Swaminarayan Mandir is one of the major pilgrimage tourism attractions in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Swaminarayan Mandir is a Hindu temple and a part of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.
Location of Swaminarayan Mandir
Swaminarayan Mandir is located in the Bhuleshwar area of Mumbai. Swaminarayan Mandir is the oldest Swaminarayan Mandir in Mumbai, Maharashtra, being over a hundred years old.
History of Swaminarayan Mandir
On Vaishakh Shukla Ekadashi, in the year 1868, Ranchhoddas Pranjeevandas built the first ever Swaminarayan temple in Mumbai by breaking and rebuilding his own residence. The deities in this temple (Swaminarayan Mandir) include Hari Krishna Maharaj, Gaulokvihari and Radhika were instated by Acharya Maharajshri Bhagwatprasadji Maharaj. The present tri-spire temple structure was built and the deities of Ghanshyam Maharaj and Lakshminarayan Dev instated on the occasion of Vaishakh Shukla Dwadashi, 1903 by Acharya Maharajshri Lakshmiprasadji Maharaj.
Structure of Swaminarayan Mandir
Swaminarayan Mandir has a tri - spire structure and the Murtis installed are that of Laxminarayan Dev, Ghanshyam Maharaj, Hari Krishna Maharaj, Gaulokvihari and Radha. It is a Shikharband Mandir and comes under the Laxminarayan Dev Gadi. This temple is one of many in the Bhuleshwar area that led to the birth of Phool Galli (or flower market) in Bhuleshwar due to the high demand of flowers in these temples.
Architecture of Swaminarayan Mandir
Swaminarayan Mandir at Bhuleshwar, Mumbai, and Maharashtra has an elaborately carved frontage which is really a visual treat in an otherwise shabby surrounding. There are twenty five steps leading to the audience hall (Sabhamandap). There are the shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman on the left and right of the audience hall. There are three main shrines. In the shrine on the east there are idols of Hari Krishna Maharaj, Gaulokvihari and Radhika; the shrine at the centre has the idols of Ghanashyam Maharaj, Narayan and Laxmi; while the shrine on the west houses the resting place for deities. Over the Sabha-mandap is a dome upon which are painted the scenes from the Krishnalila (Sports of Krishna). The dome of Swaminarayan Mandir is supported by fifty four pillars. There is a big audience hall in Swaminarayan Mandir on the first floor where religious discourses are held regularly.
Festivals in Swaminarayan Mandir
The festivities celebrated at Swaminarayan Mandir are Ram Navami, Swaminarayan Jayanti, Janmashtami, Vaman Jayanti, Nrisinha Jayanti, Mahashivratri and Ganesha Chaturthi. Apart from these, the festival of Hindola is also celebrated as part of festivities during the month of Shravan or rainy season in the Indian Calendar.
