List of Swaminarayan temples

Swaminarayan, the founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, established temples, known as mandirs (Devnagari: स्वामीनारायण मन्दिर), as part of his philosophy of theism and deity worship. These mandirs are known as Swaminarayan Hindu temples.

He constructed nine temples in the following cities; Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bhuj, Muli, Vadtal, Junagadh, Dholera, Dholka, Gadhpur, Burhanpur & Jetalpur. In these temples he installed images of various Hindu gods, such as NarNarayan Dev, LaxmiNarayan Dev, RadhaKrishna Dev, RadhaRaman Dev, Revti-Baldevji, Madan Mohan Dev etc. Each of these nine original temples fall either under the NarNarayan Dev Gadi, Ahmedabad or the LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi, Vadtal depending on their geographical location.

One of the most prominent features of the heritage of Swaminarayan is temple architecture. The images in the temples built by Swaminarayan are the evidence of the priority of Krishna. All of the temples constructed during his life show some form of Krishna, and all temples since have such worshipable murtis. In the temples of the dioceses of Ahmedabad and Vadtal, they are predominantly a central altar or a shrine. Human forms are predominant for an known exception of a Hanuman temple at Sarangpur, where Hanuman is the central figure. The temples have accommodations for sadhus built next to them. Stones were quarried in far places and carried to the temple sites.

Swaminarayan

Swaminarayan (IAST: Svāmīnārāyaṇa, 3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830), also known as Sahajanand Swami, is the central figure in a modern sect of Hinduism known as the Swaminarayan Hinduism.

Swaminarayan was born Ghanshyam Pande in Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1781. In 1792, he began a seven-year pilgrimage across India, adopting the name Nilkanth Varni. He settled in the state of Gujarat around 1799. In 1800, he was initiated into the Uddhav sampradaya by his guru, Swami Ramanand, and was given the name Sahajanand Swami. In 1802, his guru handed over the leadership of the Uddhav Sampraday to him before his death. Sahajanand Swami held a gathering and taught the Swaminarayan Mantra. From this point onwards, he was known as Swaminarayan. The Uddhav Sampraday became known as the Swaminarayan Sampraday.

Swaminarayan developed a good relationship with the British Raj. He had followers not only from Hindu denominations but also from Islam and Zoroastrianism. He built six temples in his lifetime and appointed 500 paramahamsas to spread his philosophy. In 1826, Swaminarayan wrote the Shikshapatri, a book of social principles. He died on 1 June 1830 and was cremated according to Hindu rites in Gadhada, Gujarat. Before his death, Swaminarayan appointed his adopted nephews as acharyas to head the two dioceses of Swaminarayan Sampraday.

Swaminarayan (disambiguation)

The word Swaminarayan or Svaminarayan may refer to:

  • Swaminarayan - is the manifestation of god and the founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday previously known as under his guru as the Uddhav Sampraday.
  • Swaminarayan Hinduism - name of the tradition that offers worship and devotion to Swaminarayan.
  • Swaminarayan Sampraday
  • Swaminarayan (spiritual tradition)

    Swaminarayan Hinduism, also known as the Swaminarayan faith or the Swaminarayan sect, is a modern spiritual tradition, as a subsect of Vaishnava Hinduism, originating in the state of Gujarat, in which followers offer devotion to and worship Swaminarayan as a form of Vishnu. The Swaminarayan faith has a large percentage of Gujarati Hindus who are followers of Swaminarayan.

    Beliefs

    Considered a Vaishnava Bhakti sect following philosophical teachings of Uddhav as per Ramanujacharya. Since its origin, Swaminarayan Hinduism has been noted by its preservation of Gujarati cultural and linguistic traditions, devotion to the personality of Swaminarayan as supreme deity and the reason of all avtārs, dedication to social service and a strict ethical code including uncompromising segregation of the genders.Monier Williams, on at least one of his visits, had long discussions with Swaminarayan and his followers and did his best to ascertain the way Swaminarayan's principles were preached. He visited the temple in Vadtal in the company of the Collector of Karira during a popular Kartik Purnima festival that took place there and recorded the basics. Those who are initiated into proper worship of Krishna deity are instructed to wear a Tulasi kanti or rosary beads in two rows around their necks, one for Krishna and one for Radha. Followers are also instructed to chant the mantra of śrī-kṛṣṇa smaraṇaṁ mama (great Krishna is my soul's refuge) and wear Urdhva Pundra Tilak markings on their forehead. Daily worship of Krishna in the temple was instructed and the Krishna mantra was central to the Swaminarayan's initiation (diksa). Supreme Being is believed to be referred by various names: Para Brahman, Bhagavan and Purushottama. While no detailed statistical information is available, most of the followers of Swaminarayan share a belief that Swaminarayan is the complete manifestation of Narayana or the supreme person and more superior to other avatars.

