Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London (Willesden)

Infobox Mandir


caption= Ghanshyam Maharaj at the principle seat of this temple
date_built = October 11, 1975
primary_deity = Ghanshyam Maharaj
location = LondonThe Swaminarayan Mandir in the London suburb of Willesden was the first Swaminarayan Mandir to be opened in the city of London, United Kingdom. [cite web | url=http://www.swaminarayan.info/ViewMandir.aspx?ID=JgBNAGEAbgBkAGkAcgBJAEQAPQA3ADgA-YzWEDoFe5KM%3d | title= Details of Mandir: Shree Swaminarayan Temple Willesden] Today the Swaminarayan Sampraday has 6 Swaminarayan Mandirs across London alone.

History

In 1975, a disused church on Willesden Lane was bought and renovated. [cite web | url=http://www.shreeswaminarayan.org.uk/our_temple/about_us_p1.htm | title= About Swaminarayan Mandir Willesden] On the auspicious day of Sharad Purnima on 11th October 1975, Acharya Maharajshree Tejendraprasad Pande installed the murtis of Swaminarayan, NarNarayan Dev, Radha Krishna Dev, Hanuman and Ganesh. [cite web | url=http://www.shreeswaminarayan.org.uk/our_temple/about_us_p1.htm | title= About Swaminarayan Mandir Willesden]

Renovation

The church building could not accommodate the increasing numbers of satsangis over time. New activities had also been introduced such as Gujarati language classes, a library, and a picture framing service as well as other youth activities. [cite web | url=http://www.shreeswaminarayan.org.uk/our_temple/about_us_p1.htm | title= About Swaminarayan Mandir Willesden]

An adjoining building was bought thinking that it would solve the problem, but even so this could not meet the needs. [cite web | url=http://www.shreeswaminarayan.org.uk/our_temple/about_us_p2.htm | title= About Swaminarayan Mandir Willesden]

In 1986 a proposal was put forward to demolish the two existing buildings and in its place build a three temple story complex, which would combine the traditional Hindu Temple architecture and British designs. The ceremonial stone was laid on 12th October 1986. On the 29th July 1988, Acharya Maharajshree Tejendraprasad Pande opened the new building. [cite web | url=http://www.shreeswaminarayan.org.uk/our_temple/about_us_p2.htm | title= About Swaminarayan Mandir Willesden]

Activities

The following activities are conducted by the temple. [cite web | url= http://www.shreeswaminarayan.org.uk/our_temple/temple_activities/temple_activities.htm | title= Mandir acitivities]

* Gujarati School: A Gujarati language school runs in the temple premises. The school boasts of 500 students and 60 volunteer teachers. [cite web | url=http://www.shreeswaminarayan.org.uk/gujarati_school/about_the_school/about_p2.htm | title= Swaminarayan Temple Willesden: About the School]
* SSTW Academy: There are various sports activities, camps, religious activities and discussions run by this academy that was formed in 1997. [cite web | url=http://www.shreeswaminarayan.org.uk/sstw_academy/intro.html | title= Swaminarayan Temple Willesden: SSTW Academy Introduction]
* Yoga Classes
* Tabla Classes
* Hinduism Classes
* Bal Kendra Classes: Classes for young children
* Vachanamrut Classes: This class teaches the Vachanamrut, an important scripture in the Swaminarayan Sampraday
* Festival Alerts: The temple provides email and SMS alerts for upcoming festivals

Apart from the above, the temple has also been active in providing assistance during natural disasters. For example, the temple organised a charity walk to help provide aid for the 2004 tsunami that struck South Asia. [cite web | url=http://www.brentlibdems.org.uk/news/000251/teather_celebrates_30_years_of_willesden_temple.html | title= TEATHER CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF WILLESDEN TEMPLE]

References