Rakeshprasad

Rakeshprasadji
Personal life
Born(1966-07-23)23 July 1966
Religious life
ReligionHinduism
PhilosophySwaminarayan Sampraday

Rakeshprasad (Devnagari: राकेशप्रसाद्जी; born 23 July 1966) is a Hindu spiritual leader. He is regarded by the devpaksh faction as the disputed leader of the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi.[1]

An order by the Gujarat High Court restrained Ajendraprasadji Maharaj from acting as Acharya. This was a temporary order until the concluding court case.[2][3] Ajendraprasad disputed this and filed a review petition in the Gujarat High Court.[4] A satsang mahasabha headed by monks namely, Nautam Swami, self-appointed Rakeshprasad as their leader. Ajendraprasad's main ideology was that monks of the fellowship should stay in their prescribed rules and regulations. Especially after some monks had turned towards murdering fellow monks. Ajendraprasad at the time was firm and strong furied many monks to dispose of him.[5]

Many of the sects followers, particularly in the siddhant paksh and outside of India, regard Ajendraprasad as acharya of the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi.[6] Ajendraprasad is present in Vadtals Raghuveer Vadi; however, the courts are still unclear as to the genuine acharya.

Swaminarayan Vadtal Gadi

Main article: Laxmi Narayan Dev Gadi

The Vadtal gadi is known as LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi or Dakshin Desh Gadi. The gadi was established by Swaminarayan and he appointed Raghuvirji Maharaj as the first head of the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi. Swaminarayan ordered his devotees whether monks or householders to obey their Acharya.

Controversies

Sadhus under him have been charged of multiple crimes such as theft, corruption, and rape.[7][8][9] The hanuman temple in Salangpur fell into controversy following a mural demeaning the Hindu god Hanuman in an inferior, kneeling position. Following protests and demands from other Hindu religious leaders to remove the mural, the devpaksh faction removed the mural.[10][11]

Hundreds of followers of the faith took to protests in 2024 following a row of monks under Rakeshprasad being caught in various unethical practices. Over 50 monks were accused of indulging in immoral acts such as sexual assault on minors at a gurukul, brainwashing, forced abortions, operating businesses, etc. Police cases have been filed against some of the involved monks.[12][13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Siddhant Paksh vs Dev Paksh fight of Vadtal Swaminarayan branch". DeshGujarat. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Vadtal, the delinquent in Swaminarayan family". Times of India. 17 February 2003. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
  3. ^ "Minister mediates between fighting factions of Vadtal Swaminarayan sect". DeshGujarat. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Vadtal factions at loggerheads again". The Times of India. 27 April 2004. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Vadtal, the delinquent in Swaminarayan family - Times of India". IndiaTimes.com. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Minister mediates between fighting factions of Vadtal Swaminarayan sect". DeshGujarat. 12 July 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Swaminarayan temple sadhu, aide booked for Rs 50 lakh fraud". The Times of India. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Five, including priest, caught in Rs 1.26 crore fake note case | Surat News - Times of India". The Times of India. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Priest with Swaminarayan sect held for raping woman". The Times of India. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Vadtal Gadi Swaminarayan Sect Agrees to Remove Controversial Hanuman Murals From Temple In Gujarat's Botad – Hindu Press International". Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Gujarat's Vadtal Swaminarayan Temple removes 'controversial' murals". The Indian Express. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  12. ^ DeshGujarat (16 July 2024). "Devotees launch campaign against misconduct of monks of Vadtal Swaminarayan sect". DeshGujarat. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Vadtal Swaminarayan Temple: Shocking Incident Of Alleged Rape Of A Minor By A Religious Priest, Devotees Protest". 14 June 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  14. ^ DeshGujarat (15 May 2024). "Swaminarayan Gurukul accused of brainwashing children to become monks in Surat, Gadhada". DeshGujarat. Retrieved 17 July 2024.