WHO LIVES HERE?
The Home of the Divine
In order to understand the significance of a mandir, one must understand who the mandir is dedicated to. This mandir is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the divinities, sages, seekers and seers of Hinduism.
The central focus of a mandir are the murtis. A murti is a sacred embodiment used in Hindu worship. It serves as a respectful focus for prayer, helping devotees connect with God with attention and sincerity. Many Hindus understand murti worship as worship of God through a sacred form - not worship of the material itself.
1781-1830
Bhagwan Swaminarayan
Bhagwan Swaminarayan manifested in northern India in 1781 to grant eternal liberation to countless souls, remove misguided religious practices, and dispel misinterpretations that had crept into Hinduism.
Heading a socio-spiritual awakening, he established the Swaminarayan Sampradaya at the age of 20, introducing social reforms, serving the poor and needy, and preaching against superstitions, addictions and violence.
During his lifetime, he initiated a total of 3,000 sadhus (ordained monks) and was recognised and worshipped as Purushottam (supreme God) by countless individuals.
To continue his work of moral and spiritual regeneration, he promised to remain ever-present on earth through an unbroken succession of enlightened, God-realised gurus.
Ghanshyam Maharaj
Bhagwan Swaminarayan was known by the name of Ghanshyam during his childhood.
Ghanshyam renounced home at the age of 11 to embark on a 7-year, 7,000-mile spiritual journey across the length and breadth of India. Walking alone, barefoot, and with almost no possessions, he sanctified places of pilgrimage and inspired thousands to lead a life rooted in morality and spirituality.
Ending his trek in the state of Gujarat, he built six majestic mandirs and inspired the creation of scores of scriptural texts by his sadhus.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s spiritual teachings were recorded in the Vachanamrut – a collection of his discourses encapsulating Vedic wisdom and methods for implementing it in daily life.
1784-1867
Gunatitanand Swami
Gunatitanand Swami was the first spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
He lived a life of an ideal sadhu, dedicated to the devotion of God, service of others, and sharing of profound wisdom.
He was revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan to be Akshar, the perfectly enlightened devotee and the closest entity to God as extolled in the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita.
As Akshar, he remains manifest on earth as the enlightened guru, helping aspirants attain God-realization.
Bhagwan Shri Krishna & Shri Radhaji
One of the Hindu faith's most beloved personalities, Bhagwan Shri Krishna’s endearing childhood exploits and enchanting flute melodies inspired profound philosophers, poets, and great sages throughout time.
Bhagwan Krishna embodied qualities we aspire to achieve, including loyalty, gentleness, and stability amidst challenges. His inspiring teachings are encapsulated in the Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism's most revered and renowned scriptures. Within it, he teaches how to become a true yogi, one with unwavering faith in the Divine.
He is accompanied by Shrimati Radhaji, his ideal devotee. She is revered as the epitome of divine love and dedication. Her divine bond with Bhagwan Krishna illuminates the path of spiritual devotion and teaches us that true love knows no bounds.
Shri Hanumanji
Alongside the pair is Bhagwan Shri Ram's faithful devotee, Shri Hanumanji. He is admired for his immense strength, self-discipline, humility and unwavering devotion.
His virtues of inner strength, alertness, loyalty, humility, patience as well as other qualities of an ideal servant are an inspiration to all devotees. He inspires bravery and courage in fighting for righteousness.
Seekers look to him for guidance and strength to overcome adversities; devotees pray to him asking for protection against evil forces.
Shri Ganeshji
Present along with Bhagwan Shri Shankar-Parvatiji is their beloved son, Shri Ganeshji. He is revered as the remover of obstacles and the lord of new beginnings. He is honored at the start of various Hindu ceremonies.
Along with Shri Ganeshji resides:
Shri Shivaling - The rounded black stone is a Shivaling, worshipped as a representation of Shiva. It represents Infinity and Eternity.
Nandi - Nandi the bull, a devoted servant of Shiva, symbolises the limitless effort and tolerance required for self-realisation.
Kach - Another devout servant of Shiva, Kach the tortoise symbolises patience, perseverance and introspection.
1829-1897
Bhagatji Maharaj
Bhagatji Maharaj was Bhagwan Swaminarayan's second spiritual successor. His life exemplified the importance of seva (selfless service) to God and guru.
He lived and breathed the teachings of his guru, Gunatitanand Swami. His spiritual enlightenment singled him out as successor to Gunatitanand Swami.
Humble by trade, Bhagatji Maharaj personified Hinduism's teaching that the path to spiritual awakening transcends social distinctions. All can attain liberation through devotion while observing the religious prescriptions for them.
His intense desire to worship God endeared him to many, including his disciple Shastriji Maharaj.
1865-1951
Shastriji Maharaj
Shastriji Maharaj was Bhagwan Swaminarayan's third spiritual successor. He was a magnetic orator and a profound scholar of Sanskrit and ancient Hindu scriptures. He established the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) in 1907.
He clarified and propagated Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, the spiritual philosophy revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The foundational theology of the BAPS Swaminarayan tradition is the worship of Bhagwan Swaminarayan (Purushottam), alongside Gunatitanand Swami (Akshar). This supports the traditional Hindu doctrine of the worship of God, along with his ideal disciple.
Shastriji Maharaj’s life exemplified tireless dedication, authenticity, and fearless commitment to sharing spiritual truth with the world.
1892-1971
Yogiji Maharaj
Yogiji Maharaj was Bhagwan Swaminarayan's fourth spiritual successor. His life was one of selfless service, inspiring sermons and the sharing of his profound spiritual love. His humility extended to his sermons, such as: “Tolerance is a powerful virtue. If someone speaks harshly, do not retaliate but tolerate... By forgiving, one experiences fountains of joy and eternal peace within one’s heart.”
He inspired spiritual activities beyond the limits of India, helping Hindus in England, North America and Africa to preserve their faith and values.
To nurture spiritual growth, he established congregations for all ages, where devotees could gather regularly to serve, learn, and grow together. His vision led to the creation of children’s and youth activities that are now central to BAPS activities worldwide.
1921-206
Pramukh Swami Maharaj
Pramukh Swami Maharaj was Bhagwan Swaminarayan's fifth spiritual successor. He was loved and respected as one of the world’s great spiritual teachers. He lived and promoted the principle: “In the joy of others, lies our own.”
This mandir is the fruits of his vision and dedication, and was inaugurated on August 8, 2004. Under his leadership, BAPS grew into an international spiritual and humanitarian organization with over 5,025 centers worldwide.
He travelled throughout the world, dedicating his life to the well-being of others, visiting more than 250,000 homes in 17,000 villages and cities, and personally counselling more than 810,000 people. He created over 1,100 Hindu mandirs and ordained 1,000 youths into the monastic order to serve society and strive spiritually.
b. 1933
Mahant Swami Maharaj
Mahant Swami Maharaj is Bhagwan Swaminarayan's sixth spiritual successor and the present spiritual leader of BAPS.
For over six decades, he served under the guidance of his gurus, Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Through his simple spirituality and profoundly insightful discourses, he has inspired ethical living and strengthened faith in the lives of countless people.
He authored the Satsang Diksha - a 315 verse scripture based on the teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, which outlines the philosophical principles and daily personal practices to be undertaken by BAPS devotees based on the teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Under his leadership, BAPS continues to grow as a global force for inspiring harmony, unconditional devotion, moral values and selfless service.