Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami

Once, after celebrating Janmashtami, Gunatitanand Swami set out on a journey with Āchārya Raghuvirji Maharaj across the Sorath region. On the way, Raghuvirji Maharaj took out a pouch of sweets and offered a pendo (sweet) to Swami, saying, “It will be late before we reach our destination. Please eat this pendo.”

Gunatitanand Swami politely returned the pendo, replying, “If you continue this way, our friendship will not last.” Raghuvirji Maharaj insisted earnestly, saying, “At least eat half of it!”

Gunatitanand Swami then broke the pendo into two halves - one half he gave to Jāgā Bhakta, and the other half he held in his hands, thought about it for a while and said, “The five hundred paramhansas are holding my throat and saying, ‘This is poison, don’t eat it.’” (What Gunatitanand Swami intended by saying this, is that anything that is rich and lavish and that digresses from the āgnās of Shriji Maharaj, in this case – pendo – is equivalent to it being poison.)

Witnessing such renunciation and detachment, Raghuvirji Maharaj humbly asked Swami, “If you practice such strict discipline, what will become of us?” Gunatitanand Swami confidently responded and said, “Come to Junāgadh as a pilgrim, and if I do not completely rid you of your worldly attachments, then I am not Gunatit!”

With immense yearning for liberation, Raghuvirji Maharaj wholeheartedly accepted Gunatitanand Swami’s words. In Samvat 1917 (1860 AD), after handing over the Acharya position to Bhagwatprasādji Maharaj, he retired and moved to Junāgadh. For three and a half months during the monsoon, he lived as a pilgrim under Gunatitanand Swami’s guidance.

He renounced indulgences like refined tastes and excessive sleep, dedicating himself entirely to Gunatitanand Swami’s association.

• He would wake up early, attend the manglā ārti, and be present for Gunatitanand Swami’s discourses until the shangār ārti.

• After darshan, he would quickly prepare simple meals like khichadi or bāti with mung dāl, eat swiftly, and return to the sabhā.

• Even in the afternoon, instead of resting, he attended more kathā by Gunatitanand Swami.

Observing his unwavering faith and humility, Gunatitanand Swami expounded upon sarvopari nishthā and ekāntik dharma, completely transforming him. That is why Gunatitanand Swami used to say, “Among the entire Vartāl region, only Raghuvirji Maharaj truly recognized me.” To “recognize Gunatitanand Swami” meant to have the firm conviction that he was the avatār of Aksharbrahma.

Years later, Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj asked Vartāl’s Kothāri, Gordhanbhāi, “Is it true that Āchārya Raghuvirji Maharaj believed Gunatitanand Swami to be ‘Akshar’?”

Gordhanbhāi confidently replied, “Yes! In Samvat 1917 (1860 AD), when Raghuvirji Maharaj went to Junagādh to associate with Gunatitanand Swami, he had completely immersed himself in Swami’s divine form.”

Gunatitanand Swami often said: “If a devotee surrenders his mind to his guru, he will free him from the inner faculties of ignorance. But without this it will not be removed.”

We may have accepted the refuge of the Gunatit Sant, but if we truly offer our minds and wholeheartedly engage in his association with faith and eagerness, just like Raghuvirji Maharaj did, then we too can attain the Brāhmic State (The state with absolute oneness with the Gunatit)