Serving as a beacon of the Kathi lineage, the only Bhaktraj to attain divine powers similar to Bhagwan among the followers of Shree Hari was the naishthik brahmachari Shree Alaiya Khachar.
Having taken a formidable vow in the prime of his youth to observe flawless brahmacharya throughout his life, this bhakt spread the light of knowledge in the lives of many through his eloquent speech. His native place was Jinjavadar, located 15 kilometers from Gadhpur. From childhood, he possessed such an aura of loyalty and grit that even death would tremble; as a result, he succeeded in turning his father, Samat Khachar—who was of an extremely cruel nature—towards the path of Dharma.
Through the profound and soul-stirring talks of Alaiya Khachar, the seeds of bhakti blossomed anew in many lives. The servants in his court and the laborers in his fields would all become satsangis. Indeed, history records that through his teachings, eighteen souls completely surrendered their lives to the refuge of satsang.
Among the devotees of that time, Alaiya Khachar is uniquely documented as a devotee whom Bhagwan graced with divine aishvarya (supernatural powers). Accompanied by twenty parshads, he traveled to the Valak region and, by merely touching people with a wand, induced samadhi, breathing new life into the satsang. The critics were convinced: “There is such power in a devotee of Swaminarayan that even our gurus do not possess.”
Nishkulanand Swami has noted this devotee’s divine powers, stating:
Kari utsavne pachhi maav, aapyu Alaiyane shirpaav;
After performing the festival, Maharaj gave Alaiya a gift of honor
This courageous and righteous devotee passed through grueling trials with ease. This aishvarya was not received as a mere gift; Maharaj granted him this strength after witnessing his life and unwavering loyalty. According to a famous account in the satsang, when Maharaj commanded eighteen landlords to become sadhus, this royal man renounced his kingly grandeur and jewelry right there on the road. He took off his rings, necklaces, and waistbands, tied them in a bundle, fastened it to the neck of his mare, and sent her back home. Upon receiving the command of Maharaj, he set off toward the life of a sadhu.
For this devotees, the command of Maharaj to “become a sadhu” was merely a severe test and not the final result; consequently, obeying the subsequent command of Maharaj, he also renounced the life of a sanyasi. However, he vowed never to marry.
Bhakt Alaiye lagna na kidhu, urdhvareta tanu vrat lidhu.
Devotee Alaiya did not marry; he took the vow of lifelong celibacy.
By the grace of his loyalty and brahmacharya, his voice could pierce through the veils of maya and reach Akshardham. The santo would say, “The follower of Swaminarayan goes only to Akshardham.” When Alaiya Khachar’s uncle challenged this statement—pointing out that a fellow devotee had passed away —Alaiya Khachar went to the cremation ground right before they were going to burn the body and let out a powerful call. “O Jehla!” On the seventh call, Jehla stood up from the wooden pyre and asked, “Why have you called me back here from Akshardham?” The skeptics were left speechless. Then, Alaiya had a dhun performed in the cremation ground, and Jehla left his body again to depart for Akshardham.
Even such a devotee was once touched by the stain of pride, which eventually led to his separation from the satsang; however, since his loyalty was deeply rooted, he realized his mistakes, and he ultimately rejoined the ranks of the Aksharmuktas.