Work under way on £2m BAPS temple in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire

A new £2m Hindu temple could be opened within 12 months.Work has already started on the impressive domed building in the heart of Wellingborough, which will serve followers of the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism.

Community leaders believe the temple in Mill Road will allow volunteers to serve a growing as 12,800 new homes are built in the town under the Core Spatial Strategy.
Eager to see how the new temple will benefit everyone, councillors could travel to the Neasden Temple in London to see how a similar building in Wellingborough might operate.
Castle ward member Shashi Dholakia, who has helped arrange a potential visit for later this year, said: "This is really bringing about community cohesion on a much larger scale.
"Wellingborough is expanding and this will be a focal point, being situated in a central part of the town. It will be really important once it's built."

Vice-chairman of Wellingborough Council's community committee Bob Patel said: "It is going to be just right for Wellingborough and wider Northamptonshire. People will be coming from as far as Daventry, Coventry and Northampton."
The old, house-based Hindu temple in Wellingborough has already been knocked down to make way for the more traditional structure.
After a planning application was approved last year work has started on constructing the outside shell of the temple, which will be made of marble imported from India.
The outside is set to be completed in six months' time and it is estimated that the inside of the building, which will contain prayer areas and rooms for community activities, will take another six months to complete.

The £2m building is being funded by the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir central organisation in London. Community leaders are keen to stress it will not just benefit Hindus.
Cllr Patel said: "As far as the community is concerned fundraising and activities will be done for lots of different people."

It is hoped that a visit to the Neasden Temple will give councillors a better understanding of Hindu culture, which is a major influence in Wellingborough because of a high Hindu population.
A report for today's community committee meeting at Wellingborough Council said: "The trip is about strengthening understanding of the temple project."

Earlier this year the council was criticised by the Audit Commission for its poor understanding of diversity issues.

Akshardham temple enters Guinness Book of World Records

The Akshardham temple in Delhi has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world's largest Hindu temple complex.

Michael Witty, a senior member of the Guinness World Record Main Management Committee, presented the awards to Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sansthan (BAPS) under two categories: Most Hindu temples consecrated by a single person and secondly, the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple.

"His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, internationally revered spiritual leader and head of BAP Swaminarayan Sansthan, has created and consecrated in accordance with the Hindu rituals, a world record of 713 mandirs (temples) in five continents between April 1971 and November 2007," the Certificate said.

"Amongst these, the majestic, ornately hand-carved BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, stands apart as the largest Hindu temple in the world," it added.

"It took us three months of research, poring over the extensive architectural plans of the Akshardham and also those of other temples of comparable size, visiting and inspecting the site, before we were convinced that Akshardham deserved the title," Michael Whitty said.

The Akshardham temple in New Delhi is spread over expansive lawns covering an area of 86,342 square feet. It is 356 feet long, 316 feet wide and 141 feet high.

This is the first time that the Guinness Book has recognised a Hindu temple in its list of large religious structures.

Jeva Main Nirakhya Re - Sadhu Narayanprasaddas

On that same tour of Calcutta, an exhibition of my paintings had been arranged. One particular day, the famous Bengali writer Tarashankar Bandopadhyaya was scheduled to pay a visit to the exhibition. I happened to be stuck without a jod to accompany me to the exhibition. Everyone was busy in something or another, and besides, there weren't many of us anyway.

Understandably I was getting rather worked up. I was almost certain I'd miss the important appointment.

Swamishri somehow picked up on my frustration. "Come on," Swamishri called to me, "I'll come with you."

I was overwhelmed. Pramukh Swami? Come with me? It just didn't fit in my head! How could I possibly take Pramukh Swami with me? In the end though, Mahant Swami accompanied me. But I'll never forget Swamishri's offer.

Later that day, I brought Tarashankar Bandopadhyaya to Dolatbhai's house for Yogiji Maharaj's darshan. A sharp and intelligent man, Tarashankar was quick to comment upon his first darshan of Yogiji Maharaj, "Your Guru seems as endowed as Ramkrishna Paramhansa; as powerful as God."

Tarashankar met Swamishri there as well and was deeply impressed with Swamishri's striking personality. He expressed his first experience in his Bengali-accentuated English, "This sadhu is worthy of being meditated upon!"

Ever since the beginning, Swamishri's enchanting personality could barely be concealed.

--Sadhu Narayanprasaddas

Chesta of Lord Swaminarayan

Chesta Pad which is recited daily at all Swaminarayan temples vividly describes Lord Swaminarayan's daily routine and habits.

Chaturmas Niyams

Extra Niyams for Devotees During Chaturmas

14 July to 9 November 2008

As instructed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the Shikshapatri and by the wish of guruhari Pramukh Swami Maharaj, devotees should undertake extra spiritual observances through the four holy months of chaturmas. This year chaturmas is from 14 July 2008 (Ashadh sud 11) to 9 November 2008 (Kartik sud 11). To please Bhagwan Swaminarayan and guruhari Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the following extra observances should be undertaken:

1. One month dharna-parna, chandrayan, etc. or ek-tana during the month of Shravan.
2. Extra malas, dandvats, pradakshinas as per one’s faith.
3. Daily read one extra Vachanamrut and five Swamini Vato.
4. Read parts 1, 2 and 3 of Yogiji Maharaj's biography.
5. Those who do not have a copy of Yogiji Maharaj's biography should read 'Yogicharitam'.
6. In accordance with the wish of senior sadhus, read the book 'Jena Gune Rijhya Girdhari'. Also, those who have facilities should listen to 'Pramukh Swami Maharaj's Amrutvani', Samput 12.
7. Inspire five people to give up addictions, become satsangis, attend satsang sabha and conduct a daily ghar sabha.

Note: During Chaturmas, devotees should not eat brinjals, white & red radish, sugarcane or mogri.

Real Growth

As Swamishri lay down to sleep, he was informed about Raju Dave's birthday. Then a sadhu told Swamishri, "For the last 15 years, Raju has not grown in height at all!" Swamishri commented, "It doesn't matter whether he grows in height or not. By growing in Satsang, everything is included. Nothing beats it. There is no better way to happiness. By progressing in Satsang, Maharaj is pleased. Progress in Satsang is real growth."

20-3-1993, Mumbai

Pramukh Swami's Advise On Marriage

In our increasingly independent, interactive and alluring society, social issues are burgeoning at an alarming rate. One particular issue that fragments the family is when a youth chooses to marry someone against the wishes of his or her parents.

A youth in London had decided to marry a girl who was not of the Gujarati community. His father and mother, both devotees, were pained and unhappy about his decision. Despite explaining to him not to marry, he remained adamant.

When Swamishri arrived in London in 1998, the father requested Swamishri to explain to his son. At first Swamishri was reluctant to do so because the boy did not know him. Finally, at the father's insistence, Swamishri called his son and advised, "As a satsangi you should understand as to how can you make your parents unhappy when they gave birth to you and raised you! If the girl really loves you, then has she accepted satsang? You have been friends with her for six years but has your influence changed her? Has she given up eating meat and drinking beer? Instead, you have started eating and drinking. She did not give up meat, and you are ready to forsake your parents! So, just think about it." Then Swamishri explained to his father, "I've talked to your son. Now he will do as it pleases him. You should imbibe the philosophy of the temporariness of this world (sankhya). Tell me, how many more years have you to live? So, engage yourself in bhajan (worship) and you will have peace and happiness."

Swamishri advocates that youths should always marry according to our tradition and with the consent of parents.

1998, London