Acharya Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj was the first Acharya of the Ahmedabad Diocese (Nar Narayan Dev Gadi) of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. In accordance with the Desh Vibhag Lekh (the document outlining the regional division of the Sampraday) prepared by Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan (Shree Hari), he was entrusted with the responsibility of leading and administering the Ahmedabad Diocese.
He was born in the holy village of Chhapaiya. His father, Rampratapji Pande, was the elder brother of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan (Shree Sahajanand Swami). From an early age, Acharya Maharaj was known for his humility, simplicity, and gentle nature. Despite holding the highest spiritual office, he remained free from pride and attachment to status. His lifelong association with Shree Hari enabled him to imbibe countless divine virtues. He was deeply rooted in righteousness, self-discipline, and spiritual realization.
A remarkable incident from his life illustrates his extraordinary devotion and detachment. Once, while performing Manasi Puja (mental worship) at Avadh Bhuvan, Acharya Maharaj became so deeply absorbed in meditation upon Bhagwan that he completely transcended bodily awareness. During this time, a scorpion crawled onto his back and repeatedly stung him, leaving several red marks. Yet he remained entirely immersed in his worship and felt no pain. It was only after completing his meditation, nearly an hour later, that he became aware of the insect bites. The devotees were deeply distressed upon seeing his injuries. However, Acharya Maharaj calmly consoled them, explaining that every living being acts according to its inherent nature. The scorpion had simply behaved as a scorpion does, while human beings should act with compassion, patience, and understanding. Through this incident, he demonstrated the highest ideals of spiritual absorption, tolerance, and equanimity.
Acharya Maharaj firmly upheld the principle of equality. He never distinguished among devotees based on their social standing or economic background and treated everyone with the same love and respect. A distinguished scholar, he had a profound love for learning and encouraged the pursuit of knowledge. He was also an accomplished poet, and many of his devotional compositions continue to be sung in Swaminarayan temples today. His scholarly contribution includes the Sanskrit commentary Tatvartha Deepika on the revered scripture Satsangijivan.
The magnificent Haveli in Ahmedabad stands as a testament to his vision and leadership. He also played a vital role in establishing several Swaminarayan temples at places such as Bamroli, Idar, Siddhpur, Mandvi (Kutch), Chhapaiya, and many others. In accordance with the command of Shree Hari as prescribed in the sacred Shikshapatri, he founded a Sanskrit school in Ahmedabad to promote scriptural education and preserve the rich traditions of Sanskrit learning.
Recognizing his son's spiritual qualities and capabilities, Acharya Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj appointed Acharya Shree Keshavprasadji Maharaj as his successor to the Ahmedabad Diocese. During his remarkable 42-year tenure as Acharya, he strengthened the foundations of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and brought immense glory to the Ahmedabad Gadi. His life remains an enduring example of humility, scholarship, devotion, and selfless leadership, occupying a distinguished place in the glorious history of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.