20th April - 29th April 1994
To celebrate the 50th birthday of Acharya Shree Tejendraprasadji Maharaj and the 25 years of service as the Acharya of NarNarayan Gadi Dev (Ahmedabad), a grand festival was witnessed by thousands of devotees who flocked in from around the World.
Shree Tejendraprasadji was born on 11th April 1944 and was appointed Acharya of the NarNarayan Dev Gadi (Ahmedabad) of the Swaminarayan Sampraday by his father, the late Acharya Shree Devendraprasadji Maharaj and was enthroned as an Acharya on 13 October 1969 at the age of 14.
In over 30 years of service to the Sampraday, his accomplishments are very numerous. The following is but a summary of the facts detailed in 'Dharma Setu', his biography produced in 1994 during the Silver Jubilee & Golden Jubilee Festival
Educational Establishments Founded:
Shree Sahajanand Arts & Commerce College
Shree Swaminarayan Vidyaalay (Boarding), Bhuj
Shree Sahajanand Elementary School
Shree Sahajanand Primary School
Shree Sahajanand High School
Shree Sahajanand Multi-Course Academy
Shree Sahajanand Vaanijay Mahavidyaalay (Commerce College)
Gurukuls in: Asaarva, Abu, Jhilvana, Gandhidham, Kalol, Jetalpur, Koteshwar, Mandvi, Chiloda, Idar, Rampur, Saayla, Siddhpur Maninagar.
NarNarayan Dev Yuvak Mandal (NNDYM):
He established branches of the NNDYM all over the Northern Zone, along with the then Lalji Maharajshri (Acharya-Designate) Koshalendraprasadji. The organization's membership exceeds tens of thousands of youth, from all backgrounds - students, professionals, businesspersons and others. Its activities include tree planting, blood donation camps, religious camps, conferences, seminars, workshops, and many other socially useful activities.
International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisation (ISSO)
He established the ISSO on Vijaya Dashmi in 1978 in USA. It is particularly active in USA and UK, where regular camps and conferences nurture the young.
Swaminarayan's 200th birthday celebrations:
1981 saw numerous celebrations to commemorate the sect's founder's bi-centennial birthday. The largest of these were at Ahmedabad, Bhuj & Muli. The renowned Pundit Late Dongreji recited the Shreemad Bhagwat Katha at the Ahmedabad festival where hundreds of thousands of devotees gathered. A few days later, he travelled to Kutch and presided over the festival in Bhuj. This was soon followed by the event at Muli, which was celebrated with grand pomp.
Recent Life:
Tejendraprasadji retired in the year 2004, and his son Koshalendraprasadji was then enthroned as Acharya. Tejendraprasadji is still very active as leader of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.