Brahmavihari Swami (Sadhu Brahmaviharidas) is a sadhu initiated by HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who leads International relations for the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a socio-spiritual voluntary Hindu organisation. He is known across the world as an inspiring leader, creative thinker, motivational speaker and relentless champion of humanitarian causes. He is a thought leader and part of the creative team for numerous projects of international repute such as the Swaminarayan Akshardham, Neasden Mandir, and Mystic India large format film.
Born to Gujarati immigrant parents, Brahmaviharidas grew up in Leicester, UK. and excelled at school in academics and sports. His straight A grades at the GCSE had opened opportunities to study at Oxford or LSE. However, his spiritual inclination inspired him to decline that career path and he instead travelled to India in 1981 to take initiation as a Hindu sadhu.
He was initiated by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj on 12th April 1981 at Ahmedabad during the Bhagwan Swaminarayan Bicentenary Celebrations.
· He has been a part of the team that conceptualized the Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, New Delhi and Robbinsville NJ.
· He was part of the core team for the Neasden Mandir in London which has been awarded four mentions in the Guinness Book of World Records.
· He has also designed and given the creative write-up for Exhibition at BAPS Temples London UK, Toronto and Nairobi.
· He played a key role in the design and creation of the acclaimed Water Spectacular Shows at New Delhi and Gandhinagar Akshardham and the Mystic India giant screen film.
· Under the guidance of Mahant Swami Maharaj and senior sadhus, he helps oversee the devotional, cultural, humanitarian and spiritual activities of BAPS.
He is currently leading the historic project of the first Traditional Hindu Mandir in the Middle East, being built in Abu Dhabi. The mandir was announced in August 2015 by Indian PM Narendra Modi, the foundation stone was laid on 20 April 2019 by Dr Mugheer Al Khaili, Director of Community Development Department, Thani Al Zoyoudi, Minister of Climate Change, and Ahmad Bilhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education Affairs and Advanced Sciences and HH Mahant Swami Maharaj. It is a confluence of simplicity and spirituality.
Brahmaviharidas has attended multiple conferences for peace, plurality and tolerance. He gave the inaugural address at the Global Conference of Human Fraternity, Abu Dhabi, UAE, which was concluded by HH Pope Francis. The conference was attended by more than 700 religious leaders from across the world, including Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, and Ahmad Al Tayyeb.
He is one of the 1200 sadhus at the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which conducts over 160 humanitarian activities worldwide. He is the youngest member of the BAPS Core Committee that oversees and administrates its global activities. Also an integral part of the core creative team of BAPS, he has travelled across the world and studied global cultures, histories and philosophies. His wide spectrum of social and spiritual work has won the love and friendship of many international leaders and thinkers like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam with whom he served on several projects.
Brahmaviharidas has been an active organiser for BAPS in disaster relief activities and led the earthquake relief in Bhuj-Kutch and Tsunami relief in Tamil Nadu and others.