Our History
From India to Illinois
The vision for building this campus was inspired by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the 5th spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He inaugurated the mandir on August 8, 2004 for the Chicagoland community.
Discover the history behind the mandir, its creator and the BAPS community in the Chicagoland area over the decades.
Early Community (1970-1984)
In 1972, there were only six devotees in Chicago. Through there were few congregants in the city, Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired them to begin weekly spiritual assemblies at each others' homes. Through Pramukh Swami Maharaj's visits in 1974, 1977, and 1980, the fellowship in the Chicagoland area saw dramatic growth.
Soon, a small building on a four-acre plot of land was acquired in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago.
Glen Ellyn Mandir (1984-1994)
In 1984, Pramukh Swami Maharaj consecrated murtis in the building and inaugurated the first BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the Chicago area. He was welcomed at the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal Bernardin. A grand procession of the murtis along Michigan Avenue (from Wacker Drive to Congress Plaza) took place.
Following the opening, a four-day national convention followed for over 400 children, youths, and adults. Within several years, the number of devotees outgrew the mandir in Glen Ellyn.
Inspiring a New Chapter (1994)
On June 21, 1994, Pramukh Swami Maharaj performed the ground-breaking rites on the 27-acre parcel in Bartlett where the mandir stands today, praying that "thousands of people come here, take benefit, do satsang." Walking the land, he instructed that only the necessary trees be cut and the rest left remain standing, highlighting the importance of being environmental conscious.
This was a deliberate, long-range vision of Pramukh Swami Maharaj: a site large enough not merely for a mandir, but for a full complex including a haveli (cultural assembly hall), parking, gardens, and a dedicated space for children and youth.
Haveli Opening & Mandir Groundbreaking (2000-2002)
The construction of the Haveli began on November 17, 1999. On October 29, 2000, Pramukh Swami Maharaj inaugurated the Haveli in Chicago with Vedic ceremonies.
The haveli itself was a magnificent structure in the traditional Gujarati haveli style - rich carved woodwork, intricate decorative elements, a large prayer hall, function spaces, and facilities for the full range of satsang activities: children's classes, youth assemblies and adult satsang sabha. The consecration of the murtis in the haveli by Pramukh Swami Maharaj gave the new space its spiritual heart and made Bartlett the active center of BAPS life in Chicagoland from that point forward.
On July 7, 2002, the Mandir foundation was placed under the expert supervision and guidance of foundation technologists.
Mandir Construction (2002-2004)
Exquisite materials, such as Carrara marble from Italy and Turkish limestone from Burdur, were meticulously carved and carefully shipped to their destinations. Skilled artisans from Rajasthan, India, hand-carved each piece using traditional methods, with over 2,000 craftsmen spending 22 months on the work.
The building was shipped in 40,000 different pieces from India. No steel was used in creating the structure. Instead, the stone pieces interlock like a jigsaw puzzle.
On November 9, 2002, the first batch of 240 containers of sculpted stone sailed from Kandla, India to Chicago. Upon reaching the port in Virginia, the containers were put on a train to Chicago and then transported to the project site. Upon arrival at the site, the stones were grouped and classified based on a detailed database of each piece. The pieces were then assembled together like a massive, three-dimensional jig-saw puzzle.
The Shikharbaddha Mandir in Chicago was completed in 16 months with the help of 2.5 million volunteer hours. More than 1,700 volunteers from three continents donated their expertise during its construction
Mandir Opening (2004)
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir was officially inaugurated on August 8, 2004 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
The mandir's inauguration was celebrated with a 16-day celebration, which included a Vishvashanti Maha-Yagna (collective prayer for world peace). A grand Nagar Yatra procession along Chicago's Columbus Drive, featuring floats with murtis, traditional dances, and kirtan performances by swamis and youth.
The highlight was the murti Pran-Pratishtha, or the consecration of the murtis on August 8, 2004. Following the opening, Pramukh Swami Maharaj said, "A beautiful Mandir has been built! Just look at how beautiful it is! It puts you in a divine trance! [This Mandir] is better than what we all had expected!... God is everywhere...The same God sitting in Akshardham is present in this very murti."
Youth Activity Center Opening (2021)
Pramukh Swami Maharaj laid out a grand vision for the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir complex in Chicago. That vision included a grand mandir situated between two symmetrically constructed buildings with traditional haveli-type architecture. Pramukh Swami Maharaj took an active interest ensuring that the complex blended traditional architecture with modern amenities, and provided ample resources for the youth, including a gym and classrooms for physical, emotional, and spiritual growth.
The Youth Activity Center (Y.A.C.) is dedicated to the holistic growth and development of children and youth. Here, students of all ages participate in weekly spiritual education classes (known as sabha), Gujarati language classes, music classes, leadership programs and other activities, to connect with their culture and community in a supportive environment.
This new Youth Activities Center is a multipurpose facility consisting of 26 classrooms, meeting rooms, and a full-sized gymnasium. Learn more on the 'Activities' page.
