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Lakshmi Narayan Dev Gadi
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The Laksmi Narayan Dev Gadi (Gujarati:- લક્ષ્મીનારાયણ દેવ ગાદી) is one of the two gadis (diocese) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. It is headquartered at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal and controls the Dakshin Vibhag Lekh.
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History
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In Vadtal, on Prabodhini Ekadashi of Vikram Samvat 1882, Swaminarayan adopted his nephews Ayodhyaprasadji Pande (Son of elder brother Rampratapji) and Raghuveerji Pande (Son of younger brother Ichcharamji) as his sons. Establishing the two Gadis i.e. Nar Narayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Ahmedabad and Lakshminarayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Vadtal, Swaminarayan instructed the two cousins to draw lots, to decide who would be seated on which Gadi. Swaminarayan handed over the responsibility of Satsang and both acharyas to Gopalanand Swami by instructing Gopalanand Swami to make each and every satsangi including sadhus, Brahmachari and haribhakt to remain under the commands of the Acharyas.
Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj was appointed the inaugural Acharya of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi (also known as the Uttar Vibhag - Northern division), whilst Raghuveerji Maharaj became the inaugural Acharya of the Lakshminarayan Dev Gadi (also known as the Dakshin Vibhag - Southern division).[2]
The administrative division between the two is set forth in minute detail in a document written by Swaminarayan, called Desh Vibhag Lekh. The method by which future Acharyas are to be appointed is enshrined in the document Desh Vibhag Lekh.[3]
Swaminarayan then instructed all the followers present to do pooja of their respective acharyas.
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Organizational structure
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In 1826 at Vadtal, Swaminarayan established the dual Acharyaship in Dharmavanshi Acharyas, whom he intended as his successor. "Dharmavanshi" means "belonging to the lineage of Dharmadev" – the father of Swaminarayan.[4][5] Swaminarayan enthroned his two adopted sons, Ayodhyaprasad Pande and Raghuvir Pande, who were the sons of his brothers Rampratapji and Ichcharamji, as the spiritual leaders of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi headquartered at Ahmedabad and the Lakshmi Narayan Dev Gadi headquartered at Vadtal respectively. He installed them as the Acharyas for all followers, including householders and ascetics. Swaminarayan gave sole authority to these two individuals to install murtis in temples and to initiate sadhus and householders into the Sampradaya.[6] He did this using a legal document known as "Desh Vibhag no Lekh", which he dictated and was written by Shukanand Swami. Learned saints and elder satsangis witnessed this document. Copies were presented to the inaugural Acharyas, Ayodhyaprasad Pande and Raghuvir Pande – these are currently in the possession of the current Acharyas. The document was accepted by the Bombay High Court as the authoritative document regarding the apportionment of the two dioceses, so it has legal standing.[4] Presently, Acharya Maharajshri Rakeshprasadji[7][8][9] Maharaj is at the head of Lakshmi Narayan Dev Gadi, while Acharya Maharajshri Koshalendraprasadji Maharaj is at the head of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi at Ahmedabad.[10]
Importance of Acharyas
Swaminarayan thought that as he had established the temples and the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, he wanted to keep his sadhus free from the affairs dealing with wealth, power and other worldly affairs. He decided to create leaders who would subsequently be responsible for the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. This led to his decision to appoint his nephews as Acharyas.[11] The constitution of the Sampradaya is laid out in Desh Vibhag Lekh which describes in detail the functions of the Acharyas.
