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 It was hard to imagine that we were in the heart of London. For in front of us was this massive marble
splendour, which stretched in front of our eyes in all its magnificence. The Lord Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir, in Neasden, London, is touted as the biggest Asian temple outside India. It should also be said that it is the best marble creation after the Taj Mahal. The temple is very famous here - among the desis and locals alike. Many famous people have paid a visit to the temple, including Bill Clinton, Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and even the late Princess Diana. Situated in a huge plot in Neasden, near Wembley, the temple is one of the "landmarks of London" (National Geographic) and is visited by hundreds of thousands of devotees every year.
The temple
Run by Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a socio-spiritual organisation, the temple is known as a "brief bit of South Asia". The building stands 70 feet tall and has a width of 75 feet and
a length of 195 feet. More than a thousand five hundred Indian craftsmen carved the 5000 tonnes of Italian marble and Bulgarian limestone to make it an awe-inspiring monument. Every single inch of the marble is carved so intricately and
delicately, that it is an amazing testament to Indian craftsmanship. The mandir is open to visitors of all religions, daily from 9 am to 6 pm. The shrines of the deities are closed between noon and 4 pm daily.
Lord Swaminarayan
Now let us see the history of the mandir itself. Lord Swaminarayan doesn't denote Lord Krishna, but is the name of an 18th century saint who was born in Uttar
Pradesh.
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The young swami left home at the age of eleven and settled down in Gujarat after travelling around the country for seven years. 200 years back,
He founded the Swaminarayan Sampradaya - a Vaishnav stream of Hinduism, outlawing superstitions, addictions, violent sacrifices, window-burning and social evils.
He preached the message of love, brotherhood, addiction-free living and respect to all. He said that the ultimate goal of life was to realise oneself as atma and offer devotion to God.
The deities
The temple contains marble idols of Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Lord Shiva with his consort Parvati, as well as Lord Krishna and Radha. Also found are idols of Lord Swaminarayan. All the deities are dressed in regal splendour in eye-catching finery. Other attractions include the special exhibition and the video show. The mandir provides an excellent opportunity for its visitors to get to know the details of Hinduism, the ancient Indian civilization and its achievements. Huge panels containing details about the origin, science and the beliefs of Hinduism, coupled with realistically built models based on stories from our epics, make the exhibition a must-see. The entrance fee for the exhibition is £2 and is worth every penny. One can also enjoy a 12-minute video session, wherein details of how and why the Mandir was constructed are explained. There is also a massive foyer, with soaring wooden columns and panels as well as a beautifully designed prayer hall.
So if you are coming to London,
pay a visit to Shree Swaminarayan Mandir,
105-119, Brentfield Road, Neasden,
London NW10 8JP.
Phone: (0044) (208) 965 2651
Email: shm@swaminarayan-baps.org.uk
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