Birth Day

Fagan Vud 1 (Dhuleti) Vikram Samvat 1996
( Saturday, March 23, 1940 A.D.)

Birth Place

Sokhda, Dist: Vadodara, Gujarat, India

Parents

Mother: Kamlaba
Father: Shankarbhai

As a youth group leader within the Swaminarayan movement, Saheb was instructed by Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj in his college years to conduct weekly prayer meetings. Saheb acted upon his Guru’s every word, and up to 350 boys would attend. During this time, Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj asked Saheb to observe strict vows, usually taken by those who have renounced all wordly ties.

Without the saffron robe, Sant Bhagwant Sahebji went unrecognized. However, his spiritual height could not be hidden and his simplicity, humility and child like innocence have drawn thousands to him. Within the span of 40 years thousands of seekers worldwide have been touched by his compassion and grace and in turn have devoted themselves to living according to his teaching.

Sant Bhagwant Sahebji’s teaching has incorporated science within spirituality and has shown its relevance to the modern era. In the past 30 years he has inspired and carried out tremendous work in the fields of education, health and social welfare. Sant Bhagwant Sahebji has taught that ‘To Serve Humanity Is To Serve God’ and this simple truth has been given life by all of the sadhaks of Anoopam Mission through their extensive charitable works.

Spiritual Predilections from Early Childhood

Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj touched Saheb’s life when Saheb was a child, recognizing that Saheb was a highly elevated soul. When Saheb was still merely a youth, Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj openly declared Saheb to be his partner in spiritual work. Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj said ‘Oh Jashubhai Saheb! You have not come into this world for worldly pursuits. Your birth has been taken to guide innumerable souls in their pursuit of the Divine.’

Initiation as a Sadhu

Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj ultimately inspired Saheb and eight others to become ‘sadhus’ but in a way much different from what was done before. Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj wanted these sadhus, known as ‘Vratdhari Sadhaks’, to be different in that they were not to don the saffron robe. They were to practice renunciation from ‘within’ and were to remain in plain clothes. This was unprecedented in the history of the Swaminarayan movement.

Blessings of Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj

Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj showered his utmost blessings on Saheb when he publicly told him that ‘I shall fulfill every resolution made by you and if I do not then it will be my loss, and any resolution that you do not make will be your loss’. Brahmaswarup Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj proceeded to bless Saheb to lead others to spiritual realisation.