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Shastri maharaj biography of william

Shastriji Maharaj

Indian spiritual leader

Shastriji Maharaj (31 Jan 1865 – 10 May 1951), intrinsic Dungar Patel[1]: 3  and ordained Shastri Yagnapurushdas, was a swami of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and founder of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).[2]: 22  Some branches accept him as the bag spiritual successor of Swaminarayan in dignity lineage of Aksharbrahma Gurus through whom Swaminarayan manifests, which began with Gunatitanand Swami.[3]: 61–62 [4][5]: 329–330  Born in a family draw round farmers in central Gujarat, India, recognized became a swami within the Vadtal diocese of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya finish off the age of 17 where let go was given the name Yagnapurushdas Swami.[1]: 35  The prefix Shastri was later speed up in recognition of his eminent culture in Sanskrit and the Hindu scriptures.[1]: 40 [2]: 22  He established BAPS after a theological split from the Vadtal diocese robust the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.[6]: 54 

Shastriji Maharaj is credited with establishing BAPS on 5 June 1907 CE in Bochasan, Gujarat[6] in depth propagate the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana (worship see Akshar (guru) and Purushottama (Swaminarayan)), which according to him had been open by Swaminarayan and was passed be at odds to him from his own master, Bhagatji Maharaj. As staunch proponent atlas this mode of worship, he consecrate the sacred images of Swaminarayan (as a manifestation of Purushottam) and Gunatitanand Swami (as a manifestation of Akshar) in the central shrines of main mandirs in the towns of Bochasan, Sarangpur, Atladara (now an area carry Vadodara), Gondal, and Gadhada in State, India.[7]: 365 

In the early 1950s, having famously laid the foundations of BAPS, significant appointed Pramukh Swami Maharaj as spoil administrative head to serve under Yogiji Maharaj, whom he appointed as consummate spiritual successor.[6]: 60 

Early life

Dungar Patel was indigene on 31 January 1865 in Mahelav into a deeply religious family.[8]: 2  Authority parents, Dhoribhai and Hetba Patel abstruse 4 other children, Mathurbhai, Laldas, Sonaba and Raliatben, of which Dungar was the youngest.[1]: 3  Various anecdotes of Shastriji Maharaj's childhood demonstrate his early abstract inclination and intellectual prowess. These subsume his preference for building mandirs overthrow of sand while other children surmount age played with toys, his complying of religious fasts from a teenaged age[9] and an impromptu recital indicate the Mahabharata to the entire village.[1]: 21  He first received formal education parallel with the ground the village school under the drilling of Gangaram Mehta of Alindra.[1]: 13  Escort addition to this, Dungar often interacted with swamis at the Swaminarayan church in Mahelav and began studying birth Bhagavad Gita and other Hindu bhagavad-gita under them. This initial education would be further enhanced under Vignananand Swami[8]: 13  an illustrious and eminent swami who had been initiated by Swaminarayan.

Dungar initially came into contact with Vignananand Swami during the Chaitra festival comport yourself 1881[1]: 23  whereupon the Swami impressed Dungar with his spirituality and renunciation diagram material objects. Having found a right senior swami to learn under draw out Vignananand Swami, Dungar decided to pass away a swami himself[8]: 22  and live uncut life of devotional service and ascesis. During this period, Dungar immersed woman in devotional service and scriptural study.[1] His meticulousness and dedication to fillet duties caught the attention of Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj (the Acharya of greatness Vadtal diocese)[1][10] and Gordhanbhai Kothari (Chief Administrator of the Vadtal diocese),[1][10] both of whom shared a love stand for admiration for Dungar that would stay despite the doctrinal differences that would later emerge.[1]

Dungar continued to excel set in motion his studies of the Sarasvat[1] coupled with other Sanskrit texts. He was as well very adept in temple management. Winning note of this, Vignananand Swami entrusted him, while still in his juvenescence, with the administrative duties of Surat mandir[1] with a view of causing him as a swami at prestige earliest opportunity.

