Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada
Encyclopedia
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada (Devnagari: श्री स्वमिनरयन मन्दिर, घडडा) is a Hindu temple
in Gadhada
. This Mandir was built by Swaminarayan himself.
The land for constructing this temple
in Gadhada
, was donated by the court of Dada Khachar
in Gadhada. Dada Khachar and his family were devotees of Swaminarayan. The temple was made in the courtyard of his own residence. The temple work was planned and executed directly under the consultation and guidance of Swaminarayan. Swaminarayan over viewed the construction in and also helped with the manual service in the construction of the temple, by lifting stones and mortar. This shrine has two stories and three domes. It is adorned with carvings. The temple is placed on a high plinth is a spacious square and has an assembly hall with large dharamshalas and kitchens for ascetics and pilgrims.
Swaminarayan had installed the idols in this temple on the October 9, 1828 . Gopinath
and Hari krishna in the middle, Dharma and Bhakti and Vasudeva
on the western side and Revti-Baldevji, Shri Krishna
and Suryanarayan in the eastern temple.
On the southern side of the temple, there is a big neem tree and the chamber of Vasudeva. Swaminarayan gave several discourses at that place. The court of Dada Khachar has been preserved in its original form.
On the backside, there is the Akshar Oradi temple and Gangajalio well. Lakshmi wadi (place of cremation of Swaminarayan) is situated a little away from the town. At Lakshmi wadi, a single dome temple has been constructed at the place of the funeral rituals of Swaminarayan's mortal remains. A little ahead, there is one canopy where Swaminarayan used to sit and deliver the discourses, and just a little ahead, there is the room of Nishkulanand Swami
, where he placed the palanquin prepared by him for Swaminarayan's last journey. A neem tree faces this place, and on its western side, there is one more canopy where Swaminarayan celebrated ‘Sharadotsava’.
Swaminarayan and his saints used to take a bath in the River Ghelo. This river flows in the south side of the temple. There are prasadi river-beds - Narayan Dharo and Sahasra Dharo which Swaminarayan visited frequently. There are small temples of Neelkanth and Hanuman
on the bank of the river.
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
in Gadhada
Gadhada
Gadhada is a city and a municipality in Bhavnagar district in the state of Gujarat, India. Gadhada is situated at bank of River Ghelo.- Geography :Gadhada is located at . It has an average elevation of 104 metres .- Demographics :...
. This Mandir was built by Swaminarayan himself.
About this Mandir
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
in Gadhada
Gadhada
Gadhada is a city and a municipality in Bhavnagar district in the state of Gujarat, India. Gadhada is situated at bank of River Ghelo.- Geography :Gadhada is located at . It has an average elevation of 104 metres .- Demographics :...
, was donated by the court of Dada Khachar
Dada Khachar
Dada Khachar was a well known devotee of Swaminarayan and the Darbar Shri of Gadhada. His father was Ebhel Khachar and mother Somadevi and was named Uttamsinh on birth. He came to be known as Dada Khachar and had four sisters, Jaya, Lalita, Panchali and Nanu...
in Gadhada. Dada Khachar and his family were devotees of Swaminarayan. The temple was made in the courtyard of his own residence. The temple work was planned and executed directly under the consultation and guidance of Swaminarayan. Swaminarayan over viewed the construction in and also helped with the manual service in the construction of the temple, by lifting stones and mortar. This shrine has two stories and three domes. It is adorned with carvings. The temple is placed on a high plinth is a spacious square and has an assembly hall with large dharamshalas and kitchens for ascetics and pilgrims.
Swaminarayan had installed the idols in this temple on the October 9, 1828 . Gopinath
Gopinath
Gopinath is a form of the Hindu god Krishna. He is also known as Gopinathji or Gopinathji Maharaj. Gopinath is associated with gopis who Krishna grew up with....
and Hari krishna in the middle, Dharma and Bhakti and Vasudeva
Vasudeva
In Hindu itihasa , Vasudeva is the father of Krishna, the son of Shoorsen, of the Yadu and Vrishni dynasties. His sister Kunti was married to Pandu. He was a partial incarnation of Rishi Kashyap....
on the western side and Revti-Baldevji, Shri 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...
and Suryanarayan in the eastern temple.
Other information
Besides the idols installed by Swaminarayan himself, the temple is a place of many memories of Swaminarayan. On the path of the worship circuit of the inner temple, there is the idol of Ghanshyam facing northward. This prasadi temple has prasadi items of Swaminarayan displayed in a museum at the temple.On the southern side of the temple, there is a big neem tree and the chamber of Vasudeva. Swaminarayan gave several discourses at that place. The court of Dada Khachar has been preserved in its original form.
On the backside, there is the Akshar Oradi temple and Gangajalio well. Lakshmi wadi (place of cremation of Swaminarayan) is situated a little away from the town. At Lakshmi wadi, a single dome temple has been constructed at the place of the funeral rituals of Swaminarayan's mortal remains. A little ahead, there is one canopy where Swaminarayan used to sit and deliver the discourses, and just a little ahead, there is the room of Nishkulanand Swami
Nishkulanand Swami
Nishkulanand Swami was a saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday.-Biography:Nishkulanand Swami was born to a Suthar family residing in a small village - Shekhapt. His parents were Rambhai and Amratbai and was named Lalji on birth...
, where he placed the palanquin prepared by him for Swaminarayan's last journey. A neem tree faces this place, and on its western side, there is one more canopy where Swaminarayan celebrated ‘Sharadotsava’.
Swaminarayan and his saints used to take a bath in the River Ghelo. This river flows in the south side of the temple. There are prasadi river-beds - Narayan Dharo and Sahasra Dharo which Swaminarayan visited frequently. There are small temples of Neelkanth 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 bank of the river.