Gunatitanand Swami | |
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 Gunatitanand Swami | |
| Succeeded by | Bhagatji Maharaj |
| Personal | |
| Born | Mulji Jani 28 September 1784 |
| Died | 11 October 1867 (aged 83) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Denomination | Swaminarayan Sampradaya |
| Notable work(s) | Swamini Vato |
| Monastic name | Gunatitanand Swami |
| Organization | |
| Philosophy | Akshar-Purushottam Darshan |
| Role(s) | 1st spiritual successor of Swaminarayan (1830–1867) Mahant of Junagadh mandir (1827–1867) |
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Gunatitanand Swami (28 September 1784 – 11 October 1867), born Mulji Jani, was a prominent paramhansa of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya who was ordained by Swaminarayan[1][2]: 22 [3]: 16 [4]: 123 and is accepted as the first spiritual successor of Swaminarayan by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).[3]: 16 [5] Born into a religious family in the small farming community of Bhadra in Gujarat, India, he first received religious education under his father's guru, Ramanand Swami, before encountering Swaminarayan and becoming a swami under him at the age of 25.[6]: 19 [7] He was revered for his spiritual discourses and divine service.
For the BAPS, he embodies an essential element of the doctrine of Akshar and Purushottam.[2]: 92 They believe, based on interpretation, from the Vachanamrut that "Akshar is an eternally-existing spiritual reality having two forms, the impersonal and the personal".[2]: 84 Furthermore, BAPS claims that Gunatitanand Swami was believed to be the first personal manifestation of Akshar in the Guru Parampara: an unbroken line of "perfect devotees" who provide "authentication of office through Gunatitanand Swami and back to Swaminarayan himself".[2]: 86 [3]: 16 The Vadtal and Ahmedabad dioceses of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya do not subscribe to this theory.[2]: 55–60
Gunatitanand Swami held various administrative roles, most notably as the mahant of Junagadh mandir, a position he held for forty years.[2]: 55 [6]: 94 In addition, he was a prominent speaker and was held in high regard as an authority on religious matters in general. A collection of his most important teachings on dharma, knowledge of the atman, detachment, bhakti, and various other matters has been published under the name Swamini Vato.[2]: 192 [3]: 16 [8]: 70 Gunatitanand Swami died in 1867, and a famous shrine known as the Akshar Deri was built upon the spot his cremation rites were performed.[1][2]: 132
- ^ a b Dave, Harshadrai Tribhuvandas (2017). Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami: Life and Work - Part 1. Translated by Mangalnidhidas, Sadhu. Ahmedabad: Swaminarayan Aksharpith. p. 17. ISBN 978-81-7526-806-7.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Williams, Raymond (2001). An introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 052165422X.
- ^ a b c d Paramtattvadas, Sadhu (2017). An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hindu Theology. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107158672. OCLC 964861190.
- ^ Swaminarayan Hinduism : tradition, adaptation and identity. Williams, Raymond Brady., Trivedi, Yogi. (1st ed.). New Delhi, India: Oxford University Press. 2016. ISBN 9780199086573. OCLC 948338914.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Waghorne, Joanne (1985). Gods of Flesh. Gods of Stone. United States: Columbia University Press. p. 147. ISBN 978-0-231-10777-8.
- ^ a b Ishwarcharandas, Sadhu (2007). Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami. Ahmedabad: Swaminarayan Aksharpith. ISBN 978-81-7526-302-4.
- ^ Dave, H.T (1974). Leslie Shepard (ed.). Life and Philosophy of Shree Swaminarayan 1781-1830. London: George Allen & Unwin. p. 89. ISBN 0042940826.
- ^ Vivekjivandas, Sadhu (2002). Gunatitanand Swami : His Life and Message. Ahmedabad: Swaminarayan Aksharpith. ISBN 81-7526-199-4.