Sadguru Shree Pragnanand Swami was a luminous sadhu part of Nityanand Swami’s mandal. With a selfless and generous heart, he transformed many lowly and cruel-natured individuals into virtuous souls and lovers of Bhagwan.
Pragnanand Swami was from the village of Methan. Due to the curse of Durvasa Rishi, many sages had manifested in Methan, and it is noteworthy that 13 Nand Santo emerged from this single village. Consequently, Maharaj held deep affection for the devotees of Methan.
Once, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan visited Methan. A loving devotee named Harji Patel lived there, who had two sons named Jivrajbhai and Pitambarbhai. Pitambarbhai was a householder and had a son. However, when the sentiment of detachment (vairagya) touched Pitambarbhai, he became detached from worldly life and surrendered to Maharaj. Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan initiated him into the fellowship and gave him the auspicious name “Pitambaranand.”
In time, Pitambarbhai’s son also developed an irrepressible desire to become a sadhu. When he expressed his wish to Maharaj, Maharaj remarked, “A lion’s cub is indeed a lion,” and accepted him. He was given diksha and named “Pragnanand Swami.”
He became a disciple of Nityanand Swami. It is mentioned in the discourses of Tadrupanand Swami that Pragnanand Swami first had darshan of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan in Muli. Pragnanand Swami, Nishvadanand Swami, and Trigunatitanand Swami were all brothers. Among them, Pragnanand Swami stayed in Vadtal as Nityanand Swami’s disciple, while Nishvadanand and Trigunatitanand Swami resided in Gadhpur, where they served the storehouse (kothar) with selfless devotion. They had all memorized one thousand kirtans.
Pragnanand Swami was a humble and sincere sadhu. He wore out his life like sandalwood while spreading Satsang. Throughout his life, he obeyed the commands of Maharaj and earned His divine rajipo. While extensive information about Pragnanand Swami is limited, these accounts testify to his greatness.