Gondal
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (BAPS)
Yogiji Maharaj Road,
Gondal,
Ta. Gondal, Dt. Rajkot,
Gujarat, INDIA - 360311
Tel: (02825) 220 788, 220 255, 99989 93300
        (Gurukul): (02825) 220 201
Fax: (02825) 229 037

Location
Gondal is a town in the Rajkot District of Gujarat.

Opening
By Shastriji Maharaj in May 1934.

Images
1st shrine - Dham, Dhami, Mukta
2nd shrine - Guru Parampara
3rd shrine - Purushottam, Akshar (Central)
4th shrine - Sukh Shayya
5th shrine - Ghanshyam Maharaj

Photo Gallary Of Gondal's Ghanshyam Maharaj

Significance

Lord Swaminarayan and His paramhansas often came to Gondal and bathed in the waters of the River Gondali here.

Gondal is in the Junagadh region and as Mahant of the Junagadh mandir, Gunatitanand Swami often came here for preaching. The royal family of Gondal at that time revered Gunatitanand Swami as their family Guru.

In 1867, whilst meditating, leaning against a pillar in the assembly hall of the old Swaminarayan mandir in the city, Gunatitand Swami took leave of his material body. His body was taken to the outskirts of the town and his last rites performed on the banks of the River Gondali. His ashes were collected and kept in a copper urn. Within two months, Sangramsinhji, the King of Gondal, had a beautiful shrine erected at the exact spot where Swami's body had been cremated. Since that day, the shrine has been known in the fellowship as Akshar Deri.

The sacred memorial soon became an important pilgrimage site for the saints of the Junagadh region and in time, earned fame as a place where one's prayers could be fulfiled.

History
During his last visit to the Akshar Deri, Bhagatji Maharaj predicted: "At this place, an arti of a thousand lamps will be lit and a grand mandir will be built."

For 65 years, the land around the Akshar Deri remained under the administration of the old school. They remained undecided as to whether a mandir should be built here. Meanwhile, Gunatitanand Swami gave darshan in a dream to a devout devotee, Narayanji Maharaj, inspiring him to build a 3-spired mandir here. He, in turn, inspired Haribhai Amin to procure the land around the Akshar Deri. Despite overwhelming odds, Haribhai purchased the land and handed it over to Shastriji Maharaj for the purposes of building a mandir.

Within two and a half years, Shastriji Maharaj constructed a magnificent mandir over the cremation shrine of Gunatitanand Swami and the images of Akshar Purushottam were installed. Yogiji Maharaj was appointed as the first Mahant of Akshar Mandir.

Information
Many miracles have occured in the Akshar Deri. The most famous involving Yogiji Maharaj, who was bitten by a deadly cobra during the construction of Akshar Mandir. Shastriji Maharaj instructed the saints and devotees to chant the Swaminarayan mantra and offer prayers in the Akshar Deri. The effect of the poison soon subsided and Yogiji Maharaj's life was saved.

Today, the mandir is visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year, praying for deliverance from pain, illness and sorrow.

Gondal was very dear to Yogiji Maharaj. After passing away in January 1971 in Bombay, his material body was transported to Gondal and his last rites performed here. At this spot, a marble shrine with a marle image of Yogiji Maharaj has been erected. Known as Yogi Smruti Mandir, a museum has also been set up, wherein the life of Yogiji Maharaj is depicted through an exhibition and his personal belongings preserved.

Festivals
The festivals of Yogi Jayanti (May/June), Sharad Poonam (October) and Diwali (October/November) are celebrated here annually in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.