encyclopedia
Swaminarayan Hinduism, also known as the Swaminarayan faith or the Swaminarayan sect, is a modern tradition in the Vaishnava denomination
of Hinduism
, in which followers offer devotion to and worship Swaminarayan as the final manifestation of God
.
The Swaminarayan faith has a large percentage of Gujarati
Hindus who are followers of Swaminarayan.
cultural and linguistic traditions, devotion to the personality of Swaminarayan as supreme and avatar of Vishnu, dedication to social service and a strict ethical code including uncompromising segregation of the genders. Monier Williams, on at least one of his visits, had long discussions with Swaminarayan and his followers and did his best to ascertain the way Swaminarayan's principles were preached. He visited the temple in Vadtal
in the company of the Collector of Karira during a popular Kartik Purnima festival that took place there and recorded the basics. Those who are initiated into proper worship of Krishna
deity are instructed to wear a Tulasi kanti or rosary beads in two rows around their necks, one for Krishna and one for Radha
. Followers are also instructed to chant the mantra of (great Krishna is my soul's refuge) and wear Urdhva Pundra Tilak
markings on their forehead. Daily worship of Krishna
in the temple was instructed and the Krishna mantra
was central to the Swaminarayan's initiation (diksa). Supreme Being is believed to be referred by various names: Para Brahman
, Bhagavan
and Purushottama
. While no detailed statistical information is available, most of the followers of Swaminarayan share a belief that Swaminarayan is the complete manifestation of Narayana
or the supreme person and more superior to other avatar
s.
Swaminarayan teachings are sometimes categorized as monotheism
. It is not, however, the monotheism of the Christian West. Unlike most other Vaishnavite schools such as those of Ramanuja
, Madhva
and Chaitanya, Swaminarayan, although leaning in preference towards Vishnu/Krishna, did not differentiate between Vishnu
and Shiva
; moreover, he followed a Smarta approach (scripture-sanctioned deities are viewed as different manifestations of the same Brahman
) by instructing his followers to venerate all five deities of the Panchayatana puja
with equal reverence. Verse 84 of Shikshapatri
, a key scripture to all followers of the Swaminarayan faith, makes reference to the Smarta-like belief.
In making no distinction between Vishnu and Shiva, Swaminarayan, held that Vishnu and Shiva are different aspects of the same God, instead of according Shiva a lower status as Madhva
and Ramanuja
had done, for example. Verse 47 of the Shikshapatri, makes reference to this belief.
which he accepted at his own will. The curse led to Narayana taking the form of an avatar on Earth to destroy evil and establish ekantik-dharma
, religion based on morality, knowledge, detachment and devotion. Important Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita
and Bhagavata Purana
confirm that Narayana descends in human form to destroy evil though there is no direct reference to Swaminarayan. Swaminarayan followers specifically interpret the Visvaksena Samhita, 11th part of the Brahma Purana
, as well as the Skanda Purana
as giving a direct reference to Narayana taking birth in the form of Swaminarayan. In the liturgy of the sect, the story of the announcement of the coming birth of Krishna
in the Bhagavata Purana is similar to the story of the birth of Swaminarayan, and merging of the images and stories of Swaminarayan and Krishna has occurred. In Vaishnava theology Uddhava
, who is considered to be the chief disciple of Krishna, was ordained to spread his message in a future birth, and some groups of Swaminarayan Faith believe that he reappeared as Ramananda Swami to prepare the way for another manifestation of Krishna. Swaminarayan is said to have intimated that he was a manifestation of God Supreme in a meeting with the Reginald Heber
, the Lord Bishop
of Calcutta, in 1825.
Some did not understand and rebel against the notion of Swaminarayan's worship of Krishna
while Swaminarayan also considered himself to be a manifestation of God. It is believed by his followers that just as Krishna assumed as many forms as the number of divine maidens (gopi
s) with whom he danced, he may have manifested himself simultaneously in many forms.
s, or preceptors as his spiritual successors. After his death several divisions occurred with different understandings of the succession of leadership.
