Shree Swaminarayan Siddhant Sajivan Mandal, Mid-Atlantic, U.S.A., is composed of disciples of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan living in the states of Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, as well as the southern region of New Jersey. The Mandal was created with the guidance and blessings from His Divine Holiness Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj in 2011.

The foundations of the Mandal go back to 2004. With Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey, the primary temple of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan in the United States, being anywhere from a two-hour to four-hour commute from the Mid-Atlantic region, disciples were finding it difficult to travel to the temple for each and every religious holiday and celebration. They desired to go to the temple more often, but it was not always possible due to work, school, and family commitments such a distance away. During His North America vicharan in 2004, Acharya Swamiji advised these disciples to start holding gatherings at each other’s homes for each Ekadashi and for major religious occasions, such as Janmashtmi and Diwali. Later that year, the first Ekadashi celebration was held at the home of a disciple in Pennsylvania, and many disciples from all over the region attended to sing kirtans together in praise of Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, recite religious scriptures to please the Lord, perform an utsav and aarti, and offer thaal to the Lord.

These Ekadashi celebrations at the homes of dozens of different disciples all over the region continued for the next seven years. Every single Ekadashi during these years was celebrated by the disciples, and in some cases, if Ekadashi fell on a weekend, the disciples celebrated at Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey. Additionally, they rented community halls to celebrate Diwali on a grander scale and to hold large gatherings when Acharya Swamiji and sants were touring the region. The Mandal’s first ever large community-wide sabha in the presence of Acharya Swamiji was held in August 2006 at the Nur Shrine Temple Hall in New Castle, Delaware. Hundreds of disciples and local community members attended these auspicious gatherings.

In 2011, during the Shree Swaminarayan Temple Chicago Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav, Acharya Swamiji officially established Shree Swaminarayan Siddhant Sajivan Mandal, Mid-Atlantic, USA, and He encouraged the disciples to start looking for a small church or community hall for sale where a Hari Mandir could be established. By the grace of the Lord, in early 2012, a perfect location was found in Bear, Delaware. There were plenty of rooms, a kitchen, and a prayer area fit exactly for the size of the congregation. Acharya Swamiji gave His blessing, and on the morning of May 11th, 2012, the closing on the property was completed, and the first sabha was held at the location. On June 1st, 2012, Ekadashi, Acharya Swamiji and sants arrived at the location, the Hari Mandir was established, and a sabha was held for the first time in the presence of Acharya Swamiji.

With the establishment of this Hari Mandir, the disciples of the Mid-Atlantic region had a common place to hold all gatherings and celebrations, and with divine blessings from Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and Acharya Swamiji, they hoped the Satsang will continue to flourish throughout the region and, furthermore, throughout the United States.

With the Lord’s endless grace, it did. In January of 2014, with Acharya Swamiji’s blessings, it was decided the divine Murtis (idols) of Lord Shree Swaminarayan, Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree, and Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa would ceremoniously be installed in a grand sinhasan at Shree Swaminarayan Temple Delaware. In celebration of this momentous occasion, Acharya Swamiji has inspired a magnificent Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav to be celebrated from July 4 - 6, 2014. In addition, the first ever Diamond Tula (ceremonial weighing with diamonds) of Shree Harikrushna Maharaj in the history of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan will be performed by Acharya Swamiji on Sunday, July 6, 2014. Construction and preparations are well underway for the celebrations.

This historical occasion is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and the disciples of S.S.S.S.M., Mid-Atlantic, U.S.A., humbly invite you, their brothers and sisters, to celebrate the Lord’s divine glory at this magnificent festival with them.