![]() ![]() In India it is not uncommon for Hindu religious leaders to be involved in politics, but Pramukh Swami Maharaj played no public political role.Īfter the 2002 Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat, in which more than 1,000 people were killed, a newspaper reported that Pramukh Swami Maharaj had criticised the chief minister, Narendra Modi (now the prime minister), but he denied this. In 2000 he spoke at the United Nations millennium world peace summit of religious leaders, saying that: “True religion is that which inspires love for one another.” He was a staunch advocate of religious pluralism and the Hindu belief that there are different ways to God. Photograph: Christian SinibaldiĪs guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj travelled widely and met world leaders. Pramukh Swami Maharaj was responsible for the construction of hundreds of temples around the world, including the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Neasden, London. The BAPS sect differs again in believing that all the gurus who have followed, including Pramukh Swami Maharaj, have been Akshars, ideal devotees of God, through whom God can be seen and liberation achieved. All Swaminarayans believe that their founder was an incarnation of God, which differentiates them from other Hindus. A schism in the sect in the early 20th century resulted in the formation of BAPS. He established it in the early 19th century to spread a strict form of Hinduism promoting asceticism and social service. The BAPS sect is an off-shoot of the original sect named after its founder, Swaminarayan. He was responsible for the construction of hundreds of temples around the world, including the Hindu temple in Neasden, north-west London. He led the sect steadfastly for 45 years and expanded it internationally and in India. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who has died aged 94, was the fifth spiritual guru of the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu sect, which claims to have more than a million devotees. ![]()
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