A man may adopt sainthood after going through various melancholies of life. Poverty, failed ambition, nervous break-down etc. can push someone into seeking spiritual bliss. For Brahmanand Swami no such adverse circumstance was necessary. Spiritual life was his first choice right from the beginning. He was destined to be a supreme saint and so was the will of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan.
Ladudanji as Brahmanand Swami was earlier known had greatness thrust upon him before he was born. Swami Ramanand visited Khaan, a village in Rajasthan. While he was delivering a discourse, the pregnant Laluba Devi (the wife of the traditional poet Gadhavi Shambhudanji) stared dozing. The child from her womb said: “O reverend one, please continue the discourse about the glory of Shree Hari i.e. God!” All were surprised to hear this.
Ramanand Swami said to the audience: “The child in the womb of Laluba Devi has the eternally free soul. He will become a great scholar and an extempore poet. Renouncing the world he will become a supreme saint too.”
The prophesied son was born on the auspicious day of festival – Vasant Panchami on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Megha in Samvat 1828. At the time of his birth divine light spread in the maternity room heralding his divine birth.
Ladudanji’s maternal uncle Amardanji brought him and his mother to his own village, Bhatali, under Jodhpur state. The mother was surprised to see her child rocking in the jhoola tied to the caper-berry tree and playing with a jingle bell while gods and damsels were singing and showering flowers and auspicious color powder. (That caper celestial berry tree is still there). After a year’s stay he came back to his village. Whenever Ladudanji was brought to a holy feast by his mother the occasion never faced any shortage of cooked food.
The ruler of Sirohi once heard extempore songs sung by the young Ladudanji at a royal marriage ceremony. He was very pleased and made all financial arrangements for his advance studies in poetry in Bhuj. At Bhuj he studied for ten years. His memory was so sharp that he could remember one thousand and sundry words spoken at a time. The ruler of Bhuj honored him with royal gifts. Ladudanji then stayed for two years at the town of Dhamadka and learnt Sanskrit grammar, ancient veterinary science and mastered music both vocal and instrumental.
After gaining fabulous fortune as gifts from rulers of Dhrangadhra, Jamnagar and Junagdh for his poetic skills and music he visited Bhavnagar. Here the ruler was highly pleased with his poetic skills and music and was so eager to keep him as his poet laureate that he called a goldsmith to take measurements for ornaments that would please this poet.
As the goldsmith was taking the measurements, Ladudanji noticed a holy symbol marked on the forehead of the goldsmith. When asked about it, the goldsmith informed him that he was a follower of Shree Hari, who lived in Gadhada. From goldsmith he also learnt about the divine powers of Shree Hari that made him God.
So Ladudanji while on the way to Gadhada thought about testing the Godhead of Shree Hari. He said to himself: “If He is really God, He should narrate all incidents of my life, His feet should have all symbols of Godhead, He should offer to me a garland of roses though this is not the season for them and He should be reading Shreemad Bhagavad placed on a black blanket.”All this proved true when Ladudanji met Shree Hari at Gadhada. Ladudanji composed extempore devotional songs about all this. Since then he lived with Shree Hari.
Shree Hari lived with Ebhal Khachar the ruler of Gadhada. Ebhal Khachar’s daughters - Jivuba and Laduba had refused to marry. Shree Hari asked Ladudanji to convince them for marriage but Ladudanji failed. All his pride had vanished.
Shree Hari made him a saint with the new name, Shree Rangdasji. His relatives came there to dissuade him but could not. Shree Hari later on changed his name to Swami Brahmanand.Swami Brahmanand had by this time composed hundreds of devotional songs. He was appointed by Shree Hari to supervise the construction of the majestic temple of Lakshmi Narayan Dev at Vadtal.
When the foundation was being dug, the underground water created a problem. This was solved using nine lakh bricks arranged in certain geometrical designs and then pumping out water. The murtis, icons of Lakshmiji and Shree Narayana, were installed by Shree Hari. Shree Hari offered all his ornaments to the murtis.
His other responsibilities included the supervision of the construction of Shree Radha Raman Deva at Junagadh.During the royal procession to receive Shree Hari at Junagadh the royal horse saw many mares of Kathis and went out of control. But Brahmanand Swami held the horse spell-bound and made him cool and calm
The Nawab of Junagadh had great love and respect for him.
Once delayed monsoon created problems for the farmers. They prayed to Shree Hari for rain. At his request Brahmanand Swami sang the raga (a melody) Malhar and as a result it began raining.
On hearing the news of Shree Hari’s departure to Akshardham, Brahmanand Swami felt extreme agony. By the time he reached Gadhpur the body of Shree Hari had been cremated. Sobbing loudly he said: “Had you kept the body intact till I came, I would have brought him to life by sheer intense love.” Once while he was praying before the murti of Shree Hari, the murti came to life and embraced him by putting a garland over him.
Later the famous Swaminarayan temple at Muli was constructed by Brahmanand Swami. Shree Hari appeared before him many times and guided him in the right direction.
Brahmanand Swami had a premonition about his departure from this mundane world. He had a malignant boil on the hip. So he invited Acharya Ayodhyaprasad (one of the two religious head), saints, religious assistants and some followers. Arati and devotional songs was carried out. He sat in lotus posture and while in deep meditation his soul left, for the divine abode Akshardham on the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Jyeshtha in Samvat year 1888.
One of his songs ‘Re Shir Sate Natavarane Varie’ was included in the prayer meetings of Mahatama Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram.
Some of his popular devotional songs are: ‘Re Sagapana Harivaranun Sachun’, ‘Ajni Ghadi’, ‘Jhulat Shyama Hindol’, ‘Lagan Lagi Meri’, ‘Adhama Uddharan’, ‘Shyamani Chhabi’, ‘Aa Tan Ranga Patanga Sarikho’, Devotional songs of 12 months .,’Tara Mukhani Lavanyata’, ‘Taro Chatak Rangilo Chhedalo’.