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Mahant Swami Maharaj Age, Family, Biography & More

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Age: 91 Years
Religion: Hinduism
Hometown: Jabalpur

Mahant Swami Maharaj

Bio/Wiki
Birth NameKeshav Patel [1]Desh Gujarat
Other Name(s)• Vinu Bhagat
• Sadhu Keshavjivandas
NicknameVinu Patel (given by his family) [2]BAPS
ProfessionSpiritual Leader
Physical Stats & More
Eye ColourBlack
Hair ColourBald
Career
Honour In 2017, he was given Key to key to the city by the mayors of various cities including Toronto in Canada, Lilburn in Georgia, Irving in Texas, and Chicago in Illinois.
Personal Life
Date of Birth13 September 1933 (Wednesday)
Age (as of 2024) 91 Years
BirthplaceJabalpur, Madhya Pradsh
Zodiac signVirgo
NationalityIndian
HometownJabalpur
SchoolChrist Church Boys Senior Secondary School in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
College/UniversityBansilal Amrutlal College of Agriculture in Anand, Gujarat
Educational Qualificationa bachelor's degree of Science in Agriculture at the Bansilal Amrutlal College of Agriculture in Anand, Gujarat. [3]Desh Gujarat
ReligionSwaminarayan Sampradaya of the Vaishnava Sampradaya, a Hindu denomination
Food HabitVegetarian
Relationships & More
Marital StatusUnmarried
Family
Wife/SpouseN/A
ParentsFather- Manibhai Narayanbhai Patel (Businessman)
Mother- Dahiben
Style Quotient

Mahant Swami MaharajSome Lesser Known Facts About Mahant Swami Maharaj

  • Mahant Swami Maharaj is an Indian spiritual leader. He is the sixth successor of the Swaminarayan. He is the president and the guru of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
  • Mahant Swami Maharaj’s father was from Anand in Gujarat but moved to Jabalpur to start a dairy business. When he was only six months old, Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj visited their home in Jabalpur, blessed the newborn, and gave him a Kanthi mala (a necklace made of Basil seeds). Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj also named him Keshav, but his family called him Vinu.

    Mahant Swami Maharaj's childhood picture

    Mahant Swami Maharaj’s childhood picture

  • In May 1951, while Keshav Patel was in college, he met Pramukh Swami Maharaj for the first time when Pramukh Swami Maharaj and his followers visited Keshav Patel’s home. According to Mahant Swami Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj sincerely apologized to him for any inconvenience he may have caused as they left his house. He believes that it was at this exact moment that Yogiji Maharaj’s unmatched love and humility left a strong impression on him.

    Mahant Swami Maharaj during his college years

    Mahant Swami Maharaj during his college years

  • Over the next few years, during his college summer breaks, Keshav travelled with Pramukh Swami Maharaj to various places in India, listened to his teachings, and later, inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s way of life, he decided to become a monk.
  • In 1957, Pramukh Swami Maharaj ordained Keshav Patel as a pārshad and gave him the name Vinu Bhagat. Vinu Bhagat then became Yogiji’s assistant and accompanied him on travels for the following three years.
    Mahant Swami Maharaj after getting ordained in 1957

    Mahant Swami Maharaj after getting ordained in 1957

     

  • In 1960, Pramukh Swami Maharaj ordained Vinu Bhagat for the second time as a pārshad at Kapolvadi, Mumbai, along with eight other disciples. These nine disciples were referred to as ‘Nav Yogeshwars.’

    Vinu Bhagat (standing in centre) with Nav Yogeshwars

    Vinu Bhagat (standing in the centre) with Nav Yogeshwars

  • In 1961, Pramukh Swami Maharaj initiated Vinu Bhagat and 50 other disciples as Sadhu. Vinu Bhagat was the first among the 51 to receive the bhāgwati dikshā, and Yogiji Maharaj named him Sadhu Keshavjivandas. Following the initiation of the Sadhus, Swamiji entrusted Sadhu Keshavjivandas with the responsibility of overseeing the young Sadhus and appointed him as the ‘Mahant’ of Dadar Mandir in Mumbai. It was there that he acquired the name, Mahant Swami. [4]BAPS

    Mahant Swami Maharaj (sitting right to Yogiji Maharaj) after getting ordained as Sadhu

    Mahant Swami Maharaj (sitting right to Yogiji Maharaj) after getting ordained as Sadhu

  • In 1971, after Yogiji Maharaj passed away, he devoted himself to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the new guru. He travelled to different states and cities all over India, as well as to foreign countries. Since 1971, as per Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s guidance, Swami Maharaj has committed himself to supporting and strengthening the Satsang community. He has offered his services for Akshardham initiatives, children’s and youth programs, and various Satsang events during the BAPS mega-festivals.
  • In 1977, Mahant Swami Maharaj made his first visit to North America. He journeyed across the country by road, visiting the homes of followers and various BAPS temples in America alongside Pramukh Swami Maharaj, to foster a strong Satsang community.

    Mahant Swami Maharaj with Pramukh Swamiji in Toronto, Canada

    Mahant Swami Maharaj with Pramukh Swamiji in Toronto, Canada

  • In 1985, Mahant Swami Maharaj attended the Cultural Festival of India (CFI) in London and also inaugurated the CFI souvenir book. In 1986, Mahant Swami Maharaj took a team of Sadhus on a global journey to conduct research for creating exhibits of Akshardham in Gandhinagar. In 1988, Mahant Swami Maharaj led another group of Sadhus to 17 countries, including Nairobi, to celebrate Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 68th birthday.

    Mahant Swami Maharaj during the innauguration ceremony at CFI in London

    Mahant Swami Maharaj during the inauguration ceremony at CFI in London

  • On August 13, 2016, following the passing of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Mahant Swami Maharaj was appointed as the new leader and spiritual guide of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. He was declared as the sixth spiritual successor in Swaminarayan’s lineage of gurus. As the president of BAPS, he has travelled extensively around the world to arrange Satsangs and deliver teachings.

  • In February 2024, he travelled to Abu Dhabi as a state guest for the opening ceremony of the first BAPS Hindu temple in the Gulf nation.

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