24. Spiritual Heirs

Having founded a unique spiritual order, Shri Swaminarayan appointed scholarly, devout and righteous Acharyas or Chief Preceptors to spread the message of the religion and to manage the temples and other assets. The Acharyas were ordained by the Lord to run the institution in consultation with the senior saints and devout householders belonging to the Satsang Fellowship. The Chiefs were asked not to act independently in an arbitrary fashion. He not only founded a flawless religion that would constantly guide the whole world in its spiritual quest but also turned it into an institution governed by a constitution and rules suitable to both the spiritual and social groups. Thus, when He was just forty-nine years old, Shri Swaminarayan had accomplished the goal He had aimed at. Who, except God the incarnate, could have completed the task of social regeneration in such a short period?