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But what is the Swaminarayan sect? It seems to have been part of the bhakti movement and born of the philosophy of Sahajanand Swami (1781-1830) who was considered an incarnation of Lord Swaminarayan and was a powerful social activist. Sahajanand Swami was born in 1781 in what is now Uttar Pradesh as Ghanshyam. In 1792, on the death of his parents, he became a brahmachari and took the name Nilkanth. He travelled far and wide for seven long years and settled down in Gujarat.
In 1799/1800 he encountered the ascetic followers of Ramanananda Swami, a teacher in the tradition of Ramanuja. Initiated into this group as Sahajanand Swami, he was appointed by Ramananda to be the next guru. His acceptance by the ascetic with his strong claim to the succession gave birth to a new, independent movement and at age 21 Sahajanand Swami became regarded as a manifestation of Lord Swaminarayan, with his image being set up in temples. The theological and philosophical base of the movement was the Vishistadvaita Vedanta but certain specific teachings were developed upon this foundation. Sahajanand Swami was seen as the promised incarnation of Purushottam, the Supreme Person, Lord Swaminarayan. He was in his essence omniscient, omnipotent, and all-grace, and his human activities were no more than divine sport (lila).
His corps of disciplined ascetics, in their distinct robes, brought about a change in the moral and religious climate. His injunctions on the practical life of a devotee are found in the Shikshapatri, and his teachings in the Vachanamritam. He vested his authority in his two nephews, whose seats were established at Vadtal and Ahmedabad. But over time sub-groups appeared.
The departure of another sadhu from Vadtal in 1947 led to the foundation of an independent educational trust, the Swaminarayan Gurukul. A dispute in the 1940s between a prominent sadhu (Muktajivan) and the Ahmedabad acharya led to the foundation of the Swaminarayan Gadi. An ascetic line of spiritual headship descends from Gopalananda Swami. Certain doctrines characterise the parent stem and the sub-groups:
The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha, which separated from the Vadtal acharya, is based upon a particular theological interpretation of the teachings of Lord Swaminarayan. The eternal entities (enumerated by Sahajanand, after the fashion of Ramanuja) include Purushottam (the Supreme Person) and Akshar (the Abode of God), and these two are eternally and inseparably connected. Since Purushottam had a human form in history (i.e., Sahajanand Swami), Akshar also had one, namely a perfect devotee who accompanied the Lord: this figure was Gunatitanand Swami (1785-1867).
For the Swaminarayan Gadi, a sub-group which broke from the Ahmedabad acharya, the Lord vested spiritual leadership in Gopalananda Swami (1781-1852), from whom an unbroken line of ascetic spiritual leaders descends to the present. The fourth in line declared himself to be the personification of the Swaminarayan Gadi, receiving thereafter divine honours. In addition, according to the teachings of this tradition, Lord Swaminarayan manifested himself once again in Jivanpran (Abji) Bapashri (1845-1928). In contrast to the Akshar Purushottam Sanstha, exclusive claims to being the way to salvation are made. Some images and pictures are common to all groups: Radha-Krishna, Lakshmi-Narayana (Krishna with Rukmini), Nar-Narayana (Krishna with Arjuna), Ghanshyam Maharaj, Ayodhyaprasadji and Raghuvirji (the nephews of Sahajanand Swami, the first acharyas) and images or pictures specific to the Akshar Purushottam Sanstha.
Lord Swaminarayan with Gunatitanand Swami and Gopalanand Swami (the last-named is the representative of the released souls who accompanied and assisted Sahajanand Swami). In some temples these are named, whilst in others the trio is known as Dham-Dhami-Mukta (i.e., Akshardham [Gunatitanand] - the in-dweller of Akshardham [Lord Swaminarayan] - Gopalanand); Mulji Brahmachaari, a celibate householder follower of Sahajanand Swami; and The guru-parampara, the line of spiritual leaders, and certain pictures of events in the life of Sahajanand Swami. The imposing 10-storey-high Akshardham, the Swaminarayan temple of Gandhinagar, that was under attack recently, is a modern complex, built in traditional style. It is made entirely of intricately carved, 6,000 tonnes of pink sandstone from Rajasthan, with no steel or cement, ensuring that the monument will last for a thousand years. It is 108 feet (32.92 m) tall, 240 feet (73.15 m) long and 131 feet (39.93 m) wide.
At the centre of the spacious Akshardham complex is the Akshardham Monument, which enshrines the golden idol of Swaminarayan. The first floor galleries house a museum portraying the 500 'parahansas', and several things belonging to Swaminarayan such as his letter to guru Ramananda, his pure wool shawl, a replica of his old home and other displays. The galleries outside have a state-of-the-art exhibition using audio-visuals, multi-media, dioramas of the life of Swaminarayan and from Hindu epics to introduce visitors to the concept of the Akshardham movement, founded in 1907 to promote the preachings of Lord Swaminarayan. It is not easy to ascertain the exact figures of followers the world over, say researchers. All they can say is that the devotees are numerous in the Gujarati trading communities not only in all large cities in Gujarat and Mumbai, but also in large commercial centres in East Africa, Great Britain and USA. Compiled by S Chitra Related links: http://www.swaminarayangadi.com/ http://www.swaminarayan.org/index.htm http://travel.indiamart.com/gujarat/pilgrimage/akshar-dham.html Published on 26th September, 2002
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The recent ghastly attack on the Akshardam temple of the Swaminarayan sect in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, has sparked intense interest in the group and its activities. Two things that one remembers clearly about the sect is it is supposed to be wealthy and powerful and was in the forefront of rehab work after the Gujarat earthquake.
During his travels, he mastered the teachings of all the major philosophical traditions, engaging in debate with their leading teachers, finally espousing the theological position of Ramanuja as being the true one.
Sahajanand Swami not only did great service to Hinduism, but also attacked social evils like superstitions, addictions, violent sacrifices and sati in Gujarat 200 years ago. He performed many miracles and transformed evil people into law-abiding citizens and devotees. He preached the message of love, brotherhood, addiction-free living and respect to all. He said the ultimate goal of life was to realise oneself as atma and offer devotion to God. Before he left this physical world in 1830, he declared Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami as his successor. 
In 1906, Yagnapurushdas led a breakaway group (later to crystallise as the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha) from the Vadtal temple, mainly on account of doctrinal convictions and also possibly because he considered the incumbent acharya to be morally unworthy. He rejected the householder line of headship in favour of an ascetic line, spiritually descended from Gunatitanand Swami.
The two dioceses centered round Vadtal and Ahmedabad (Gujarat) constitute the parent stem. They emphasise that Lord Swaminarayan vested his divine authority in his two nephews whom he appointed as acharyas: their lineal descendants rule to this day from their seats (gadis) at these
centres.
After the death of Gunatitanand, Akshar was manifested in a series of ascetic spiritual leaders.
Other images/picture include: The personification of the Swaminarayan Gadi, (in particular being weighed against gold, and in procession on an elephant), Purushottam Priyadasji Akshar-Purushottam (Lord Swaminarayan with Gunatitanand Swami);
More than 12 million man-hours of 900 skilled craftsmen have created this magnificent monument of 93 sculpted pillars, 40 windows carved from both sides, and a feast of forms and filigrees