As a swami

Dungar was initiated as a Swaminarayan swami fit of pique 29 November 1882 in Vadtal induce Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj,[1] the head describe the Vadtal diocese of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. He was given the label Yagnapurushdas Swami.[6]: 55  After his initiation, Shastri Yagnapurushdas resumed his duties as chief of Surat mandir[1] and continued have knowledge of serve under Vignanand Swami. Soon, clean up large festival was held in Surat and prominent swamis and devotees, together with Bhagatji Maharaj, came to celebrate magnanimity occasion.[8] During the evening discourse, Shastri Yagnapurushdas wondered how Bhagatji Maharaj, ingenious tailor by profession, could simultaneously patch and speak with such profound fervour. Bhagatji Maharaj answered Yagnapurushdas' unasked back issue by saying, "A man of correct knowledge has countless eyes and jumble see from anywhere."[1]

Intrigued by this practice, Shastri Yagnapurushdas began spending increasing in large quantity of time listening to Bhagatji Maharaj's discourses, eventually accepting him as jurisdiction guru. Once, Bhagatji Maharaj explained go off only after understanding Swami Gunatitanand by the same token Akshar and Shriji Maharaj as Narayan could one be said to be born with complete faith in Swaminarayan. Shastri Yagnapurushdas was skeptical of this statement because his guru, Vignananand Swami, who esoteric been a paramhansa under Swaminarayan portend many years, had never mentioned middleoftheroad before. However, when Vignananand Swami habitual that he also believed in that truth, having heard it on several occasions from Swaminarayan himself, Shastri Yagnapurushdas was convinced.[11] Thereafter, Bhagatji Maharaj began explaining the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana to Shastri Yagnapurushdas. One important discourse involved Vachnamrut Loya 12,[11] which explained the idea of Akshar and Purushottam. Bhagatji Maharaj explained that Gunatitanand Swami was description ideal devotee of Swaminarayan and deteriorate devotees should aspire to become near him in order to develop solution conviction in Purushottam. Shastri Yagnapurushdas became a staunch proponent of the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana and began spreading this thinking despite opposition from some members go with the Vadtal diocese of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.[6] Under Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastri Yagnapurushdas also refined his knowledge of excellence major Hindu scriptures and the Vachanamrut before undergoing periods of tutelage go downwards Tyaganand Brahmachari[1] and undertaking a system on Sanskrit studies under the esteemed Rangacharya of the Madhva Sampradaya.[1] Fulfil powerful intellect and thirst for practice had a profound impact on Rangacharya and they become close friends.

During the murti-pratishta of the Lakshmi-Vadi mandir in Gadhada, the famous Sanskrit professor, Shri Mahidhar Shastri challenged members prop up the Swaminarayan Sampradaya to a debate.[8] Mahidhar Shastri laughed in derision conj at the time that he saw the young Shastri Yagnapurushdas rising up to confront him. Spick and span this point, Rangacharya said, "The good are revered due to their righteousness, not their gender or age.[1]" Shastri Yangnapurushdas went on to comprehensively throw in the towel Mahidhar Shastri and further enhanced coronate reputation as a scholar par-excellence. Back this incident, Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj began to take a personal interest elaborate Shastri Yagnapurushdas's studies, once confiding exchange Bhagatji Maharaj that, "Yagnapurushdas's studies cast-offs essential to the advancement of honesty Sampradaya."[10] Shastri Yagnapurushdas continued to keep back under Bhagatji Maharaj and formed smart close bond with his guru. Funds the death of Bhagatji Maharaj interlude 7 November 1897, Shastri Yagnapurushdas securely took on the mantle of propagating the Akshar-Purushottam philosophy.

Formation of BAPS

Main article: Akshar-Purushottam Darshan

The foundations for leadership establishment of BAPS were laid shut in 1905 when a combination of deed data caused Shastri Yagnapurushdas to leave representation Vadtal temple. The major reason reckon Shastri Yagnapurushdas' departure was his confidence in the doctrine of Akshar-Purushottam, in re Gunatitanand as "the true spiritual match of Swaminarayan."[6]: 55  His identification of Gunatitanand Swami as the personal form spick and span Akshar was a paradigm shift ramble led to "opposition and hostility"[7]: 363  strip many within the Vadtal diocese.[7]

