In the Swaminarayan Sampraday, there have been many visionary and holy saints worthy of remembrance. These saints continuously traveled to reach the hearts of the people, transforming the barren lands of their souls into fragrant gardens blooming with the flowers of dharma (righteousness), bhakti (devotion), gnan (knowledge), and vairagya (detachment). Sukhanand Swami was one of the key builders of that divine garden.
Sukhanand Swami was born into a Nagar Brahmin family in Ujjain. Being a true mumukshu (seeker of liberation) in search of a Sadguru, he encountered Ramanand Swami, from whom he received diksha and was given the auspicious name Sukhanand.
He first had the darshan of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan at the stepwell in Loj, which sparked immense love for Him. However, he harbored a deep desire to make his parents followers of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan to ensure their liberation. Because of this, he insisted on traveling to Ujjain. Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan told him, “Your remaining lifespan is only one year; therefore, stay here in our service.” Despite this, due to his strong will, Sukhanand Swami set out alone from Jetalpur in Samvat 1869. While traveling, he entered a village courtyard, said “Jay Swaminarayan,” and hung his cloth bag (joli) on a peg; at that very moment, divine light spread in all directions throughout the courtyard.
Two ascetics (bawas) living in the courtyard witnessed this divine sight and felt an irrepressible urge to surrender to Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan. Consequently, Sukhanand Swami initiated them, naming one “Ramanujanand” and the other “Gopalanand.” Afterward, he traveled to the region of Gwalior and spread the hue Satsang to his parents, his two brothers, and his entire community.
In that region, there was a millionaire from the Kayastha community of Bengal. He had come to Gokul and built a pinnacled marble temple (shikharbandh mandir) in Vrindavan, installing the murtis of Radha-Krishna. He would feed Brahmins, give donations, and serve delicacies to traveling mendicants while personally eating only plain food every day. Being a sincere seeker, he met Sukhanand Swami while searching for the worship of the manifest form of God. Sukhanand Swami stayed there for a month and delivered spiritual discourses (katha) to the Kayastha man. Upon hearing these talks, the man gained the conviction that Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan is the manifest Supreme God.
The Kayastha man then wrote a letter and gave it to Sukhanand Swami, along with pedas from Mathura and a bottle of perfume (attar), saying, “Please deliver these personally into the hands of the manifest Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan.” Sukhanand Swami reached Gwalior, where he eventually left his physical body and became Aksharvasi (departed to Akshardham). Sukhanand Swami’s two brothers were followers of the Satsang, and they traveled to Vadtal to have the darshan of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan. When Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan asked for news of their well-being, they handed Him the letter. After reading the letter, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan remarked that the man had great affection for the Satsang, and since the Kayastha merchant had passed away, he would be reborn in the home of a devotee.
Humbly, we offer hundreds of salutations at the feet of Sadguru Sukhanand Swami, who sacrificed his life in the service of the Satsang by traveling to instill conviction in the manifest Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, spreading the light of inspiration in every direction.