Brahmanand Swami

Brahmananad Swami (Devnagari: ब्रह्मान्द स्वामी) was a saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Brahmanand Swami was also one of Bhagwan Swaminarayan's Paramahamsas

Biography

He was born Ladudan to Gadhavi Shambhudanji Barot and Laluba Charan in Khan (Sirohi district of Rajasthan) in the year 1828 (Vikram Samvat).

At the foot hills of great mountain Mt Abu, there is one small village named Khan, in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan state. Gadhavi Shambhudanji and mother Laluba devi gave birth to one of the Swaminarayan Sampraday's great saints, Brahmandand Swami.

Once Ladudanji attended the marriage ceremony of the King of Udaipur. He was young in his age but due to his brilliance, his schooling was completed well before time. There in the royal court he sang a few poems in Gujarati, praising king and his virtues. Rana of Udaipur pleased at the poetic genius of the child and asked Shambhudanji to allow him to be taught Pingal (science of constructing poetry) to the child at the cost of the state. Thus, Ladudanji learnt pingal and Sanskrit scriptures from Ladhaji Rajput of Dhamadka. Ladudanji became a scholar in Pingal, poetry and scriptures.

Ladudanji earned fame and wealth by visitng stately courts of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur etc. The States and kings were greatly impressed by his poetic genius. He earned many prizes, gifts and honours.

In Dhamadka, he bathed daily in river the Saranganga. There on the river bank, he met a hermit who told him that he was a released soul and will meet his God under the shade of a Khijda tree.

On one occasion Ladudanji visited Bhuj where he had heard about Swaminarayan. He went to the residence of Sundarjibhai to meet him.

Initiation as Sadhu

As he entered, he saw Swaminarayan clad in white cloth and gracing a majestic seat. Swaminarayan was addressing Satsang of Bhuj. Tears rolled from the eyes of Ladudan as he glanced at Swaminarayan. He was overwhelmed with great surge of emotion. From his place, he offered Dandavat pranam and words 'Aaj ni Ghadi re, Dhanya, Aaj in Gahdi' rolled out from his mouth in form of a devotional song praising divine attributes of Swaminarayan. Swaminarayan rose from his seat, rushed forward and embraced him.

Swaminarayan returned to Gadhada with poet Ladudanji. Ladudanji lived a majestic and royal life befitting a courtier. He was always clad in most precious attires and was adorning jewellery befitting royalty. Swaminarayan did not like such luxurious life style but instead of preaching directly he changed Ladudanji through the preaching of Laduba, Jivuba where he sent him to try and persuade them to enter marriage. Instead of giving them advise Laduba spoke words which touched Ladudanji's heart and realising who he was and the greatness of Swaminarayan he disowned all luxuries and submitted everything at the lotus feet of Swaminarayan. Thereafter, there were many instances and invitations from the princely states and kings to grace the court and receive the honour. But he never paid a heed to it.

On the way from Gadhpur to Siddhapur, there is one small village named Gerita. Swaminarayan stopped at Gerita and administrated Bhagwati Deeksha (initiation as sadhu to Ladudanji by giving sainthood name 'Shrirangdasji.' After some time, he renamed him as Brahmanand Swami.

Works

Like Muktanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami was an excellent poet. His skills and brilliance in temple building is evident in temples like Muli, Vadtal and Junagadh. He was true genius, practical and unique in every sense and very popular because of humour.

Besides the construction of great temples in Muli, Vadtal, Junagadh etc, Brahmanand Swami had written scriptures in Hindi and Gujarati. 'Brahmanand Kavya' is the collection of his works.

References

* [http://vadtal.com/our-saints-3.html Brahmanand Swami]

External links

* [http://swaminarayan.info Website of the Shri Swaminarayan Sampraday]