Swaminarayan established two gadis (seats of leadership). One seat was established in Ahmedabad (Nar Narayan Dev Gadi) and the other one in Vadtal (Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi) on November 21, 1825. He appointed an acharya to each of these two gadis to pass on his message to others and to preserve his fellowship, Swaminarayan Sampraday. These acharyas came from his immediate family; he formally adopted a son from each of his two brothers, Rampratap and Ichcharam, and appointed them to the office of acharya. Ayodhyaprasad, son of his elder brother Rampratap, was appointed acharya of Ahmedabad Gadi, and Raghuvira, son of his younger brother Ichcharam, was appointed acharya of the Vadtal Gadi. Swaminarayan decreed that the office should be hereditary so that acharyas would maintain a direct line of blood descent from his family. The administrative division of his followers into two territorial dioceses is set forth in minute detail in a document written by Swaminarayan called Desh Vibhaag Lekh. The current acharyas of the Swaminarayan Sampraday are Acharya Shree Koshalendraprasad Pande, of the Ahmedabad Gadi, and Acharya Shree Rakeshprasad Pande, of the Vadtal Gadi.
After his death several divisions occurred with different understandings of the succession of leadership. Apart from this, there has been some conflicts in the Sampraday itself. Some associated scandals and "turf wars" for the original seat of Swaminarayan in Vadtal have attracted attention of national media. Besides these the sect has produced a number of schismatic groups.
. It was in 1906 that a prominent ascetic named Shastri Yagnapurushdas separated from the parent organization and established this institution, claiming Gunatitanand Swami
as the rightful successor. Yagnapurushdas, who formed the schism, is believed by the devotees of BAPS to be the third spiritual successor of Swaminarayan; he left the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and was later legally excommunicated from the Vadtal Gadi. The current leader of BAPS is Shastri Narayanswarupdas, more commonly known as Pramukh Swami.
At the time of legal dispute between Akshar Purushottam group and the Swaminarayan Sampraday
the judge summarized his understanding of the root of the schism. He confirms that the "new group, now known as BAPS, "they have put Sahajanand Swami, an ascetic, over Shri Krishna
, who admittedly enjoyed the pleasures of human beings. That is why the sect has set aside Goloka
as the supreme heaven, because there Krishna is supposed to be enjoing himself with his gopi
s. This is I think one of the fundamental differences between the two sects and the schism
cannot be bridged."
was the spiritual successor to Swaminarayan. This difference in belief of succession led to the creation of Swaminarayan Gadi in the 1940s. The current leader of the Swaminarayan Gadi is Acharya Purushottampriyadas.
Many other groups have been formed after splitting from the Swaminarayan Sampraday, BAPS, or the Swaminarayan Gadi due to differences in belief. One of these groups that claim successorship is the Gunatit Samaj which is made up of four factions. The founder of the Gunatit Samaj is Kakaji or Kakashri. Another group is Yogi Divine Society. The founder is Hariprasad Swami and their main mandir is Haridham in Vadodara
. Another group is the Swaminarayan Mandir Vasna Sanstha
(SMVS). The group's founder is Devnandandas Swami.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, in which followers offer devotion to and worship Swaminarayan as the final manifestation of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
.
The Swaminarayan faith has a large percentage of Gujarati
Gujarati people
Gujarati people , or Gujaratis are an ethnic group that is traditionally Gujarati-speaking and can trace their ancestry to the state of Gujarat in western India...
Hindus who are followers of Swaminarayan.
Beliefs
Since its origin, Swaminarayan Hinduism has been noted by its preservation of GujaratiGujarati people
Gujarati people , or Gujaratis are an ethnic group that is traditionally Gujarati-speaking and can trace their ancestry to the state of Gujarat in western India...
cultural and linguistic traditions, devotion to the personality of Swaminarayan as supreme and avatar of Vishnu, dedication to social service and a strict ethical code including uncompromising segregation of the genders. Monier Williams, on at least one of his visits, had long discussions with Swaminarayan and his followers and did his best to ascertain the way Swaminarayan's principles were preached. He visited the temple in Vadtal
Vadtal
Vadtal is a small village in the Kheda district of Gujarat, IndiaIt is a location of famous Swaminarayan's temple. "Gomti" is a lake in Vadtal....
in the company of the Collector of Karira during a popular Kartik Purnima festival that took place there and recorded the basics. Those who are initiated into proper worship of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
deity are instructed to wear a Tulasi kanti or rosary beads in two rows around their necks, one for Krishna and one for Radha
Radha
Radha , also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism...
