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{{Short description|Sixth spiritual successor of Swaminarayan}}
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{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name = Mahant Swami Maharaj
| image = Mahant Swami Maharaj.jpg
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1933|9|13}}
| birth_place = [[Jabalpur|Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]]
| birth_name = Vinu Patel
| guru = [[Yogiji Maharaj]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baps.org/Article/2011/Interviews-2294.aspx|title = Interviews}}</ref>
[[Pramukh Swami Maharaj]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baps.org/About-BAPS/Mahant-Swami-Maharaj.aspx|title = Mahant Swami Maharaj}}</ref>
| honors = Spiritual successor of [[Pramukh Swami Maharaj]]
| website = {{URL|www.baps.org}}
| caption = Maharaj in 2007
}}

'''Mahant Swami Maharaj''' (born '''Vinu Patel''', 13 September 1933;<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://deshgujarat.com/2016/08/14/mahant-swami-formally-installed-as-new-head-of-baps-here-is-his-first-speech/|title=Mahant Swami formally installed as new head of BAPS, here is his first speech|date=2016-08-14|website=DeshGujarat news from Gujarat|access-date=2016-08-15}}</ref> ordained '''Keshavjivandas Swami''') is the present guru and president of the [[Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha|Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS)]], a major branch of the [[Swaminarayan Sampradaya]], a Hindu denomination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-encyclopedia-of-hinduism/*-COM_1010071046|title=BAPS: Pramukh Swami|last=Mamtora|first=Bhakti|editor-last=Jacobsen|editor-first=Knut A.|editor2-last=Basu|editor2-first=Helene|website=Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online|date=5 November 2018|access-date=5 February 2020|editor3-last=Malinar|editor3-first=Angelika|editor4-last=Narayanan|editor4-first=Vasudha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Patel|first=Aarti|date=December 2018|title=Secular Conflict|journal=Nidān: International Journal for Indian Studies|volume=3|issue=2|pages=55–72}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Gadhia|first=Smit|title=Akshara and Its Four Forms in Swaminarayan's Doctrine|date=2016-04-01|work=Swaminarayan Hinduism|pages=156–171|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199463749.003.0010|isbn=978-0-19-946374-9}}</ref>{{Rp|157}} BAPS regards him as the sixth spiritual successor of [[Swaminarayan]], following [[Gunatitanand Swami]], [[Bhagatji Maharaj]], [[Shastriji Maharaj]], [[Yogiji Maharaj]], and [[Pramukh Swami Maharaj]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://deshgujarat.com/2016/08/13/mahant-swami-maharaj-succeeds-pramukh-swami-as-guru-and-president-of-baps/|title=Mahant Swami Maharaj Sadhu Keshavjivandas succeeds Pramukh Swami as guru and president of BAPS|date=2016-08-13|website=DeshGujarat News from Gujarat|access-date=2016-08-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2016/08/17/pramukh-swami-maharaj-hindu-guru-and-neasden-temple-founder--obi/|title=Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Hindu guru and Neasden Temple founder – obituary|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=17 August 2016|access-date=2016-08-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Williams|first=Raymond Brady|title=An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism|date=2018-09-30|publisher=Cambridge University Press|doi=10.1017/9781108332989|isbn=978-1-108-33298-9|s2cid=145147532}}</ref>{{Rp|60–2}} He is believed by his followers to be in constant communion with Bhagwan Swaminarayan, and ontologically, the manifestation of [[Akshar Purushottam Upasana|Akshar]], the perfect devotee of [[God]].<ref name=":12">{{cite magazine|date=October–December 2019|title=BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Today|url=https://bluetoad.com/publication/?i=619137&ver=html5&p=1#{%22page%22:50,%22issue_id%22:619137}|magazine=Hinduism Today|publisher=Himalayan Academy|access-date=2019-11-22}}</ref>{{rp|46–7}}

Mahant Swami Maharaj received initiation as a Hindu swami from Yogiji Maharaj in 1961.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=13 August 2016 |title=His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj |url=http://download.baps.org/Data/Sites/1/HH%20Mahant%20Swami%20Maharaj.pdf |access-date=13 August 2016 |website=BAPS.org |publisher=BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ludwig Brent |first=Peter |url=https://archive.org/details/godmenofindia0000bren/page/12 |title=Godmen of India |publisher=Penguin Books Ltd. |year=1973 |isbn=9780140034608 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/godmenofindia0000bren/page/12 12]}}</ref> He was revealed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj as his future spiritual and administrative successor in 2012,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=HH Mahant Swami Sadhu Keshavjivandas to be spiritual successor of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj |url=https://www.gg2.net/news/india-news/HH+Mahant+Swami+Sadhu+Keshavjivandas+to+be+spiritual+successor+of+HH+Pramukh+Swami+Maharaj+/10545 |access-date=2016-08-15 |website=www.gg2.net}}</ref> roles he assumed upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj's passing in August 2016.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Final darshan and rites of Pramukh Swami Maharaj |url=http://www.baps.org/Announcement/2016/Final-Darshan-and-Rites-of-Pramukh-Swami-Maharaj-9961.aspx |access-date=2016-08-13 |website=BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha}}</ref>

