Desh Vibhag Lekh

The Desh Vibhag Lekh is a document written by Swaminarayan in 1827 establishing the division of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya into two dioceses by territory of Ahmedabad and Vadtal.^[1]: 188 This document is highly regarded by the two diocese as it establishes Acharyas as the successors to Swaminarayan. Groups that regard sadhus over acharyas downplay the importance of the Lekh as an administrative document. ^[2]

It was dictated by Sahajanand Swami himself and written by Sadhu Shukmuni in the Darbar of Khachar Dada Ebhal at Gadhada in the year 1826. It was translated into English by Geo. P Taylor in 1903.^[3] It has been accepted as such by the Bombay High Court as valid document.^[1]

Purpose

The Lekh has 30 articles, which give the following directions:

• Demarcation of the jurisdiction and responsibilities of the two Gadis (
  Calcutta and above and the Dakshin Desh territory runs below this line as per this Lekh.^[4]
• Duties and responsibilities of Acharyas and means of appointing future
  Acharyas
  .
• Directions of what to do with the incomes of the
  temples
• Appointment of
  Sadhus
  and how they should remain under the commands of the Acharyas faithfully.
• Instruction for Satsangi's^[5]
• The Lekh outlines that only the acting Acharya can appoint the next Acharya for the Gadi.^[6]
• Only the Acharya can give guru-mantra or diksha and initiate new satsangi's or priests/santos.^[6]

Use

This document has been produced in the

To further protect Swaminarayan’s Sampraday, the Indian courts of justice have devised management schemes, appointing the Acharyas as Trustees of their respective Gadi, further recognising the position of the Acharyas, as bona fide successors to Sahajanand Swami.[7]

The