In the early part of the 19th century, Almighty Supreme God [Bhagwan] incarnated as Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan, also known as Shree Harikrishna Maharaj and Sahajanand Swami , in the village of Chhapaiya near Ayodhya [birth place of Bhagwan Ram] in Uttar Pradesh, India. Keeping the ideology of ‘Sanatan Vedic Dharma’ based on the philosophy of

Yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhavati bharata
Abhythanamadharmasya tadatmanam srijamyaham ॥4-7॥
Paritranaya sadhunang vinashay cha dushkritam
Dharmasangsthapanarthay sambhabami yuge yuge ॥4-8॥

(i.e to protect and uplift the essence of Dharma and to discourage and eliminate the evils thoughts and activities), He established ‘Shri Swaminarayan Sampraday’ [a part of pure Vaishnavism] based on the principles of ‘pure Upasana and Bhakti’ by remaining on path of ‘Dharma’ (i.e Sadachar). Bhagwan, following the age old tradition of Guru Shishya Parampara accepted Shri Ramanand Swami [Uddhavji] as His Guru in Samvat year 1857 on Prabodhini Ekadashi and thereafter became the head of the Swaminarayan Sect in the Samvat year 1858 Prabodhini Ekadashi. He engrossed and attracted a large number of communities of all castes and creed in most of India through His divine preachings. He also established 6 temples in Gujarat, India. For the purpose of administration of these temples and sect, He divided India in two parts namely Shri Narnarayan Dev Gadi – Northern Diocese being headquartered at Kalupur, Ahmedabad and Shri Laxminarayan Dev Gadi – Southern Diocese being headquartered at Vadtal, with an Imaginary line between Kolkatta [East] to Dwarka [West] and executed Desh Vibhag Lekh and Shikshapatri as the governing scriptures. He adopted and installed his two nephews namely H.H. Shri Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj and H.H. Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj as The Acharya in Northern and Southern Dioceses respectively. Thus, the Sampraday under the Headship of the Acharyas gradually and constantly made progress and flourished in India and abroad.

Presently, P.P.D.D.  1008 Acharya Shri Ajendraprasadji Maharaj is the head of Shri Laxminarayan Dev Gadi of Vadtal and P.P.D.D. 108 Lalji Shri Nrigendraprasadji Maharaj is nominated as Bhavi Acharya [Acharya designated] to succeed him. A Number of new temples and religious- social -activities are in progress under the orders, guidance and blessings of Acharya Maharajshri.

Gadi Abhishek at Jetpur

Shriji Maharaj’s Gadi Abhishek at Jetpur done by Ramanand Swami

Acharya Pad Sthapna

Shriji Maharaj establishing Acharya Pad at Vadtal