Yogiji Maharaj

Appearance: 1892 A.D. 
Name: Jinabhai
Name After Initiation: Sadhu Gnanjivandas 
Place of Birth: Dhari (Dist. Amreli, Saurashtra, India)
Life Work:

• Nurtured service and devotion (Nishkam Dharma and Nirman Dharma)
• Initiated 51 educated youths as sadhus
• Propagated Swaminarayan Sect outside India.

End: 1971 A.D.

Guruhari Yogiji Maharaj was born in Dhari in Saurastra. His name was Jinabhai and true to His name, He remained Jino (a little one) throughout His mortal life. He was the forth successor of the divine legacy of Lord Swaminarayan.

At the very small age, when a child is not even aware of any rationalism, He used to serve the local temple in Dhari waking up at 4.00 AM in the morning. He started performing the temple routine at the age of seven. He would bathe the idols of Lord, apply sandalwood paste and perform Aarti like an experienced pujari. His devotion and servitude was not only exemplary, it was supremely saintly. He was the byword of sevakbhav (the model disciple of His spiritual master) and true unreserved compassion.

He was initiated as sadhu and named Sadhu Gnanjivandas. He was the ultimate model of devotion and humility. Inspite being the head of the Akshar mandir, Gondal; He was found in Kitchen in the wee hours of morning, noon or night. Tolerance was the synonym and devotion was intrinsic. For Sadhu Gnanjivandasji, servitude was not the quality to be acquired but the manifestation. Insults were His eulogy and treated one as the offering from the Lord.

Guruhari Shashtriji Maharaj, defining His unison with Yogiji Maharaj, often exclaimed, "Huun te Jogi Ane Jogi te Hun." (I am Yogi and Yogi is Me) He populated the idea of 'Samp, Suhradbhav and Ekta' - the practical ideology of unity and universal brotherhood.

He was an ever-smiling personality, the true replica of a mother without the malice of the substance world. He was the one who promulgated and promoted humility as an asset and modesty as virtue, the most important for an aspiring devotee. He was, one person who put the beliefs in devotion and service in the devotee through His idyllic behavior.