Pramukh Swami Maharaj received initiation as a Hindu [[Swami]] in 1940 from Shastriji Maharaj, the founder of BAPS, who later appointed him as President of BAPS in 1950. Yogiji Maharaj declared Pramukh Swami Maharaj to be his spiritual successor and guru of BAPS, a role he commenced in 1971.
As president of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharajhe had overseen the growth of BAPS from an organization centered in [[Gujarat]], [[India]], to one spread around the world, maintaining many Hindu [[Hindu temple|mandirs]] and centers outside of India. He built more than 1,100 Hindu temples, including the [[Akshardham (Delhi)|Swaminarayan Akshardham]] temples in New Delhi and [[Akshardham (Gandhinagar)|Gandhinagar, Gujarat.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/wRSayFUvvGVDwzbPM8VUAM/Pramukh-Swami-head-of-Swaminarayan-sect-dies-at-95.html|title=Pramukh Swami, head of Swaminarayan sect, dies at 95|last=Pathak|first=Maulik|date=2016-08-14|access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref> He had also spearheaded the efforts of [[BAPS Charities]], which is the charitable service organization affiliated with BAPS. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is succeeded as the guru and President of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha by [[Mahant Swami Maharaj]].<ref name="baps.org">{{Cite web|url=http://www.baps.org/Announcement/2016/Final-Darshan-and-Rites-of-Pramukh-Swami-Maharaj-9961.aspx|title=Final darshan and rites of Pramukh Swami Maharaj|last=|first=|date=|website=BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2016-08-13}}</ref>
