A tightly woven chain of leadership and service, the ascetic order in the Swaminarayan Sampraday moves like clockwork—every monk plays a vital role in keeping the community’s spirit alive. At the very top stand the two hereditary Acharyas (one for Gujarat’s NarNarayan Dev Gadi, the other for Vadtal’s LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi), who oversee doctrine, temple inaugurations and the training of every sadhu. Below them, a layered hierarchy—Paramhansas, Mahants, Swamis—ensures that rules are followed to the letter (or, as followers say, “by the book”).

Each novice embarks on a rigorous apprenticeship: vows of celibacy, non-violence, strict vegetarianism and daily rituals—four baths a day, ritual puja, scriptural study—carve out a life wholly devoted to discipline and purity. Once fully initiated, these monks become the community’s heart and soul, managing temples from Ahmedabad to the newly opened BAPS mandir in Abu Dhabi, leading morning aartis, compiling schedules for Vachanamrut discourses, and ensuring that everything from festival arrangements to midday prasadam distribution runs without a hitch.

On a given day, a sadhu might guide a youth group through the Shikshapatri’s verses, broadcast a live satsang to Covid-era isolatees via Zoom, or oversee free medical camps that Swaminarayan institutions organized this spring in Mumbai. Behind the scenes—much like a backstage crew in a Broadway show—these monks keep traditions vibrant while adapting to modern challenges, whether that’s integrating eco-friendly practices into temple operations or launching smartphone apps for daily scripture reminders.

More than ritual functionaries, ascetics double as spiritual mentors. During Diwali last year, they crisscrossed diasporic communities from London to Los Angeles, teaching the ropes of seva (selfless service) and bhakti (devotion) in both English and Gujarati. Their presence offers a living example of the sect’s core values: utter purity, unwavering discipline, and wholehearted compassion. In a world that’s constantly rushing ahead, the Swaminarayan sadhu stands firm—a reminder that inner transformation often requires a steadfast guide.