H.H. shri Shashtri Krushnaswarupdasji Shree K.K. Shastri Swami P.P.D.D 1008 Achary Shree Rakeshprasadji Maharaj Shree Sadguru Shri Gopalanand Swami
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Aacharya Tradition

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Aacharya Tradition

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In 1826 at Vadtal on Prabodhini Ekadashi of Vikram Samvat 1882 , Swaminarayan established the dual Acharyaship in Dharmavanshi Acharyas, whom he intended as his successor. "Dharmavanshi" means "belonging to the lineage of Dharmadev" – the father of Swaminarayan.

Swaminarayan enthroned his two adopted sons, Acharya Maharajshree Ayodhyaprasad Pande and Acharya Maharajshree Raghuvir Pande, who were the sons of his brothers Rampratapji and Ichcharamji, as the spiritual leaders of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi headquartered at Ahmedabad and the Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi headquartered at Vadtal respectively. He installed them as the Acharyas for all followers, including householders and ascetics. Swaminarayan gave sole authority to these two individuals to install murtis in temples and to initiate sadhus and householders into the Sampraday. He did this using a legal document known as "Desh Vibhag no Lekh", which he dictated and was written by Shukanand Swami. Learned saints and elder satsangis witnessed this document.

The Acharyas of the Sampraday are administrative heads, spiritual leaders and the gurus of their followers. Since the acharyas are supposed to refrain from contact with the opposite sex, except close relations, the acharyas' wives are the gurus for female members of the sect, and must avoid contact with unfamiliar men.

The Acharyas are responsible for:

  • Initiating followers into the organisation with a Samanya Diksha by giving the guru-mantra
  • Initiating monks-sadhus by giving them the Maha-Bhagwadi Diksha
  • Perform murti-pratishtha, installing deities in the temples
  • Authenticating scriptures of the Sampraday
  • Acting as the Guru and leader of the entire Sampraday

    Acharya Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj

    • Born on :21st Mar 1812

    • Became Acharya on :10th Nov 1826

    • Death :9th Feb 1863

    • Term :37 Years

    Acharya Shree Bhagvatprasadji Maharaj

    • Born on : 11th Oct 1838

    • Became Acharya on : 09th Feb 1863

    • Death : 12th Aug 1879

    • Term : 17 Years

    Acharya Shree Viharilalji Maharaj

    • Born on :19th Apr 1852

    • Became Acharya on :12th Aug 1879

    • Death :27th Sep 1899

    • Term :20 Years

    Acharya Shree Laxmiprasadji Maharaj

    • Born on :15th Aug 1892

    • Became Acharya on :27th Sep 1899

    • Death :24th Apr 1909

    • Term :10 Years

    Acharya Shree Shripatiprasadji Maharaj

    • Born on :18th Aug 1875

    • Became Acharya on :26th Apr 1909

    • Death :12th Feb 1931

    • Term :22 Years

    Acharya Shree Anandprasadji Maharaj

    • Born on :22nd Jul 1906

    • Became Acharya on :12th Feb 1931

    • Death :08th Jul 1974

    • Term :28 Years

    Acharya Shree Narendraprasadji Maharaj

    • Born on :25th Jan 1930

    • Became Acharya on :30th Apr 1959

    • Death :1986

    • Term :25 Years

    Acharya Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj

    • Born on :16th Aug 1949

    • Became Acharya on :1984

    • Death :Present

    • Term :18 Years

    Acharya Shree Rakeshprasadji Maharaj

    • Born on :23rd Jul 1966

    • Became Acharya on :31st Jan 2003

    • Death :Present

    • Term :Present