. Followers are also instructed to chant the mantra of (great Krishna is my soul's refuge) and wear Urdhva Pundra Tilak
Urdhva Pundra Tilak
Urdhva Pundra tilak or Udharva Marka is a yellow U mark on the forehead made with chandan and a red dot in the centre usually made out of kumkum worn by members of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. The yellow U mark signifies the Swaminarayan's feet, while the red dot signifies Lakshmi. Urdhva Pundra...
markings on their forehead. Daily worship of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
in the temple was instructed and the Krishna mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
was central to the Swaminarayan's initiation (diksa). Supreme Being is believed to be referred by various names: Para Brahman
Para Brahman
Para Brahman or Param Brahman - is a term often used by Vedantic philosophers as to the "attainment of the ultimate goal". Adi Shankara has said that there is only one Supreme Para-Brahman and all the other deities are the forms and expansions of this Para-Brahman...
, Bhagavan
Bhagavan
Bhagavan, also written Bhagwan or Bhagawan, from the Sanskrit nt-stem literally means "possessing fortune, blessed, prosperous" , and hence "illustrious, divine, venerable, holy", etc.In some traditions of Hinduism it is used to...
and Purushottama
Purushottama
Purushottama means "Supreme Purusha", "Supreme Being". Purushottama is also one of the names of the Vishnu. According to the Bhagavad Geeta, Purushottam is explained as above and beyond kshar and akshar purushas or as an omni-potent cosmic being...
. While no detailed statistical information is available, most of the followers of Swaminarayan share a belief that Swaminarayan is the complete manifestation of Narayana
Narayana
Narayana or Narayan or Naraina is an important Sanskrit name for Vishnu, and in many contemporary vernaculars a common Indian name. Narayana is also identified as the original man, Purusha. The Puranas present divergent views on Narayana...
or the supreme person and more superior to other avatar
Avatar
In Hinduism, an avatar is a deliberate descent of a deity to earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation," but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation"....
s.
Swaminarayan teachings are sometimes categorized as monotheism
Monotheism
Monotheism is the belief in the existence of one and only one god. Monotheism is characteristic of the Baha'i Faith, Christianity, Druzism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Samaritanism, Sikhism and Zoroastrianism.While they profess the existence of only one deity, monotheistic religions may still...
. It is not, however, the monotheism of the Christian West. Unlike most other Vaishnavite schools such as those of Ramanuja
Ramanuja
Ramanuja ; traditionally 1017–1137, also known as Ramanujacharya, Ethirajar , Emperumannar, Lakshmana Muni, was a theologian, philosopher, and scriptural exegete...
, Madhva
Madhva
Madhva may refer to:* Madhvacharya, Vaishnavite saint and founder of the Dvaita school of thought, at Pajaka, Udupi in Karnataka, India* Madhwas, a person belonging to the Dvaita school of thought...
and Chaitanya, Swaminarayan, although leaning in preference towards Vishnu/Krishna, did not differentiate between Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
; moreover, he followed a Smarta approach (scripture-sanctioned deities are viewed as different manifestations of the same Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
) by instructing his followers to venerate all five deities of the Panchayatana puja
Panchayatana puja
Panchayatana puja is the system of worship in the Smarta sampradaya of Hinduism. It is said to have been introduced by Adi Shankara, the 8th century CE Hindu philosopher. It consists of the worship of five deities: Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya and Ganesha...
with equal reverence. Verse 84 of Shikshapatri
Shikshapatri
The Shikshapatri is a religious text consisting of two hundred and twelve verses, written in Sanskrit by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The Shikshapatri is a key scripture to all followers of the Swaminarayan faith and is considered the basis of the faith.The Shikshapatri was written in Vadtal on February...