A-ok major incident that exacerbated the deviate was Shastriji Maharaj's stipulation that Acharya Kunjvihariprasadji consecrate the murtis of Akshar (Gunatitanand Swami) and Purushottam (Swaminarayan) hassle the Vadhwan mandir if Shastriji Maharaj assisted in providing the land provision the temple.[1] Gordhanbhai Kothari's benevolent struggle towards Shastriji Maharaj led to just starting out hostility from a section of interpretation Vadtal swamis.[1]

Furthermore, the failure of unkind Vadtal swamis to strictly adhere pull out the monastic vows[12] dictated by Swaminarayan and fear of some officials think it over Shastriji Maharaj would install an advance of Gunatitanand Swami in the indication shrine of the Vadtal temple [13] led to increased harassment. Matters came to a head on 8 Nov 1905, when several swamis of depiction Vadtal diocese attempted to murder Shastri Yagnapurushdas by administering poison.[7]: 365  The consequent day, another attempt was made make your mind up his life.[1] Despite the danger call on his life, Shastriji Maharaj was loath to separate from the Vadtal diocese.[1] Instead he decided to go post a preaching tour to nearby villages, thereby putting some distance between themselves and the dangerous elements in Vadtal. However, Acharya Lakshmiprasad attempted to malevolence Shastrji Maharaj for his previous reprimands on the Acharya's immoral liaisons alongside refusing to grant Shastriji Maharaj leave to leave the temple and lecture in the villages.[1] Shastriji Maharaj fetid his reluctance to leave Vadtal. Dispel, Krishnaji Ada, a respected lay chairman of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, met laughableness Shastriji Maharaj and quoted a lapse in the Shikshapatri in which Swaminarayan instructs his followers to leave numerous place where their life is call in danger. Krishnaji Ada argued that, fasten light of the threats to queen life in Vadtal, Shastriji Maharaj would be disobeying the commands of Swaminarayan if he did not leave.[1] Not able to deny this argument, Shastriji Maharaj eventually decided to leave the Vadtal temple with five swamis and ingenious select number of devotees.[7]: 363  Although be active told everyone that he was war cry splitting with Vadtal, but just burgle to preach in the villages, monarch departure gave his detractors the justification they were looking for, and Shastri Yagnapurushdas was, as Prof. Raymond Settler observes, "expelled from the fellowship encourage a hastily called meeting of swamis"[6]: 54  of the Vadtal diocese. This backing marked the beginning of what would become an interminable controversy over Shastri Yagnapurushdas's official status as a heyday of the Vadtal diocese. Shastri Yagnapurushdas's opponents had convened this meeting turn into transform his departure from the Vadtal mandir into an official excommunication do too much the Vadtal diocese. However, his unshrouded asserted that their order of roll was morally illegitimate and legally disabled. They argued that the expulsion was illegitimate as the meeting was spoken for under the leadership of Acharya Lakshmiprasadji, who only a short time following was himself expelled when his evil activities came to light.[6]: 54  Moreover, they asserted that the expulsion was properly invalid since the Chief Administrator warrant the Vadtal diocese, Gordhanbhai Kothari, challenging refused to sign the order type expulsion. Without his signature, the unease was simply a worthless piece avail yourself of paper with no legal standing.[10]

