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  Safeway Magazine
The October 2003 issue of the Safeway magazine, highlights the mandir in its write-up, “A spicy feast for the Festival of Light”. It remarks, “Celebrating Diwali in grand style at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu Temple in North London, where over 1,000 vegetarian dishes are offered to the Gods, and prayers are said for world peace and prosperity.” It has also included photographs of Neasden Temple with the splendor of its lights and fireworks in the backdrop, with the sacred murtis of Ghanshyam Maharaj and of the Central Shrine.

Safeway is a magazine produced for shoppers at ‘Safeway’, the fourth biggest grocery retailer in the UK, with 480 stores nationwide, attracting around 8 million shoppers every week, with 90,000 employees and annual sales of around £9 billion.

 

   

The Independent
On 18th October, "The Independent" – daily newspaper of UK printed in its weekly special issue dated 18-24 October 2003, namely, "THE INFORMATION – The essential guide to going out and staying in": “The 50 Best Modern Buildings to visit” in which “Neasden Temple” is included as no. 2. The magazine says: “It’s difficult to imagine, but the north-west London suburb of Neasden is the home to the boldest ecclesiastical building erected in Britain since the Middle ages.”

The 50 are chosen as the 10 Best buildings from the following five categories:
Commercial, Religious, Worldly Wonders, Tourism/Arts, Museums/Galleries. The 50 Best Modern Buildings are from all over the world and include: the London Eye; The Burj Al Arab, Dubai; Thermal Spa, Vals, Switzerland; Tate Modern, London; REICHSTAG, Germany; The National Museum of Australia; Roden Crater, Arizona, USA; Chikatsu Asuka Historical Museum, Japan; National Space Centre, Leicester; Millennium Dome, London, etc.


 

 


Guinness World Records 2002

 

Guinness Book Recognises Annakut Festival, London, 2000
Annakut Festival, London, 2000

Guinness World Records 2002
There are 45,000 officially recognised records approved by Guinness World Records limited. Every year some 3,000 are chosen and published in the book.
The 2002 edition had a print run of 3.7 million copies distributed in 40 countries and in 20 languages. The first book of records was printed in 1955 and to date over 90 million copies have been sold.

In the 2002 edition, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha has the distinction of being mentioned three times.

Influential People
The book has a section on Influential People of the World. Pramukh Swami Maharaj was chosen as one of the most influential people today in recognition for His contribution in transforming the lives of millions through the building of mandirs.

Record-breaking Annakut Festival, London
Guinness World Records presented a certificate to recognise the world record of offering 1247 vegetarian dishes during the Annakut Festival held at the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London on 27 October 2000.

Record-breaking Mandir
Guinness World Records presented a certificate to recognise the largest traditionally-built Hindu temple outside India.

Top

Mr. Tim Footman presents Guinness World Records certificates to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, July 2000
Mr. Tim Footman presents Guinness World Records certificates to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, July 2000

Guinness World Records 2000
The Millennium Edition of Guinness World Records 2000 hailed His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj as a masterbuilder. On page 36, under the Architects & Masterbuilders category of the Knowledge section, a colour photograph of the London mandir and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, together with brief details of the Mandir were included.

The book reveals, "Biggest Hindu Temple Outside India: The Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London, UK, is the largest Hindu temple outside India. It was built by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a 79-year-old Indian sadhu (holy man), and is made of 2,828 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone and 2,000 tonnes of Italian marble, which was first shipped to India to be carved by a team of 1,526 sculptors. The temple cost £12 million to build."

As it was a collector's item, a staggering 2.7 million copies of the new Millennium Edition were printed, making it the largest initial print run of a colour illustrated non-fiction book. The English edition was distributed to 70 different countries, with another 22 editions in foreign languages.


Biggest Hindu Temple Outside India
Guinness World Records 1998
The mandir was mentioned in the 1998 edition on page 185, in the Architecture category of the Commerce section. A colour photograph and details of the mandir were included under the title "Largest stone Hindu temple outside India."
Guinness World Records 1997
The first time the mandir was recognized was in the 1997 Guinness Book of World Records.
   
