Acharya Maharajshree Rakeshprasad Pande

Sanatan Dharma Dhurandar Acharya Maharaj Shree 1008 

Rakeshprasadji Maharaj( आचार्या श्री राकेशप्रसाद्जी माहाराज) 

(23 July 1966 – present) is the current Acharyaof the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi of Swaminarayan Sampraday (31 January 2003–present) and the 9th Spiritual Successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the South Diocese (Vadtal,LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi) of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.

He was appointed by the order of the Gujarat High Court, which removed his predesser,Acharya Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj and appointed him in his place. Acharya Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj has disputed this and has filed a review petition in the Gujarat High Court, a case which is currently pending before the court.

Followers say he takes an interest in Sanskrit and Prakrit literature on religion, and that he has established temples and consecrated idols in them. He also is said to have givenDiksha to more than 100 saints as per the wish of Swaminarayan who mentioned this in the Desh Vibhag Lekh.

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

Worldwide

Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (also known as ‘BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha’ or simply ‘BAPS’) is a worldwide community-based spiritual organisation with its beliefs firmly rooted in the Vedas. Revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the late 18th century and established in 1907 by Swami Yagnapurushdas (Shastriji Maharaj), BAPS strives to fulfil the spiritual and social needs of people while promoting inner peace and harmony between individuals, within families, and among communities.
Recognised and appreciated internationally for its humanitarian services and commitment to holistic social uplift, BAPS has received many national awards and is closely affiliated with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. It reaches out to millions of individuals through its network of over 3,300 centres, 890 sadhus, 55,000 volunteers, and the dedication of over one million followers in 45 countries. Today, under the spiritual and administrative leadership of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS is respected and valued by millions.
To learn more about BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and its worldwide activities, visit www.baps.org.
Information about its worldwide centres can be found here.

Other BAPS Mandirs

In total, there are currently 34 traditional shikharbaddha mandirs of the BAPS Swaminarayan tradition around the world. In addition to the one in London, there are four in North America – in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and Toronto – one in Nairobi, Kenya, and the rest can be found in various cities, towns and villages of India. Click here for a complete list or here to see a gallery of their photographs.
To learn more about the fascinating Swaminarayan Akshardham mandir complexes in New Delhi and Gandhinagar, Gujarat, please visit www.akshardham.com.