Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada

Infobox Mandir

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caption= Gopinathji Maharaj Murti at the temple
creator = Bhagwan Swaminarayan
date_built = October 9, 1828
primary_deity = Gopinathji Maharaj, HariKrishna Maharaj
location = Gadhada

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Gadhada (Devnagari: श्री स्वमिनरयन मन्दिर, घडडा) is a Hindu temple in Gadhada. This Mandir was built by Lord Swaminarayan himself.

About this Mandir

The land for constructing this temple in Gadhada, was donated by the court of Dada Khachar in Gadhada. Darbar Shri 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. Swaminrayan overviwed the constructionin 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.

Swaminarayan had installed the idols in this temple on the October 9, 1828 . Gopinathji Maharaj and Harikrishna Maharaj in the middle, Dharmdev and Bhaktimata and Vasudevanarayan on the western side and Revti-Baldevji, Shri Krishna 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 Maharaj 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 margosa tree (neem tree) and the chamber of Lord Vasudevanarayan. Swaminaraya 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. Lakshmiwadi (place of cremation of Swaminarayan) is situated a little away from the town. At Lakshmiwadi, a single dome temple has been constructed at the place of the funeral rituals of Shri Hari's mortal remains. Slightly away, 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 Mahadev and Lord Hanuman on the bank of the river. Both these places are "prasadi" places of Swaminarayan.

See also

* Shri Swaminarayan Temples

References

* [http://www.swaminarayansatsang.com/temples/templesdetails.asp?Mandirid=144 Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs - Gadhada]