Sadhu Gnãnjivandas

Infobox Hindu leader
name= Yogiji Maharaj


birth-date= May 23, 1892
birth-place= Dhari, Gujarat, India
birth-name= Jinabhai Vasanji
death-date= January 23, 1971
death-place= Bombay, Maharashtra, India
guru= Shastriji Maharaj
honors= Global Expansion of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha
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Sadhu Gnãnjivandas (May 23 1892–January 23 1971), commonly known as "Yogiji Maharaj", was an Indian Sadhu and the second leader of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, who is claimed to be the fourth spiritual successor to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. [cite web | url=http://www.baps.org/yogijimaharaj/life/2.htm | title=Yogiji Maharaj]

Born Jinabhai Vasanji to Devchandbhai and Puribai Vasanji in the village of Dhari in Gujarat, India, he showed an inclination towards Hindu spirituality from an early age, according to his followers. [cite web | url=http://www.baps.org/yogijimaharaj/life/2.htm | title=Yogiji Maharaj's Life - Jinabhai in Meditation] As a result, he chose to become an ascetic, and received initiation into monkhood with the name Sadhu Gnãnjivandasji. [cite web | url=http://www.baps.org/yogijimaharaj/life/13.htm | title=Yogiji Maharaj's Life - Krishnaji Ada's Blessings]

Yogiji Maharaj was given diksha by Shastriji Maharaj at the age of 16.

As a sadhu (ascetic monk), Sadhu Gnãnjivandas was said to be well respected for his humility as he kept himself "busy in the service of others" and "never complained of fatigue". [cite web | url=http://www.baps.org/yogijimaharaj/life/16.htm | title=Yogiji Maharaj's Life - A Hard Working Saint] Although lacking a formal Western education himself, he had success in attracting educated people – including doctors and engineers – to renounce their worldly lives and join the monkhood. [cite web | url=http://www.baps.org/yogijimaharaj/life/27.htm | title=Yogiji Maharaj's Life - Youths Become Sadhus] Yogiji Maharaj is also well known for spreading the BAPS Swaminarayan faith internationally. The faith spread to Nairobi, Africa and London, England. [ [http://www.baps.org/yogijimaharaj/index.htm Yogiji Maharaj] ]

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