== Early life ==
=== Childhood and education ===
Vinubhai Patel was born in [[Jabalpur|Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh]], [[India]] on 13 September 1933. His parents, Manibhai Naranbhai Patel and Dahiben Patel,<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.easterneye.eu/news/detail/mahant-swami-takes-charge|title=Mahant Swami takes charge|website=www.easterneye.eu|access-date=2016-08-19|archive-date=16 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916090721/https://www.easterneye.eu/news/detail/mahant-swami-takes-charge|url-status=dead}}</ref> were both followers of [[Shastriji Maharaj]] and the [[Akshar Purushottam Upasana]]. Shastriji Maharaj visited the newborn a few days post-birth and named the child Keshav, although his family referred to him by his nickname, Vinu.

Vinu Patel completed his primary and secondary education at an English-medium school within the local township and then completed his 12th grade at the [[Christ Church Boys Senior Secondary School]]. He then attended the [[Anand Agricultural University|College of Agriculture]] in his father's native town of [[Anand, Gujarat]], where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in agriculture.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0" />

=== Early inspiration for monastic order ===
During his college years (1951–1952), Vinu Patel first met Yogiji Maharaj, the spiritual successor of Shastriji Maharaj. Impressed by Yogiji Maharaj's life and teachings, Vinu traveled with Yogiji Maharaj during his summer vacations, and was inspired to enter the monastic life over the next few years.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0" />

== Early years as a swami ==
[[File:Mahant Swami Maharaj performs the arti.jpg|thumb|Mahant Swami Maharaj performs the arti]]
At age 23, on 2 February 1957, he received novitiate initiation, ''parshad diksha'',<ref name=":4" /> and was renamed Vinu Bhagat. During this initial training phase, he accompanied Yogiji Maharaj on his travels, looking after his daily correspondence with devotees. At age 28, on 11 May 1961, Vinu Bhagat was given ''bhagwati diksha'',<ref name=":4" /> initiated as a [[swami]], in [[Gadhada]] and named Keshavjivandas Swami. He was one of 51 youths receiving initiation into the monastic order that day.<ref name=":5" /> This group of 51 was initially placed in [[Mumbai]] to study [[Sanskrit]], with Swami Keshavjivandas appointed as their group head or Mahant at the mandir in [[Dadar, Mumbai]]. Thus, he became known throughout BAPS as Mahant Swami.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0" />

=== Service under Pramukh Swami Maharaj ===
He initially met [[Pramukh Swami Maharaj]] in 1951 and traveled extensively with him. After Guru Yogiji Maharaj's death in 1971, Mahant Swami Maharaj served under Pramukh Swami Maharaj. His austerity, self-control, devotion, humility and service earned him the blessings and joy of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. In 1971, after the death of Yogiji Maharaj, he dedicated himself to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the new guru, as he had to guru Yogiji Maharaj. His exposure to Pramukh Swami Maharaj had begun in 1951, when he first met him. Since 1971, as per the wishes and instructions of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, he has travelled throughout India and abroad to inspire and strengthen satsang in countless devotees. He has also offered his services to BAPS mega-festivals, children and youth activities, Akshardham projects, and other satsang activities.<ref>[http://www.baps.org/About-BAPS/Mahant-Swami-Maharaj.aspx About Mahant Swami Maharaj on BAPS website]</ref>

