On 10 December 1994, H.H. Pramukh Swami Maharaj performed the murti-pratishtha of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Mahesana. Since then, the mandir has served as a source of spiritual and cultural inspiration to all in the city and surrounding villages.
On 27 and 28 April 2013, grand celebrations were held to commemorate the consecration of the murtis of Shri Nilkanth Varni – the teenage-yogi form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, and the Guru Parampara – Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj, Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj, Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj and Pragat Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
The murtis has previously been sanctified by Pramukh Swami Maharaj on 18 March 2013 in Ahmedabad.
The celebration began on 27 April with a Yagna for World Peace in which Pujya Mahant (Keshavjivandas) Swami and Pujya Kothari (Bhaktipriyadas) Swami performed the main Vedic rituals, and pujan and arti of the murtis. A total of 2,200 yajmans participated in the yagna, seated around 275 specially built yagna kunds. Over 9,000 devotees were present to witness the yagna.
At 3.30 p.m., the murtis to be consecrated were taken on a grand and colorful procession through the streets of Mahesana to bless the city with their divine gaze. Each murti was seated on a separate beautifully decorated float. In addition some of the Sanstha’s spiritual, cultural and social activities for children, youths and women were highlighted. Over 2,000 devotees participated in the 6 kilometers procession route.
In the evening, at 9.00 p.m. over 5,000 devotees enjoyed the special performance of devotional bhajans presented by BAPS sadhus.
On 28 April, from 7.45 to 9.30 a.m., senior BAPS sadhus performed the Vedic murti-pratishtha rituals and consecrated the murtis in the separate shrines in the rear pradakshina of the mandir. Around 600 senior devotees also participated in the rituals.
Thereafter, an assembly, attended by over 9,000 devotees, was held in the Pramukh Swami Sabhagruh in which the major contributors to this project were honored by the senior sadhus.
The main murti-pratishtha assembly was held in large open grounds from 6.15 to 9.30 p.m. The assembly theme focused on one outstanding message from the lives of Shri Nilkanth Varni and each of the gurus: Shri Nilkanth Varni – Seva, Bhagatji Maharaj – Guru bhakti, Shastriji Maharaj – Efforts to Promote the Akshar-Purushottam Upasana, Yogiji Maharaj – Samp, Suhradbhav and Ekta and Pramukh Swami maharaj – God is the All-doer. Speeches on these topics were presented by Pujya Shrutiprakash Swami, Pujya Anandswarup Swami, Pujya Viveksagar Swami, Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami and Pujya Mahant Swami.
Over 22,000 devotees were present for this concluding assembly of the murti-pratishtha celebrations.