Robbinsville Sri Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Jersey United States

Address

Robbinsville Sri Swaminarayan Akshardham 112 N Main St, Windsor, NJ 08561, Robbinsville, New Jersey United States

Deity

Swaminarayan , Shiva, Krishna, , Ram, Hanuman, Ganapati, Amman: Parvati, Radha, Sita

Introduction

• Location: Robbinsville, New Jersey, USA.
• Size: Spanning over 160 acres, it is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in the United States.
• Significance: A seat of spirituality, divinity, Hinduism, and humanitarianism, the temple opened its doors to devotees in 2014.
• Organization: Built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and consecrated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, now led by Mahant Swami Maharaj.
• Construction Materials: Made from hand-carved Italian Carrara marble, Turkish limestone, and Indian pink stone.
• Design Philosophy: Constructed according to ancient Vedic guidelines, the mandir is open daily for worship and visitor tours, and includes a congregation hall.

Puranic Significance

• Proposal: The idea for the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir was proposed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1997 as part of a vision for Swaminarayan Akshardham in North America.
• Construction Timeline: Groundbreaking began in 2010, employing the Nagaradi style of architecture.
• Materials: Utilized 68,000 cubic feet of Italian Carrara marble, which was shipped to Rajasthan, India, where artisans crafted the stones. The pieces were then organized, numbered, and shipped to Robbinsville for assembly.
• Architectural Details: The entrance, known as Mayur Dwar, features carvings of peacocks, elephants, and revered Hindu devotees. The temple is built following the Shilpa Shastras, ancient texts dictating sacred architecture.
• Deities: The central shrine houses murtis (sacred images) of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami, worshipped together as Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj. Additional shrines include murtis of Radha & Krishna, Shiva & Parvati, Sita & Ram, Hanuman, and Ganapati, as well as the lineage of BAPS gurus.
• Worship Practices: Once consecrated, murtis are regarded as embodiments of the Divine. Devotional worship includes morning hymns (prabhatiya), bathing, and offerings of food and garments throughout the day.

Special Features

• Construction Techniques: Notably, stone marble sourced from Europe was handcrafted in Rajasthan over several years.
• Building Structure: The main temple is a four-floor structure with numerous intricate features:
  • 40 small Fasnakar-style shikhars (spires)
  • 2 large and 8 small ghummats (domes)
  • 98 sthambhas (carved pillars)
  • 66 intricately carved peacock-style arches
  • 144 carved sacred figures
  • 58 decorative ceiling designs
  • 34 decorative grills
  • 91 elephants with various musical instruments and flowers
  • 44 Ganesh murtis depicted in devotion to Bhagwan
  • 13,499 individual carved stone pieces
• Dimensions: The temple measures 42 feet in height, 87 feet in width, and 133 feet in length.
• Exhibitions: A permanent exhibition dedicated to India’s heritage, history, and culture is featured, showcasing the stories of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and ancient scriptures through ornate carvings.

Festivals

• Janmashtami: Celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.
• Diwali: The festival of lights, representing the victory of light over darkness.

Century/Period/Age

23years old

Managed By

Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS)

Nearest Bus Station

Robbinsville

Nearest Railway Station

Hamilton Train Station

Nearest Airport

McGhee Tyson

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