Hinduism has a rich history of ascetics, monks and yogis performing incredible feats of penance and austerities as a means to elevate one’s self and connect to the divine. Nilkanth Varni, Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s youthful yogi form, embodied the principles of yoga and austerity as a spiritual practice to remove attachment from the material world.

At the age of 11, Bhagwan Swaminarayan left the comforts of His home and family, embarking on a seven-year journey that would take him across the length and breadth of India. Nilkanth Varni only had one mission – to help guide spiritual aspirants on the path of ultimate liberation. Like a true yogi, Nilkanth Varni carried with Him few possessions in His 12,000-kilometer trek through the diverse terrain of India – from the frost covered peaks of the Himalayas to the sandy beaches of southern India.

Nilkanth Varni is popularly depicted standing on one foot with both arms firmly raised in the air. This is the stance of a master yogi. For followers of the Swaminarayan faith, the image of Nilkanth Varni in His ‘tap mudra,’ or penance stance, is significant because it showcases the severe penance that Nilkanth Varni underwent for two months and twenty days. On August 29, 1793, Nilkanth Varni arrived at Pulhashram in the Himalayas, known today as Muktinath. At the age of 12, amidst the slashing rains and piercing winds of the monsoon season, Nilkanth Varni held both of His hands high and stood on one leg with His gaze fixed at the tip of His nose, without food or water. It was such moments in Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s life, which revealed his divinity and would inspire countless people for ages to come.