Sarangpur: BAPS has in a statement today evening declared Mahant Swami Maharaj (Sadhu Keshavjivandas) as successor of Pramukh Swami.

An official statement quoting Pujya Doctor Swami(Sadhu Swayamprakashdas) reads: Four years ago, on 20 July 2012, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj had declared in a letter that His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj (Sadhu Keshavjivandas) would succeed him as the guru of BAPS. Thus, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is now the president of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, as the sixth spiritual head in the gunatit guru parampara tradition of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Henceforth, he will steer BAPS and further the great teachings and works of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

It should be mentioned here that Pujya Mahant Swami completed his B.Sc. (agriculture) in 1956 and took initiation as a sadhu at the hands of Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj in 1957. He is one of the senior sadhus of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, having served both Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

On Antim Darshan and last rites of Pramukh Swami, the BAPS statement says: His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of BAPS, passed away on 13 August 2016 at 6.00 p.m. in the sacred pilgrim place of Sarangpur. Devotees and well-wishers from all corners of India and the world have started thronging there for his final darshan. Sadhu Swayamprakashdas (Pujya Doctor Swami), a senior sadhu of BAPS, made an official statement that His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj is sincerely revered by countless people for his pure saintliness and selfless humanitarian services to society. To cater for this large influx of people, arrangements for his final darshan at Sarangpur have been made from 7.00 a.m. onwards, Sunday, 14 August 2016 till 11.00 a.m. Wednesday, 17 August 2016. During this period, darshan will be for 24 hours daily. The cremation rites will be performed on Wednesday, 17 August 2016 at 3.00 p.m. in the precincts of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir complex in Sarangpur. The final cremation rites will be broadcast live on live.baps.org at 3.00 p.m., Wednesday, 17 August 2016.

Also read from our archive: Pramukh Swami appoints Mahant Swami to provide guidance to BAPS followers

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