Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj

Background Vision
On his visit to England in 1970, Yogiji Maharaj consecrated a small Swaminarayan Mandir in Islington, London. During his stay in London, on 26 May 1970, Yogiji Maharaj expressed his dream that a traditional mandir be constructed in the future. To realise the dream of his guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired the mandir and consecrated it in 1995.

 

Craftsmen at work, Kandla, Gujarat

Craftsmanship & Statistics
From the moment the first stone was cut on 16 February 1993 to the moment the final piece was packed in June 1995, over 1,500 skilled village craftsmen, artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat – skilled in traditional stone and masonry – worked round the clock chipping away to fashion the rough stone and fine marble into the required forms. The finished products of rich carvings were a testimony to their exquisite skills of craftsmanship.

Dimensions
	Total Area – 1.5 acres
	Width – 75 ft
	Height – 70 ft
	Length – 195 ft
Features
	7 shikhars (pinnacles)
	6 ghummats (domes)
	193 sthambhas (pillars)
	32 gavakshas (windows)
	4 zarukhas (balconies)
	500 different designs
	55 different ceiling designs
	30 step marble main staircase
	26,300 carved stone pieces
Modern Amenities
	The only layered segmental dome in the UK with no steel or lead.
	Two marble fire escape staircases.
	Under-dome lightwells for natural light.
	Underfloor heating for the marble floor.
	2 lifts for the elderly and disabled.
	Concealed lighting and audio system.
	Weather-protected entrance.

Stone experts recommended limestone from Bulgaria for the mandir exterior and marble from Italy and Ambaji (India) for the mandir interior. The stone and marble chosen met necessary aesthetic criteria, durable enough to withstand British weather conditions yet soft and suitable enough for the delicate work of carving. The Bulgarian limestone resisted remarkably well the effects of the extreme weather conditions with temperature variations from 30ºC in the summer and dropping to minus 15ºC in the winter. The limestone is very dense, with fine grains and creamy-white in colour. Italian marble is favored for its consistent white coloration, smooth texture and strength. Marble from Ambaji is noted for its snow-white appearance and good finishing.

In total, there were 26,300 carved stone pieces – the largest 5.6 tons in weight and the smallest weighing only 50 grams.
Types of Stones	Largest Stone Piece	Weight	Usage
Bulgarian limestone	10' x 3' x 2' 8"	5.6 tons	Main shikhar
Italian marble	14' 6'' x 2' x 2'	4.6 tons	Beam
Ambaji marble	14' 3'' x 2' 1'' x 1' 2''	2.7 tons	Ceiling
Sardinian granite	8' 5'' x 2' 4'' x 1' 3''	2.2 tons	Waterproofing base

Craftsmen at work, Kandla, Gujarat

Workshop	Craftsmen	Materials	Carving Work
Kandla (Kutch)	650	Bulgarian limestone; Italian marble	Mandir exterior; Mandir interior
Ambaji (Gujarat)	125	Ambaji marble	Ceiling; Arches; Stairs
Pindwada (Rajasthan)	250	Italian marble; Ambaji marble; Italian marble; Ambaji marble	Beams; Front porch; Pillars; Ceilings; Dome interior
Dungarpur (Rajasthan)	150	Italian marble; Ambaji marble	Detailed pillar work

Sponsored walks
The mandir project in London called for a united effort. It was not going to be the work of one generous wallet – but the fusion of love and support of thousands of devotees and well-wishers. Everyone could contribute and at the same time be inspired to lead a pure, noble life. To help towards the building, three national sponsored walks were organized.

Aluminium Recycling
The London Borough of Croydon and the Care for Croydon Working Group presented the Care For Croydon Award to the children of the organisation. Four students of The BAPS Sunday School were winners of a British Telecom Environment Week award. A certificate and £100 prize money confirmed that the school collected the most aluminium cans in the country that week – a staggering 150,000. In all, over 7 million cans and 22 tons of aluminium foil were collected and recycled over three years. It marked the largest can collection project ever in the UK by any charity organisation.

 

The CARE Theme
The CARE Fund raising project of brochures was launched in 1994. The colourful brochures conveyed the messages on anti-addiction, eco-friendliness, family values and value-based education. These higher values and ideas were inscribed on brochures that were offered to donors. The devotees went from door to door, despite the rough weather and rejections, explaining the philosophy behind the brochure. And the CARE philosophy was so touching, people were naturally attracted. Pramukh Swami Maharaj's message at the launch of CARE in May 1994 reveals the caring objective behind the project. "We are not only doing this only for our good – but for the good of innumerable people. And keep this is mind – we are not going to houses to take. We are going to give – give our message... One day they will be inspired." In this way, 900 dedicated volunteers passed on the message to over 300,000 houses across the UK.

 

Bachat Kumbh
For the past several years, Bachat Kumbhs (savings cans) have provided a constant source of donations. The kumbhs are issued to homes and shops in various areas and the funds are deposited to the mandir by volunteer co-ordinators assigned to the area.

Murti-Pratishtha Ceremony

Murti-Pratishtha Ceremony
The Mandir was consecrated on 20 August 1995 in consonance with traditional Vedic rituals by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The festive opening was a grand finale to the divine grace of God and spirit of volunteerism. The murtis of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and deities were ritually consecrated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.