Lord Swaminarayan’s Philosophy

A favored philosophy of Lord Swaminarayan was of tyaag (to abstain from worldly associations). When only eleven years of age, Nilkanthvarni (Lord Swaminarayan’s teenage name) renounced the material world, His family relations and home and embarked on a forest expedition to show the importance of tyaag. Despite His love of a life of tyaag, Lord Swaminarayan relinquished this for the benefit of His disciples.

Lord Swaminarayan explained to the needy mortals that for any worthwhile deed to succeed, whether it be worldly or spiritual, bhakti (devotion) is essential. He also dispelled numerous false beliefs and superstitions (e.g. the killing of newborn female babies by drowning in milk, the burning of a widow on her deceased husband’s funeral pyre) from society, which otherwise hindered the path to aatyantik moksh (ultimate salvation). Using education as a basis for improving one’s life, Lord Swaminarayan encouraged His devotees (both male and female) to be hardworking, compassionate and free of all vices.

Further information on Lord Swaminarayan's Philosophy... 

His Divine Holiness Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa’s First Visit to the USA

His Divine Holiness Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa was the first sant from the Swaminarayan Sampraday to introduce the Swaminarayan religion to the United States of America. Gurudev Acharya Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on October 20th, 1970.

He and His sants toured the entire United States, visiting New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington D.C., Seattle, and various other places.  The disciples resding in these areas were graced with His divine darshan. Jeevanpran Swamibapa also consecrated (pavitra karyu) the water of  the world-renowned Niagara Falls in Canada. Wherever Jeevanpran Swamibapa traveled, He held spiritual and cultural programs, including grand assemblies, through which He preached the Swaminarayan philosophy. During His vicharan in the United States, Jeevanpran Swamibapa founded Shree Swaminarayan Sidhant Sajivan Mandal, USA and also established the first temple in the United States, Shree Swaminarayan Temple Seattle in the state of Washington.

His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Encourages Chicago Disciples to Hold Gatherings

In 1970, Acharya Swamishree had visited the USA with Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa. After 16 long years He came to the United States in 1987 with 16 sants for 16 days. It was during His tour of the United States in 1987 that Acharya Swamishree established Shree Swaminarayan Sidhant Sajivan Mandal, New Jersey. During His visit to Chicago, He suggested the disciples of Chicago have routine Satsang Sabhas every month.  The disciples of Chicago accepted Acharya Swamishree’s divine request, and they held gatherings at disciples’ homes and community halls for many years without a formal mandal or temple.  Acharya Swamishree fulfilled the prayers of His humble devotees in Chicago and the entire USA by returning in 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, and 2001-2006.

His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Establishes Shree Swaminarayan Temple Chicago and S.S.S.S. Mandal, Midwest

On June 24th, 2001, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree established Shree Swaminarayan Temple Chicago, a Hari Mandir. He installed the divine murtis of Lord Shree Swaminarayan, Shree Jeevanpran Abjibapa, and Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa in this temple.  On this same date, He established the official Shree Swaminarayan Sidhant Sajivan Mandal, Midwest.

Acharya Swamishree performing pooja during patotsav

Ground-Breaking of Shree Swaminarayan Temple Chicago

During his visit to Chicago of June 2003, Acharya Swamishree envisioned a bigger, grander temple for the Chicago and Midwestern disciples.  He ordered the disciples to start a fund-raising and land acquisition project.  Acharya Swamishree continued to encourage the disciples to builda new temple during His later visits to Chicago.

With the divine blessings of Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, the Chicago temple committee was able to acquire land in Streamwood (Northwest Chicago) in 2005. During His visit to United States that year, Acharya Swamishree performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the proposed temple on Sunday, June 26th, 2005

With the blessings of Lord Shree Swaminarayan and His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree, the Chicago congregation, which used to be merely ten households, has blossomed into well over two hundred households and has scattered all over Midwest region.

Acharya Swamishree performing pooja during ground-breaking ceremony