On the evening of October 30, 2020, alongside devotees across the world, BAPS devotees of North America virtually celebrated the pratishtha ceremony of Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami’s sacred murti. BAPS devotees understand Gunatitanand Swami to be Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s ideal devotee and his first spiritual successor. Pujya Bhadreshdas Swami and Pujya Madhurvadandas Swami conducted the mahapuja which webcast worldwide. Sadguru Swamis joined the live webcast and simultaneously performed the mahapuja. Devotees also conducted a mahapuja in their respective homes. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj joined the event, live from Nenpur, Gujarat, India and was in a divine, jovial mood. He performed the main ritual of consecrating the murti of Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami Maharaj.
Mahant Swami Maharaj daily offers his devotion and service to the murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, also known as Harikrishna Maharaj. In consecrating the murti of Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami, he has fulfilled Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj’s inner wish. In recalling his guru’s sentiments, Mahant Swami Maharaj said, “Regardless of wherever Maharaj [Bhagwan Swaminarayan] resides, Swami [Gunatitanand Swami] is always with him. The divine and wonderful pair of Aksharbrahma and Parabrahma is eternal and unbreakable.” The murti of Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami will now travel alongside Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
BAPS mandirs worldwide were jubilantly decorated to mark the auspicious event. Mahant Swami Maharaj had encouraged devotees to celebrate the event with the same excitement as holidays such as Diwali, as per their means. Enthused by Mahant Swami Maharaj’s words, devotees decorated their homes and ghar mandirs, wore festive traditional Indian clothing and prepared sweets & delicacies to offer during the mahapuja.