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The Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi (Devnagari: लक्षिमिनारायन देव गदी) is one of the two gadis (thrones) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is headquartered at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal and controls the Dakshin Vibhag Lekh.
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The current Acharya of this gadi is H.H. 1008 Shree Acharya Shree RakeshPrasadji Maharaj.
History
In Vadtal, on Prabodhini Ekadashi of Vikram Samvat 1882, Swaminarayan adopted his nephews Ayodhyaprasadji Pande (Son of elder brother Rampratapji) and Raghuveerji Pande (Son of younger brother Ichcharamji) as his sons. Establishing the two Gadis i.e. Nar Narayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Ahmedabad and Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi, headquartered at Vadtal, Swaminarayan instructed the two cousins to draw lots, to decide who would be seated on which Gadi.Swaminarayan handed over the responsibility of satsang and both acharyas to Gopalanand swami by instructing them to obey to him.
Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj was appointed the inaugural Acharya of the Nar Narayan Dev Gadi (also known as the Uttar Vibhag - Northern division), whilst Raghuveerji Maharaj became the inaugural Acharya of the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi (also known as the Dakshin Vibhag - Southern division).
The administrative division between the two is set forth in minute detail in a document written by Swaminarayan, called Desh Vibhag Lekh. The method by which future Acharyas are to be appointed is enshrined in the document Desh Vibhag Lekh.
Swaminarayan then instructed all the followers present to do pooja of their respective acharyas.
Acharyas
The following table lists all the Acharyas of the Vadtal Gadi till date.
Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul, Rajkot
A gurukul is a place of learning. Started by Dharmajivandas Swami in 1948 in Rajkot, the organisation imparts education to thousands of students in various parts of India today. Gurukuls have been established in places like Junagadh, Surat, Hyderabad, Taravada, Navsari, Bangalore, Dallas, USA, Vidyanagar and Narmada over the years. The current head of this organisation is Guru Shree Devkrushndasji Swami. The Acharya of the Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi (1008 Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj), however, is the highest spiritual authority at the Gurukuls.
The International Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal was an organization that came under the Vadtal Gadi under present Acharya 1008 Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj. ISSM has since been discontinued due to legal problems having to do with Rakeshprasad Pande which has led to the founding of Shree Swaminarayan Agyna Upasana Satsang Mandal (SS-AUSM). LNDYM has been established as a youth organization which has chapters around the globe. SS-AUSM/ISSM has established mandirs and chapters around the world including in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Currentl, there is a possibility that International Swaminarayan Satsang Mandal may return to replace SS-AUSM.