Literary talents were natural to Shatananda Muni. He was well versed in Sanskrit and like Valmiki whatever he spoke assumed poetic form of very high order. The Puranic epic on the life of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan was also composed by him.
Shatananda Muni led a holy life of absolute celibacy. He came from a tradition of religious scholars. His father was a religious scholar and lived a saintly life in Mithila. On daily basis Shatananda Muni would recite the whole 10th canto of Bhagavad-Gita and study the sixth canto as well.
Once he learnt that God as Lord Narayan lives at Badarikashram in the Himalayas. So he left Mithila and arrived at Badarikashram in route visiting other holy places like Narada Kunda. After six months of penance and praying Lord Narayan did appear before him and asked him for a boon. Shatananda Muni said: “O Lord, I wish to be before your visible form all the time of my life.” Lord Narayan replied: “Your desire to see my visible form all the time would certainly be fulfilled shortly and you shall also be the immortal composer of a voluminous biography in poetic form of high order. I have already manifested myself and at this moment I am at Gadhada, a town in Saurashtra. So it would be better for you to move on to Gujarat.”
Shatananda Muni obeyed the instructions and reached Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Here he overheard a group of Brahmins discuss the lavish arrangements made for Brahmins at a religious ceremony being organized by Shree Hari in Darbhavati (modern Dabhan 15 kms from Nadiad). He accompanied them and at Dabhan for the first time had the glimpses of Shree Hari. He saw Shree Hari in the divine form occupying a royal throne and being served by his devotees.
This light of divinity made him bow down and worship and his gesture prompted Shree Hari to raise His hand and call him near. It was like the river merging into the ocean. As per the desire of Shatananda Mini, Shree Hari initiated him into sainthood. He went into Samadhi at the very darshan of Shree Hari and saw Shree Hari in Akshardham and at Badarikashram as Lord Narayan. He was now in touch with the omniscient.
Thence he remained in company of Shree Hari. Once he said: “O Lord, my greatest desire is to write all about you in poetic form so that such a book would bring bliss to the listeners for all times. For this I seek your blessings.” To this Shree Hari said: “For this your desire will be fulfilled. You are to accompany me and live at Gadhada where I am to construct a temple of Gopinathji.”
Gadhada had a new saint in its holy compounds. Shatananda Muni started to live and work in Gadhada under the guidance of Shree Hari. At his request Shree Hari enlightened him about the eight fold yoga. About this Shatananda Muni has spoken in the fifth volume of Satsangi Jivan – the authorized biography of Shree Hari.
In His discourse Shree Hari said to him: “In this biography write whatever you have seen and heard about Me. When I am not on this earth your book – Satsangi-Jivan will guide and inspire people. Intellect will become steady in solitude. Occupy the room suitable for yourself in the Gopinathji temple.” Thus Shatananda Muni started composing Satsangi-Jivan. Soon he read it before Shree Hari and other saints including Shukanand Muni. This work was then taught to other saints including to Suvrat Muni.
About Satsangi-Jivan:
Other works by Shatananda Muni: Arthadipika Commentary on Shikshapatri (the other namesake one is small), Anvaya-Dipika – Commentary on Shikshapatri, Sarva – Mangal – Stotra (1000 names of Shree Hari), Jan – Mangal – Stotra (108 names of Shree Hari), Hari Vakyasudha Sindhu (Vachananmrit), Uddhava Siddhanta, Dharmadeva Stotra (with 108 names), Bhakti Devi Stotra (with 108 names), Shree Hari Jayanti Vratavidhi, Vasudeva Nama Mala (108 names) etc.
The scholarly works of this great saint acts as a source of enlightenment for followers of Swaminarayan way of life.