, a key scripture to all followers of the Swaminarayan faith, makes reference to the Smarta-like belief.
In making no distinction between Vishnu and Shiva, Swaminarayan, held that Vishnu and Shiva are different aspects of the same God, instead of according Shiva a lower status as Madhva
Madhva
Madhva may refer to:* Madhvacharya, Vaishnavite saint and founder of the Dvaita school of thought, at Pajaka, Udupi in Karnataka, India* Madhwas, a person belonging to the Dvaita school of thought...
and Ramanuja
Ramanuja
Ramanuja ; traditionally 1017–1137, also known as Ramanujacharya, Ethirajar , Emperumannar, Lakshmana Muni, was a theologian, philosopher, and scriptural exegete...
had done, for example. Verse 47 of the Shikshapatri, makes reference to this belief.
Manifestation of Narayana
Followers of Swaminarayan believe that it was events that took place at Badarikashram, the abode of Nara Narayana, that led to the incarnation of Swaminarayan. It is believed that Narayana took birth as Swaminarayan due to a curse of sage DurvasaDurvasa
In Hindu mythology, Durvasa , or Durvasas, was an ancient sage, the son of Atri and Anasuya. He is supposed to be an incarnation of Shiva. He is known for his short temper. Maledictions or curses he gave in his rage ruined many lives. Hence, wherever he went, he was received with great reverence ...
which he accepted at his own will. The curse led to Narayana taking the form of an avatar on Earth to destroy evil and establish ekantik-dharma
Dharma
Dharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
, religion based on morality, knowledge, detachment and devotion. Important Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
and Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
confirm that Narayana descends in human form to destroy evil though there is no direct reference to Swaminarayan. Swaminarayan followers specifically interpret the Visvaksena Samhita, 11th part of the Brahma Purana
Brahma Purana
The Brahma Purana is one of the major eighteen Mahapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts. The extant text comprises 246 chapters. It is divided into two parts, namely the Purvabhaga and the Uttarabhaga . The first part narrates the story behind the creation of the cosmos, details the life and...
, as well as the Skanda Purana
Skanda Purana
The Skanda Purana is the largest Mahapurana, a genre of eighteen Hindu religious texts. The text is devoted mainly to the lilas of Kartikeya , a son of Shiva and Parvati. It also contains a number of legends about Shiva, and the holy places associated with him...
as giving a direct reference to Narayana taking birth in the form of Swaminarayan. In the liturgy of the sect, the story of the announcement of the coming birth of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
in the Bhagavata Purana is similar to the story of the birth of Swaminarayan, and merging of the images and stories of Swaminarayan and Krishna has occurred. In Vaishnava theology Uddhava
Uddhava
Uddhava is a character from the Puranic texts of Hinduism, who is the friend and counsellor of Krishna the Avatar. He plays a significant role in the Bhagavata Purana, being taught the processes of yoga and bhakti directly by Krishna...
, who is considered to be the chief disciple of Krishna, was ordained to spread his message in a future birth, and some groups of Swaminarayan Faith believe that he reappeared as Ramananda Swami to prepare the way for another manifestation of Krishna. Swaminarayan is said to have intimated that he was a manifestation of God Supreme in a meeting with the Reginald Heber
Reginald Heber
Reginald Heber was the Church of England's Bishop of Calcutta who is now remembered chiefly as a hymn-writer.-Life:Heber was born at Malpas in Cheshire...
, the Lord Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Calcutta, in 1825.
Fundamentals of the Swaminarayan philosophy
The basic principle of the philosophy of Swaminarayan is vishistadvaita (qualified non-dualism) as propounded by Ramanujacharya.- DharmaDharmaDharma means Law or Natural Law and is a concept of central importance in Indian philosophy and religion. In the context of Hinduism, it refers to one's personal obligations, calling and duties, and a Hindu's dharma is affected by the person's age, caste, class, occupation, and gender...
