The founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, Lord Swaminarayan was born on 3rd April 1781, in the village of Chhapiya near Ayodhya in North lndia. Having mastered the scriptures by the age of 7, He renounced home at 11 to embark upon a 7 year spiritual pilgrimage on foot across the length and breadth of India. Eventually settling in Gujarat, He spent the next 30 years of His life spearheading a socio-spiritual revolution. With a faithful following of 500 Paramhansas,  He established the Swaminarayan Sampraday, introducing social reforms, serving the poor and the needy, challenging superstitions, addictions, and blind faith. His work concentrated on promoting personal morality and moulding spiritual character. In a life span of 49 years, He eriched hymanity with six majestic mandirs, revealed the Vedic Philosopy of Akshar Purushottam worship, and imparted deep spritual wisdom in the sacred scripture - Vachanamrut. In His own lifetime, He was worshipped as God by over 2 million devotees. And He promised to remain ever present on earth through a succession of spiritual Gurus - Aksharbrahman, Gunatitanand Swami, Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj and presently Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The Bhakti Sampraday He founded has emerged as one of the the most progressive and purest forms of Hinduism.