Swaminarayan Sampradaya and the Creation of Akshardham
Swaminarayan Sampradaya: Origins and Beliefs The Swaminarayan Sampradaya is a Hindu Bhakti tradition founded by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (born Sahajanand Swami), who emerged as a charismatic leader in early 19th-century Gujarat. The tradition developed from Ramanand Swami’s Uddhav Sampraday, itself rooted in the Sri Vaishnavism of Ramanuja and the philosophy of Vishishtadvaita. Swaminarayan institutionalized his teachings by constructing temples (mandirs), creating a scriptural tradition, and establishing two main dioceses (gadis): the Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi (Vadtal) and Nar Narayan Dev Gadi (Karnavati), each with hereditary acharyas as spiritual heads. Swaminarayan’s teachings emphasize the ultimate goal of becoming Brahmarūpa — attaining the form of Aksharbrahman and thus liberation from the cycle of birth and death (moksha). His theology distinguishes between Parabrahman (the Supreme God, Purushottama or Narayana) and Aksharbrahman as two distinct, eternal realities, a...