AKSHAR MANDIR, GONDAL
In a relatively short span of nine years, Shastriji Maharaj had inspired two majestic mandirs, consecrating the murtis of Akshar and Purushottam in the central shrines. Shastriji Maharaj continued his spiritual tours to the villages, towns, and cities, explaining the Akshar-Purushottam philosophy as revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the Vachanamrut. In the summer of 1932 CE (Samvat 1988) Shastriji Maharaj was in Sarangpur, where Haribhai Amin, a native of Virsad, a village near Borsad, came to meet him. Haribhai had negotiated a deal with the Maharaja of Gondal, Bhagvatsinhji, to purchase the land surrounding the Akshar Deri, the auspicious memorial shrine
built over the cremation site of Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami.
The all-knowing Shastriji Maharaj stated, “The price of Rs. 25,000 you have accepted is reasonable.” Haribhai was left speechless. Since Swaminarayan Mandir, Sarangpur that, in fact, was the price he had agreed upon with the Maharaja. He realized that he could not hide anything from Shastriji Maharaj. He told Shastriji Maharaj about the terms the Maharaja had stipulated: that the memorial shrine be preserved and a mandir be built over it in three years at a cost of at least one million rupees. Shastriji Maharaj assuringly said, “Gunatitanand Swami’s memorial shrine is very sacred and miraculous.
Maharaj and Swami are eternally manifest there. Over a million rupees will be spent there, so there is no need for you to worry about it.” Then with Shastriji Maharaj’s approval Haribhai returned to Gondal to finalize the land deal. Throughout Gujarat, the devotees were thrilled that a mandir was to be built in Gondal over the auspicious memorial shrine of Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami. Thousands attended the groundbreaking ceremony on 18 January 1932 (Posh sud 10, Samvat 1988). Soon afterwards, construction work began on the site. Many devotees eagerly contributed their time, energy and other necessary resources for this noble cause.
Shastriji Maharaj instructed the young and spirited Yogiji Swami to cook for the sadhus, devotees and labourers serving there and also to help in the construction work. The building work proceeded at full speed and soon, with the enthusiastic and devout efforts of the sadhus and devotees, the mandir neared completion – it had taken just two-and-a-quarter years – much less than the time stipulated by the Maharaja of Gondal. Invitations were sent for the murti-pratishtha ceremony on 24 May 1934 (Vaishakh sud 10, Samvat 1990).
Devotees began to arrive in Gondal several days beforehand to attend the spiritual discourses and participate in the preliminary Vedic rituals. Shastriji Maharaj and other senior sadhus and devotees spoke in detail about the Akshar-Purushottam philosophy and the glory of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Everyone revelled in the divine and joyous atmosphere. On the day of the murti-pratishtha, the murtis of Akshar and Purushottam were placed in the central shrine and Shastriji Maharaj performed the Vedic rituals, invoking the divine presence of Maharaj and Swami in the murtis.
Then, when Shastriji Maharaj held the mirror before the murtis it cracked due to the divine gaze of the Lord, demonstrating Shriji Maharaj’s divine presence in the murtis to all. In the murti-pratishtha assembly, Shastriji Maharaj described the glory of the Akshar Deri, emphasizing that Gunatitanand Swami was the incarnation of Aksharbrahman, and that only by total surrender to such a God-realized Sadhu can one attain virtues like Akshar and become eligible to worship Purushottam. Then, Shastriji Maharaj appointed Yogiji Swami as the mahant of the Akshar Mandir in Gondal, to the universal approval of all.
built over the cremation site of Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami.
The all-knowing Shastriji Maharaj stated, “The price of Rs. 25,000 you have accepted is reasonable.” Haribhai was left speechless. Since Swaminarayan Mandir, Sarangpur that, in fact, was the price he had agreed upon with the Maharaja. He realized that he could not hide anything from Shastriji Maharaj. He told Shastriji Maharaj about the terms the Maharaja had stipulated: that the memorial shrine be preserved and a mandir be built over it in three years at a cost of at least one million rupees. Shastriji Maharaj assuringly said, “Gunatitanand Swami’s memorial shrine is very sacred and miraculous.
Maharaj and Swami are eternally manifest there. Over a million rupees will be spent there, so there is no need for you to worry about it.” Then with Shastriji Maharaj’s approval Haribhai returned to Gondal to finalize the land deal. Throughout Gujarat, the devotees were thrilled that a mandir was to be built in Gondal over the auspicious memorial shrine of Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami. Thousands attended the groundbreaking ceremony on 18 January 1932 (Posh sud 10, Samvat 1988). Soon afterwards, construction work began on the site. Many devotees eagerly contributed their time, energy and other necessary resources for this noble cause.
Shastriji Maharaj instructed the young and spirited Yogiji Swami to cook for the sadhus, devotees and labourers serving there and also to help in the construction work. The building work proceeded at full speed and soon, with the enthusiastic and devout efforts of the sadhus and devotees, the mandir neared completion – it had taken just two-and-a-quarter years – much less than the time stipulated by the Maharaja of Gondal. Invitations were sent for the murti-pratishtha ceremony on 24 May 1934 (Vaishakh sud 10, Samvat 1990).
Devotees began to arrive in Gondal several days beforehand to attend the spiritual discourses and participate in the preliminary Vedic rituals. Shastriji Maharaj and other senior sadhus and devotees spoke in detail about the Akshar-Purushottam philosophy and the glory of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Everyone revelled in the divine and joyous atmosphere. On the day of the murti-pratishtha, the murtis of Akshar and Purushottam were placed in the central shrine and Shastriji Maharaj performed the Vedic rituals, invoking the divine presence of Maharaj and Swami in the murtis.
Then, when Shastriji Maharaj held the mirror before the murtis it cracked due to the divine gaze of the Lord, demonstrating Shriji Maharaj’s divine presence in the murtis to all. In the murti-pratishtha assembly, Shastriji Maharaj described the glory of the Akshar Deri, emphasizing that Gunatitanand Swami was the incarnation of Aksharbrahman, and that only by total surrender to such a God-realized Sadhu can one attain virtues like Akshar and become eligible to worship Purushottam. Then, Shastriji Maharaj appointed Yogiji Swami as the mahant of the Akshar Mandir in Gondal, to the universal approval of all.
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