Pramukh Swami Maharaj was Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s fifth spiritual successor. He led by example; his humility, faith in Bhagwan Swaminarayan, and compassion inspired millions of devotees and over 1100 sadhus to maintain moral and spiritual lifestyles. His was the simple life of a celibate, ignoring fame and recognition. His greatness lay in his ability to relate to the common man. He understood the problems people face in their everyday lives and empathized with their pain. His success was not measured by the awards he received nor by the recognition he accumulated. Rather, it is measured by the number of lives he transformed.
Born as Shantilal Patel in Chansad, Gujarat on December 7, 1921, Pramukh Swami Maharaj spent his childhood focused on devotion to God and his guru, Shastrji Maharaj. He was a stellar student and displayed great athletic abilities, leading the village’s cricket team. He took an early liking to the spiritual talks delivered by Haridas, an elderly saint at the local Hanuman mandir. He would rush to the Hanuman mandir with his writing slate and chalk in hand to hear such spiritual discourses. From a young age, he showed strong conviction in his guru’s words. He displayed this commitment when he left Chansad at the age of 16 at Shastriji Maharaj’s request. His resolve to become a sadhu was strong, and he returned home only once—to retrieve his daily puja which he forgot in his rush to meet his guru.
Two years after joining Shastriji Maharaj, he became a sadhu and was named Narayanswarupdas Swami in 1940. His diksha was given at Akshar Deri in Gondal. Shastriji Maharaj explained the young sadhu’s name to all those present: Narayan swarup, or the form of God. This was just one of the many times that Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj referred to Pramukh Swami as Aksharbrahma.
Narayanswarupdas Swami spent the years after his sadhu diksha studying the shastras, learning Sanskrit, and serving others. His enthusiastic and humble approach to seva made him an ideal role model. In 1947, Narayanswarupdas Swami became the kothari of the Sarangpur mandir, one of the four BAPS Swaminarayan mandirs at the time.
Shastriji Maharaj founded the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in 1907, and 42 years later, he appointed Narayanswarupdas Swami as Pramukh, or President, of the entire organization. Narayanswarupdas Swami was only 28 years old at the time. He became known as Pramukh Swami, and under the guidance of Shastriji Maharaj, and later Yogiji Maharaj, he helped the sanstha initiate various spiritual, cultural, and humanitarian activities. Despite his young age and newly appointed position, Narayanswarupdas Swami continued to serve with an equal eye for every seva. On the night he was appointed Pramukh, he was found washing a pile of dirty dishes. He celebrated his new appointment by serving the rest of the devotees.
In the years following his appointment as Pramukh of the sanstha, Pramukh Swami selflessly served Yogiji Maharaj and the sanstha without caring for his personal comfort or health. He worked tirelessly to please Yogiji Maharaj and build mandirs. Pramukh Swami leads modestly and continues to emphasize the importance of serving with humility. His adage, “In the joy of others, lies our own,” exemplifies his approach to leadership.
After Yogiji Maharaj passed away in 1971, Pramukh Swami Maharaj became the spiritual head of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. He encourages millions of Hindus around the world to stay connected with their religious and cultural roots. Pramukh Swami Maharaj has traveled to small villages and large cities in over 50 countries to spread satsang and meet with devotees. Under his leadership, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha has grown into an international organization that is recognized for its contributions to communities throughout the world.
Named one of the 20 most influential people in the world by Guinness World Records in 2000, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has also been recognized by the British Parliament, Canadian Parliament, and the United Nations for his work in promoting religious harmony and giving back to local communities. He inspired religious activities in BAPS mandirs and satsang centers throughout the world in addition to the Swaminarayan Akshardhams in New Delhi and Gandhinagar. He was the inspiration for followers of the Swaminarayan faith to live a pure lifestyle focused on devotion to God and service to others. He followed eight-fold celibacy and lived a simple life free of ego, attachment, anger, and materialistic pleasure. He was a true sadhu.