Bhagwan Swaminarayan: An Introduction

Bhagwan Swaminarayan was a remarkable figure in nineteenth-century India. A social reformer who campaigned against female infanticide and sati (the burning of widows along with their husbands); a child prodigy, who, at the age of eight, debated and defeated some of India's greatest scholars; and a divine figure revered by millions as Supreme God; Bhagwan Swaminarayan has left an indelible imprint on Indian history and world religion. Mahatma Gandhi has said, "The work which Swaminarayan could do in Gujarat [a state of India], the rulers by their might could not do and would not be able to do."

A contemporary of the British presence in India, Bhagwan Swaminarayan is a well-documented historical figure, best known for his spiritual ministry. Bhagwan Swaminarayan's miraculous life, which includes a seven-year journey deep into the Himalayas as a teenage yogi, attracted nearly two million followers during his lifetime. Preaching the importance of pure devotion to God, Bhagwan Swaminarayan revitalized Hinduism in nineteenth-century India. He established a religious movement which has today become one of the world's most dynamic Hindu denominations.

Sadhu Mukundcharandas does an excellent job of presenting representative highlights from Bhagwan Swaminarayan's life in this well-researched and meticulously documented history. Interspersed between historical facts and timelines are insightful stories from Bhagwan Swaminarayan's life. For an introductory overview of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the religious movement he founded, Bhagwan Swaminarayan: An Introduction is an ideal companion.