expression of a religious revival started by Sri
Sahajanand Swami (1781–1830), a monk generally
known to his followers as Lord Swaminarayan.
Sahajanand was born at Chhapaiya, near
AYODHYA in northern India. A precocious child, he
showed an early inclination to the religious life.
Upon his parents’ deaths, when he was 11 years
old, he adopted the life of a renunciant and pur-
sued his spiritual quest. His seven-year PILGRIMAGE
around India ended at Gujarat, where he spent
a year with Muktanand Swami, who confirmed
that Sahajanand was an incarnation of KRISHNA.
Eventually Sahajanand assumed leadership of the
devotees of Muktanand Swami.
Sahajanand began to reform the movement
by recruiting a group of young SANNYASIS (renun-
ciants) who were dedicated to his vision of
uplifting humankind and involved themselves in
various social service activities. He imposed five
rules on the sannyasis: they were to avoid greed,
worldly desires, attachments, and ego and live
a life of celibacy. He also started holding large
ceremonies called Vishnu Yajna with the goal of
abolishing the popular sacrifice of animals. His
actions attracted a large following throughout
Gujarat. The non-sannyasi (householder) mem-
bers were asked to avoid alcohol and intoxicating
drugs, meat, food from improper sources, stealing,
and debauchery.
Sahahanand authored the Shikshapatri, a work
summarizing a code of conduct for his followers.
As the movement expanded, followers began to
affirm that Sahajanand was the incarnation of
Lord Purushottama Narayana (i.e., Krishna).
Swaminarayan promoted a form of BHAKTI
YOGA, the devotional path to God. He and the
movement he founded believe God to be a person
and focus their primary attention on Vishnu/
Krishna. Nevertheless, they fall within the larger
scope of traditional Hinduism by affirming a phi-
losophy of unity in diversity and acknowledging
the common history and language of Hinduism.
Swaminarayan has been followed as head of
the movement by a succession of leaders: Guna-
titanand Swami (1785–1867), Bhagatji Maharaj
(1829–97), Shastriji Maharaj (1865–1951), Yogiji
Maharaj (1892–1971), and Pramukh Maharaj (b.
1921). In 1907 Shastriji Maharaj founded the
Bochsanwasi Shri Akshar Purusottam Sanstha,
which gave the movement its present corporate
structure. He also exported the movement outside
India, to East Africa. Later, in the 20th century,
Pramukh Swami Maharaj carried the movement to
the West, establishing the first center in En gland
and subsequently overseeing the vast internationalSwaminarayan (1781–1830), monk and founder of
Swaminarayan movement, pointing to Lord Vishnu
(Courtesy Swaminarayan Headquarters, Bombay [Mumbai])K 430 Swaminarayan movement