Stone : Building Stone, Rock Fill and Armourstone in Construction
Stone : Building Stone, Rock Fill and Armourstone in Construction

Stone : Building Stone, Rock Fill and Armourstone in Construction
Load-bearing and Self-supporting Masonary
The term load-bearing masonary is, in the building industry, usually understood to mean masonary that supports loads and/or resists forces additional to those due to its own weight. Self-supporting masonry is similarly understood to support only its own weight, although it often has to resist wind loads, e.g. as freestanding garden walls. A good introduction to the use of both load-bearing masonry and masonry facades to framed buildings can be found in the 'classic' work by Warland (1929) and the more recent book by Hill & David (1995). A recent, rare example in the UK is the Hindu temple, or Mandir, in Neasden, London, The temple was constructed from Bulgarian limestone block supported on a plinth of Sardinian granite and the interior is lined with intricately carved marble from India and Italy.

(Published by the Geological Society)

   

70 Wonders of the World - Reader's Digest
70 Wonders of the World – Reader's Digest

Reader's Digest
70 Wonders of the World
While the Sultan of Brunei's £300m palace has been included for its wealth of 1,788 rooms in 297 acres, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur as the tallest building at 452m, the 37.5km Channel Tunnel as the longest undersea tunnel, the Sydney Opera House in Australia as a visionary building, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco for its awe, the Millennium Dome for its ebullience and ambitiousness – the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir has qualified for its magnificence, beauty, intricacy and the story of how it was built. 
   
 
 

The Book
After carefully considering and evaluating thousands of buildings and constructions in every country of the world, built since 1900, a Reader's Digest's recent publication, The Eventful 20th Century – 70 Wonders of the Modern World, has included the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden, London – devoting two full pages (124-125) to the beauty and story of the mandir with colour photographs. The Endpapers, front and back, feature a newspaper headline 'Temple takes Neasden to new heights', and the Timechart which categorises the list of 70 wonders, highlights only one single global event in the year 1995 – it is the making of the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir! The 160-page first edition in English had 100,000 copies in circulation as well as translated versions in other major languages of the world.

   

 

 

 

Why the Mandir was Selected
The Mandir was selected because it made a global impact when inaugurated in 1995 and since then, there has been a continued global interest. The mandir and its news were carried in almost all leading newspapers and TV channels of the world. And it still continues to hold its unique status as a powerful center of attraction. Describing 'What Makes A Wonder,' the editor mentions the mandir with these words: "The Shree Swaminarayan temple deserves a place...because of its intricate detail and the extraordinary story of how it was built."
   
 
 

Extract from the Article
"Like the Colossus of Rhodes, some 20th century structures qualify on account of the extraordinary scale of their artistic ambition.... Others earn our wonderment for their luxurious grandeur and extraordinarily lavish decoration, testament to the ambition of the individuals who built them. Hearst Castle, dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, was a rich man's fantasy estate, a place of spectacular opulence and bountiful entertainment that took over 18 years to build....the Great Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco, is probably the most sumptuous religious building created in the 20th century. The Shri Swaminarayan temple in Neasden, north London, in contrast, deserves a place not only because of its scale, but because of its intricate detail, and the extraordinary story of how it was built."

"Neasden is famous for its ordinariness, a north London suburb of small industrial estates, tower blocks and residential streets lined with red-brick terrace houses. It makes an incongruous setting for one of Britain's most extraordinary 20th century buildings, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a Hindu temple – 'an abode of peace, love and harmony' – built to the meticulous standards of ancient religious tradition.... The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir complex represents an act of faith. Over 1000 volunteers worked on the building, and many more contributed and solicited donation, or organised sponsored walks and other activities; children raised money by collecting aluminium cans and foil for recycling.

