Shastriji maharaj death race

Indian spiritual leader

Shastriji Maharaj (31 January 1865 – 10 May 1951), born Dungar Patel^[1]: 3 and ordained Shastri Yagnapurushdas, was a swami of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and founder of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).^[2]: 22 Several branches accept him as the third spiritual successor of Swaminarayan in the lineage of Aksharbrahma Gurus through whom Swaminarayan manifests, which began with Gunatitanand Swami.^{[3]: 61–62 [4][5]: 329–330} Born in a family of farmers in central Gujarat, India, he became a swami within the Vadtal diocese of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya at the age of 17 where he was given the name Yagnapurushdas Swami.^[1]: 35 The prefix Shastri was later added in recognition of his eminent scholarship in Sanskrit and the Hindu scriptures.^[1]:&#