His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj standing with Thakorji in front of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chicago, Illinois.

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj standing with Thakorji in front of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chicago, Illinois.

Guru Parampara

Mahant Swami Maharaj

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the present leader of BAPS.

As a child, he was blessed by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj, the founder of BAPS. Attracted by the spiritual charisma and selfless love of Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj, he accepted monastic initiation in 1961 and was named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. Having served Yogiji Maharaj with all his heart, he was appointed as the head (‘mahant’) of the BAPS mandir in Mumbai. Over time, he became fondly known as Mahant Swami.

After Yogiji Maharaj’s passing in 1971, Mahant Swami Maharaj continued to serve devoutly under the guruship of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, traveling relentlessly throughout the world to inspire countless individuals through his profound and thought-provoking spiritual discourses. He has also offered deep insight and guidance during BAPS’s grand festivals, children’s and youth activities, and many other BAPS mandirs and initiatives.

His steadfast virtues of austerity, self-control, devotion, humility and service earned him the blessings of both Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Mahant Swami Maharaj now presides as the guru and spiritual guide to countless devotees and helms the worldwide spiritual and humanitarian activities of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

A Timeline

Images from His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj’s life.

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj was born on Wednesday 13 September 1933 in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India. His parents, Manibhai and Dahiben Patel, named him ‘Vinu’.
A few months later, His Holiness Shastriji Maharaj, the founder of BAPS, visited Jabalpur, where he blessed the young child and affectionately named him ‘Keshav’. Manibhai’s family, however, continued to address him as ‘Vinu’.
Vinubhai came into the contact of His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj, the spiritual successor of Shastriji Maharaj, as a teenager. Impressed by Yogiji Maharaj’s spiritual charisma and selfless love, he travelled with Yogiji Maharaj during his summer vacations. Yogiji Maharaj’s spiritual aura and affection drew the young Vinubhai closer towards him.
Vinubhai studied until the 10th grade at Christ Church Boys’ Senior Secondary School in Jabalpur, before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture at the Bansilal Amrutlal College of Agriculture in Anand.
Vinubhai was ordained as a swami by His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named ‘Sadhu Keshavjivandas’.
Yogiji Maharaj appointed Sadhu Keshavjivandas as the ‘mahant’ (head) of the BAPS mandir in Dadar, Mumbai, entrusting him with the responsibility of overseeing the young swamis studying there. He soon came to be known as ‘Mahant Swami’.
Mahant Swami accompanied His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj to the UK in 1970. During the visit, Yogiji Maharaj inaugurated one of the first Hindu mandirs in the UK and the first Swaminarayan mandir in the Western hemisphere, in Islington, north London.
Following the passing of His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj in 1971, Mahant Swami continued to serve under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. His humility and dedication to service inspired youths who had recently joined the monastic order.
Mahant Swami accompanied His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj on a spiritual tour of East Africa, UK, North America and South Africa in 1977. He travelled extensively and willingly accepted various hardships to nurture and guide devotees and well-wishers.
Mahant Swami led the landscaping across a 200-acre campus in Gujarat, India, during an international festival that was held to commemorate the bicentenary celebrations of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Over 8 million visitors attended over 37 days.
Mahant Swami led a group of swamis and volunteers on a research trip around the world for the upcoming Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar.
Mahant Swami accompanied His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj at the inauguration ceremony of Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, during the centennial birth anniversary celebrations of His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj.
Mahant Swami accompanied His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1995 during the inauguration of Neasden Temple in London, the first traditional Hindu mandir outside of India.
Mahant Swami participated in the inauguration ceremony of Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi, created by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and later recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest comprehensive temple in the world.
Following the passing of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Mahant Swami Maharaj was revealed as the present guru and administrative head of BAPS. His continuing devotion, reverence and service to Pramukh Swami Maharaj is an inspiration to countless devotees across the world.
In 2017, Mahant Swami Maharaj embarked upon a world tour, including to North America – his first religious tour as the spiritual leader of BAPS. During this visit, Mahant Swami Maharaj ceremoniously dispersed the sacred ashes of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in multiple locations across North America.
Mahant Swami Maharaj continued his tireless travels around the world to nourish spiritual aspirants with his universal Vedic wisdom. In 2018, he visited several countries, including Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Thailand.
As a part of his travels to the UAE in April 2019, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, where he shared a special prayer for peace and harmony.
Mahant Swami Maharaj continued Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s mandir-building legacy by inaugurating several mandirs around the world, including in Navsari in 2020.
Mahant Swami Maharaj presided over the month-long celebrations marking the centennial birth anniversary of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. He inspired more than 80,000 volunteers to create a 600-acre cultural wonderland that received over 12 million visitors from around the world, including several religious, community and national leaders.