One of the objects of the manifestation of Lord Swaminarayan on this earth was to expound the true form of upasana and establish ekantik dharma. True upasana involves identification of one's self with Akshar and, with that consciousness, worship of Lord Purushottam. To identify one's self with Akshar, one must develop communion with Akshar, that is - Gunatitanand Swami. Having attained the Gunatit state one must pray to Lord Purushottam Narayan-Sahajanand Swami, also known as Shriji Maharaj. This upasana requires the correct cognition of Akshar and Purushottam who came on this earth in the forms of Gunatitanand Swami and Shriji Maharaj.
However, the jivas fail to know the true nature of the Lord, manifest in human form. They cannot recognise Him as divine. Hence the paramhansas (great saints) of Shriji Maharaj explained His greatness to the people. Amongst them, Gunatitanand Swami explained to them by his ceaseless talks, day and night that Shriji Maharaj Himself is the Supreme Godhead. By his saintliness, harmony with Para-Brahman and forceful expression resounding his supreme faith, he propagated in the sampraday the fact that Shriji Maharaj is the Supreme Lord.
In the same way, the disciples of Gunatitanand Swami, Pragji Bhakta, and Jaga Bhakta, propagated that Gunatitanand Swami is Akshar. Thus the doctrine of Akshar and Purushottam began to spread. None, however, had the courage of installing the idols of Akshar and Purushottam in the temples like those of other deities. For, there was a section of people in the Sampraday which, with traditional conservatism and obstinate beliefs, strongly opposed this true doctrine and its supporters. And none would dare to swim against this violent current of opposition.
For this reason some of the great saints who had digested this supreme knowledge entertained subtle doubts in their minds whether this knowledge would be ever idolised and whether the idols of Maharaj and Swami would ever be installed in the temples. Many of those saints were very great and powerful, and they even tried to install these twin idols, but their efforts were foiled by the aforesaid elements. They were, therefore, silently praying to Shriji Maharaj and waiting for the advent of some powerful person who would hold all the power and prowess of Shriji Maharaj and accomplish this great task.