The BAPS Hindu Mandir, an architectural marvel of the Center East is all set to be inaugurated on Wednesday. Whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the temple, the consecration of the temple can be carried out by Mahant Swami Maharaj, the religious guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.
Forward of the inauguration of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple, Mahant Swami Maharaj met devotees. He additionally interacted with these gathered for the grand occasion and showered his blessings on them.
Mahant Swami Maharaj – Religious Guru Of BAPS Sanstha
Mahant Swami Maharaj, also called Swami Keshavjivandasji, serves as the present religious chief of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Sanstha, holding the esteemed place of the organisation’s sixth religious guru.
Born on September 13, 1933, to Dahiben and Manibhai Narayanbhai Patel in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India, Mahant Swami Maharaj was rechristened ‘Keshav’ by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj, the founding father of BAPS. His household affectionately referred to as him Vinu, based on BAPS Sanstha. Manibhai, initially from Anand in Gujarat, had settled in Jabalpur for enterprise.
Vinubhai’s early years had been spent in Jabalpur, the place he acquired his main and secondary schooling in an English-medium faculty. Displaying distinctive brilliance, he accomplished his Class-12 schooling on the Christ Church Boys’ Senior Secondary Faculty in Jabalpur. He then returned to his native city of Anand, enrolling within the Faculty of Agriculture.
In 1951-52, Mahant Swami Maharaj got here in contact with Yogiji Maharaj, the religious successor of Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj of the BAPS Sanstha. Impressed by Yogiji Maharaj’s religious charisma and selfless love, Vinubhai began travelling with him.
Vinubhai graduated with a bachelor’s diploma in agriculture from Anand and determined to take the trail of renunciation. In 1957, Yogiji Maharaj gave him ‘parshad diksha’ (carried out his initiation), renaming him ‘Vinu Bhagat’. Vinu Bhagat was then instructed to accompany Yogiji Maharaj on his vicharans (travels) to handle his every day correspondence and different providers.
In 1961, throughout the Kalash Mahotsav of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Gadhada, Yogiji Maharaj bestowed bhagwati (saffron) diksha upon 51 educated youths. Vinu Bhagat was named Swami Keshavjivandas. Yogiji Maharaj appointed Swami Keshavjivandas as the top (‘mahant’) at Dadar Mandir, resulting in his respectful title of Mahant Swami over time.
Mahant Swami’s virtues of austerity, self-control, devotion, humility, and repair earned him the blessings and pleasure of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Following the passing away of Yogiji Maharaj in 1971, he devoted himself completely to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, sustaining the identical devotion and allegiance.
Since 1971, Mahant Swami has been travelling inside India and overseas, strengthening the organisation amongst numerous devotees. He has actively participated within the Sanstha’s mega-festivals, youngsters and youth actions, the Akshardham initiatives, and numerous different actions.
On July 20, 2012, within the presence of senior sadhus in Ahmedabad, Pramukh Swami Maharaj declared Mahant Swami as his religious successor. Following Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s passing away on August 13, 2016, Mahant Swami took on the function of the sixth guru within the ‘Gunatit Parampara’ custom of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Presently, Mahant Swami Maharaj leads because the religious information for quite a few devotees and oversees the worldwide socio-spiritual actions of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.