Of Saints And Householders

The Swaminarayan sect that runs this temple complex in the heart of Gandhinagar wields considerable political and economic clout. With lakhs of followers across the world and temples all over the US, the UK, South Africa and Kenya, the sect has a strong global presence. It also, of course, has temples across Gujarat and the rest of the country.

The sect derives its political clout from the fact that it has a large following among the landed and cash-rich Patel community and upper-caste Vaishnavas. As political scientist Achyut Yagnik puts it: "If the Dwarka and Somnath temples are the traditional symbols of the Hindus, the Swaminarayan temples are the modern symbols." Lord Swaminarayan, whose original name was Nilkanth, was a Brahmin from Chhapaiya near Ayodhya and became a sadhu at a very early age. He came to what is now Gujarat in 1801 and preached there till 1830.

Swaminarayan was all for social reform. He propagated the principles of non-violence, prohibition and peace. The backward communities of that time embraced his teachings to find a higher social status. What attracted them to the sect was also the fact that even grihasths (householders) could run its temples and properties.

That explains the sect's five major offshoots—two represented by grihasths and three by sadhus. With time came prosperity. Many of Swaminarayan's followers migrated abroad, while others acquired wealth or set up successful businesses back home. Today, the sect has in its fold the various denominations of the powerful Patel community, a force to reckon with in Gujarat politics and business. This, perhaps, explains why successive state governments have leased out prime land to the sect—at a token rent of one rupee—to construct temple complexes and educational institutions.

The most powerful among the various offshoots of the sect are the Bochasanwasis, who built the Akshardham complex. This sect set up base in Bochasan, a village near Anand in central Gujarat, where the Patels are the most prosperous. There are entire villages where you find only elderly people staying, with the rest of the family members having set up businesses in the US or one of the African states. This is why the Bochasanwasi Swaminarayan sect is flush with nri funds. The sect is led by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, himself a Patel. With thousands of followers, a good number of them foreigners, the sect fuses modernity with spiritualism and religion. It is not without reason that they say in Gujarat: "Sadhu thao tou Swaminarayan na (If you wish to be a sadhu, choose the Swaminarayan sect)."