Brahmanand Swami

Childhood

He was given the name Ladudan. He was born in the town of Khangam in Shirohi district. He was a skilled and intelligent person who was capable of gratifying his audience through his talents. Once he was invited by the king of Shirohi to perform on a grand stage reciting his kirtans accompanied by musical instruments. The audience and the king were mesmerized by his talent. Ladudan further enhanced his career, his knowledge by going to Kutch. He learnt shastras within 10 years. The king of Kutch showered Ladu Dan with hefty rewards of gold diamonds and many costly possessions.

Introduction as Sadhu

For further studies Ladudanji’s parents thought to send their son to Bhuj as Bhuj was esteemed for its education. His parents were tensed about sending him as he was too young to go alone. Ladudanji then went to Bhuj with a Brahmin. At the age of 28, he finished his studies. He travelled a lot in Gujarat and decided to find Lord Swaminarayan, a name that was heard while on his travels and went to meet him. Swaminarayan was speaking to a crowd in Bhuj. Ladudanji was thrilled to see him. With the poet Ladudanji, Swaminarayan went back to Gadhada.

Ladudanji lived a grand and luxurious life as befitting a courtier. He was always dressed in the most expensive clothes, decorated with jewellery fit for royalty. But Swaminarayan was different. He did not like such a royal lifestyle. Rather than approaching directly he slowly convinced Ladudanji who then became an ascetic.

For a while Ladudanji stayed at Gadhada, where he met Ebhal Khatcher and his daughters. The daughters of Ebhal Katcher’s Jeevuba, Laduba, Nanuba and Panchuba did not want to get married. Lord Swaminarayan told Ladudanji to convince the girls to get married. Ladudanji depended on his brains to convince them. He hoped that he could persuade Laduba to get married but the opposite took place. Laduba told him to have one foot in the world and one foot with Lord Swaminarayan (attachment to the world or Lord Swaminarayan). This teaching of Laduba made Ladudanji to become a saint.

As a result he was named as “Shree Rang Das” as he gained his rank from ‘Shree’ Lakshmiji (Laduba), Diksha took place in 1861. One morning Shree Rangdasji was singing devotional songs on a fine morning and at the end, Lord Swaminarayan touched the head of the poet and said “Oh Brahmanand you are now drowned in an intoxication of Brahmin.” Listening to the word Brahmanand, Shree Rangdasji said “I like this name, Shree Rangdasji does not suit the poems.” The name was accepted by Lord Swaminarayan and renamed Shree Rangdasji as Brahmanand Swami. Saint Brahmanand Swami could make Lord Swaminarayan happy even if he was in an awful mood. He managed the construction of 3 beautiful mandirs known as Muli, Vadtal and Junagadh.

Later in 1886 Lord Swaminarayan was all set to go back to Akshardham, his heavenly home. Lord Swaminarayan understood that it was impossible for him to leave this world if Brahmanand Swami was present. Lord Swaminarayan then got a letter from Gunatitananda Swami at Junagadh which asked Lord Swaminarayan to send Brahmanand Swami to solve some issues concerning the building of a mandir. Brahmanand Swami was asked to go and sort it as instructed by Lord Swaminarayan.

While solving the problems of the mandir Brahmanand Swami noticed Baguji Bhagat approaching him. He heard the news that Lord Swaminarayan had passed away. As soon as hearing the news Brahmanad headed to Gadhada where Lord Swaminarayan Agni Sanskar took place. Gopalanand Swami stated to Brahmanand Swami that Lord Swaminarayan would be ever present with his astral body as he is Omnipresent and consoled him. Brahmanand Swami headed straight to Gadhada mandir in the presence of Gopinathji Maharaj. Lord Swaminarayan showed up in front of Brahmanand Swami and adorned him. Lord Swaminarayan will always reside in the Murtis of himself Brahmanand Swami believed.

Brahmanand Swami breathed his last breath in 1888, on 10 bright half of Jyesta. It was known that he lived for 60 years, 5 months and 5 days.

Major works

No doubt that Brahmanand Swami was a mind blowing poet. His talent and ideas in temple construction is found in temples like Muli, Vadtal and Junagadh. Other than the building of huge temples, scriptures were also written by Brahmanand Swami in Hindi and Gujarati. One of the collections of his works was ‘Brahmanand Kavya’. A copy of this is preserved in the British Museum in London.