Mahima of Lord Swaminarayan and the devotees of Kutch
Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan was constantly attracted by the divine attributes of the devotees of Kutch. After his appointment as the spiritual leader of the whole Sampraday, He visited Kutch in Samvat 1860 Maha Sud 7. He spent 30 years of His total lifespan in Gujarat and visited Kutch more than 20 times. As a result of His frequent visits, a series of inspirational devotees realised that He was none other than the Supreme Purshottam Narayan Himself.
Such Bhaktos of Kutch included Ladhiba, Sundarji Suthaar, Gangaram Mall, who were all of Bhuj; Khaiyo Khatri of Mandvi, Sadaba of Kera, Adabhai, Mulji and Krishnaji all of Manukva, Karniba of Dhamadka, Saamat Sarvaiya of Rapar, Vaghasha of Bhachau and many many more.
Bhuj is one of the six places where Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan constructed a temple Himself. This divine thought of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan alone signifies the vast amount of spirituality the land of Kutch offered not only in the past but even today.
Such Bhaktos of Kutch included Ladhiba, Sundarji Suthaar, Gangaram Mall, who were all of Bhuj; Khaiyo Khatri of Mandvi, Sadaba of Kera, Adabhai, Mulji and Krishnaji all of Manukva, Karniba of Dhamadka, Saamat Sarvaiya of Rapar, Vaghasha of Bhachau and many many more.
Bhuj is one of the six places where Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan constructed a temple Himself. This divine thought of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan alone signifies the vast amount of spirituality the land of Kutch offered not only in the past but even today.
The Original Temple
Senior devotees Gangarambhai, Sundarjibhai and others from the Bhuj region of Kutch went to Gadhada where Swaminarayan was attending the famous Fuldol festival. During the festival, the devotees of Bhuj met Swaminarayan and requested him to construct a temple in Bhuj.
Lord was pleased and more than happy to fulfil the wishes of His devotees. So Swaminarayan asked Vaishnavananand Swami to proceed with a team of saints to Bhuj and construct a temple. Vaishnavananand Swami and the accompanying saints went to Bhuj in 1822, camped at the place neighboring the land of the temple and drew up plans for the original Bhuj temple complex. They executed the plans with every minute detail taken into account; and within a short span of one year, on 15 May 1823, the Murtis were installed by Swaminarayan.
Swaminarayan had graced this temple in the western belt of India and had Himself installed the idols of Narnarayan dev and His own form, Hari-Krishna Maharaj in central sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Besides these manifestations of Lord at the central dome, there under the eastern dome, were seated RadhaKrishna Dev, Hari-Krishna Maharaj and in the western dome, Ghanshyam Maharaj. Roop Chowki, the main square of the inner temple housed the images of Ganapati and Hanuman.
Lord was pleased and more than happy to fulfil the wishes of His devotees. So Swaminarayan asked Vaishnavananand Swami to proceed with a team of saints to Bhuj and construct a temple. Vaishnavananand Swami and the accompanying saints went to Bhuj in 1822, camped at the place neighboring the land of the temple and drew up plans for the original Bhuj temple complex. They executed the plans with every minute detail taken into account; and within a short span of one year, on 15 May 1823, the Murtis were installed by Swaminarayan.
Swaminarayan had graced this temple in the western belt of India and had Himself installed the idols of Narnarayan dev and His own form, Hari-Krishna Maharaj in central sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Besides these manifestations of Lord at the central dome, there under the eastern dome, were seated RadhaKrishna Dev, Hari-Krishna Maharaj and in the western dome, Ghanshyam Maharaj. Roop Chowki, the main square of the inner temple housed the images of Ganapati and Hanuman.
Bhuj Earthquake - "Divya Sankalp"
The huge Gujarat Earthquake of 26 of January 2001, with a moment magnitude of 7.7 destroyed much of the city of Bhuj, including the northward facing side of the Temple built by Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan. Miraculously the divine idols remained as they were, with not even a hint of damage inflicted.
However, after widespread agreement between Acharya Maharajshree, Saints and Devotees from all corners of the globe, and given the circumstances of the irreparable damage to the original Temple building, it was decided for Lord’s Murtis to be housed inside a new grand Temple complex. It was collaboratively resolved to construct this new Temple a short distance away from the original site.
However, after widespread agreement between Acharya Maharajshree, Saints and Devotees from all corners of the globe, and given the circumstances of the irreparable damage to the original Temple building, it was decided for Lord’s Murtis to be housed inside a new grand Temple complex. It was collaboratively resolved to construct this new Temple a short distance away from the original site.
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