Built by:
Bhagwan
Swaminarayan.
Primary deity: Gopinathji
Maharaj, Harikrishna Maharaj.
INTRODUCTION
This is the holy temple
located in Gadhada, Gujrat. 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 Shri Swaminarayan. The temple was made in the courtyard
of his own residence. This shrine has two stories and three domes and is
adorned with carvings. The temple is placed on a high plinth in 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. Besides the idols installed by Shri
Swaminarayan himself, the temple is a place of many memories of Shri
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
within the temple.
On the southern side of the
temple, there is a big neem tree and the chamber of Vasudeva. Swaminarayan gives
several discourses at this 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.
HISTORY
When evil dominated over good, when adharma ruled prominent
over dharma, when "Might is Right" was the order or the day, when
eat, drink and be merry had become the rule of life, when the pious people,
without rhyme or reason were harassed by the impious ones and when darkness and
disorder prevailed in all walks or tire - social, political and religious - in
India, Lord Shri Swaminarayan manifested Himself at Chhapaiya, a small village,
20 kms North of Ayodhya in U.P., on Monday, the ninth day of bright half or
Chaitra of Samvat year 1837, 2nd April, 1781 at 10 Hrs. 10 Minutes at night.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan established the Swaminarayan faith and
renewed the ideals of Hinduism in 18th century India
HOW TO REACH
By Air
Gadhada is located at about 70 kms away from the
nearest airport, ‘Bhavnagar
By Rail
Nearest railway stations to Gadhada are –
1) Alampur – Approximately 16 kms away from Gadhada.
2) Ujalvav – Approximately 17 kms away from Gadhada.
By Road
Gadhada is well connected by roads to the cities of Gujarat . Regular bus service and private vehicles are
available from Ahmedabad and other big cities of Gujarat .
There's no rail track passing through the town. To reach Gadhada by train, you
may get down at Botad
or Ningala in Ahmedabad
- Bhavnagar
track. Connecting bus service to Gadhada is available from both these stations.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEMPLE
The temple work was planned and executed directly under the
consultation and guidance of Shri Swaminarayan. Shri Swaminarayan over viewed the construction in and also helped
with the manual service in the construction of the temple, by lifting stones
and mortar.
WEATHER AND TIME TO VISIT
The temperature at Gadhada varies from 10 degrees
centigrade in winter to 42 degrees centigrade in summer. Rainfall is low in
Gujrat. The Swaminarayan Mandir can be visited any time throughout the year.
ACCOMODATION
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir has its own Dharamshala
where the pilgrims can get accommodation at very cheap rates. Besides, there
are many hotels and resorts in Gujrat with a varied price range. Also, there
are many hotels and resorts in Gadhada and Bhavnagar
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