- 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 ofBochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha
quote=
footnotes=Sadhu Gnãnjivandas (
May 23 1892 –January 23 1971 ), commonly known as "Yogiji Maharaj", was anIndia nSadhu and the second leader ofBochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha , who is claimed to be the fourth spiritual successor toBhagwan 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 byShastriji 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] ]Notes
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