A golden day in Jodhpur's cultural history - idol consecration ceremony completed at BAPS Temple

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will attend the temple's inauguration ceremony

Today, a golden chapter was added to Jodhpur's religious and cultural history when the idol consecration ceremony of the deity was solemnly and divinely performed by the holy hands of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple, Jodhpur. On this occasion, the temple was respectfully opened for devotees to visit.

At 6:45 am, senior saints of the BAPS organization initiated the Mahapuja ritual before the Pran Pratishtha, in which a large number of devotees of Lord Hari participated. After the Mahapuja concluded with prayers for happiness, peace, and prosperity not only in India but throughout the world, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj initiated the Pran Pratishtha ritual.

In this newly constructed temple, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj consecrated the idols of Lord Shri Swaminarayan, Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami, Lord Shri Krishna and Shri Radha, Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj, Lord Shri Shiva-Parvati, Shri Ganpati, Lord Shri Ram and Mother Sita, Shri Hanumanji, Shri Neelkanth Varni Maharaj, and the Guru tradition and performed the first aarti. The devotees present were overwhelmed at this divine moment.

In his first blessing after the idol consecration, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj said,

“This temple is now open to all devotees. You must all visit here, have darshan of the Lord, chant the rosary, circumambulate, and prostrate yourself. Now the Lord is present here in person. May every citizen of Jodhpur and the world receive happiness, peace, and prosperity – this is our prayer.” On this auspicious occasion, the residents of Jodhpur expressed their profound joy and gratitude, saying, "Today, God and His True Master have arrived in our courtyard. No amount of gratitude to His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj would be enough. Swamiji, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

With the temple's inauguration, devotees were filled with immense enthusiasm for their first glimpse of the Lord. Seeing the temple's grandeur, Jodhpur residents were overwhelmed and spontaneously exclaimed, "Oh brother, the temple is so old!"

The inauguration ceremony for the newly constructed temple will be held today at 5 p.m., with Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Union Minister) as the chief guest, and other dignitaries attending.

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Jodhpur, will continue to serve not only as a spiritual center but also as a sacred abode for the dissemination of cultural, social, and moral values.