Birth Day

Aaso Sud Purnima (Sharad Purnima) Vikram Samvat 1841
(17 October 1785 A.D.)

Birth Place

Bhadra, Dist: Jamnagar, Gujarat, India

Parents

Mother: Sakarba
Father: Bholanathji

Childhood Names

Mulji, Mulji Bhagat, Mulji Sharma
(Guru Ramanand Swami had christened Gunatitanand Swami with these names)

Divine Inclination in the Early Childhood

When his father encouraged Mulji to enjoy his childhood days in playful and care-free way while advocating the postponement of devotional activities to later age, the divine child courteously pointed out, ‘look father, not a single person in the whole village in his or her later age is found to be devoting their time to God; instead they are indulging in gossip and wasting their energy in useless activities. Therefore, one must never postpone devotional activities to later age, but rather engross oneself as fully as one can in the devotion and service of God especially during one’s prime youth.

Yagnopavit (Adorning of the Sacred Thread) Ritual

Jeth Sood 5, Vikram Samvat 1849 (Thursday, June 13, 1793 A.D. at the age of 8).

Mulji Bhagat sees Bhagwan Swaminarayan for the First Time

Mulji Bhagat saw Bhagwan Swaminarayan for the first time on Kartik sood 11, Vikram Samvat 1857 (At the age of 15), in Piplana village, when Guru Ramanand Swami initiated Nilkanth into the spiritual order and named Him as Sahajanand Swami and Narayan Muni.

Mulji Bhakta Ordained to Pursue Greater Spiritual Goal

On the auspicious day of Kartik Sood Poornima in Vikram Samvat 1857, When Mulji Bhakta was working in his field, Shreeji Maharaj appeared before him in his consciousness and ordained, ‘Mulji ! You have come to this world to realize a greater mission, so move on…’ And Mulji Bhakta immediately took the road to reach Shreeji Maharaj to dedicate himself in pursuit of the spiritual goals.

Formal Initiation into the Sainthood

On Posh Sood Poornima (the full moon day of the Indian Calendar month of Posh) in Vikram Samvat 1866 (Saturday, January 20, 1810 A.D.), Shreeji Maharaj initiated Mulji Bhakta into Sainthood by performing a Yagna in Dhabhan village (near present-day Nadiad Town) in Gujarat State of Western India. After this initiation Mulji Bhakta was christened as “Gunatitanand Swami” (At the age 24) by Shreeji Maharaj.

‘One who serves is the Master here’

Once, Gunatitanand Swami, the Chief Saint of the Junagadh temple, was busy cleaning the foreground of the temple in Junagadh. The chief priest of the Tarnetar Temple arrived and asked Swamiji about the Chief Priest of the Junagadh Temple. Swamiji very courteously replied, ‘please make yourself comfortable in the temple, the chief priest will see you soon there.’ After having a quick wash, Swamiji went into the temple and very politely introduced himself and took the seat of the Chief Priest. ‘Oh !’, the Tarnetar Priest expressed his astonishment, ‘but you were cleaning the foreground just a short while ago, weren’t you ?’ ‘Yes Swamiji !’, replied Gunatitanand Swamiji with folded hands, ‘he who serves is the master here !’

Divine Work of Gunatit

Gunatitanand Swami used to say, ‘We know nothing. Whatever we do is like the mother who cleans her baby and puts the child in the lap of the father. Similarly, we purify the souls engrossed in Maya and put them at the feet of the Lord. We know only this and we do it ceaselessly.’

The Gospels of Bhagwan Swaminarayan introducing Gunatitanand Swami as Mool Akshar Moorti

At the time of initiation of Gunatitanand Swami into the Sainthood… ‘This Mulji Bhakta has realized Me in himself totally. He will propagate our greatness… He is our abode… He is the Brahma himself…’

After the installation of the idols in the Junagadh Temple, Shreeji Maharaj held Swamiji’s hand and told Shri Kurji Dave… ‘I am offering my abode ( in the form of Gunatitanand Swamiji ) to the devotees of the Sorath region and thus I am fulfilling my promise made to you…’

In Sarangpur, while enjoying the Festival of Dhuleti, the festival of colour, in the royal court of Dhadhal Khachar, Shreeji Maharaj placed his cane on the heart of Gunatitanand Swamiji and recited the kirtan of the festival of Holi… ‘This Sadguru Gunatitanand Swami is the one whom billions of Krishnas revere…’

Moments before the divine valediction of His physical body from this world, Shreeji Maharaj uttered these words to Gunatitanand Swamiji… ‘How can I ever forget you dear, since I am so intricately associated with you…’

After the divine Valediction of the physical body of Shreeji Maharaj from this world, one early morning Gunatitanand swamiji fell in unconcious because of the grief. Shreeji Maharaj appeared before Swamiji in his consciousness and said… ‘I am not at all gone, Swamiji, I manifest in you…’

Time Period that Swamiji Spent with Shreeji Maharaj as Saint

20 years

Divine Valediction

At the age of 82, the physical body of Gunatitanand Swamiji seated in the Swastik Aasan in the Assembly hall of the Temple in Gondal bade farewell to this world on Aaso Sood 13, Vikram Samvat 1923 (October 11, 1867) at 00:45 hrs.