(religion): Proper conduct as defined in the revealed scriptures: 'SrutiSruti' , often spelled shruti or shruthi, is a term that describes the sacred texts comprising the central canon of Hinduism and is one of the three main sources of dharma and therefore is also influential within Hindu Law...
s' and 'SmritiSmritiSmriti literally "that which is remembered," refers to a specific body of Hindu religious scripture, and is a codified component of Hindu customary law. Smṛti also denotes non-Śruti texts and is generally seen as secondary in authority to Śruti. The literature which comprises the Smrti was...
s'. - BhaktiBhaktiIn Hinduism Bhakti is religious devotion in the form of active involvement of a devotee in worship of the divine.Within monotheistic Hinduism, it is the love felt by the worshipper towards the personal God, a concept expressed in Hindu theology as Svayam Bhagavan.Bhakti can be used of either...
(devotion): Supreme love of soul combined in the consciousness of the glory of the Supreme God. - JnānaJnanaJñāna or gñāna is a Sanskrit and Pali word that means knowledge. It has various nuances of meaning depending on the context. The idea of jnana centers around a cognitive event which is recognized when experienced...
(enlightenment): Awareness of the concepts of the soul, illusion, and God. - VairagyaVairagyaVairāgya is a Sanskrit term used in Hindu philosophy that roughly translates as dispassion, detachment, or renunciation, in particular renunciation from the pains and pleasures in the material world...
(renunciation): Detachment from all material possessions and absolute attachment towards God - known as 'Vairagya'. - MāyāMaya (illusion)Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
(illusion): Named 'tri-gunatmika' i.e. illusion prevalence in three qualities of sattvaSattvaIn Hindu philosophy, sattva is the most rarefied of the three gunas in Samkhya, sāttvika "pure", rājasika "dim", and tāmasika "dark". Importantly, no value judgement is entailed as all guna are indivisible and mutually qualifying...
, rajasRajasRajas ) is, in the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy, one of the three gunas. Of these, rajas, is responsible for motion, energy and preservation...
and tamasTamasTamas may refer to:* Tamas , the philosophical concept of darkness and death, the lowest of the three gunas.* Tamas , a highly acclaimed 1987 TV series/movie about the Partition of India directed by Govind Nihalani....
; To be possessed by māyā is considered to be caught in darkness; God is the lord of māyā; It breeds ego in one for his body and for the relatives of the body. - Mukti - (liberation or moksa): Loving worship of God.
- ĀtmanAtman (Hinduism)Ātman is a Sanskrit word that means 'self'. In Hindu philosophy, especially in the Vedanta school of Hinduism it refers to one's true self beyond identification with phenomena...
- (self): Recognition of the ātman, after which one experiences a transcendental bliss, is achieved through bhakti yogaBhakti yogaBhakti yoga is one of the types of yoga mentioned in Hindu philosophies which denotes the spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to a personal form of God....
as outlined in the Bhagavad gitaBhagavad GitaThe ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
, according to the teachings of Lord Swaminarayan. It is the source of energy and is the real knower; It pervades the entire body and is the essence that differentiates matter and life; in character it is inseparable, impenetrable, indestructible and immortal. - Paramātman - (Supreme Soul): It is omnipresent within the souls, just as soul is present in the body; it is independent and is the one who rewards the phala (fruits of karmaKarmaKarma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
) to the souls. It is the source of infinite material universes and the First Cause. It has no prior causes, and is the inherent cause of all effects (i.e. law of causality or karmaKarmaKarma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies....
).
Some did not understand and rebel against the notion of Swaminarayan's worship of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
while Swaminarayan also considered himself to be a manifestation of God. It is believed by his followers that just as Krishna assumed as many forms as the number of divine maidens (gopi
Gopi
Gopi is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning 'cow-herd girl'. In Hinduism specifically the name gopi is used more commonly to refer to the group of cow herding girls famous within Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion to Krishna as described in the stories of Bhagavata Purana and...
s) with whom he danced, he may have manifested himself simultaneously in many forms.
Succession of Swaminarayan
Prior to his death, Sahajanand Swami decided to establish a line of acharyaAcharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
s, or preceptors as his spiritual successors. After his death several divisions occurred with different understandings of the succession of leadership.
