The heart of the Swaminarayan Akshardham complex is the Akshardham mandir, which was inaugurated on October 30th, 1992. The mandir is an effort to offer God a home that honors His glory and divinity – a timeless, beautiful and peaceful home for God here on Earth.
Aesthetically appealing, the mandir pays homage to traditional Hindu architecture. It is designed in accordance with the ancient Indian treatises on architectural science: the shilpa shastras. The shilpa shastras have guided the mandir’s design and construction from its grand proportions and distinctive style of carvings to its unique construction without the use of ferrous metal.
The Akshardham mandir consists of 97 intricately carved pillars, 17 ornate domes, 220 stone beams, 57 stone screens, 3 porticos, and 256 statues of spiritual personalities in Hinduism. The mandir reaches 108 feet into the sky, spans 131 feet in width, and is 240 feet long.
Inside the mandir, each carefully carved pillar shares a story of devotion or offers darshan of a deity.
The garbhagruh (inner sanctum) of the Akshardham mandir is home to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his divine successors. The divine lineage includes Gunatitanand Swami, Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and Mahant Swami Maharaj: the gurus of our sampradaya (divine fellowship). As manifestations of Aksharbrahma, they are God’s eternal servants and the ideals of saintliness and devotion. They reside in the garbhagruh, eternally offering service and worship to Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Around the garbhagruh, special altars are devoted to other Hindu deities of Sanatana Dharma: Shri Sita-Ram, Shri Radha-Krishna, Shri Lakshmi-Narayan, and Shri Parvati-Mahadev.
The abode of truth, beauty and auspiciousness, Akshardham has molded and remolded millions of lives. It is because here resides Bhagwan Swaminarayan in all His glory, showering blessings upon one and all.
When the 18th century had been engulfed by social, political and spiritual darkness, Bhagwan Swaminarayan ushered in spiritual enlightenment. Celebrating His 49 years on earth from 1781 to 1830 CE, SWAMINARAYAN DARSHAN relives His divine life through exclusive paintings.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan was widely followed and worshipped as the manifest form of God. His devotees carefully preserved articles He used, and handed them down from generation to generation. In the PRASADI MANDAPAM, sanctified objects have been appropriately treated and authentically displayed in hopes of providing future generations with a historical testimony of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s incarnation on earth. These holy relics are priceless because of the immense spiritual power they carry within them. Within these relics lies the presence of Lord Swaminarayan.
