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Maharashtra Shree Swaminarayan Temple
The Shri Swaminarayan Temple at Mumbai, India is a Hindu temple. Located in the Bhuleshwar area of Mumbai, this temple is the oldest Swaminarayan Temple, being over a hundred years old. The temple is a part of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, a Hindu sect established by Sahajanand Swami, also known as Swaminarayan.
The temple has a three-spire structure. The installed idols are those of Laxminarayan Dev, Gaulokvihari, Radha, Ghanshyam Maharaj and Hari Krishna Maharaj. This temple is a Shikharband Mandir which typically features domes and pinnacles as part of its architecture and is built of sandstone or carved marble.
This temple and many others in the Bhuleshwar area have resulted in the formation of a flower market (or Phool Galli) in the vicinity due to the considerable demand of flowers by devotees.
History
The first Shree Swaminarayan temple in Mumbai was built in 1868 by Ranchhoddas Pranjeevandas by breaking down his own residence and rebuilding it. The idols of Hari Krishna Maharaj, Radhika and Gaulokvihari were installed by Acharya Maharaj shri Bhagwat prasadji Maharaj.
Some years later, Rao Bahadur Sheth Curumsey Damjee, a devotee of Swaminarayan contributed towards the reinstatement of the temple with all physical, material and intellectual resources. His close friend and associate Mathurdas Vaishnav too donated a large sum towards this work.
The present temple structure with three spires was built and the idols of Ghanshyam Maharaj and Laxminarayan Dev were installed in 1903 by Acharya Maharaj shri Lakshmi prasadji Maharaj.
Temple Structure
The Bhuleshwar Swaminarayan temple is elaborately carved on the front side which offers a visual treat in otherwise shabby surroundings. Twenty five steps lead up to the audience hall. Shrines dedicated to Ganesha and Hanuman can be seen on either side of the hall. There are three other important shrines. The shrine in the east houses idols of Hari Krishna Maharaj, Radhika and Gaulokvihari; the shrine in the middle has idols of Ghanshyam Maharaj, Laxmi and Narayan; while the shrine in the west has the resting place for the deities. Above the audience hall, you can see a dome which has scenes depicting stories from the life of Krishna on it. Fifty four pillars support the dome. Religious discourses are regularly held on the first floor in a large audience hall.
Festivals
Various festivals are celebrated with pomp and fervour at the temple. These include Ram Navami – the birthday of Lord Rama, Swaminarayan Jayanti – the birthday of Lord Swaminarayan which coincides with Ram Navami, Janmasthami – the birth of Lord Krishna, Mahashivratri – in reverence of Lord Shiva and Ganesh Chaturthi – the birthday of Lord Ganesha.
How To Reach
By Air
Mumbai has very good connectivity with most of the cities in India and major cities around the world which include New York, Dubai, London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.
By Rail
Trains arrive in Mumbai from all over India. The key stations are Dadar Terminus, Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus, Kurla (Lokmanya Tilak) Terminus, Bandra Terminus and Mumbai Central Terminus.
By Road
The Mumbai-Pune expressway and national highways numbers 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 provide links from the city to all parts of the country. Mumbai has reliable bus services to and from most destinations within India.
Weather And Time To Visit
There are three primary seasons in Mumbai – a very hot summer, followed by heavy monsoons and winter which is actually a milder version of summer. The weather is generally quite humid throughout the year because the city is positioned on a coast. The best time to visit Mumbai is during the winter months i.e. between November and February. During this period, humidity is slightly lesser and the climate is quite pleasant. The temperatures in winter vary between a minimum of 17 degrees centigrade and a maximum of 30-31 degrees.
Accomodation
In Mumbai, you’ll find accommodation to suit every budget. There are various budget hotels along with a plethora of star rated ones. Budget hotels offer reasonably comfortable and economical accommodation if you’re looking for an affordable option. If you’re planning to have a long stay in Mumbai, it would be advisable to go in for the budget hotels. Whether hotels are classy or economical, Mumbai hotels generally abide by the norms specified by the industry and ensure that each guest leaves the premises with a satisfied smile on his face.
Tips For Devotees
There are some general tips that visitors to Hindu temples need to follow. It are customary to keep your head covered using a handkerchief, cap or shawl whilst inside the temple. You are expected to dress conservatively. Shoes are left outside the temple on shoe stands. Some temples prohibit any leather items such as belts and wallets from being taken inside the temple. Normally smoking and chewing of tobacco is not allowed on temple premises. It is considered impolite to point your feet towards the idols while lying down or sitting in the temple.
If you want to tender a donation, you can put it in available donation boxes. It is advisable not to hand over donations to any unauthorized person. Since temples are places of prayer, devotees are expected to behave courteously towards the other devotees and maintain silence. Mobile phones are preferred to be in silent mode. Photography and grpahy are generally not allowed inside temples. Pictures are sometimes allowed to be taken from ground level in areas outside the temples.
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