Swaminarayan Sampraday
After his death several divisions occurred with different understandings of the succession of leadership. Apart from this, there has been some conflicts in the Sampraday itself. Some associated scandals and "turf wars" for the original seat of Swaminarayan in Vadtal have attracted attention of national media. Besides these the sect has produced a number of schismatic groups.
Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha
Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) followers hold Gunatitanand Swami as the spiritual successor to Swaminarayan. Members of BAPS assert that on several occasions Swaminarayan revealed to devotees that Gunatitanand Swami was Aksharbrahm manifest. These instances claimed by the devotees of BAPS have come to embody the philosophy known as Akshar Purushottam UpasanaAkshar Purushottam Upasana
Akshar Purushottam Upasana is an interpretation by Shastriji Maharaj of the philosophy set forth by Swaminarayan which led to the creation of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha in 1907. It could also be referred to as Brahman Parabrahman Upasana or Bhakta Bhagwan Upasana...
. It was in 1906 that a prominent ascetic named Shastri Yagnapurushdas separated from the parent organization and established this institution, claiming Gunatitanand Swami
Gunatitanand Swami
Gunatitanand Swami was a saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Gunatitanand Swami was a prominent paramhansa who gave valuable contribution for spreading of the Swaminarayan Sampraday....
as the rightful successor. Yagnapurushdas, who formed the schism, is believed by the devotees of BAPS to be the third spiritual successor of Swaminarayan; he left the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and was later legally excommunicated from the Vadtal Gadi. The current leader of BAPS is Shastri Narayanswarupdas, more commonly known as Pramukh Swami.
At the time of legal dispute between Akshar Purushottam group and the Swaminarayan Sampraday
Swaminarayan Sampraday
Swaminarayan Sampraday , known previously as the Uddhav Sampraday, is a Hindu sect established by Swaminarayan...
the judge summarized his understanding of the root of the schism. He confirms that the "new group, now known as BAPS, "they have put Sahajanand Swami, an ascetic, over Shri Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
, who admittedly enjoyed the pleasures of human beings. That is why the sect has set aside Goloka
Goloka
Goloka is the eternal abode of Krishna, Svayam bhagavan according to some Vaishnava schools, including Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the Swaminarayan Sampraday....
as the supreme heaven, because there Krishna is supposed to be enjoing himself with his gopi
Gopi
Gopi is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning 'cow-herd girl'. In Hinduism specifically the name gopi is used more commonly to refer to the group of cow herding girls famous within Vaishnava Theology for their unconditional devotion to Krishna as described in the stories of Bhagavata Purana and...
s. This is I think one of the fundamental differences between the two sects and the schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
cannot be bridged."
Other
The followers of the Swaminarayan Maninagar Gadi Sansthan believe that Gopalanand SwamiGopalanand Swami
Gopalanand Swami was a saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and one of Swaminarayan's paramhansas.-Biography:...
was the spiritual successor to Swaminarayan. This difference in belief of succession led to the creation of Swaminarayan Gadi in the 1940s. The current leader of the Swaminarayan Gadi is Acharya Purushottampriyadas.
Many other groups have been formed after splitting from the Swaminarayan Sampraday, BAPS, or the Swaminarayan Gadi due to differences in belief. One of these groups that claim successorship is the Gunatit Samaj which is made up of four factions. The founder of the Gunatit Samaj is Kakaji or Kakashri. Another group is Yogi Divine Society. The founder is Hariprasad Swami and their main mandir is Haridham in Vadodara
Vadodara
Vadodara formerly known as Baroda is the third most populated city in the Indian State of Gujarat . It is one of the four cities with the population of over 1 million...
. Another group is the Swaminarayan Mandir Vasna Sanstha
Swaminarayan Mandir Vasna Sanstha
Swaminarayan Mandir Vasna Sanstha or SMVS is an organization within the Swaminarayan Faith which propagates the preaching and teaching of Lord Swaminarayan....
(SMVS). The group's founder is Devnandandas Swami.