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    Latest News for: swaminarayan mandir

    Flushing Swaminarayan Mandir launches 2025 Annual Walkathon

    News India Times 25 Mar 2025
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    Hundreds join the17th Annual Queens Interfaith Unity Walk

    News India Times 25 Mar 2025
    Queens Interfaith Unity Walk Participants at the end of the last stop of their walk, the Swaminarayan Mandir on Bowne Street ... The last stop of the Walk was to the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir located at ...

    After desecration of Hindu temple In Chino Hills, concern and calls for peace follow

    Orange County Register 17 Mar 2025
    Visitors walk in front of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest Hindu temple in California, on March 13, 2025 ... Visitors walk in front of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest Hindu temple in California, on Thursday, March 13, 2025.

    US-Hindu Temple Hate Crime

    Citrus County Chronicle 17 Mar 2025
    The 20-acre campus of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, the largest Hindu temple in California, with its 91-foot lotus-shaped pond on March 13, 2025 ... .

    US Hindu Temple Hate Crime

    Citrus County Chronicle 17 Mar 2025
    Visitors walk in front of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest Hindu temple in California, on March 13, 2025 ... .

    Southern California Hindu temple desecrated with anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti calls for peace

    Newsday 17 Mar 2025
    Devotees who arrived early morning on March 8 at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills were shocked to find the words “Hindustan Murdabad,” which means “death to” or “down with” Hindus and ...

    Splashing colours brings joy on Holi

    Dawn 14 Mar 2025
    KARACHI ... As members of the Hindu community arrived in huge numbers at the main gate of the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on Thursday, the big ground behind the temple echoed with laughter and exclamations of delight. “Happy Holi!” “Holi Hai!” ... .

    Chino Hills temple vandalism being investigated as a hate crime

    Redlands Daily Facts 11 Mar 2025
    The vandalism, which was reported on Saturday, March 8, involved spray-painted messages on a marble sign, brick wall and sidewalk at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple.

    Southern California Hindu temple vandalized with anti-India messages

    The Los Angeles Times 10 Mar 2025
    The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple in Chino Hills opens its doors to visitors daily at 9 a.m., according to the temple’s website ... Members of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple held a prayer Sunday afternoon, calling for peace and unity.

    Largest California Hindu temple vandalized with anti-Indian PM Modi graffiti

    Visalia Times Delta 10 Mar 2025
    Photos published on X by the Hindu American Foundation show the entrance to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California covered with vulgar messages against the far-right Indian Prime Minister.

    The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir In Southern California, Was Desecrated With Anti-India Messages

    News18 09 Mar 2025
    . The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, one of the largest Hindu temples in southern California, was desecrated with anti-India messages on Sunday n18oc_worldn18oc_breaking-news News18 Mobile App - https.//onelink.to/desc-youtube ... .

    Congress condemns vandalisation of temple in US, demands action

    The Siasat Daily 09 Mar 2025
    BAPS said its Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills city of San Bernardino County was desecrated ... The Indian National Congress condemns in the strongest possible terms, the vandalism of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills, California.

    Hindu temple defaced in California with anti-India graffiti

    Hindustan Times 09 Mar 2025
    The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, one of the largest Hindu temples in Southern California, was vandalized with anti-India messages on Sunday, marking another disturbing instance of hate crimes against the Hindu community in the United States.

    India condemns vandalism of Hindu temple in California, calls for strict action

    Hindustan Times 09 Mar 2025
    The Indian government issued a statement on Sunday after reports emerged that the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, one of Southern California’s largest Hindu temples, was vandalised with anti-India messages.
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