... it is my command to all sadhus, bhamcharis and all satsangies, that for the purpose of your kalyaan (emancipation) you must obey and follow the two Acharyas of Dharmavansh, and obey their commands by thought, action and speech. If this is compromised and whoever turns elsewhere (rejecting the Acharyas) will find that they will never find sukh (happiness) in this world or the worlds beyond and will experience immense distress ... ― Desh Vibhag Lekh
The Acharyas of the Sampradaya are administrative heads, spiritual leaders and the gurus of their followers. Since the acharyas are supposed to refrain from contact with the opposite sex, except close relations, the acharyas' wives are the gurus for female members of the sect, and must avoid contact with unfamiliar men. The acharyas wear a red turban, and carry a golden staff and umbrella, the symbols of their authority[12] In the scripture Purushottam Prakash (Nishkulanand Kavya), the writer Nishkulanand Swami describes Swaminarayan's establishment of the Dharmavanshi Acharyas.[citation needed]
The Acharyas are responsible for:
- Initiating followers into the organization with a Samanya Diksha by giving the guru-mantra[13]
- Initiating monks-sadhus by giving them the Maha-Bhagwadi Diksha[14]
- Perform murti-pratishtha, installing deities in the temples[15]
- Authenticating scriptures of the Sampradaya[16][17]
- Acting as the Guru and leader of the entire Sampradaya[16][18]
These responsibilities are prescribed in the holy texts Shikshapatri, Satsangi Jeevan and Desh Vibhag Lekh, according to which no person other than the Dharmavanshi Acharyas may carry out these duties.[19]
In one of the most authoritative scriptures, the Vachanamrut, Swaminarayan states one of the prerequisites for attaining Akshardham. He wrote, "The devotee who is aashrit of Dharmakul (i.e. he who has received initiation from Dharmavanshi Acharya and remains loyal to the Acharya) gets a divine Bhram-state body by God's wish."[20][21] It is seen as imperative to be a humble, loyal follower of the Dharmavanshi Acharya once receiving the diksha (guru mantra) in order to achieve a bhram form. In Swamini Vato, Swaminarayan was quoted, "Even Gunatitanand Swami, one of the main sadhus of Swaminarayan states, 'He who insults the temples, Acharyas, sadhus and satsangis will find his roots being destroyed and will inevitably fall from the satsang.' "[22]
Membership
Male satsangis are initiated by the acharya of the gadi he comes under. Female satsangis are initiated by the wife of the acharya, who is the leader of women in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. In the absence of the acharya, ascetics perform this initiation, which is then confirmed by the acharya on his next visit.[14] The ceremony involves the taking of five vows (panch vartaman): not to commit adultery or robbery, not to consume intoxicants or meat and not to lie. The initiator then pours water over the initiates hands, gives him a Sanskrit shloka, Shri Krishna twam gatirmama, meaning Shri Krishna thou art my refuge. The initiate then offers at least half a rupee to the acharya, who adorns a kanthi thread around the initiate's neck. The initiate is then required to apply the tilak chandlo to his forehead (chandan U and red kum kum dot in the middle).[13] Ladies only apply the red kum kum dot.
There are eight important things in the life of a Satsangi;[23] these are Kanthi – a thread worn around the neck,[24] the Tilak Chandlo – a holy mark,[24] the Mala – a thread with 108 beads,[14][25] Nitya Pooja – daily prayers,[24] the Temple,[24] Darshan – a form of worship,[24] Aarti – a ceremony, and[24] Vandu Pad and Chesta Pad – verses recited in the temples daily.[23] A Satsangi must show reverence for God, the Shastras, the Acharya of the Gadi the Satsangi comes under (Nar Narayan Dev Gadi or Lakshmi Narayan Dev Gadi), festivals, elders and be of overall good conduct.[26]
Upon initiation, Satsangi make 11 vows, called Niyams (Rules):[27][28]
- Be non-violent
- Do not have any kind of relationship with a woman other than your wife
- Do not eat meat, including seafood, poultry products or eggs
- Do not drink products that contain alcohol, including medicines
- Never touch a widow woman whom you do not know
- Never commit suicide in any circumstances
- Do not steal
- Never blame others for something that you may not know about
- Never disparage God, Goddesses, or any religion
- Never eat someone's food who does not follow these eleven rules
- Never listen to holy stories from an atheist.
Ascetics
From the beginning, ascetics have played a major role in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. They contribute towards growth and development of the movement and towards the salvation of its members.[29] Sadhus, initiated by either Dharmavanshi Acharya, also form an integral part of the organization and wear only orange robes. The Brahmachari ascetics, who are Brahmins, have a special responsibility of taking care of images in temples. These ascetics wear white robes on their waist and an orange cloth over their shoulder. Ascetics lead a strict life, refraining from worldly pleasures and devoting their lives to the service of the holy fellowship. They preach the philosophy and lifetimes of Swaminarayan and encourage people to follow a pious and religious life.[29] Swaminarayan has stated in the Vachanamrut that the association of Satpurush (true saints/devotees) opens the path to salvation. In 1999, the Ahmedabad Gadi had 765 male ascetics and the Vadtal Gadi 1468 male ascetics.[30]
The first rule of becoming an ascetic (sanyasi) of the sect is never to come in contact with the opposite sex, or money.[31] Ascetics are not allowed to leave the temple alone; they have to move out in pairs. Even in the temple, while using the toilet, they must do so in pairs to ensure they keep their vows. The food they eat must be mixed up so that they may not taste it.[32]
