Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj was born on Fagan Vad 4 V.S. 1868 (C.E. 1812) in the village of Ambalia to Shree Iccharamji and Shree Variyali Devi. Having many virtues, such as knowledge of the Vedas and being humble, Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj was loved dearly by his parents.
As the time came for Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan to return to Akshardham, He wanted to ensure that the Sampraday would continue to flourish. Therefore, he adopted Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj (aged 14) and Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj (aged 17) as His own sons and appointed them as the first Acharyas of Shree Laxminarayan Dev – Vadtal Gadi and Shree Narnarayan Dev – Ahmedabad Gadi respectively.
After Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan returned to Akshardham, the Paramhansas followed His agyna by obeying the agyna of Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj. Although he was a grahasth (householder), he forever remained in the service of Shree Harikrishna Maharaj and Shree Laxminarayan Dev. He also remained in the service of Sadhus and showed them great respect because he saw their commitment to keeping their mind steadfast on nothing but Shreeji Maharaj. He would even take care of sick Sadhus in Vadtal Mandir. One known account states that Raghuvirji Maharaj woke up in the middle of the night to feed bajra no rotlo to an ill sadhu.
Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj did pran pratishtha of Shree Ranchodrai in Vadtal along with Shree Harikrishna Maharaj in Gadhada, Junagadh, and Dholera. In Gadhada, he also installed Charnarvind in the Smruti Mandir and Shree Revti-Baldevji in the main mandir. In Rampura (Surat), he installed the murti of Shree Narayanmuni Dev. He also established mandirs in Burhanpur, Khambhat, Manavadar, Salangpur, Savda, Una, among other places.
Raghuvirji Maharaj also had many scriptures published under his leadership including Shree Harililakalpatru, Bhavprabodhini, Bhavartha Prakashika, and Shikshapatri Sanskrit Bhashya. He also organized a massive four-month Satsang Chhavni (shibir) in Vadtal in V.S. 1912 (1856 C.E.) which is documented in the Harililakalpatru.
Raghuvirji Maharaj also had firm conviction in Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan. Whenever challenges arose from debating scholars anywhere in Ahmedabad Desh or Vadtal Desh, He would summon and send eminent sadhus like Sadguru Shree Nityanand Swami, regardless of where they were located. As mentioned in the Shree Hari Charitra Chintamani Part-3, to resolve a challenge posed by Gosaiji in Ahmedabad, He immediately summoned Sadguru Shree Nityanand Swami from Vadodara and sent him to Acharya Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj. This reflects the spirit of sectarian unity that Raghuvirji Maharaj lived by.
After 37 years as Acharya, Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj went to Akshardham and appointed his nephew, H.H. 1008 Acharya Shree Bhagwatprasadji Maharaj, as the 2nd Acharya of the Vadtal Gadi. Under the leadership of Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj, the Sampraday flourished in ways that can still be seen today.