5. Guruparampara in Svāminārāyaṇa Faith: A Live Philosophy

1. Guṇātītānanda Svāmī Mahārāja

Birth: Āso Suda Pūnama, Saṃvata 1841 (28/9/1785 CE)
Place: Bhādarā, near the port of Joḍiyā, Saurāṣṭra

Akṣarabrahman Guṇātītānanda Svāmī Mahārāja was the first spiritual successor of Bhagavān Svāminārāyaṇa. Guṇātītānanda Svāmī Mahārāja was born on 28 September 1 78 4 CE (Āso sud 15, Samvat 1841), the auspicious day of Sharad Purnimā, in the village of Bhādrā, Gujarat. He was named Mūlajī Śarmā. His mother's name was Sākarbā and his father's name was Bholānātha. Shrihari Sahajānanda (Bhagavān Svāminārāyaṇa) performed a grand yagna in Dabhana on 20 January 1810 CE (Posh sud 15, Samvat 1866) and initiated Mūlajī Śarmā as a sādhu, naming him Guṇātītānanda Svāmī.

A distinctive characteristic of the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana is that its two principal entities–Akṣara and Purushottam -incarnate in this world with human-like forms. The terms ‘Svāmī’ and ‘Narayaṇa’ found within the Svāminārāyaṇa mantra refer to Akṣarabrahman and Purushottam, respectively. Guṇātītānanda Svāmī is Akṣarabrahman. These are the identities of the incarnate forms of Svāmī and Nārāyaṇa, otherwise identified as Akṣara and Puruṣottama, according to the teachings of Parabrahman Bhagavān Svāminārāyaṇa and the Brahmasvarūpa Gurus.

2. Bhagatjī Mahārāja

Birth: Phāgaṇa Suda Pūnama, Saṃvata 1885 (20/3/1829 CE)
Place: Mahuvā, Saurāṣṭra

Brahmasvarūpa Bhagatjī Mahārāja was the second spiritual successor of Parabrahman Svāminārāyaṇa. (Phāgan sud 15, Samvat 1885) in the village Mahuvā to a modest tailor family. He was named Prāgjī Bhakta and later became known as Bhagatjī. His father was Govindbhai and his mother was Mālubā. Bhagatjī realized by the discourses of Guṇātītānanda Svāmī that scriptures such as the Upaniṣads, Bhagavad Gitā, Brahmasūtra, and the Vacanāmruta contain descriptions of Akṣara and Puruṣottama as distinct forms. Parabrahman Svāminārāyaṇa identified these distinct forms by revealing Guṇātītānanda Svāmī as Akṣara and himself as Puruṣottama. Thereafter, Bhagatjī Mahārāja made tremendous efforts to propagate this principle. His enthusiasm remained uninhibited when spreading Svāminārāyaṇa Bhagwan's words: “This Guṇātītānanda Svāmī is Akṣara” within the Satsang. Just before leaving for Akṣaradhāma, on Kārtika Suda 13, Saṃvata 1854 (7/11/1897 CE), Bhagatjī told the other gṛhasta devotees present, “Take me to Vartāla.” This was an indirect reference of his oneness with Śāstrījī Mahārāja who then resided in the Vartāla Mandira.

3. Śāstrījī Mahārāja

Birth: Mahā Suda 5 (Vasanta Pancamī Saṃvata 1921 (31/1/1865)
Place: Mahelāva, Gujarat

Brahmasvarūpa Śāstrījī Mahārāja was the third spiritual successor of Parabrahman Svāminārāyaṇa. He was born on 31 January 1865 CE (Mahā sud 5, Vasant Panchmi, Samvat 1921) to a pātidar family in the village of Mahelav, Gujarat. He was known as Dungara Bhakta. His father was Dhoribhai and his mother was Hetbā. In Chaitra, Samvat 1922, Akṣarabrahman Guṇātītānanda Svāmī sanctified their home in Mahelav and blessed the newborn child. On Kārtika vad 5, Samvat 1939, Dungar Bhakta was initiated as a sādhu and named Svāmī Yagnapurushdasji. Devotees often referred to him as Śāstrījī Mahārāja, due to his immense scholarly proficiency in sacred texts. He named and vindicated the doctrine of Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana by constructing magnificent temples.

4. Yogījī Mahārāja

Birth: Vaiśākha Vada 12, Saṃvata 1948 (23/5/1892)
Place: Dhārī, Saurāṣṭra

Brahmasvarūpa Yogījī Mahārāja was Parabrahman Svāminārāyaṇa’s fourth spiritual successor. He was born on 23 May 1892 CE (Vaishākh vad 12, Samvat 1948) in Dhāri, a village in Gujarat. He deeply instilled the principles of the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana within the hearts of modern youths. Through his efforts and travels to Africa and England, Yogījī Mahārāja brought the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana across the seas to foreign countries. In order to strengthen conviction in the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana, he established regular weekly spiritual assemblies. To this day, these assemblies serve as a forum for devotees to worship together and listen to spiritual discourses on the principles of the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana.

5. Pramukha Svāmī Mahārāja

Birth: Māgṣara Suda 8, Saṃvata 1977 (7/12/1921 CE)
Place: Cānsada, Gujarat

Brahmasvarūpa Pramukha Svāmī Mahārāja is Parabrahman Svāminārāyaṇa 's fifth spiritual successor. He was born in the village Cānsada (Chansad) on 7 December 1921 CE (Māgshar sud 8, Samvat 1978) and later initiated as a sādhu by Śāstrījī Mahārāja. On 21 May 1950 CE (Jeth sud 4, Samvat 2006), Pramukha Svāmī Mahārāja was appointed as the president of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akṣarapuruṣottama Svāminārāyaṇa Sansthā. He has a world record of building 1000 mandirs of Akṣarapuruṣottama around the world. In his deaddiction camp, more than 5000000 people renounced their addiction. He had initiated 1000 youths into the sādhu fold to serve society.

6. Mahanta Svāmī Mahārāja

Birth: Bhādarvā Vada 9, Saṃvata 1989 (13/9/1933)
Place: Jabalapura, Madhya Pradeśa

Brahmasvarūpa Mahanta Svāmī Mahārāja is the sixth spiritual successor in the AksharBrahmasvarūpa Guru succession. He was born on 13 September 1933 CE (Bhādharvā vad 9, Samvat 1989) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and was later initiated as a sadhu by Brahmasvarūpa Yogījī Mahārāja. After Brahmasvarūpa Pramukha Svāmī Mahārāja’s worldly departure, Mahanta Svāmī Mahārāja serves as the present Guru and continues to protect, preserve and promote the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana. Through his untiring efforts, the Akṣarapuruṣottama Darśana is spread in the Gulf countries. Very calm and with immense saintly virtues are his foundational qualities. He is one of the most influential persons in the modern world.