Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhuj (
Devnagari
Devanagari ( ; , , Sanskrit pronunciation: ), also called Nagari (),Kathleen Kuiper (2010), The Culture of India, New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, , page 83 is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental writing system), based on the a ...
: श्री स्वामिनारायण मंदिर, भुज) is a
Hindu temple
A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hind ...
in
Bhuj
Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India.
Etymology
According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...
. This temple was constructed by
Swaminarayan
Swaminarayan (IAST: ', 3 April 1781 – 1 June 1830), also known as Sahajanand Swami, was a yogi and Asceticism, ascetic, who is believed by followers to be a manifestation of God Krishna, or as the highest Theophany, manifestation of ...
, founder of the
Swaminarayan Sampradaya
The Swaminarayan Sampradaya, also known as Swaminarayan Hinduism and Swaminarayan movement, is a Hindu Vaishnava sampradaya rooted in Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, characterized by the worship of its charismatic founder Sahajanand Swami, be ...
.
History
This mandir comes under the
Narnarayan Dev Gadi
The Naranarāyan Dēv Gadī, named after NarNarayan Dev, is one of the two ''Gadis'' (seats) that together form the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Its headquarter is at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Ahmedabad and controls the Uttar Vibhag.
The Ach ...
. Senior devotees Gangarambhai jethi Sundarjibhai, Jigneshwarbhai and others from the
Bhuj
Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India.
Etymology
According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...
region of
Kutch went to
Gadhada
Gadhada is a town and a municipality in Botad District in the state of Gujarat, India. Gadhada is situated at bank of River Ghela. Swaminarayan lived here for more than 25 years.
Geography
Gadhada is located at . It has an average elevati ...
where God Swaminarayan was attending a ''Fuldol festival''. In that festival, the devotees of Bhuj met Swaminarayan and requested him to construct a temple in Bhuj.
God Swaminarayan asked ''Vaishnavananand Swami'' to proceed with a team of the saints to Bhuj and construct a temple. Vaishnavanand Swami and the accompanying saints went to Bhuj in 1822, camped at the place neighbouring the land of temple drew plans of the temple, complex, executed the plans with minute details and within a short span of one year, they built a temple abode of
NarNarayan Dev.
Satsang
A satsanga (), also rendered satsang, refers to the practice of gathering in the company of good people for the performance of devotional activities. It also refers to an audience with a Satguru for yogic instruction. Satsangas are group events, o ...
in the Kutch region was spread by Late Guru
Ramanand Swami. He constantly visited Bhuj and other places in Kutch.
God Swaminarayan had graced this temple in the western belt of India and had himself installed the idols of Narnarayan dev and his own form - Harikrishna Maharaj was installed in central sanctum sanctorum of the temple by Acharya Ayodyaprashadji maharaj. Besides these manifestations of God at the central dome there under the eastern dome, are seated
RadhaKrishna Dev, Harikrishna Maharaj and in the western dome Ghanshyam Maharaj. ''Roop Chowki'' - the main square of the inner temple-houses the images of
Ganapati
Ganesha ( sa, गणेश, ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in Ganapatya sect. His image is found throughout India. Hindu de ...
and
Hanuman
Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine '' vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and on ...
.
''Akshar Bhavan'' in the temple treasures the personal items of Swaminarayan that He has used in His life.
Gujarat earthquake
![New Temple Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Bhuj](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/New_Temple_Shri_Swaminarayan_Mandir_Bhuj.jpg)
The
earthquake
An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, from ...
on 26 January 2001 destroyed much of the city of Bhuj, including this temple associated with the founder of the
Swaminarayan Sampraday
The Swaminarayan Sampradaya, also known as Swaminarayan Hinduism and Swaminarayan movement, is a Hindu Vaishnava sampradaya rooted in Ramanuja's Vishishtadvaita, characterized by the Bhakti, worship of its Charismatic authority, charismati ...
. The saints and ''
satsang
A satsanga (), also rendered satsang, refers to the practice of gathering in the company of good people for the performance of devotional activities. It also refers to an audience with a Satguru for yogic instruction. Satsangas are group events, o ...
is'' of Kutch residing in India and ''satsangis'' living abroad, have resolved to construct a
new temple a short distance away from the site.
See also
*
Swaminarayan Temples
Notes
References
*
Swaminarayan Mandirs Worldwide - BhujShree NarNarayan Dev Nutan Mandir Mahotsav 2010 - Bhuj
External links
Temple Official WebsiteShree NarNarayan Dev Nutan Mandir Mahotsav 2010 - Bhuj
{{Hindu temples in Gujarat
Bhuj
Swaminarayan temples in Gujarat
Tourist attractions in Kutch district