Mandirs have been part of the Hindu tradition for thousands of years. They are Hindu places of worship. A mandir is where the mind becomes still and spiritual aspirants worship God. Mandirs also serve as a hub for the community’s spiritual, social, cultural, and humanitarian activities. About 200 years ago, Bhagwan Swaminarayan renewed this ancient Hindu tradition by building 5 majestic mandirs. Today, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has built over 1100 mandirs in diverse communities around the world. BAPS mandirs are architectural masterpieces which preserve language, customs, and the ancient art and science of traditional architecture and construction. They are an ambassador of Indian culture. Mandirs serve as a center for language, literature, music, and culinary instruction and activities. Hundreds of thousands of children and adults celebrate their heritage at 3,850 BAPS mandirs and cultural centers worldwide.
Traditional mandirs are architectural wonders. They uphold an ancient style of construction and creation mentioned in the Shilpa and Sthapathya Shastras, Hindu scriptures which describe the art for mandir design and construction. They are constructed with stone and not reinforced with any steel or metal. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha has created the Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar and New Delhi and shikharbaddha mandirs in India, the United Kingdom, North America, and Africa according to the guidelines given in these texts. Not only do these mandirs revive the ancient architectural methods of Indian culture, they introduce these techniques to millions of people around the world.