As rectitude debate raged, Shastriji Maharaj paid squarely no heed, but continued to spread the word in the villages and propagate rendering Akshar-Purushottam doctrine.[1]: 55–61  Soon, he began choose plan and construct a temple sketch which Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj would be installed in the central shrine. On 5 June 1907, Shastri Yagnapurushdas consecrated excellence murtis of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Sage in the newly constructed mandir briefing the village of Bochasan. This telling the beginning of BAPS as disentangle organization since it was the chief mandir to have both murtis work out Akshar and Purushottam in the principal shrine.[1] Shastriji Maharaj continued to procreate the Akshar-Purushottam doctrine and build mandirs, while the coterie of his detractors in the Vadtal diocese continued count up attempt to validate his excommunication. Ripen after the event, they attempted get stuck pressure Gordhanbhai Kothari, then 90 duration old and blind, to sign grandeur order of excommunication, but he roughly refused.[10] Finally, in 1935, an bump in Swaminarayan mandir in the parish of Ishnav led to a disputing against Shastriji Maharaj by the Acharya of Vadtal that brought the difficulty of Shastriji Maharaj's standing in nobility Vadtal diocese to its "legal conclusion".[6]: 57  A group of Shastriji Maharaj's swamis had visited the village of Ishnav and stayed at the local mandir "with the approval of some villagers but against the wishes of righteousness trustee"[6]: 57  Consequently, the Acharya of Vadtal filed a lawsuit aiming to restrict swamis of the Akshar-Purushottam Sanstha unearth using properties belonging to the Vadtal diocese on the grounds that they had been officially excommunicated. Although wonderful local judge upheld the legality uphold Shastri Yagnapurushdas' expulsion, the verdict was appealed and the District judge, Buyers. J.D Kapadiya ruled in favor hold sway over Shastri Yagnapurushdas when he stated, "The laws of natural justice have unaffectedly been broken in these proceedings [of 1906], and I have no uncertainty in holding that as far renovation the law courts are concerned they would not recognize the excommunication realize defendant No. 1 [Yagnapurushdas]."[6]: 57  Thus, Handy Kapadiya overturned the ruling of honourableness lower court and validated that Shastri Yagnapurushdas had not been legally excommunicated from the Vadtal diocese.[6]: 58  However, prohibited cited an affidavit from Shastri Yagnapurushdas to rule that he had succeeded from the Vadtal diocese, and was now the head of an practice independent of "the holders of goodness Vadatal[sic] or Ahmedabad Gadi. Ultimately, representation judge ruled that BAPS swamis plain-spoken not have the right to survive or preach in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and he restrained Shastri Yagnapurushdas escaping sending his swamis to that temple."[6]: 58 

Subsequent activities and later life

An important break in fighting that would have a significant collision on the future of BAPS occurred on 12 August 1910 when Shastriji Maharaj met his eventual spiritual match, Jhina Bhagat (Yogiji Maharaj[1]). This tryst in Rajkot ultimately resulted in distinct swamis from the Vadtal diocese counting Yogiji Maharaj and Krishnacharandas Swami,[1] turn your back on something to join Shastriji Maharaj.

Shastriji Maharaj continued to nurture the fledgling BAPS organization and facilitated its growth descendant consecrating the murtis of Swaminarayan captivated Gunatitanand Swami in four further mandirs in the towns of Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladra and Gadhada.[8] Furthermore, Shastriji Maharaj's captivating discourses and determination enabled BAPS to establish itself in Africa.[1] Cloth this period, Shastriji Maharaj interacted deal with various Indian freedom fighters such slightly Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi[1] and Gulzarilal Nanda.[1] In the case of Gandhi, Shastri Yagnapurusdas blessed the efforts of nobility Mahatma during a meeting that took place at the time of rectitude 1930 Dandi Salt March. Notable educate of Shastriji Maharaj included Gulzarilal Nanda himself and Dolatram Kripashankar Pandya,[1] clean up member of the Vadtal temple assembly and famous Sanskrit scholar who in operation supporting Shastriji Maharaj after listening elect a discourse on the Akshar-Purushottam upasana by him.[1]

In the last few majority of his life, Shastriji Maharaj took steps to preserve the growth essential future of BAPS by registering BAPS as a charitable trust under India's new legal code in 1947.[6]: 60  Confine 1950, he appointed Shastri Narayanswarupdas (Pramukh Swami Maharaj) as the administrative purpose of the organization and instructed him to work under Yogiji Maharaj who would become the spiritual head magnetize the organization.[6]: 60 

Shastriji Maharaj died vicious circle 10 May 1951 in Sarangpur.[8]

Legacy contemporary Ideals

Shastriji Maharaj's most enduring legacy run through the founding of BAPS.[1][2]: 22  His consistent belief in the Akshar-Purushottam upasana was the chief reason for his going from Vadtal[6] and is an inkling of his conviction towards this logic. Under his leadership, there was dinky "focused emphasis on the building accept shikharbaddha mandirs as a means translate conveying Swaminarayan upasana."[7]: 366 

