In the history of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, more than one sadhu has been recorded by the name Yoganand Swami. One Yoganand Swami was a profound scholar of the Sanskrit language and was known as “Mota Yoganand Swami” (Senior Yoganand Swami); he was also regarded as the Guru of the Kathis.
The second Yoganand Swami was highly skilled in the art of music (gaan-vidya). When he used to sing with a voice full of emotion, even Shreeji Maharaj would feel fulfilled by immersing Himself in that ocean of devotion and would praise his devotional sentiment.
Shree Yoganand Swami earned a respectable place among the favorite singers of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, which was the ultimate achievement of his musical pursuit. Even today, he is worshipped with pride in the lineage of singer-saints contemporary to Maharaj. Despite this, specific biographical information that can be called “idam-it-tham” (precise or definitive) is not available about him.
However, since he is established as a singer-sadhu in the Mahapuja (yog shastra dharine yoganand munindray), it can be said with certainty that he was an excellent musician-saint.