Sahajanand Namavali - Gujarati

1. Executive Summary The Sahajanand Namavali is a revered litany of 108 names of Lord Swaminarayan (born Ghanshyam Pande, later known as Sahajanand Swami). Composed in the Gujarati language and script, it is a central devotional text for followers of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. Unlike Sanskrit namavalis , this text’s vernacular accessibility allows mass participation in bhakti (devotion) across Gujarat and the global Gujarati diaspora. The report details its etymology, structure, theological significance, linguistic features, and contemporary usage. 2. Etymology and Background | Term | Meaning | |------|---------| | Sahajanand | The monastic name given to Swaminarayan by his guru, Ramanand Swami. Sahaja = natural/spontaneous; Anand = bliss. | | Namavali | Sanskrit: Nāma (name) + Āvalī (row/garland). A “garland of names.” | | Gujarati | The Indo-Aryan language native to Gujarat, used here as the medium of composition and chanting. |