Parampujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj

What is left with a person who has given his all? Nothing. Nothing but himself. And that himself is everything. It is an ocean of goodness, of purity and humility, a summary of spirituality. And that is enough to inspire millions. In Swamiji’s presence, doubts dissolve, confusions clear, hurts heal and the mind finds peace. People find answers to life's toughest questions.
Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the present leader of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. He leads an austere life of lifetime celibacy, without personal wealth or comfort. Representing the essence of Hinduism,his compassion for humanity, universal wisdom and striking simplicity have touched many world religious and national leaders. But most important is his quiet, undisturbed love for God which rises beyond all borders of nation, race and religion.
Even after creating an international spiritual empire of hundreds of mandirs, thousands of centres and over a million followers, you’ll always find Swamiji engrossed in prayer. Sometimes at 2.30 in the morning, for his life is the living proof that prayers work and divine love succeeds.

Profile

Birth: 7 December 1921; Magshar sud 8, VS 1978.
Birthplace: Chansad, Gujarat.
Initiation: 10 January 1940; Posh sud 1, VS 1996.
Guru: Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj
Spiritual Head Since: 23 January 1971; Posh vad 11, VS 2027.
Villages Visited: Over 15,500.
Countries Visited: Over 50.
Homes Sanctified: Over 250,000.
Letters Read & Replied: Over 500,000.
Personally Counselled & Comforted: Over 810,000 people.
Mandirs Built & Consecrated: Over 700.
Sadhu Disciples: Over 800.

His Life

Index

1. Birth
2. Diksha
3. Put my Mind at Peace
4. Yogiji Maharaj Has Not Left US
5. Sdhus Are My Heart
6. Guru Bhakti
7. Neither Night Nor Day
8. It's Me Pramukh Swami
9. Panch Vartman
10. After You My Lord
11. My Satsangi
12. Laugh And Make a Play
13. Follow The Leader
14. Bettering People, Bettering Society
15. A Friend In Need
16. Spiritual Teaching Made Simple
17. With Blessings
18. Wings Of Gold
19. InterViews
20. Through The Eyes Of Other

Projects

Pramukh Swami Maharaj is credited as being the inspirer of the Swaminarayan Akshardham cultural complexes in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, Gujarat and also numerous traditionally built stone temples across the world, such as the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs in London, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Toronto and Nairobi.
He has contributed to projects in social (famine relief, cattle camps, earthquake relief work), educational (literacy campaigns, youth hostels), ecological (tree planting, well recharging, recycling projects), medical (diagnostic camps, blood donation), moral (anti-addiction drives), cultural (child and youth development), and spiritual areas.

Awards

In July 2000, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was awarded a place in the Guinness World Records as one of the 20 most influential people in the world.[2].
Also in July 2000, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London, a temple inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the Largest Hindu Temple outside India[3]
In November 2000, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London was awarded a Guinness World Record for the "Most Different Dishes on Display" where 1247 different vegetarian dishes were displayed. The dishes were on display as part of the Annakut festival, celebrating the North Indian Hindu New Year. [4]
On 17 December 2007, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was awarded a Guinness World Record for "Consecrating Most Hindu Mandirs (Temples) by a Single Person" for creating and consecrating, in accordance with Hindu rituals, 713 mandirs in five contintents between April 1971 and November 2007. In addition, BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the "World's Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple".
The first three records appeared in the 2000 and 2002 editions of the Guinness World Records whilst the others will appear in the 2009 edition.