In the challenging times of the nineteenth century, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan prepared saints of steadfast resolve, like unwavering warriors. Through these great sadhus of firm faith and spiritual realization, He flowed a powerful current of divine knowledge for the welfare of humanity, spreading the fragrance of Satsang across many lands.
One such meditative sadhu, Shatanand Swami, hailed from the village of Mathasur, located near Kadi-Kalol in the Dandhavya region. During a festival (samaiya), the devotees of Mathasur traveled to Gadhpur for the darshan of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan. They prayed to Him, saying, “Lord, please visit our village.” Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan gave them His word that He would certainly visit one day. In time, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan arrived at Mathasur. Bound by the love of His devotees, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, sat down to a meal of kansar (a sweet wheat preparation).
A pious Brahmin was serving ghee over the meal. Lost in divine sight, this Brahmin was savoring the sweetness of being in Maharaj’s presence. When Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan asked for water to rinse His mouth (chalu), the devotee, in his state of spiritual intoxication, handed Him a large vessel (bogharu) of ghee instead of water and said, “Here Maharaj, please rinse your mouth.” Seeing this, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan remarked, “Why would someone so oblivious to the ways of the world even remain in a household?” These divine words were etched into the heart of the Brahmin devotee. He immediately left with Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan for Vadtal. There, the Brahmin prayed to Maharaj, saying, “O Maharaj, please initiate me as a sadhu.” Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan gave him the auspicious name Shatanand Swami and placed him under the guidance of Muktanand Swami.
He was a humble, simple-natured, and sincere saint. Recognizing the greatness of Muktanand Swami, he served him according to his wishes and earned his rajipo. As a result of this pleasure, Muktanand Swami gifted him the sanctified footprints (charanarvind) of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan. Through the grace of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, he could remain in a state of samadhi (deep meditative trance) for ten to fifteen days without any formal yogic practice. Once, Gopalanand Swami remarked to him, “You remain absorbed in the divine form of Shreeji Maharaj in all three states of consciousness.” To ensure other saints could experience such divine bliss, Gopalanand Swami requested him to sit with the younger saints and explain how to achieve perfection in meditation, devotion, righteousness, and detachment. From that day on, he spent his life affectionately teaching both junior and senior saints about worship, spiritual discourses (katha-varta), chanting (dhun), and hymns (kirtan). Being a master of meditation, he taught many others, making them constant practitioners of meditative focus.
Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan also granted him the divine knowledge of His past, present, and future lilas, and Swami also realized his own previous identity as Maitreya Rishi. In the Swaminarayan Mahapuja, Shatanand Swami is addressed as the “holder of the Dharma Shastras (Dharma Shastra Dharine Shatanand Munindray).” He later accompanied Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan to Gadhada, where he composed great scriptures such as the Satsangi Jivan, Sarvamangal Stotram, and Janamangal Stotram. By authoring these texts, Shatanand Swami rendered invaluable service to Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan and the entire Sampraday. Shatanand Swami personally taught the Satsangi Jivan to his disciples, including Suvrat Muni (Swarupanand Swami), who later narrated it to King Pratap Singh in Jagannathpuri.
After Muktanand Swami departed for Akshardham, Shatanand Swami stayed with and served Gopalanand Swami. In the saints’ residence (dharmashala) at Vadtal, at the spot where Gopalanand Swami used to sit, Shatanand Swami installed two pairs of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan’s sanctified footprints.