Arrival of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj

As the years passed, an intense wish grew within Shree Dharmavallabhdasji Swami to install a Murti of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj - Lord Swaminarayan made of marble, in the Mandi. Eventually he had a Murti prepared.

The installation of a marble Murti would require a pratishtha mahotsav. The subsequent maintenance and running costs of the Mandir would also increase drastically. However, the Mandir income was minimal. After much deliberation, it was decided not to install the marble Murti. This caused differences in opinions within the Kadi disciples. Eventually, all agreed to abide by the wishes of Jeevanpran Bapashree. So, Sadguru Shree Ishwarcharandasji Swamibapa went to Vrushpur to ask Jeevanpran Bapashree.

Jeevanpran Bapashree replied, "You and I both have the same wish that the Murti should be installed in Kadi Mandir. I am seeing that this temple will have a special place in creating the future of our Satsang. It shall have a unique role in the firm and final establishment our supreme Karan Satsang."

However, Jeevanpran Bapashree advised that if there were difficulties at the present time, the Murti should not be installed immediately. Shree Dharmavallabhdasji Swami was disappointed, but he had the utmost of faith in Jeevanpran Bapashree and fully respected His words. The marble Murti was stored away in the Mandir cellar.

One evening as Shree Dharmavallabhdasji Swami slept, Lord Shree Swaminarayan gave the Sant His darshan and asked, "How long are you going to keep my Murti in its wooden casing?" The following morning, Shree Dharmavallabhdasji Swami awoke and immediately performed the Murti pratishtha ceremony of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj in the Mandir. Due to the sudden nature of the Murti pratishtha, there were many sceptics who did not believe Shree Dharmavallabhdasji Swami and the wishes of Lord Swaminarayan that he conveyed to them. He had acted upon the command of the supreme Lord, but many did not believe him. Some people did not fully respect the Murti, believing the installation was not conducted in the appropriate manner and that the installation had contravened the order of Jeevanpran Bapashree.

Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj Murti Pratishtha

Several months later, Shree Ishwar Bapa and Shree Vrundavandasji Swami visited Kadi Mandir. As they climbed the steps and saw Ghanshyam Maharaj's new Murti, their faces immediately lit up. They remembered the divine words of Jeevanpran Bapashree describing the significance of Kadi Mandir and congratulated Shree Dharmavallabhdasji Swami.

Shree Dharmavallabhdasji Swami explained the disputes that had occurred amongst the disciples of Kadi to Shree Ishwar Bapa, and narrated how he had followed the wishes and command of Lord Shree Swaminarayan. Shree Ishwar Bapa assured him that he had acted in accordance with the wishes of Lord Swaminarayan and Jeevanpran Bapashree and so he had no need to worry.

On Samvat 1975, Maha Sud 13, Jeevanpran Bapashree Himself visited Kadi and performed the official Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav of Ghanshyam Maharaj in Kadi Mandir. Once again, Jeevanpran Bapashree reiterated the importance that the temple would hold in the future of the Satsang: "Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Kadi shall have a unique role in the firm and final establishment of the supreme Karan Satsang.

Responsibility to Jeevanpran Swamibapa

In Samvat 1990 (1934 CE) Shree Ishwar Bapa, Shree Vrundavandasji Swami and Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa went to Kadi Mandir to conduct the charturmas katha. Shree Vrundavandasji Swami now held sole responsibility for the running of Kadi Mandir. However, he was now old and had no disciple capable of taking on the huge responsibility of the Mandir. With the blessings of Shree Ishwar Bapa and in His divine presence, Kadi Mandir was entrusted to Jeevanpran Swamibapa.

Significant Events in Kadi Mandir

• With the divine blessings of Shree Ishwar Bapa, the first Sant by Jeevanpran Swamibapa was initiated in the presence of Ghanshyam Maharaj at Kadi Mandir. This was a significant episode in the Karan Satsang as, except for the "Nand" status Sants, previously only the householder Acharyas had initiated Sants.
• After some heretic sants, gave up their principles and deserted the Karan Satsang, they signed a petition declaring that they would not to read the Vachanamrut Rahasyaratha Pradipeeka Tika and the volumes of Jeevanpran Bapashree's discourses. They had lived with Shree Ishwar Bapa for years, but when the time came to stand strong with Shree Ishwar Bapa, they deserted Him. The only true adherent to Shree Ishwar Bapa was Jeevanpran Swamibapa. And in honour of Shree Ishwar Bapa, Jeevanpran Swamibapa held a grand memorial scripture recital, of the Rahasyartha Pradipika Tika Vachnamrut in Kadi Mandir. The true followers and disciples of Jeevanpran Bapashree and Shree Ishwar Bapa attended this recital.
• In the early morning of the 4th October 1940 CE, opponent heretics secretly entered Kadi Mandir accompanied by armed tribesmen. They interrupted the Mangla Aarti, snatching away the wicks and thereby insulting the sanctity of Lord Swaminarayan and Jeevanpran Bapashree. They hurled abuse at Jeevanpran Swamibapa and continued to blaspheme, harass and terrorise until they were arrested several hours later. In court, they claimed all rights to the temple and its property. However, it was upheld that the rights to the Mandir belonged to the disciples of the village, in which the Mandir was situated. The disciples of Kadi requested Jeevanpran Swamibapa to stay in the Mandir. This was a major event and an important law for all the Mandirs in the entire Swaminarayan Sampradaya. This law ruling has prevented many other Mandirs from being mismanaged and the mandir control and its funds from being forcedly taken away.
• In Samvat 2007, 1951 CE, Jeevanpran Swamibapa sat in continuous dhyaan (meditation) for 13 days in Kadi Mandir.
• Every year, the Yagnopavit Mahotsav, the annual ritual of ceremonially changing the sacred thread worn by Sants, is held at Kadi Mandir. Acharya Swamishree Maharaj gives a new, sanctified yagnopavit to each Sants of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan in front of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj in Kadi Mandir.
• In 1994, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree inspired the Ghanshyam Maharaj Amrut Mahotsav, the 75th anniversary of the installation of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj by Jeevanpran Bapashree in Kadi Mandir. During this auspicious festival, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Maharaj performed the Murti pratishtha of the marble Murti of Jeevanpran Bapashree and Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa.

Shree Swaminarayan Temple Kadi - Navnirmaan

The old wooden structure of the Mandir had started to deteriorate. The premises were too small for the Kadi disciples and also lacked facilities. With the blessings of Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, it was decided to re-build the Mandir.

In 1999 CE, Acharya Swamishree Maharaj performed the oothaapan ceremony and temporarily installed the Murtis in the adjoining building which the ladies used to pray. The old building was demolished, but many of the intricate wooden carvings have been preserved and have now been re-sited in the new temple.

The construction of the new temple building was swiftly completed and on the 26th January 2001, Acharya Swamishree Maharaj re-installed the Murtis in the main sinhasan according to the ancient Hindu Murti pratishtha ceremony.

Less than an hour after Acharya Swamishree Maharaj had performed the auspicious Murti pratishtha in the newly re-built Kadi Mandir, a horrific earthquake struck Western Gujarat, causing grave devastation to vast regions and causing hardship for countless people. Although the force of the quake was strong even in this city and the Mandir was visibly swaying, by the grace of the supreme Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, no damage was caused to the structure.

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kadi – Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav

On Samvat 2075, Maha Sud 12/13, exactly 100 years will have passed since Jeevanpran Bapashree performed the official Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav of Ghanshyam Maharaj in Kadi Mandir. In celebration of this auspicious occassion, Acharya Swamishree Maharaj has inspired a 3-day festival, from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 February 2019.