"The temple complex was completed in just three years, at a cost of about £5 million, over half of which went on materials. The cost would have been incalculably higher without the efforts of the volunteers. As a result, when the temple was opened in August 1995, the ceremonies were greeted with great excitement and a deep sense of achievement by those who had contributed." (Pages 124-125)

   

 

Interesting Comparisons
Analysing the seventy wonders, one realises a subtle fact. Almost all the buildings – whether they are extraordinary dwellings, commercial ventures, funlands, power structures, tunnels, bridges, monuments, memorials or futuristic complexes – are either government financed and supported, or backed by a king or a millionaire – except one. The exact statistics are eye-opening – 44 have been constructed by government funds, 12 have been built by wealthy individuals, 11 were financed by mega-corporations, wealthy foundations or a group of rich people and 2 have been created by kings! But only one – Shri Swaminarayan Mandir – is a marvel of voluntary effort, made by common working class people and built by their devotion and donations. It is an act of faith and dedication. And it stands amongst the few that were completed within 3 years! However, the most interesting feature is the last question the editor asks, "We live too close to the wonders of the 20th century to know which will stand the test of time over another 50 years, let alone 2000 years." Of the 7 ancient wonders, the Pyramids are the only wonder that have stood the test of 2000 years. Of these 70, which wonders would be standing after a 1000 years? Not commenting on the others, the mandir is made to last a 1000 years.
   
 

Perspectives on Architecture
November 1995 Issue 19, Vol. 2 (Magazine)

Spirit of suburbia
The Swaminarayan Mandir is a startling sight on the North Circular Road. Glistening spires and intricate arches rise out of the suburbs. But Britain’s first authentic Hindu temple is part of an architectural tradition which stretches back for centuries. Adam Hardy is overwhelmed by the temple’s splendour.

   
 

Natural Stone Specialist
September 1995 (Magazine)
"Amid the concrete tower blocks of Neasden, almost into Harlesden, which is designated a Deprived Inner London Area, sits a gigantic anomaly in limestone, marble and granite; an Eastern temple, or mandir, 21m tall, 23m wide and 59m long...

"Located in NW10, just off the North Circular, this creamy-white mandir, its domes and turrets reaching up to the grey skies of England, is a world away from the hot dusty roads of India, the country which inspired the philosophy which led to the creation of the temple.

"This extraordinary project came about as the result of a Hindu organisation, the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission, responding to the wishes of their guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, to build a 'center of spiritual harmony'.

"The carving of the mandir unquestionably emphasises the mystical Eastern feel of the building, yet project construction still had a firm sense of practicalities where the use of hi-tech stone working machinery was concerned, especially in the design stage use of computer modelling and data-base for scheduling works, which tracked each piece of stone from its quarry origin to its carving site in India and finally its position in the building..."

   

Millennium Album
Millennium Album

 

 

Millennium Album
"Magnificent Swaminarayan Hindu Temple"

The Millennium Commemorative Album illustrates Britain through 19 different themes: The Story of Time, A Century in A Moment, Faith, Medicine, Health and Beauty, Sport, Food, Work, The Dome at Greenwich, Money and Trade, Exploration and Travel, Mind and Invention, Education and others. It brings alive some of the many facets of life in Britain in the last 1000 years, in letter and colourful photographs, to help understand its heritage and future.

On page 40, in 'Multi-faith Britain today', Michael Ipgrave describes the spiritual communities and faiths in Britain. The four-page article also includes a colour photograph and write-up of the prestigious Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. After mentioning the transformation of a church to a mosque in Spitalfields (London), Michael Ipgrave writes, "Eight miles further north-west travelling through the quiet streets of Neasden you might suddenly glimpse an enormous, glistening palace of white marble. This is the magnificent Swaminarayan Hindu temple, opened in 1995 through the committed efforts of devotees throughout the country."

Book : The Official Commemorative Album for the Millennium
Published by : Citroen Wolf Communications, London (1999)
Total Pages : 304


   
London
London

London
A City Revealed

A visual tribute to the city of London. The book reveals the inner sanctums of some of the world's most spectacular constructions and visual experiences of its parks, markets, palaces and the River Thames. The book takes pride in including the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.

