विश्व का दूसरा सबसे बड़ा हिंदू मंदिर बीएपीएस स्वामीनारायण अक्षरधाम न्यू जर्सी यूएसए

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham is a 183-acre Hindu mandir (temple) complex in Robbinsville, New Jersey, that includes the Akshardham mandir, a traditional temple, a welcome center, a museum, and event space. Following the completion of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in 2014, the Akshardham Mandir, the world’s second-biggest Hindu temple, was dedicated on October 8, 2023. The temple is 191 feet tall and is located 99 kilometers south of New York City.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir

The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha constructed the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, New Jersey, and Pramukh Swami Maharaj dedicated it. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, headed by Mahant Swami Maharaj, is a Swaminarayan Hindu religion. Hand-carved Italian Carrara marble, limestone, and Indian pink stone are meticulously employed in the construction of the mandir. The mandir was built by the standards specified in the ancient Vedas, or Hindu texts. The mandir is open for guests for worship (darshan) daily. The compound also features an assembly hall in addition to the mandir.

Mandir and daily rituals

The mandir is a shikarbaddha mandir, created according to the principles given down in the Shilpa Shastras, Hindu books that prescribe holy construction norms. Murtis, or holy icons of the deities, have been holy within the mandir. The central shrine houses the sacred murtis of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami, venerated together as Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj. Similarly, separate shrines hold additional murtis, such as Radha and Krishna, Shiva and Parvati, Sita and Ram, Hanuman, Ganapati, and Swaminarayan’s spiritual successors, the BAPS gurus.

Once the divine appears in a murti, it becomes a manifestation of the Divine, according to Hindu teachings. In consequence, Swaminarayan swamis, or monks, dedicate themselves to the deities throughout the day. They awaken the deities by chanting prabhatiya (morning hymns) before sunrise. The deities are then cleansed and given food and clothing based on the time of day and season. Food that has been presented to the deities is considered dedicated and is delivered as prasadam to devotees.

Aarti, an act in which devotees chant the glory of God as a lit wick is circulated in front of the murtis, is conducted five times a day and is known as mangala aarti, shanagar aarti, rajabhoga aarti, sandhya aarti, and shayana aarti. Finally, swamis dress the murtis in night garb and request that the deities retire for the night.

Construction

Pramukh Swami Maharaj thought and imagined the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, New Jersey in 1997 as part of Swaminarayan Akshardham in North America. The construction of the mandir commenced in 2010. 68,000 cubic feet of Italian Carrara marble were used to construct the Nagaradi-style mandir. The marble was imported from European quarries to Rajasthan, India, where hundreds of craftsmen sculpted the stones. The last stone pieces were sequentially numbered by engineers and sent to Robbinsville after being constructed in workshops. Upon the arrival of the components, a systematic numbering system was implemented to facilitate the seamless construction of the mandir.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, New Jersey, envisioned by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1997 as part of Swaminarayan Akshardham in North America, began construction in 2010. Crafted in the Nagaradi style with 68,000 cubic feet of Italian Carrara marble, the stones were carved by artisans in Rajasthan, India, after being shipped from European quarries. Engineers meticulously numbered and assembled the stones in workshops before transporting them to Robbinsville, where a decorative mandap was erected to protect the mandir from the elements. Measuring 87 feet wide, 133 feet long, and 42 feet high, the mandap’s entrance, Mayur Dwar, features carvings of peacocks, elephants, and revered Hindu devotees.

The construction, a collaborative effort involving artisans and volunteers contributing an estimated 4.7 million human hours, encompassed various tasks such as design, engineering, carving coordination, stone shipping, site preparation, lighting, electrical wiring, polishing, cleaning, tent construction, meal preparation, and medical services are all available. This collaborative endeavor yielded a spiritual masterpiece, a testament to dedication and craftsmanship.

