Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bhuj (
Devnagari: श्री स्वामिनारायण मंदिर, भुज) is a
Hindu temple in
Bhuj. 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.
History
This mandir comes under the
Narnarayan Dev Gadi
The Naranarāyan Dēv Gadī, named after Nara-Narayana, 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 Vib ...
. Senior devotees Gangarambhai jethi Sundarjibhai, Jigneshwarbhai and others from the
Bhuj region of
Kutch went to
Gadhada 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
Naranarayana (), also rendered Nara-Narayana, is a Hinduism, Hindu duo of sage-brothers. Generally regarded to be the partial-incarnation (aṃśa-avatara) of the preserver deity, Vishnu, on earth, Nara-Narayana are described to be the sons ...
.
Satsang in the Kutch region was spread by Late Guru
Ramanand Swami
Ramanand Swami (born ''Rama Sharma'') to a Brahmin family in Ayodhya in Vikram Samvat 1795 (1738 AD). His parents were Ajay Sharma (father) and Sumati (mother). He was considered to be the incarnation of Uddhava, a close friend of Krishna. ...
. 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
Radha-Krishna (IAST , sa, राधा कृष्ण) are collectively known within Hinduism as the combined forms of feminine as well as the masculine realities of God. Krishna and Radha are the primeval forms of God and his pleasure potenc ...
, 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.
''Akshar Bhavan'' in the temple treasures the personal items of Swaminarayan that He has used in His life.
Gujarat earthquake
The
earthquake 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 ''
satsangis'' 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
Swaminarayan, the founder of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, established temples, known as ''mandirs'' (Devnagari: मन्दिर), as part of his philosophy of theism and deity worship. These mandirs are known as Swaminarayan Hindu temples.
He ...
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