The Lord manifested at the home of father Dharmadev and mother Bhaktimata, who named the baby Lord ‘Ghanshyam’. When the baby Lord Ghanshyam was three and quarter months old, the sage Markandeya Rishi came to their home (Samvat 1837 Ashadh Vad 7, Thursday 12th July 1781). Dharmadev ceremoniously welcomed the rishi (sage) and offered him an appropriate seat.

Manifestation of Lord Shree Swaminarayan - Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj

Dharmadev knew that the rishi was an astrologer. He sat in front of the rishi with the baby Lord Ghanshyam in his lap and requested him to formally name his son. Markandeya Rishi gazed at baby Lord Ghanshyam’s face. He then took His divine hand to read His palm. The rishi proclaimed, “This child was born under the sign of Cancer; therefore, He will be known as ‘Hari’. He will have characteristics according to His name, He will therefore alleviate you from all your worries, and of all those who resort to His shelter. He has a dark (krishna) complexion, which will attract to Him, all those who are granted His darshan. Therefore His name will also be ‘Krishna'. Combining the two names, He will also be known as ‘Harikrishna’. Your baby son possesses the five virtues: renouncement, spiritual knowledge, austerity, religious decree and yoga. As a result, He will become like Shivji. Therefore, He will become famous by the name ‘Nilkanth’.”

The rishi concluded his forecast by saying, “In His palm, He has the mark of a lotus flower (padma). Consequently, He will be the sovereign Lord of multitudes of souls and will possess innumerable characteristics that are capable of bestowing salvation.”

Hearing such a forecast about their son’s future, Dharmadev and Bhaktimata became overjoyed.

Extract from the scripture, Shree Swaminarayan Gadi, translated by Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj. Chapter 4 – Divine Manifestation