Transcendence

A BRIEF DARSHAN BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Pune

Pune is the second largest city of Maharashtra. It is 300 km from Mumbai and is the third largest software hub in India after Bangalore and Hyderabad. The city is popularly known by various epithets: ‘Oxford of the East’, ‘Pensioners’ Paradise’, ‘Cultural Capital of Maharashtra’ and ‘Queen of the Deccan.’ The city has picturesque surroundings, pleasant weather and celebrates various faiths and cultures.



The newly built shikharbaddha BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir is nestled on 27.5 acres of prime land on the outskirts of Pune, near the Mumbai-Bangalore National Highway. The pinkstone mandir is surrounded by hills and mountains and exudes serenity and divinity. It was inspired by Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and after its consecration on 19 February 2017 it has become a spiritual attraction in Pune. A brief description of the mandir is as follows. As devotees and pilgrims enter the ornate mandir gate they step onto the three-quarter km long parikrama (circumambulatory path), which is dotted with 23 ornate redstone samrans.



The mandir gardens are lush with lawns, flowers and trees, creating a pleasant ambience. Prior to climbing the central steps of the mandir devotees pay respect to the giant replica of Shriji Maharaj’s charnarvind set in a lotus-shaped stone structure. After climbing the central steps of the mandir one is flanked by the shrines of Ganapatiji and Hanumanji.

The entire mandir is supported by 140 intricately carved pillars and embellished by 107 torans (arches) and 1,269 exquisite stone murtis. Out of the 140 pillars 84 have 636 small murtis of sadhus and devotees. The pinkstone mandir includes a main dome, nine small domes and five towering shikhars. The mandir is 184.6 ft. long, 181.6 ft. wide and 74.6 ft. high. Each shikhar and dome is crowned with golden kalashes, flagpoles and flags. The central shrine of the mandir houses the marble murtis of Shri Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj, the left shrine has the murtis of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Radha-Krishna Dev and the right shrine has the beautiful murti of Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj.



The garbhagruha (inner shrine) also houses the Sukh Shaiyya and the murtis of the Guru Parampara. On the mandovar (the outer wall of the mandir) are 35 murtis: the ten principal avatars of God, the digpals (guardian deities of the eight cardinal directions) and other deities. In the Rang Mandap, below the mandir, lies the abhishek murti of Shri Nilkanth Varni. Behind it are installed the marble murtis of Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Furthermore, one also has the darshan of Lakshmi-Narayan Dev, Tirupati-Balaji, Sita-Ram Dev, Shiv-Parvati, Vithoba-Rukmani, Sant Jnaneshwar, Tukaram, Namdev and Eknath installed in decorative sinhasans.

In all, there are 26 consecrated murtis in the mandir sanctums, which are worshipped daily by performing arti and offering thal. In the abhishek mandap, one finds beautiful carvings on 84 pillars and small impressive murtis of devas and devotees on 24 pillars. The stone ceilings of the mandir are embellished with 66 different designs and carvings.



There are five garbhagruhas and dwarshakhs (carved stone door frames). Created by Pramukh Swami Maharaj and consecrated by Mahant Swami Maharaj, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Pune attracts thousands of devotees and visitors daily. All are left spellbound by the architecture, carvings, serenity, beauty and the divine ambience. The mandir inspires faith, tranquillity and inner joy

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