Shree Macha Khachar was the village head of Kariyani. Even before his introduction to Satsang, he was a man of firm Dharma. Without falling into the traps of Tantra, Mantra, or Jantra, he worshiped Bhagwan according to scriptural rituals and maintained a sadavrat (charitable food distribution).
Among the beloved Kathi devotees of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, Macha Khachar was the first to have the darshan of Maharaj and to welcome Him into his darbar. In V.S.1860 (1804 C.E.), when Maharaj celebrated the Janmashtami samaiyo in Mangrol, Macha Khachar went there for darshan. Witnessing the infinite divine majesty (aishvarya) of Maharaj, he became a devotee. This event is recorded in the Harililamrut:
E avsare Mache Khachare, pekhyo Prabhu pratap apar | Shishya thaya tyare Shreejina, jani sarvopari avatar ||
“On that occasion, Macha Khachar witnessed the infinite divine glory of the Lord. Recognizing Him as the supreme incarnation, he then became a disciple of Shreeji Maharaj.”
The faith in Maharaj that Macha Khachar developed in Mangrol remained unshakable his entire life. The following year, he went to Sardhar for Janmashtami. Upon returning, this bhaktraj sprinkled the nectar of bhakti into the hearts of the residents of Gadhpur. By talking about the glory of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, he made their hearts throb with devotion. Giving the people of Gadhpur a promise that “We will surely call for you when Maharaj visits Kariyani,” Macha Khachar returned to Kariyani.
After completing chaturmas in Sardhar, Maharaj arrived in Kariyani. Bound by the bhakti of Macha Khachar, Maharaj felt completely at home there. After becoming head of the Uddhav Sampraday, Maharaj initiated His social service works from Kariyani. He had a pond excavated which in turn provided drinking water to thousands. On the occasion of the pond’s completion ceremony (purtakarma), Macha Khachar offered all of his wealth at the lotus feet of Maharaj. To put that wealth to noble use, Maharaj performed the first Vishnu Yaag in the history of the Sampraday. Upon receiving a letter from Kariyani in V.S. 1861, the people of Gadhpur had their first darshan of Maharaj in the darbargadh (court) of Macha Khachar.
Once, a letter arrived from Maharaj from Gadhpur, stating, “Come to Gadhpur immediately upon receiving this letter.” As Macha Khachar was leaving with his puja, Vasta Khachar (his nephew) stopped him, saying, “Two hundred acres of cotton are ready; at least go there and come back, otherwise it will be ruined. Settle that matter before you leave.” Thinking about how to respond to Vasta Khachar’s concern, Macha Khachar went to the shepherds and said, “Tomorrow, graze all the sheep and goats of this village and the surrounding villages in my field.” With the matter of the cotton now resolved, Macha Khachar set off for Gadhpur. Such was his level of vairagya.
He renounced not just material objects but even his family at a mere glance from Maharaj. In the list of the eighteen householder paramhansas initiated by Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, this bhaktraj’s name was first (Macha, Sura, Somla, Alaiya…). When Veerdas Patel reached the farm and placed the letter in Macha Khachar’s hands, he immediately sent for geru (orange earth dye) from a potter, donned saffron clothes, and went straight to Bhuj without looking back. There, he had the darshan of Maharaj. Maharaj then named him “Achintyanand Swami.” After keeping him for a few days and granting him immense bliss, Maharaj gave him the agyna to return home.
Obeying the agyna, Macha Khachar removed the saffron robes but he did not get married. He observed lifelong brahmacharya. Consequently, Maharaj would frequent his home and grant him limitless joy.
Because Macha Khachar led a life dedicated to Satsang while observing the vow of celibacy, the affairs of his estate were managed by Vasta Khachar. When Vasta Khachar became a widower and, due to social pressure, sought to remarry, Macha Khachar threatened him with a drawn sword. To save his life, Vasta Khachar fled to Maharaj in Gadhpur and prayed for Him to counsel his uncle. Maharaj immediately mounted His mare and came to Kariyani. He exclaimed, “You remain in the world by My command, yet you harbor such anger?” As a result, Shreeji Maharaj initiated Macha Khachar as a Sadhu once again and sent him to do satsang vicharan through the villages. He had been made a Sadhu once and sent back; yet, upon receiving the agyna again, he became a Sadhu once more, demonstrating his obedience.
Having transformed from Macha Khachar to Achintyanand Swami, Swami left Earth for Akshardham in the village of Bamangam (near Vadodara)