Ramanand Swami, who was guru to Sahajanand Swami Maharaj (otherwise known as Swaminarayan Bhagwan), chose Him to be his spiritual successor – Sahajanand Swami was only 21 years of age. Shortly afterward, Ramanand Swami departed from this world. On the thirteenth day after the demise of His guru on 31st December 1802 CE, Sahajanand Swami introduced the Swaminarayan mantra.
The Swaminarayan mantra comprises of two words, Swami and Narayan. In this mantra therein lies the supreme power of brahm and parbrahm. The mantra specifically relates to the Lord Purna Purushottam (Sahajanand Swami) the supreme God Himself, and His perfect devotee and abode Mul Akshar Brahm (Akshardham) who had manifested on the Earth in the service of Swaminarayan Bhagwan as Gunatitanand Swami.
One of Shreeji Maharaj’s key messages is that one should become brahmrup and join with parbrahm as stated in Vach Loya 12. In order to achieve this one should chant the Swaminarayan mantra focussing on Swami who is Akshar Brahm and meditating on Narayan who dwells in Akshar. Today, neither is physically manifest, but Shreeji Maharaj had promised that He will be forever present on Earth through His Gunatit saints. Mul Akshar Brahm Gunatitanand Swami was Sahajanand Swami’s spiritual successor and through this lineage we today have living Gunatit saints in whom Swaminarayan Bhagwan is manifest. So today, we chant the Swaminarayan mantra focusing on the Gunatit swarup that we have attained and meditating on God who is manifest in that form.
The Swaminarayan mantra has power to protect us from any ill fate but by chanting this mantra will gradually become purified, we will become brahmrup and gain the divine vision of the supreme God within ourselves. Gunatitanand Swami has explained the significance and power of the Swaminarayan mantra: “There is no mantra as powerful as the Swaminarayan mantra. This mantra protects us from the poison of a Black Cobra, destroys desires for sense pleasures, makes one Brahmrup and liberates one from the clutches of Kal, Karma and Maya…”
In this way if we remember Guruhari and chant the Swaminarayan mantra continuously then we will attain the highest spiritual attainment.