Gopalanand Swami

Gopalanand Swami

Gopalanand Swami ( गोपालान्द स्वामी) (1781–1852) was a saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and one of Swaminarayan's paramhansas.

Biography

Born Khushal Bhatt, he was born in the village of Torda in Idar tehsil, Bhiloda taluka, Sabarkantha district, in northeastern Gujarat. Torda is surrounded by mountains. His father was an audichiya brahmin, Motiram Sharma and his mother was Kushaladevi Thakar. Gopalanand Swami pursued deep study and showed great interest of grammar, Indian philosophy of Nyaya and Vedanta. Gopalanand Swami was a scholar, with knowledge in Vyakaran (grammar), Nyaya, Mimasa, Astrology etc. Swaminarayan gave diksha (the becoming of a saint in which vows such as celibacy and renunciation of all personal possessions and of all worldly duties, including family ties are taken) to Gopalanand Swami in Vadodara, Gujarat. Swaminarayan held Gopalanand Swami in very high regard and he was very learned in Ashtang yoga. Gopalanand Swami died in 1850 in Vadtal.

Responsibility of the Swaminarayan Sampraday

Gunatitanand Swami is Aksharbhrahm though,When the Swaminarayan died (Vadtal, year 1830), he left responsibility of theSwaminarayan Sampraday and the Acharyas in his hands. Further, it is said that Swaminarayan had asked Brahmanand Swami to overlook the completion of the Junagadh Temple because he knew Brahmanand Swami had powers to bring a person back to life after death. He therefore instructed Gopalanand Swami not to inform Brahmanand Swami about his death till after the cremation of his mortal remains.

Sarangpur temple

Gopalanand Swami arranged for an idol of Kastabhanjan Dev Hanuman to be installed in the Sarangpur temple which is said to have come alive and moved when installed by him.