Opening of BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, inaugurated on August 10, 2014, saw its official opening after the consecration of the murtis in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and senior swamis of BAPS. The opening ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, featuring the presence of Senator Cory Booker, Rep. Steny Hoyer, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, Indian Consul General Dnyaneshwar Mulay and Attorney General John Jay Hoffman. The three-day celebration included a grand yagna for world peace, a women’s cultural program promoting interfaith harmony, and drew over 20,000 participants. In June 2022, the Shayona Cafe, offering gourmet South Indian and North Indian cuisine, expanded its services, adding to the cultural and culinary richness of the mandir.

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir

The Akshardham Mandir, recognized as the largest Hindu mandir in the United States and the second-largest globally, encompasses 13 shrines devoted to diverse Hindu deities.

Architecture

The Akshardham Mandir, constructed by ancient Hindu scriptures detailing architecture and design, incorporates a diverse array of stones, including marble from Greece, Turkey, and Italy; pink sandstone from Rajasthan, Indian granite, and limestone sourced from Bulgaria and Turkey are among the varied stones utilized in its construction. Between 2011 and 2023, a remarkable 12,500 volunteers dedicated their time to building the mandir, carving and installing about 2 million cubic feet of stone, equivalent to approximately 4.7 million work hours. This architectural marvel spans an impressive 255 feet in length, 345 feet in width, and rises to a height of 191 feet, adorned with nine shikhars and four characteristic domes.

The Akshardham mandir boasts the largest constructed elliptical dome among traditional stone mandirs, housing over 10,000 statues, statuettes, and intricately carved motifs depicting Indian music and dance forms. Notably, the mandir showcases carvings of all 108 Bharatanatyam poses, a unique feature within a single structure.

The first marble pillar was ceremoniously installed on September 4, 2017, accompanied by guided tours of the complex, cultural programs, and a Vedic ceremony graced by the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj. To commemorate the completion of the Akshardham, BAPS organized a three-month-long inaugural celebration titled “Festival of Inspirations.” On October 8, 2023, Mahant Swami Maharaj conducted the “Pran-Prathistha ceremony,” formally inaugurating the mandir. The ceremony was attended by Delaware Governor John Carney and Congressman Steny Hoyer.

The construction, a collaborative effort involving artisans and volunteers contributing an estimated 4.7 million human hours, encompassed various tasks such as design, engineering, carving coordination, stone shipping, site preparation, lighting, electrical wiring, polishing, cleaning, tent-building, meal preparation, and medical services. This collective dedication resulted in the creation of a spiritual masterpiece, a testament to devotion and craftsmanship.

Charitable Initiatives

Since 2012, BAPS Charities has been a beacon of philanthropy at the Robbinsville mandir, hosting health fairs and seminars led by volunteer medical professionals. Through the yearly walk-a-thons, substantial donations have been garnered to bolster humanitarian efforts, notably contributing to the planting of 300,000 trees in alignment with the Nature Conservancy’s goal to plant 1 billion trees by 2025.

Amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, BAPS Charities has showcased steadfast support and assistance on a global scale. On March 29, 2020, all six BAPS shikharbaddha mandirs in North America broadcasted a special mahapuja performed by the swamis to pray for those affected by the pandemic, with over 12,000 North American families participating.

In the first month of the pandemic, 5,500 N95 face masks were donated to various medical organizations in New Jersey, including Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Capital Health Hospitals, Penn Medicine at Princeton Medical Center, and Robbinsville Township. Additionally, over 4,000 hot meals were served to first responders in New York and New Jersey, including Robbinsville Township Police Department and Fire Department, and Saint Francis Medical Center.

BAPS Charities extended its support by delivering care packages to seniors in New Jersey, organizing a food drive to collect non-perishable items for the Robbinsville Township Food Pantry and NJ Rise.

On April 30, 2021, BAPS Charities collaborated with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to host a vaccination drive at the mandir. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy commended BAPS Charities for increasing accessibility for the elderly through vaccination clinics hosted at mandirs.

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