Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Mumbai
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Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Mumbai (Devnagari: श्री स्वमिनरयन मन्दिर, मुंबई) is a Hindu temple
(Mandir) and a part of the Swaminarayan Sampraday
. This Swaminarayan Temple is located in the Bhuleshwar
area of Mumbai
and is the oldest Swaminarayan Mandir in Mumbai, being over a hundred years old.
The present 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
(Vadtal
). 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.
, 1868, Ranchhoddas Pranjeevandas built the first ever Shree Swaminarayan temple in Mumbai by breaking and rebuilding his own residence. The deities of Hari Krishna Maharaj, Gaulokvihari and Radhika were instated by Acharya Maharajshri Bhagwatprasadji Maharaj.
Swaminarayan’s devotee, Rao Bahadur Sheth Curumsey Damjee
contributed towards this temple’s reinstatement with all material, physical and intellectual resources. His close associate and friend Shree Mathurdas Vaishnav too donated Rs. 25,000/- towards this work.
and 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 Sabhamandap is a dome upon which are painted the scenes from the Krishnalila (Sports of Krishna
). The dome is supported by fifty four pillars. There is a big audience hall on the first floor where religious discourses are held regularly.
, Janmashtami, Vaman Jayanti, Nrisinha Jayanti, Mahashivratri, Ganesh Chaturthi
, etc. Apart from these, the festival of Hindola
is also celebrated as part of festivities during the month of Shravan
in the Indian Calendar
.
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
(Mandir) and a part of the Swaminarayan Sampraday
Swaminarayan Sampraday
Swaminarayan Sampraday , known previously as the Uddhav Sampraday, is a Hindu sect established by Swaminarayan...
. This Swaminarayan Temple is located in the Bhuleshwar
Bhuleshwar
Bhuleshwar is a neighbourhood in Mumbai. The area is known for being house to over 100 temples and the former residence of Dhirubhai Ambani and family....
area of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
and is the oldest Swaminarayan Mandir in Mumbai, being over a hundred years old.
The present Mandir has a tri - spire structure and the Murtis installed are that of Laxminarayan Dev, Ghanshyam Maharaj, Hari Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
Maharaj, Gaulokvihari and Radha
Radha
Radha , also called Radhika, Radharani and Radhikarani, is the childhood friend and lover of Krishna in the Bhagavata Purana, and the Gita Govinda of the Vaisnava traditions of Hinduism...
. It is a Shikharband Mandir
Shikharband Mandir
A shikharbaddha mandir is a traditional Hindu place of worship, typically featuring architecture characterized by pinnacles and domes and often built of carved marble, sandstone, or other stone...
and comes under the Laxminarayan Dev Gadi
LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi
The Laxminarayan Dev Gadi is one of the two Gadis that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. It is headquartered at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal and controls the Dakshin Vibhag....
(Vadtal
Vadtal
Vadtal is a small village in the Kheda district of Gujarat, IndiaIt is a location of famous Swaminarayan's temple. "Gomti" is a lake in Vadtal....
). 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.
History
On Vaishakh Shukla EkadashiEkadashi
Ekadashi , also spelled as Ekadasi, is the eleventh lunar day of the shukla or krishna paksha of every lunar month in the Hindu calendar . In Hinduism and Jainism it is considered a spiritually beneficial day...
, 1868, Ranchhoddas Pranjeevandas built the first ever Shree Swaminarayan temple in Mumbai by breaking and rebuilding his own residence. The deities of Hari Krishna Maharaj, Gaulokvihari and Radhika were instated by Acharya Maharajshri Bhagwatprasadji Maharaj.
Tri-spire temple
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.Swaminarayan’s devotee, Rao Bahadur Sheth Curumsey Damjee
Rao Bahadur Sheth Curumsey Damjee
Curumsey Damjee JP was a businessman who lived in the 19th and 20th century. Hailing from Waghora, a small village in remote Kutch he migrated to Bombay at a young age and became a very successful businessman, working with the Bombay Port Trust.-Work and award:He used to do a lot of work related...
contributed towards this temple’s reinstatement with all material, physical and intellectual resources. His close associate and friend Shree Mathurdas Vaishnav too donated Rs. 25,000/- towards this work.
Structure
The Swaminarayan temple at Bhuleshwar has an elaborately carved frontage which is really a visual treat in an otherwise shaby surrounding. There are twenty five steps leading to the audience hall (Sabhamandap). There are the shrines dedicated to GaneshaGanesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
and Hanuman
Hanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
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
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
and Laxmi; while the shrine on the west houses the resting place for deities. Over the Sabhamandap is a dome upon which are painted the scenes from the Krishnalila (Sports of Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
). The dome is supported by fifty four pillars. There is a big audience hall on the first floor where religious discourses are held regularly.
Festivals
The festivities celebrated at the temple are Ram Navami/Swaminarayan JayantiSwaminarayan Jayanti
Swaminarayan was born on 2 April 1781 in Chhapaiya. This day is annually celebrated as Swaminarayan Jayanti by his followers. This coincides with the occasion of Ram Navmi....
, Janmashtami, Vaman Jayanti, Nrisinha Jayanti, Mahashivratri, Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi
Ganesh Chaturthi , also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is the Hindu festival of Ganesha also called Vinayagar in Tamil Nadu, the son of Shiva and Parvati, who is believed to bestow his presence on earth for all his devotees in the duration of this festival...
, etc. Apart from these, the festival of Hindola
Hindola
Hindola is a festival celebrated in the Hindu Religion. It refers to the decorative swings that are prepared with items such as cloth, food and are colourful.-History:...
is also celebrated as part of festivities during the month of Shravan
Shravan
Shravan is a Sanskrit word, which literally means listening.* Shravanam is one of the nine most important angas of bhakti.Shravan Kumar belonged to the time when King Dashratha ruled Ayodhya. He was born of poor and blind parents, but they had brought him up remarkably well. He was strong healthy...
in the Indian Calendar
Indian calendar
Indian calendar may refer to any of the calendars, used for civil and religious purposes in India and other parts of Southeast Asia:* The Indian national calendar , the calendar officially used by the Government of India....
.