London – A City Revealed is an informative pictorial guide to people who want to visit London or savour the once-mighty imperial city's sights sitting at home. The colourful pictorial guide starts with the Thames River and traces its meandering course which it says is "A Voyage Through A Nation's History". The Book has pictures of Windsor, Kensington Palace, Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, etc. It also captures the stylish, bustling shops, the royal pageantry, the spacious parks and nearly 2000 years of history. The book does not fail to include a magnificent addition to the London skyline.

On page 170, the publication carries a box 'Delights of the East' and says "Moving West from Hampstead Heath, in the unfashionable area of Neasden, a magnificent Hindu Temple, Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, was completed in 1995. Its assembly hall with a capacity of 2,500, is the largest in Europe. It was developed by and for the local Hindu community and is faithful to a thousand-year tradition of design in timber and stone."


The colour picture alongside the box shows the interior of the mandir with the caption, "The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple has brought out the magnificence of Hindu architecture to the otherwise far from exotic area of Neasden."

Book : London – A City Revealed (Reprinted Edition 1999)
Produced by : AA Publishing (1999)
Total Pages: 176

   
Hindu Mandir
Hindu Mandir

Hindu Mandir
The book, Hindu Mandir, briefly describes the making of the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and some of the rituals of worship and festivals celebrated by the devotees. Colourful pictures of the mandir, intricate carvings, rituals of arti are portrayed.

The author writes, "At first sight, the mandir looks like an enormous iced wedding cake, covered inside and out with exquisite carvings. The outside is limestone; the inside is made from more than 2000 tonnes of marble, from Italy and India. This was sent to India to be cut and carved by hundreds of craftsmen, then shipped to Britain where the 26,300 pieces were fitted together like a giant jigsaw – an extraordinary feat! The finest details, such as the fingernails of the sacred images and the creases in their clothes, were carved last of all... The Neasden mandir is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, who lived from 1781-1830 CE... The present Guru, Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, is the fifth in line. The movement is based in Gujarat, in western India, but has many followers all over the world. In Britain, it is known as the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission."

By Courtesy of Author, Anita Ganeri

   
London - A Hindu Temple
London – A Hindu Temple
London
A Hindu Temple

A veritable celebration of the great city in her varying moods. Louise Nicholson's script matches in vibrancy Richard Turpin's telling photographs that capture London's infancy when the city took its first steps as Londinium – A Roman settlement which declined. But invaders like Vikings were attracted by the wealth of the port. In subsequent centuries the city became the mistress of an empire over which the sun set only in our lifetime. The march is graphically presented. The River Thames, The Merchants' City and Port, Westminster, West London, its parks and museums, north London villages are captured on film.

The author has added the latest acquisition to the city's landscape – a dominating one at that – the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at Neasden. She writes on page 178 under the heading 'A Hindu Temple', "The beehive-shaped roofs and domes of Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, dedicated in August 1995, rise above the surrounding houses of Neasden in north-west London. The temple is the first of its kind to be built in Europe. In its plan, scale, construction and riot of elaborate carving, it follows the traditional form of the Hindu temple that was developed by the great empires of India during the seventh to twelfth centuries... The project took three years to complete. More than a thousand volunteers joined the workforce to realize the dream of Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the high priest and fifth spiritual successor to Shri Swaminarayan to whom the temple is dedicated."

1½ pages are devoted to a picture showing the magnificent shikhars of the mandir.

Book : London (1998)
Author : Louise Nicholson
Photographs : Richard Turpin
Publisher : Frances Lincoln
Pages : 208

   
Religious Buildings
Religious Buildings

Religious Buildings
Besides the cover title, Anita Ganeri the author, includes a colour picture of the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, London. She writes, "Hindus go to worship, meet their friends and learn about their faith..."
Book : Religious Buildings
Author : Anita Ganeri
Publisher : Wayland

   
 
 
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