Acharyas
The true, sincere and dedicated followers of Swaminarayan Sampraday as organized and visualized by Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan firmly believe that only Acharya is the head of the Sampraday, as authorized by Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Himself. For the sake of management of the ever expanding Sampraday Lord Swaminarayan Himself divided area of management into Northern Division and Southern Division, called Nar-Narayan Dev Gadi and Lakshmi-Narayan Dev Gadi, as these two main temples of Shree Nar-Narayan Dev and Shree Lakshmi-Narayan Dev are located northern and southern regione respectively.

While managing the ever increasing number of temples, one has to deal with property, both movable as well as immovable, appointments, dismissals etc. Lord Swaminarayan wanted to keep His saints free from worldly affairs so that they can devote their total time to religious and spiritual practices and teaching and propagating the same. This was unique arrangement to keep the saints free from the temptation of worldly attractions.

The highly adorable planning has kept the followers away from hero-worship of the Acharya as is done elsewhere and has kept the followers firmly dedicated to Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan. Specific rules are framed for the succession of the Acharya, so that management remains with the worthy, respectable and adorable Acharya. Power also rests with the followers to dismiss the Acharya on some rare occasions who may violate the rules and regulations framed by Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan.

Constitutionally the Sampraday has made sufficient arrangement for the comfortable living of Acharya. The first two Acharyas of the Sampraday were chosen from the holy relatives of Lord Swaminarayan, with the unanimous consent of all the followers. (Shikshapatri Slok No. 3) Family traditions being the most important for the management of religious, spiritual and worldly affairs, the rule of succession is strictly followed. The Acharyas, though householders have to lead a highly disciplined self-controlled life to keep up the prestige of their supreme position. They have to be great & pious scholars with excellent befitting behaviours manners, methods and etiquette.

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Santos & Sankhyogi Bayos
The paramhansas of Lord Swaminarayan were the noblest sãdhus the world will ever see. Their spiritual purity, sacrifice, selflessness, devotion and zeal to uphold goodness is incomparable.

Lord Swaminarayan had 3,000 saints. Among them 500 were paramhansas, the saints of the highest order chosen by him to perform specific tasks.

They had come from all walks of life. Some were profound scholars, spiritual leaders, and music masters; while others were common villagers - but all of them were committed to spiritual life.

Their life was their message. Wedded to the panch vartmãn - the five spiritual vows these lifetime celibates, had shunned the touch of money, and even their name and fame, to reach the roots of society. Lord Swaminarayan had instructed them not to eat until they had imparted the spiritual vows of good conduct to at least five persons in a day. For days they would stay without food, but they never compromised their goals. They were teased, troubled, persecuted and even physically beaten by the ignorant and evils. But they remained unrelenting. Their amazing self-sacrifice and ability to bless those who bruised them, brought mass transformations. Strengthening individuals, uniting families and uplifting society by their personal care and love, the paramhansas visited every hut of every village. Lord Swaminarayan had established this new, dynamic fold of sãdhus - renunciates - who lived in society, worked for society and yet remained untouched by it. They served the social needs of society and scaled the summits of spirituality.

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Hari Bhaktos & Hari Bhakto Bayos

As a result of the Spiritual mission of Lord Swaminarayan and by the hard works of prominent saints, a huge community of staunch devotees having good virtues came into Existence. Like an ornaments of the Sampraday, these devotees took extensive pain to alive this holy fellowship. Some even left their natives, some was abandoned from their caste, some even gave sacrifice of their life for this Sampraday. Some of the leading Staunch devotees are Dada Khachar, Zhinabhai Darbar of village Panchala, Parvatbhai of village Agatrai, Mayaram Bhatt, Sura Khachar of village Loya, Sundarjibhai etc., the male devotees and Jivuba, Laduba, Raj Bai, Ladhibai, Gangama etc., the female devotees had boosted the greatness of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.

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