When and by whom was the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha established?
A. The Swaminarayan Sampraday came into existence with the incarnation of Bhagwan Swaminarayan on Earth on April 2, 1781 (Chaitra sud 9, Samvat 1837). Throughout His life, Bhagwan Swaminarayan initiated aspirants into the fold and inspired them to live moral and pious lives. He created a legion of sadhus (renunciants) who worked selflessly for God and society. He also promised to remain ever-present on Earth through a continuous lineage of spiritual successors. After Bhagwan Swaminarayan reverted to His eternal abode, Gunatitanand Swami became the head of Satsang (synonymous with the Swaminarayan Sampraday), followed by Pragji Bhakta and then by Shastri Yagnapurushdas (better known as Shastriji Maharaj). Shastriji Maharaj formalised the organisation by registering it and establishing five mandirs (Hindu mandirs) in his time, the first being in Bochasan, a small town near Anand in the state of Gujarat in India. The inauguration of the Bochasan mandir took place on June 5, 1907 (Vaishakh
