Tejendraprasad Pande, formally known by his full title as Sanatan Dharma Dhurandar Acharya Maharaj Shree 1008 Tejendraprasadji Maharaj was appointed

acharya In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a preceptor and expert instructor in matters such as religion, or any other subject. An acharya is a highly learned person with a ...

of the

Narnarayan Dev gadi The Naranarāyan Dēv Gadī, named after NarNarayan Dev, is one of the two ''Gadis'' (seats) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Its headquarter is at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad and controls the Uttar Vibhag. The Ach ...

(

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...

) of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, a Hindu sect, by his father, the previous acharya, Devendraprasad, and was enthroned on 13 October 1969.p.82

Biography

He took up the responsibilities of the Swaminarayan Sampraday on the orders of Acharya Devendraprasadji from the age of 14 years. Accompanied by learned people, he travelled to

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historical ...

to nurture the Satsang there.p.83 He studied English and other subjects at St. Xavier's High School and St Xavier's College in Ahmedabad. In over 30 years of service to the Sampraday, his accomplishments are very numerous. The following is but a summary of the facts detailed in 'Dharma Setu', his biography produced in 1994 during the Silver Jubilee & Golden Jubilee Festival. He still remains a popular public figure even after retirement. In November 2008, he was invited to release a portfolio of paintings of

Shrinathji Shrinathji is a form of Krishna, manifested as a seven-year-old child (''Balak''). The principal shrine of Shrinathji is the Shrinathji Temple in the temple town of Nathdwara, 48 kilometres north-east of Udaipur city in Rajasthan,India. Shrina ...

by the Archer foundation.

Schools founded

* Shree Sahajanand Arts & Commerce College * Shree Swaminarayan Vidyaalay (Boarding), Bhuj * Shree Sahajanand Elementary School * Shree Sahajanand Primary School * Shree Sahajanand High School * Shree Sahajanand Multi-Course Academy * Shree Sahajanand Vaanijay Mahavidyaalay (Commerce College) * Gurukuls in: Asaarva, Abu, Jhilvana, Gandhidham, Kalol, Jetalpur, Kanbha, Koteshwar, Mandvi, Chiloda, Idar, Rampur, Saayla, Siddhpur Maninagar. * PUNA Gurukul, Zundal, Ahmedabad

NarNarayan Dev Yuvak Mandal (NNDYM)

He established branches of the NNDYM all over the Northern Zone, along with the then Lalji Maharajshri (Acharya-Designate)

Koshalendraprasadji Koshalendraprasadji Pande (October 1972 – present) is the current acharya of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday (15 October 2004 – present) and is the 7th successor of Swaminarayan in the North Diocese (NarNarayan Dev G ...

. The organization's membership exceeds tens of thousands of youth, from all backgrounds - students, professionals, businesspersons and others. Its activities include tree planting, blood donation camps, religious camps, conferences, seminars, workshops, and many other socially useful activities.

International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation

He established the

International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation Acharya Shree Tejendraprasadji Maharaj (who was then Acharya of the Swaminarayan Sampraday (Ahmedabad Gadi)) founded International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization (I.S.S.O.) (Devanagari: अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्वामी� ...

(ISSO) on

Vijayadashami Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hind ...

, 1978 in the United States. It is particularly active there and in the United Kingdom, with regular camps and conferences for young people.

Swaminarayan's bicentennial celebrations

1981 saw commemorations of the sect's founder's bi-centennial birthday. The largest of these were at

Bhuj Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India. Etymology According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...

and Muli. Brahmaleen Shree Dongreji Maharaj recited the Bhagwat Katha at the Ahmedabad festival where hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered. A few days later, he travelled to Kutch and presided over the festival in Bhuj. This was followed by another event at Muli.

Retirement

When Tejendraprasad retired in 2004, his son

was enthroned as the acharya. Tejendraprasad remained active as a leader of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.

Notes

References

Dharmakul
{{Swaminarayan Sampraday Swaminarayan Sampradaya Acharyas 20th-century Hindu religious leaders 21st-century Hindu religious leaders Living people 1944 births