== As the leader of BAPS ==

=== Presidency ===
[[Pramukh Swami Maharaj]] had known that Mahant Swami would be his successor when the latter received initiation in 1957.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Williams|first=Raymond Brady|date=September–October 2016|title=A remarkable religious leader|journal=Swaminarayan Bliss|volume=39|issue=5|pages=117}}</ref> On 20 July 2012, in the presence of senior swamis in [[Ahmedabad]], Pramukh Swami Maharaj formally declared that Mahant Swami Maharaj would be his spiritual successor after his death and wrote a letter in his own handwriting to this effect. On 13 August 2016, he became the sixth spiritual successor in [[Swaminarayan]]'s lineage of Gunatit gurus.<ref name=":1" /> In 2020, he wrote ''Satsang Diksha,'' a book where he describes a path which he believes will give its followers [[Moksha]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Satsang Diksha|url=https://www.baps.org/Publications/Books/Satsang-Diksha-1402.aspx|access-date=2020-08-16|website=BAPS|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Honours ===
In 2017, he was presented with the [[key to the city]] by the mayors of various cities, including [[Toronto|Toronto, Canada]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mahant-swami-maharaj-key-city-toronto-1.4217751|title='We're here to stay': Hindu community celebrates 10th anniversary of temple with Trudeau, Tory|date=23 July 2017|work=CBC News|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref> [[Lilburn, Georgia]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theindianpanorama.news/unitedstates/grand-10th-anniversary-celebration-baps-shri-swaminarayan-mandir-atlanta-georgia/|title=Grand 10th Anniversary Celebration of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta Georgia|date=2017-07-14|website=The Indian Panorama|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref> [[Irving, Texas]],<ref>{{Cite web| title=Proclamation | url=https://www.baps.org/Data/Sites/1/Media/GalleryImages/14424/WebImages/2017_08_20_Dallas_07_001.jpg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720053602/https://www.baps.org/Data/Sites/1/Media/GalleryImages/14424/WebImages/2017_08_20_Dallas_07_001.jpg | archive-date=2020-07-20}}</ref> and [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsindiatimes.com/illinois-governor-attends-birthday-celebrations-at-baps-mandir/|title=Illinois Governor attends birthday celebrations at BAPS Mandir {{!}} News India Times|last=Writer|first=Staff|date=25 July 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-04}}</ref>

=== Significance in BAPS ===
Followers of [[BAPS]] are told he is a manifestation of ontological entity of Akshar, the form of the eternal abode of God.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |title=An introduction to Swaminarayan Hindu theology|author=Paramtattvadas, Sadhu |date=17 August 2017 |isbn=978-1-107-15867-2|location=Cambridge, United Kingdom|oclc=964861190}}</ref>{{Rp|191–200}} As such, he is said to be in constant communion with God. He is to be considered by devotees as "the perfect servant of God, …totally filled with God and therefore worthy of reverence and worship."<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|title=An introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism|last=Williams|first=Raymond Brady|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2001|isbn=978-0-521-65422-7}}</ref><sup>:87-95</sup>

=== Theological role ===
[[File:Mahant Swami Maharaj discoursing on the Vachanamrut.jpg|thumb|Mahant Swami Maharaj discoursing on the Vachanamrut]]

BAPS teaches followers that the living guru is considered to be the ideal swami, the perfect devotee, and the principal exemplar for emulation by spiritual aspirants. He is described to followers as a personification of the scriptures<ref name=":6" /><sup>:94</sup>. He is viewed as "fully ''brahmanized''", or having achieved the ultimate level of spiritual development.

Devotees are to consider him the example of all the ideals of the religion; he is to be viewed as the first disciple, most faithful in his observance of the commandments, most active in propagation of the religion, the best interpreter of the meaning of the scriptures, and the most effective in eradicating the ignorance that separates man from God.<ref name=":7">{{Cite book|title=The holy man as the abode of God in the Swaminarayan religion |work=Gods of flesh/gods of stone : the embodiment of divinity in India|last=Williams|first=Raymond Brady|date=1985|publisher=Anima|editor1=Waghorne, Joanne Punzo |editor2=Cutler, Norman |editor3=Narayanan, Vasudha|isbn=0890120374|location=Chambersburg, Pennsylvania|pages=153|oclc=11113082}}</ref> His conduct is hence to be considered as that of the "ideal saint" and "perfect ''bhakta'' (devotee)", providing a tangible and graspable example for the spiritual aspirant to follow. Devotees are to view his respect for his gurus (Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj) to be the model of devotion to one's guru.<ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Kim|first=Hanna|date=2001|title=Being Swaminarayan: the ontology and significance of belief in the construction of a Gujarati diaspora|type=PhD thesis|via=Columbia University}}</ref>

Followers are to believe that by associating with him, they might rid themselves of their vices, baser instincts, and worldly attachments. Earning the grace of the guru, devotees are to believe, enables them to achieve liberation in which they would escape the cycle of births and deaths and attain [[Akshardham (religion)|Akshardham]] (God's divine abode).<ref name=":7" />

For a devotee of BAPS, he is to be considered the essential spiritual link with God. According to the teachings of Swaminarayan, the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, devotees consider God (Swaminarayan) to be manifest through Mahant Swami Maharaj, the present form of Akshar on earth.<ref name=":8" />{{Rp|191–200}} Thus, BAPS followers are to believe that by offering devotion to the guru (the form of Akshar), they offer it to Swaminarayan himself.<ref>Brian Hutchinson (1998) ''The guru-devotee relationship in the experience of the members of the Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha''.</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|nm18111148 |Mahant Swami Maharaj}}

{{BAPS}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maharaj, Mahant Swami}}
[[Category:1933 births]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu spiritual teachers]]
[[Category:Presidents of religious organizations]]
[[Category:Swaminarayan Sampradaya]]
[[Category:21st-century Hindu religious leaders]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Mahant Swami Maharaj - Revision history

Tox Digital at 08:42, 26 March 2026