Pramukh Swami Maharaj

swaminarayan sant shree Pramukhswami maharaj Pramukh Swami Maharaj born Shantilal Patel ordained Shastri Narayanswarupdas 7 December 1921 13 August 2016 was an Indian guru and Pramukh or president of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha an international Hindu socio spiritual organization. BAPS regards him as the fifth spiritual successor of Swaminarayan following Gunatitanand Swami Bhagatji Maharaj Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj. He was believed by his followers to be in constant communion with Swaminarayan and ontologically the manifestation of Akshar the eternal abode of Swaminarayan. 1 Pramukh Swami Maharaj received initiation as a Hindu Swami in 1940 from Shastriji Maharaj the founder of BAPS who later appointed him as President of BAPS in 1950. Yogiji Maharaj declared Pramukh Swami Maharaj to be his spiritual successor and guru of BAPS a role he commenced in 1971. As president of BAPS Pramukh Swami Maharaj had overseen the growth of BAPS from an organization centered in Gujarat India to one spread around the world maintaining many Hindu Mandirs and centers outside of India. He built more than 1 100 Hindu temples including the Swaminarayan Akshardham temples in New Delhi and Gandhinagar Gujarat. 2 He had also spearheaded the efforts of BAPS Charities which is the charitable service organization affiliated with BAPS. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is succeeded as the guru and President of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha by Mahant Swami Maharaj