HISTORY

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Arts & Cultural Centre, Bolton - UK

Lord Swaminarayan sent His sants to tour throughout India in order to disseminate His philosophies and tenets. Jeevanpran Abji Bapashree, the will manifest of Lord Swaminarayan, gave His blessings to the disciples to emigrate to East Africa where they could also spread the distinctly moral, virtuous and compassionate way of living promoted by Lord Swaminarayan. During the 1960’s Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa aided the migration of His beloved devotees to the United Kingdom. Many of these devotees settled in the northern town of Bolton and in 1970, during the first visit of Jeevanpran Swamibapa, Shree Swaminarayan Sidhant Sajivan Mandal, Bolton was formed.

Under the graceful vision of Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, the assiduous devotees prospered using their manual and entrepreneurial skills to become mainstays of the Bolton community. With the divine blessing of Jeevanpran Swamibapa the devotees purchased a property on Deane Road, to convert into a mandir (temple). In 1974 Jeevanpran Swamibapa inaugurated the mandir for the spiritual, cultural and social welfare of the residents of Bolton.

The devotees of Bolton were again blessed by a visit of Jeevanpran Swamibapa in 1979. During this visit Jeevanpran Swamibapa further immortalised Bolton by choosing to withdraw His darshan (divine visualisation) of the human form.

With the divine favour of His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj, the site at 174 Deane Road, was fully renovated during 1991/2. With the festivities of a three-day mahotsav, on 21st June 1992, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree installed new murti of Lord Swaminarayan, Jeevanpran Abji Bapashree and Jeevanpran Swamibapa in an elaborate silver cladded sinhasan (altar).

With an ever-growing congregation, it became necessary for the SSSSM, Bolton to find larger and more purpose built accommodation for the mandir. By the grace of Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa the devotees did not need to look further than across the street, where a disused church had become available. In 1996 renovations began to transform the dilapidated buildings into a mandir and community hall for the local neighbourhood. On Sunday the 15th of June 1997, following a three-day mahotsav, the mandir was inaugurated by His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree.

The devotees of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan in and around Bolton continued to practise their unique blend of Swaminarayan spiritualism and Indian culture. With the divine vision of HDH Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj, Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Arts and Culture Centre was established. The mandir at 161 Deane Road, will be the focal point for the activities of the disciples of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan.

In preparation of the installation of new murti, the mandir ceiling has been transformed into a 3000 square foot canvas, with paintings of the sports of Lord Swaminarayan and Jeevanpran Swamibapa. The centrepiece is a breath taking sinhasan, intricately carved from wood and meticulously leafed in gold. The jewels in this crown are the murti of Lord Swaminarayan, Jeevanpran Abji Bapashree and Jeevanpran Swamibapa. These murti have been carved from marble and elaborately adorned by the santo and devotees of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan.

As a prelude to the Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav, these masterpieces of Hindu arts and culture were viewed by leading dignitaries of the Bolton community. The guests all commented on the awe-inspiring darshan they had and promised to visit again during the Mahotsav.

The Grand of Opening of the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Arts and Culture Centre, the Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav commences on the 16th of August 2000 and the inauguration of the divine idols will on Sunday the 20th of August 2000.