A: Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830 CE)

• Bhagwan Swaminarayan incarnated in northern India in 1781 CE to grant eternal liberation to countless souls, remove misguided religious practices, and dispel misinterpretations that had crept into Hinduism.
• Heading a socio-spiritual revolution, he established the Swaminarayan Sampradaya at the age of 21, introducing social reforms, serving the poor and needy, and preaching against superstitions, addictions, and violence.
• He initiated 3,000 sadhus (ordained monks) and was recognised and worshipped as Bhagwan (God) during his lifetime by countless individuals.
• To continue his work of moral and spiritual regeneration, he promised to remain ever-present on this earth through an unbroken succession of enlightened, God-realised gurus.

B: Gunatitanand Swami (1785-1867 CE)

• Gunatitanand Swami was the first spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
• He lived a life of an ideal sadhu, dedicated to devotion of God, service of others, and sharing of profound wisdom.
• He was revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan to be Akshar (or Aksharbrahma), the perfectly enlightened devotee and the closest entity to God extolled in the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.
• As Akshar, he remains manifest on earth as the enlightened guru, helping aspirants attain God-realisation.

• Gopalanand Swami was a senior sadhu-disciple of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
• As a child, he mastered Ashtanga Yoga, the crowning glory of Yoga.
• He was an outstanding scholar and devoted himself to propagating the teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
• As a liberated soul, he is an inspiration to other devotees to follow in his exemplary devotion to and service of God.