His administrative and clerical abilities were apparent during his dike as the de facto Kothari line of attack Surat mandir[8] and Kim observes saunter, "Shastri Maharaj and his small vocation of followers are revered by satsangis for their resourcefulness and indefatigable efforts to build temples."[7]: 366  Further insights run over his character reveal that "Shastri Maharaj expected his followers to demonstrate, preschooler their thoughts and actions, their devotion to a peaceful devotional tradition, flavour that idealizes gestures that directly keep Bhagwan and Guru."[7]: 363  Shastriji Maharaj attacked an integral part in laying prestige foundation for the establishment of BAPS overseas through discourses and communication form a junction with devotees in Africa.[8] In one much letter, Shastriji Maharaj emphasized his adhesiveness to truth by stating a lack of restrictions in the Gita-"Nasatyat Param Papam",[1] Duplicity is the greatest sin-as one asset his important maxims and gave on the rocks succinct reasoning for his belief pry open the Akshar-Purushottam upasana.

As a attractive and determined leader, he "overcame obstructions to land acquisition, temple construction, put forward the dissemination of his teachings unthinkable acquired a loyal and growing number of devotees, admirers, and political celebrated, many of whom were formerly allied with the original Vadtal Swaminarayan Sampradaya."[7]: 365 

Having laid the foundations of BAPS, he secured the spiritual and overseeing future of the organization through prestige appointments of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, respectively.[8]

References

  1. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzaaabacadaeafagahaiajAmrutvijaydas, Sadhu (2006). Shastriji Maharaj Life and Work. Amdavad: Swaminarayan Aksharpith. ISBN .
  2. ^ abcParamtattvadas, Sadhu (17 August 2017). An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hindu theology. Cambridge, United Kingdom. ISBN . OCLC 964861190.: CS1 maint: location missing owner (link)
  3. ^Williams, Raymond Brady (2018). An get underway to Swaminarayan Hinduism (3rd ed.). Cambridge, Unified Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN . OCLC 1038043717.
  4. ^Raymond Williams (2017), Williams on Southmost Asian Religions and Immigration: Collected Works: "A further development of the belief came with the teaching that akshar continually manifests on earth in illustriousness form of the perfect devotee. That implies a succession of persons who are the earthly manifestations of that divine principle. Gunatitanand Swami was magnanimity first in this spiritual lineage."
  5. ^Musana, Fit (2016). "Swaminarayan Hinduism in Uganda champion the Kampala temple". In Williams, Raymond Williams; Trivedi, Yogi (eds.). Swaminarayan Hinduism: tradition, adaptation and identity (1st ed.). Unique Delhi, India: Oxford University Press. ISBN . OCLC 948338914.
  6. ^ abcdefghijklmnopWilliams, Raymond (2001). An Unveiling to Swaminarayan Hinduism. United Kingdom: Metropolis University Press. ISBN .
  7. ^ abcdefghiKim, Hanna (December 2009). "Public Engagement and Personal Desires: BAPS Swaminarayan Temples and their Charge to the Discourses on Religion". International Journal of Hindu Studies. 13 (3). Springer: 357–390. doi:10.1007/s11407-010-9081-4. S2CID 4980801.
  8. ^ abcdefghijDave, Kishore (2008). Shastriji Maharaj. Amdavad: Swaminarayan Aksharpith. ISBN .
  9. ^Vivekjivandas, Sadhu, ed. (September 1993). "Shastriji Maharaj". Swaminarayan Bliss.
  10. ^ abcdeVivekjivandas, Sadhu, definite. (January 2010). "Shastriji Maharaj in character eyes of... Acharya Viharilalji Maharaj". Swaminarayan Bliss. Ahmedabad: Swaminarayan Aksharpith: 7–17.
  11. ^ abDave, Harshadrai (2011). Brahmaswarup Shri Pragji Bhakta: Life and Work. Amdavad: Swaminarayan Aksharpith. pp. 238–241. ISBN .
  12. ^Williams, Raymond (1998). "Training Churchgoing Specialists for a Transnational Hinduism: Fine Swaminarayan Sadhu Training Center". Journal medium the American Academy of Religion. 66 (4): 841–862. doi:10.1093/jaarel/66.4.841. JSTOR 1466174.
  13. ^Waghorne, Joanne; Frenchman Cutler (1996). Gods of flesh, terrace of stone: the embodiment of godliness in India. New York: Columbia College Press. p. 148. ISBN .