The Lord first and foremost gives the special duties applicable to his Acharyas (spiritual heads of the sect) who have been given the seat of Gurus of the Swaminarayana-Uddhavi Sampradai. Lord Swaminarayan towards the end of his life decided that somebody should be selected, to be initiated as Guru to continue the work that he had begun. Discussing it with leading saints and devotees, it was decided that somebody from his own family (Dharma Kula) should be selected. Thus it was decided that two Acharya Gadis (seats) should be established governing the Northern and Southern regions of India.
Ayodhyaprasada, the son of elder brother Ramapratapa and Raghuvira, the son of younger brother Iccharama were selected. In an assembly at Vadtal, lots were drawn to decide who would be established as Acharya of the two regions. Ayodhyaprasada was thus given the Northern region, with Ahmedabad as the centre and so was crowned Acharya of Nar-Narayana Deva Gadi (after the presiding deities at Ahmedabad temple). Similarly, Raghuvira was given the Southern region, with Vadtal as the centre and so was crowned as the Acharya of Laxmi-Narayana Deva Gadi (after the presiding deities at Vadtal temple).
The Desh-Vibhag-Lekh was written and signed and witnessed by the two Acharyas and prominent saints. This Lekh outlines the duties of the Acharyas as well as providing proof, in living testament, that the Acharyas of Dharma Kula are the true heads of the Swaminarayana-Uddhavi Sampradai.
Over the years, the Acharya lineage has continued with the Ahmedabad Gadi being passed from Ayodhyaprasada to Keshavaprasada, Purushottamaprasada, Vasudevaprasada, Devendraprasada and onto the present day Acharya, Tejendraprasada Pande.
Similarly the Vadtal Gadi has continued on from Raghuvira to Bhagwataprasada, Viharilal, Laxmiprasada, Shripatiprasada, Anandaprasada, Narendraprasada and onto the present day Acharya, Ajendraprasada Pande.
Lord Swaminarayan commands that his Acharyas should not initiate (give Diksha) to women who are not their ‘Pasa Sambandha’ or close relation. Pasa Sambandha is such person, on whose death, one has to observe Sutaka (period of prohibited rites after a death).
Thus the Acharyas should not directly preach to women who are not their close relation. The Acharya should have his own wife, preach and initiate other women into the fellowship. The reason being - ‘A woman initiated by a Guru may be overcome by his qualities and so develop lustful feelings which will send both the Guru and the woman to the hell called Taptasurmi’.