Idols installed at temple

The pramukhswami maharaj began the vedic ceremony early in the morning and invoked the divine presence of god into the sacred images enshrined in the temple. In his special inauguration address, he said: “such temples celebrate the past, address the present and bless the future. They serve as a common soul for the entire community – where people of all beliefs and backgrounds, all ages and stages can smile together, share the love of God and sustain their search for higher peace and purpose”.

In his speech, the Chief Minister narrated his experiences at the opening of the Swaminaryan temple in London and was all praise for the pramukhswami maharaj’s services. “By building this temple in Rajkot, the whole of Saurashtra, if not the Gujarat, has been blessed with a divine energy; an energy to go forth and build a better nation and a better future”.

Idols of Swaminarayan, Gunatitanand Swami, Gopaland Swami, Ghanshyam Maharaj, Radha-Krishna, Ganpatiji and Hanumanji were installed and consecrated by the pramukhswami maharaj.

The temple, 202-foot long, 135-foot wide and 86-foot tall, sprawls over 22,270 sq feet. The floor plan makes it the largest Swaminarayan temple in the State. The exquisite 510 sq ft central dome as well as the intricate pinnacles, pillars, archways, windows and balconies give a majestic look to the temple.

Ever since the ground-breaking ceremony of the temple in April 1990, thousands of young and old, men and women contributed in their way for the temple. Children said `no’ to parents for buying fireworks and toys during Diwali, teenagers refused to fly kites in makar shankranti, women abandoned new cloths and jewelleries during birthdays and other occasions to save money for the temple. Some worked on the construction site.

The temple is a symbol of a `labour of love’ where business tycoons, company directors and college students sat side by side – half way into the night – polishing stones or moving rubble. No wonder, no one can place a price tag on it.

The week-long dedication festival ends tomorrow by celebrating the pramukhswami maharaj’s 78th birth anniversary.