Female ascetics, known as Samkhya yoginis, receive initiation from the Gadiwala, or wife of the Acharya. They stay within the temple, follow ascetic rules strictly, wear dark red clothing and stay in the temple Haveli. They take care of the images in women's temples and conduct discourses for women. In 1999, the Ahmedabad Gadi had 440 female ascetics and the Vadtal Gadi had 115 female ascetics.[33]
The Government of India intervened by setting up an arbitration panel in June 2001. A settlement was brokered by a panel between the two factions in June 2002, but the Dev faction led by Nautam Swami (Mahant of the Vadtal temple) refused to cooperate, leading to an intensification of the dispute. A number of sadhus of this faction were subsequently exposed in a sex scandal only three months after another five sadhus were sentenced to death for murdering their guru in the Vadtal branch.[34][35][36]
Organizations within Lakshmi Narayan Dev Gadi
- International Swaminarayan Satsang Sanstha Vadtal (ISSSV) has established numerous temples across the United States under the name Vadtaldham, with one of its prominent centers located in New Jersey (Vadtaldham NJ). These temples conduct regular satsang assemblies, cultural events, and youth programs aimed at spreading the teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. While these centers use the Vadtal name, it's important to note that ISSSV operates independently and is not officially affiliated with the original Vadtal temple trust or the constitutionally recognized Shree Lakshminarayan Dev Gadi. Their activities reflect a separate organizational structure that is not part of the traditional Swaminarayan Sampraday established by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Vadtaldham Canada
Operates across cities like Scarborough, Calgary, and Edmonton, hosting satsang assemblies, youth programs, and cultural festivals. Website:
Vadtaldham London (UK)
Conducts regular spiritual gatherings and community events in the UK. Though it uses the Vadtal name, it is not officially affiliated with the constitutionally Vadtal Gadi.
Vadtaldham Nairobi
Serves the East African Swaminarayan community with devotional programs and social initiatives. It operates separately from the authentic Vadtal lineage established by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. :
Vadtaldham Sydney
Hosts satsang sessions, youth activities, and religious festivals in Australia. The organization uses the Vadtal identity but is not part of the original temple trust. Website:
Vadtaldham Melbourne
Engages the local community through spiritual discourses and cultural events. Despite its name, it does not represent the constitutionally recognized Vadtal Gadi.
Vadtaldham Brisbane
Provides a platform for devotees in Queensland to connect through satsang and seva. It functions independently and is not officially linked to the Vadtal temple trust. Website:
Vadtaldham Adelaide
Organizes religious and cultural programs for the Swaminarayan community in South Australia. It operates under the Vadtaldham banner but lacks formal ties to the original Vadtal Gadi. No official website was found at this time.
- Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan
- Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kundaldham Sansthan (SMK)
- Sardhar Sansthan
- Swaminarayan Rustumbhag
- Pancheswardham
- Jetpur Gadisthan
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Acharyas
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The following table lists all the Acharyas till date.[37]
However, it’s important to understand that the spiritual and constitutional framework established by Bhagwan Swaminarayan cannot be altered simply through court decisions or administrative actions. These sacred structures were divinely instituted and must be upheld with integrity and reverence.[38]
Charitable Activities
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Vadtal Mandir organizes a variety of charity and community service events throughout the year. These initiatives reflect the values of the Swaminarayan tradition and aim to uplift society through spiritual and social engagement.
Key Charity Activities:
- Food Distribution Programs: Meals are offered to devotees and the local community during major festivals and special occasions.
- Youth Engagement Events: Programs like Yuva Sabha promote spiritual education and cultural awareness among young followers.
- Cultural and Spiritual Celebrations: Events such as Gurupurnima, Janmashtami, and Diwali include devotional gatherings, free meals, and community outreach.
International Outreach:
ISSSV Temples (USA)
Under the ISSSV banner, temples across the U.S. (including New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, and Los Angeles) contribute to natural disaster relief, UNICEF partnerships, youth education, and cultural preservation. Donations support community projects, sports, and social services.
Vadtaldham Canada
Temples in cities like Scarborough, Calgary, and Edmonton, Niagara Falls, Brampton, Ottawa, Montreal, Sudbury, organize youth programs, community satsangs, and cultural events. They also support local charities and community welfare projects, promoting unity and ethical living through service. Website:
Vadtaldham London (UK)
This center hosts blood donation camps, blanket distribution drives, and free flu vaccination clinics, especially during winter. They also celebrate major Hindu festivals while engaging in community outreach and seva activities. Website:
Vadtaldham Nairobi
The Nairobi temple supports local communities through food and clothing distribution, youth education, and spiritual development programs. They also host public events and devotional gatherings to foster unity and service. More info:
Vadtaldham Sydney
This temple is active in disaster relief, including COVID-19 support, NSW flood assistance, and blanket distribution for the homeless. They also run a $1 community meal program, having served over 2,000 meals, and support local development initiatives. Website:
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See also
References
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