[5]: 178 He was born as Jina Vasani on 23 May 1892 in the small town of Dhari, Gujarat, India to father Devchandbhai and mother Puribai.

[6]: 9  He prepared offerings for the deities installed within the mandir, tended its grounds, taught meditation techniques and made sure everyone received sanctified food.

[6]: 19  As a swami, he completely renounced the life of a householder and lived according to the rules prescribed by Swaminarayan for ascetics: “absolute celibacy and the avoidance of women, separation from family relationships, detachment from sense objects, non-avarice and restraint of the pride of ego.”[1]: 150  Typically, Gnanjivandas Swami would rise early in the morning and work throughout the day to fulfill the commitment of service to both God and society.

The term "yogi," used to denote a person who practices asceticism and attains yoga, or communion with God, is followed by the suffix "ji" which is used as a sign of respect.

These teenagers gave up the comforts of home and householder life to perform service, in line with the lifestyle of the swamis they traveled with.

[1]: 50  One such youth, Vinu Patel, was inspired to join the monastic order, and Yogiji Maharaj ordained him Keshavjivandas Swami in 1961.

He established systems such as weekly assemblies, publications and recurring festivals that encouraged greater focus on spiritual endeavors.

His efforts in co-ordination of these increased activities provided an infrastructure for the organization's continued expansion and growth under his spiritual successor, Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

[1]: 60–61 [2][5]: 178–179 Shortly after a tour of East Africa and Britain, Yogiji Maharaj passed away and reverted to his eternal abode on 23 January 1971 at the BAPS temple in Mumbai[6]: 53  Before his passing, he appointed Pramukh Swami Maharaj as his spiritual successor and the two "functions of temporal administration and spiritual oversight were reunited in him.

[1]: 135 [6]: 53 Literally meaning "yogi's song" (from the Sanskrit root geet), it refers to a collection of Yogiji Maharaj's spiritual teachings and prayers.

His guru Shastriji Maharaj, on hearing of his plight, sent an attendant named Jagjivan Ruda Poriya to nurse him back to health.

[19] In his letter to Jagjivan, the "satsangi," Yogiji Maharaj reinforced the importance of three spiritual virtues: samp or co-operation, suhradhabhav or friendship, and ekta or unity.

[18] To devotees of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, the Yogi Gita is an inspirational text that aims to increase the spiritual purity of believers.

Yogiji Maharaj's own virtuous life and esteem in the eyes of BAPS followers give added weight to the teachings present in this work.

[4] A theme prevalent throughout the Yogi Gita is the Akshar-Purshottam Darshan and the belief that true spiritual awakening and liberation can be achieved only with the help of a God-realized soul (atpurush).

Devotees within the group use Yogiji Maharaj’s adherence to his guru’s principles and devoutness as examples of how an ideal spiritual life should be led.