Mahant Swami Maharaj is an Indian spiritual leader. He is the president of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a Hindu denomination, Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). He is considered as the sixth spiritual successor of Swaminarayan.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Keshav Patel (Vinu Patel) aka Mahant Swami Maharaj was born on Wednesday, 13 September 1933 (age 90 years; as of 2023) in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. His father belonged to Anand in Gujarat but later resided in Jabalpur to start a dairy business. When Keshav Patel was six months old, Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj visited his home in Jabalpur and blessed the newborn and gave him a Kanthi mala (Basil seeds necklace). Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj also named him Keshav; however, he was called Vinu by his family members.
Mahant Swami Maharaj’s childhood picture
Mahant Swami Maharaj pursued his schooling at a local English-medium school in Jabalpur. He completed his schooling at the Christ Church Boys Senior Secondary School in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Later, he moved to Anand, Gujarat, with his family and in 1951, he pursued a bachelor’s degree of Science in Agriculture at the Bansilal Amrutlal College of Agriculture in Anand, Gujarat. [1]Desh Gujarat
Physical Appearance
Hair Colour: Bald
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Mahant Swami Maharaj’s father, Manibhai Narayanbhai Patel, was a businessman, and his mother, Dahiben, was a homemaker.
Wife
Mahant Swami Maharaj is unmarried.
Religion/Religious Views
Mahant Swami Maharaj follows Swaminarayan Sampradaya of the Vaishnava Sampradaya, a Hindu denomination.
Spiritual Awakening
In May 1951, while Keshav Patel was pursuing his graduation, he met Pramukh Swami Maharaj for the first time when he along with his disciples visited Keshav Patel’s house. According to Mahant Swami Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj sincerely apologized to him for any inconvenience he may have caused as he left his house. He believes that it was at this precise moment that Yogiji Maharaj’s unmatched love and humility made a strong impression on him. Over the next few years, during his summer vacation from college, Keshav travelled with him to different places in India, heard his preachings and later, inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s lifestyle he decided to become a monk.
Mahant Swami Maharaj after getting ordained in 1957
In 1957, Keshav Patel was ordained by Pramukh Swami Maharaj as pārshad and was named Vinu Bhagat. Vinu Bhagat became Yogiji’s assistant and travelled with him for the next three years.
Vinu Bhagat (extreme left) with Pramukh Swami Maharaj and other disciples in Africa
Spiritual Journey
Initiation as a Sadhu
In 1960, Vinu Bhagat was ordained for the second time as a pārshad by Pramukh Swami Maharaj at Kapolvadi, Mumbai along with his 8 other disciples. These 9 disciples were known as ‘Nav Yogeshwars.’
Vinu Bhagat (standing in the centre) with Nav Yogeshwars
In 1961, Pramukh Swami Maharaj initiated Vinu Bhagat and 50 other disciples as Sadhu. Vinu Bhagat was the first person among the 51 to get the bhāgwati dikshā, and Yogiji Maharaj gave him the name Sadhu Keshavjivandas. After the initiation of the Sadhus, Swamiji gave Sadhu Keshavjivandas the responsibility of overseeing the young Sadhus and appointed him as the ‘Mahant’ of Dadar Mandir in Mumbai. There he got his name, Mahant Swami.
Volunteering and services at BAPS
He devoted himself to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the new guru, in 1971 after the passing of Yogiji Maharaj. He visited various states and cities all across India and also visited foreign countries. Since 1971, following Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s instructions, Swami Maharaj dedicated himself to uplifting and fortifying the Satsang community. He has volunteered his services for Akshardham initiatives, children’s and youth programs, and various Satsang events during the BAPS mega-festivals.
World Tour
In 1986, Mahant Swami Maharaj led a group of Sadhus on a world tour where they did research to create exhibits of Akshardham in Gandhinagar. In 1988, Mahant Swami Maharaj led a group of Sadhus to 17 countries including Nairobi for Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 68th birthday celebrations. [2]BAPS
President and Guru of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
On 13 August 2016, after the passing of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Mahant Swami Magharaj was announced as the new president and Guru of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. He was named the the sixth spiritual successor in Swaminarayan’s lineage of gurus. As the president of BAPS, he has travelled extensivly across the globe to organize Satsangs and preach.
Mahant Swami at a Satsang in Chicago
In February 2024, he visited Abu Dhabi for the innaugration of the first BAPS Hindu temple of the gulf nation as a state guest.
Honours
The mayors of several cities, including Toronto, Canada, Lilburn, Georgia, Irving, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois, honoured him with the key to the city in 2017.
Facts/Trivia
- In 1977, Mahant Swami Maharaj visited North America for the first time, he travelled across the country by road, visiting the homes of the followers and various BAPS temples in America to build a strong Satsang community along with Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
Mahant Swami Maharaj at a BAPS temple in Flushing, New York
- In 1985, Mahant Swami Maharaj attended the Cultural Festival of India (CFI) in London and also inaugurated the CFI souvenir book.
Mahant Swami inaugurating the CFI souvenir book
- According to many news articles, Mahant Swami Maharaj only consumes food without salt and are devoid of any spices. [3]Medium
