Devanand Swami (1803–1854) was an Indian

swami Swami ( ; sometimes abbreviated sw.) in Hinduism is an honorific title given to a male or female ascetic who has chosen the path of renunciation (''sanyāsa''), or has been initiated into a religious monastic order of Vaishnavas. It is used eith ...

Childhood

He was born in 1803 (

Samvat The Hindu calendar, Panchanga () or Panjika is one of various lunisolar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a ...

year 1859 on

Kartik Poornima Kartika Purnima is a Hindu, Sikh and Jain cultural festival that is celebrated on Purnima (full moon day), the 15th (or 30th) lunar day of the month of Kartika. It falls in November or December of the Gregorian calendar and is also known as ...

) in the village o
Balol Bhal

India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...

. Devanand Swami's childhood name was Devidan, his mother's name was Bahenjiba, and his father's name was Jijibhai. Devidan once held his father's hand and they went to a

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hin ...

temple. The child was very religious and wanted to please Lord Shiva. A legend says that he spilled some water and milk on the idol. He felt very happy after doing this. Then, Lord Shiva presented a boon to him in that he would meet the supreme lord in person, he would come to his village. Devidan was extremely happy.

Becoming a saint

Devidan once ran into Shri

Swaminarayan Swaminarayan ( IAST: ', 3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830), also known as Sahajanand Swami, was a yogi and ascetic, who is believed by followers to be a manifestation of God Krishna, or as the highest manifestation of Purushottam, and arou ...

, who was believed to be the lord. Lord Shiva's boon came true. After seeing Lord Swaminarayan do unusual things that the ordinary can't do, he was convinced that Lord Swaminarayan surely was the supreme lord. Lord Swaminarayan initiated him into the

sadhu ''Sadhu'' ( sa, साधु, IAST: ' (male), ''sādhvī'' or ''sādhvīne'' (female)), also spelled ''saddhu'', is a religious ascetic, mendicant or any holy person in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. T ...

fold (becoming a saint). He was then renamed Devanand Swami. Devanand Swami's singing was said to be great- he composed few, but he had astounding

kirtan Kirtana ( sa, कीर्तन; ), also rendered as Kirtan, is a Sanskrit word that means "narrating, reciting, telling, describing" of an idea or story, specifically in Indian religions. It also refers to a genre of religious performance arts ...

s (religious songs). Devanand Swami was also popular for his great talent with the

sitar The sitar ( or ; ) is a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindustani classical music. The instrument was invented in medieval India, flourished in the 18th century, and arrived at its present form i ...

(an instrument popular in India). Devanand Swami taught his great talent to many people, such as Dalpatram. After Sadguru

Brahmanand Swami Brahmanand Swami (12 February 1772 – 1832) was revered as a saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and as one of Swaminarayan's Paramahamsa. He was also known as one of Swaminarayan's Ashta Kavi's (eight poets) within the Swaminarayan Sampraday ...

died, he was in charge of the temple at Muli. Finally, in 1854 (Samvat 1910) Devanand Swami died.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davanand Swami 1803 births 1854 deaths 19th-century Hindu religious leaders