Yogiraj Shri Gopalanand Swami

Early life 

Gopalanand Swami was born in the was born in the Sabarkantha District’s, Todla Village of Bhiloda Taluka, Gujarat on Monday of Maha sud-8th of Vikram Samvat 1837. Todla is a beautiful village in the Aravali mountain range. His father was an Audichya Brahmin named Motiram Sharma and his mother was Kushaladevi. He was named Khushal.

Khushal Bhatt had great devotion for the Lord from his childhood and his divinity since a very young age is evident from the fact that Lord Shree Krishna (Shamlaji) used to come and play with him (this is mentioned in Shamlaji temple history). In his childhood he pursued deep study and showed great interest in grammar, Indian philosophy of Nyaya and Vedanta.

Meeting with Bhagwan Swaminarayan 

Khushal Bhatt once learnt about the visit of Sarveshwaranand Swami to Dabhoi and went for his darshan and attended his discourses. He joined Sarveshwaranand Swami and went to Dabhan where he had the Darshan of Sahajanand Swami. Shreeji Maharaj rose from his seat, came forward and hugged him with great love and affection. Khushal Bhatt expressed his desire to be with him forever, but Sahajanand Swami sent him back to Todla. Honouring God desire Khushal Bhatt went back to Todla and opened a school.

Khushal Bhatt meeting with Shreeji Maharaj in Jetalpur is also a miraculous episode. Later Khushal Bhatt was initiated as Gopalanand Swami by Shreeji Maharaj in Gadhada.

Swami Yog Sadhana 

Gopalanand Swami was a master of Ashtang Yog. A great Nadi Vaidya (Ayurved physician who identifies illness using the pulse) Hemraj Shah of Sundariyana was a staunch devotee of Lord Shree Krishna. Even though he was very learned, kind in serving the ailing without distinction of rich or poor and chief in his Brahmin caste, he disliked the fact that his sons were devotees of Lord Swaminarayan.

Once Gopalanand Swami called him on the pretext of his illness and asked him to check his pulse. Swamiji by his yogik talent made his body such that there was no pulse, his body felt as if it were a dead body, but at the same time Swami was talking to Hemraj Shah. Hemraj Shah was astonished by this and knew that only God (Shree Krishna) can do it. He bowed at Swami feet and said, you are Lord Shree Krishna. Swami replied I am just a devotee and my Lord is Lord Swaminarayan. Hemraj Shah then became a staunch devotee of Lord Swaminarayan.

Swami control of the Universe 

Krishnaram Shastri was a renowned Astronomer in the Gaikwad kingdom of Vadodra, Gujarat and a devotee of Lord Swaminarayan. Other scholars in the kingdom envied him as the kingdom had a liking towards him.

Once there was a lunar eclipse forecast. And Krishnaram declared that according to his calculations the eclipse will not occur. Other scholars were adamant that the eclipse will occur and thus from a war of words the exchange turned into a bet, where others asked Krishnaram if he would bet his head, to which Krishnaram agreed. He then returned home and calmly did his calculations again and to his shock found that the eclipse was actually going to occur as the other scholars said.

He felt very sorry for his behavior and approached Gopalanand Swami and told him of his situation. Gopalanand Swami told him never to indulge in such activities. Swami told him that he shall change the positions and the speed of the earth and the moon to save him. Swami did so and to everyone surprise the eclipse did not occur when it was supposed to.

Swami boon to a young sadhu 

Once Swami traveled from Gadhada to Vadtal and was sick. He was tired and ill so a younger sadhu remained at his service for the entire night without taking any rest. When Swami awoke in the morning, he noticed the sadhu still serving him and asked him, have you had any rest ? the sadhu replied, you are older to me and ill and tired, but I am young and able, so it does not matter if I dont rest for a night. Gopalanand Swami was extremely pleased by his attitude and asked him to make a wish. The young sadhu told Swami about his fight against sensual desires and how he performed austerities to overcome those, but that he could not overcome those. Swami said, from now on, all such desires that harass you will get destroyed and you will be a an absolute celibate. After that the sadhu was relieved of such malicious desires.

Responsibility of the Sampraday 

When Shreeji Maharaj left for Akshardham, he left the responsibility of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and the Acharyas in his hands.