LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi

The Laxminarayan Dev Gadi (Devnagari: लक्षिमिनारायन देव गदी) is one of the two Gadis that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is headquartered at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal and controls the Dakshin Vibhag.

The current Acharya of this Gadi is Acharya Shree Rakeshprasadji Maharaj.

History

In Vadtal, on Prabodhini Ekadashi of Vikram Samvat 1882, Swaminarayan adopted his nephews Ayodhyaprasadji Pande (Son of elder brother Ramprasadji) and Raghuveerji Pande (Son of younger brother Ichcharamji) as his sons. Establishing the two Gadis i.e. NarNarayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Ahmedabad and LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Vadtal, Swaminarayan instructed the two cousins to draw lots, to decide who would be seated on which Gadi.

Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj was appointed the inaugural Acharya of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi (also known as the Uttar Vibhag - Northern division), whilst Raghuveerji Maharaj became the inaugural Acharya of the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi (also known as the Dakshin Vibhag - Southern division).

The administrative division between the two is set forth in minute detail in a document written by Sahajanand Swami(Bhagwan Swaminarayan), called Desh Vibhaag Lekh. The method by which future Acharyas are to be appointed is enshrined in the document Desh Vibhag Lekh.

Swaminarayan then instructed all the followers present to do poojan of their respective Acharyas.

Acharyas

The following table lists all the Acharyas of the Vadtal Gadi till date.

Organisations

Organisations under the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi.

hree Swaminarayan Gurukul, Rajkot

A gurukul is a place of learning. Started by Dharmajivandas Swami in 1948 in Rajkot, the organisation imparts education to thousands of students in various parts of India today. Gurukuls have been established in places like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore over the years. [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayangurukul.org/introduction/introduction.html | title=Introduction to the Shri Swaminarayan Gurukul] This organisation is a totally independent organisation. The current head of this orgainisation is Madhavpriyadas Swami. The Acharya of the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi, however, is the highest spiritual authority at the Gurukuls.

LaxmiNarayan Dev Spiritual Organisation

Located in the San Francisco Bay area this organisation was formed at the behest of Acharya Shree Rakeshprasadji Maharaj to perform Satsang in the area. [cite web | url=http://www.vadtal-sfo.com/AboutUs.html | title=Original Swaminarayan Organisation Vadtal - SFO]

ee also

* Bhagwan Swaminarayan
* Swaminarayan Sampraday

References

* [http://www.swaminarayan.info/shastras/dvlekh.asp?scode=4 Desh Vibhag Lekh]
* [http://www.swaminarayan.info/Acharyas/ Acharyas of the Swaminarayan Sampraday]
* [http://www.lordswaminarayan.org.uk/Dharmkul.htm Dharmakul]
* [http://www.swaminarayan-oldham.org/acharayas_page.htm Swaminarayan Acharyas]