Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal
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Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Vadtal (Devnagari: श्री स्वमिनरयन मन्दिर, वद्ताल) headquarters of the Shri LaxmiNarayan Dev Gadi
are located in this temple
in Vadtal
. There are three main shrines in the temple the central shirne of this temple is that of Lakshmi Narayan. On the right there is an image of Radha Krishna
with Swaminarayan in the form of Hari Krishna and the left has Vasudev, Dharma and Bhakti. The wooden pillars of the temple bear colourful wood carvings. There is a dharamsala within the temple premises. Gnanbaug is a garden to the northwest of the temple gate that has four memorials dedicated to Swaminarayan.
The town of Vadtal is also known as Vadtal Swaminarayan. The temple
here is in the shape of a lotus, with nine domes in the inner temple. The land for this shrine was donated by Joban Pagi, a dacoit converted into a devotee by Swaminarayan. The temple was constructed under the supervision of S.G. Brahmanand Swami
.
Devotees from Vadtal had gone to Shreeji Maharaj on the day of Nirjala Ekadashi
to meet him in Gadhada
. On the next day - the twelfth day of the bright half of Jyestha - they requested to Swaminarayan to construct a Shri Krishna
Mandir in Vadtal. Shreeji Maharaj commanded his disciple Brahmanand Swami to temporarily leave the construction of the Muli
temple and proceed with a team of saints to plan and supervise the construction of a temple. The construction of this temple was completed within 15 months and the idols of Laxminarayan Dev were installed by Swaminarayan himself on the 3rd of November 1824, amidst chants of vedic
hymns and devotional fervour of the installation ceremony. In the middle of the temple, he installed the idols of Laxminarayan dev and Ranchhodji. In the north, there are the idols of Dharmdev and Bhaktimata and his own form Harikrishna Maharaj. And in the south, Swaminarayan installed the idols of RadhaKrishna Dev and Harikrishna Maharaj.
Besides the Gods sitting in the central temple, in the south of the middle temple, were installed the form of Dakshinavart Shankh (Southern-sea conch) and Shaligrama (icon of Vishnu). In the inner dome, there are the stone-idols of the ten incarnations of god, besides the idols of Vishnu resting on the seat of Sheshnaag (heavenly snake).
and preceptor of the dakshin desh (Laxminarayan Dev Gadi). On the south end of the main temple, there is a place called the Akshar Bhavan. Its first floor has standing idols of Ghanshyam Maharaj. On the second floor, there is the idol of Ghanshyam Maharaj in sitting posture. Personal objects of Swaminarayan are kept here. On the west there is a place called the Hari Mandap where Swaminarayan wrote the Shikshapatri
.
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....
are located in this temple
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
in 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....
. There are three main shrines in the temple the central shirne of this temple is that of Lakshmi Narayan. On the right there is an image of Radha Krishna
Radha Krishna
Radha Krishna is a Hindu deity. Krishna is often referred as svayam bhagavan in Gaudiya Vaishnavism theology and Radha is a young woman, a gopi who is Krishna's supreme beloved. With Krishna, Radha is acknowledged as the Supreme Goddess, for it is said that she controls Krishna with Her love...
with Swaminarayan in the form of Hari Krishna and the left has Vasudev, Dharma and Bhakti. The wooden pillars of the temple bear colourful wood carvings. There is a dharamsala within the temple premises. Gnanbaug is a garden to the northwest of the temple gate that has four memorials dedicated to Swaminarayan.
History
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...
here is in the shape of a lotus, with nine domes in the inner temple. The land for this shrine was donated by Joban Pagi, a dacoit converted into a devotee by Swaminarayan. The temple was constructed under the supervision of S.G. Brahmanand Swami
Brahmanand Swami
Brahmananad Swami was a saint of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and one of Swaminarayan's Paramahamsas.- Biography :...
.
Devotees from Vadtal had gone to Shreeji Maharaj on the day of Nirjala Ekadashi
Ekadashi
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...
to meet him 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 :...
. On the next day - the twelfth day of the bright half of Jyestha - they requested to Swaminarayan to construct a 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...
Mandir in Vadtal. Shreeji Maharaj commanded his disciple Brahmanand Swami to temporarily leave the construction of the Muli
Muli
Muli may refer to:Places:*Mili Tibetan Autonomous County, or Muli from its Chinese name, of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China*Muli, Gaoqing County , town in Gaoqing County, Shandong, China...
temple and proceed with a team of saints to plan and supervise the construction of a temple. The construction of this temple was completed within 15 months and the idols of Laxminarayan Dev were installed by Swaminarayan himself on the 3rd of November 1824, amidst chants of vedic
Vedic
Vedic may refer to:* the Vedas, the oldest preserved Indic texts** Vedic Sanskrit, the language of these texts** Vedic period, during which these texts were produced** Vedic pantheon of gods mentioned in Vedas/vedic period...
hymns and devotional fervour of the installation ceremony. In the middle of the temple, he installed the idols of Laxminarayan dev and Ranchhodji. In the north, there are the idols of Dharmdev and Bhaktimata and his own form Harikrishna Maharaj. And in the south, Swaminarayan installed the idols of RadhaKrishna Dev and Harikrishna Maharaj.
Besides the Gods sitting in the central temple, in the south of the middle temple, were installed the form of Dakshinavart Shankh (Southern-sea conch) and Shaligrama (icon of Vishnu). In the inner dome, there are the stone-idols of the ten incarnations of god, besides the idols of Vishnu resting on the seat of Sheshnaag (heavenly snake).
Further information
The temple is the highest seat of the AcharyaAcharya
In Indian religions and society, an acharya is a guide or instructor in religious matters; founder, or leader of a sect; or a highly learned man or a title affixed to the names of learned men...
and preceptor of the dakshin desh (Laxminarayan Dev Gadi). On the south end of the main temple, there is a place called the Akshar Bhavan. Its first floor has standing idols of Ghanshyam Maharaj. On the second floor, there is the idol of Ghanshyam Maharaj in sitting posture. Personal objects of Swaminarayan are kept here. On the west there is a place called the Hari Mandap where Swaminarayan wrote the Shikshapatri
Shikshapatri
The Shikshapatri is a religious text consisting of two hundred and twelve verses, written in Sanskrit by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The Shikshapatri is a key scripture to all followers of the Swaminarayan faith and is considered the basis of the faith.The Shikshapatri was written in Vadtal on February...
.