The Swaminarayan Sampradaya takes its name and origin from its historical founder, Swaminarayan, also known as Sahajanand Swami.:: Swaminarayan was born on 3 April 1781 in the village of Chhapaiya in present-day Uttar Pradesh, India.: After his parents' death, he renounced his home at the age of 11 and traveled for 7 years as a child yogi around India before settling in the hermitage of Ramanand Swami, a Vaishnava religious leader in present-day Gujarat.:: : Ramanand Swami initiated him as Sahajanand Swami on 28 October 1800, and appointed him to be his successor and the leader of his Uddhav sampradaya in 1801,:: giving him the name Narayan Muni.: Ramanand Swami died on 17 December 1801.: