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Ramanand Swami - Guru of Lord Swaminarayan

Ramanand Swami first met Nilkanth Varni in Piplana VS 1856. In VS 1858, at Jetpur Ramanand Swami handed over his Acharyaship of the Sampraday to Sahajanand Swami, it was at this time that he granted two boons to Lord Swaminarayan.

 

Muktanand Swami - Mother of Sampraday

He became a renowned poet and wrote Muktanand Kavya. His first meeting with Nilkanth Varni was in Loj VS 1856 where he was asked to give the meanings of Jiva, Ishwar, Maya, Brahm and Parbrahm.

Gopalanand Swami - Yogi Raj

Lord Swaminarayan held Gopalanand Swami in very high regard and he was very learned in Ashtang yoga. When the Lord left His mortal body and returned to Akshardham He left responsibility for the Sampraday and the Acharyas in his hands.

Gopalanand Swami arranged for an idol of Kastabhanjan Hanumanji to be installed in Sarangpur in which he invested a large amount of divine power, which is still evident today.

 

Brahmanand Swami - Kavi Raj

He was a very famous poet, had a jolly character and had a great bond of friendship with Lord Swaminarayan. He had skills in architecture and was tasked by the Lord to get land and money for building temples. He was involved in the construction of the temples at Vadtal, Junagadh and Muli.

The Lord had high respect for Brahmanand Swami and said anybody who sings 100 of his verses everyday would receive darshan of the Almighty God Supreme.

Nityanand Swami - Pandit

Nityanand Swami was a very strong debater, he had a profound knowledge of all scriptures. He composed Shree Hari Digvijay and produced the first Gujarati translation of the Shikshapatri approved by Lord Swaminarayan.

Premanand Swami - Premsakhi

Lord Swaminarayan gave diksha and named him Nijbodhanand Swami. His name was later changed to Premanand, due to his extreme love for Lord. He was a born poet, many of his hymns are sung daily by devotees. Premanand Swami composed the words of the Chesta Pad, which is sung and recited daily at all Swaminarayan temples.

Nishkulanand Swami - Vairagya Murti

Nishkulanand Swami was strong in observance of penance and renunciation and non-attachment to worldly objects and pleasures. He had many other skills including carpentry, masonry and sculpting. Lord Swaminarayan personally asked Nishkulanand Swami to go and oversee the construction project of Dholera temple, when others were unwilling to go.

Devanand Swami

His diksha name was Abheydanand, then later changed to Devanand. He also was a poet and Brahmanand Swami was his guru. He wrote Devanand Kavya. He stayed as Mahant of Muli Temple for 22 years until his death.

Vasudevanand Brahmchari

He diksha name was Gopalanand Brahmchari. Once at Loya village he was asked to do a katha by Lord, his performance pleased the Lord. The Lord gave him the new name of Vasudevanand Brahmchari.

Shatanand Swami (Santdasji)

He had the gift of akhand samadhi, in which he could see Lord in divine form whatever he was doing, even during sleep. Many times he had remained in Samadhi for six months at a time. At Gadhada the Lord asked him to compose Shreemad Satsangijeevan because of his power and divine vision.

Bhumanand Swami

Bhumanand Swami was a sincere and devoted person and composed many kirtans about bhakti. He was persuaded by a friend to go to Gadhada to find the Lord. There he did meet the Lord and the scene is captured in the kirtan, 'Sarve sakhi jeevan jova ne chalo re …'. He wrote the prominent 'thal' that is sung within the sampraday after a four day fast, 'Jamo thal jeevan jau vari…'.


Shukanand Swami (Shuk Muni) - Personal Secretary of the Lord

He was referred to as the personal secretary of Lord. He wrote whatever the Lord wished. Lord Swaminarayan often called him His right arm. He wrote 16 scriptures, 7 in Sanskrit and 9 in Gujarati.


Gunatitanand Swami

Gunatitanand Swami always saw the divine image of the Lord. For about 40 years he stayed as Mahant at Junagadh Temple.


Mulji Brahmchari - Lord's Ever Ready Attendant

Mulji Brahmchari was permanently by the side of Lord Swaminarayan, serving Him in every way. He did not care about his personal well being, all his actions were for one purpose only, to please Lord Swaminarayan.

Lord Swaminarayan often tested the strength of Mulji Brahmchari. Mulji Brahmchari was always firm and innocent and pure in his love and service for Lord.