Sarangpur
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (BAPS)
Sarangpur Ta. Barvala,
Dist. Ahmedabad,
Gujarat, INDIA - 382451
Tel: (02849) 251 000, 252 000, 99989 95500
         (02711) 241 192, 241 193
Fax: (02849) 283 663, 251151

Location
Sarangpur is a village in the Amdavad district of Gujarat.

Opening
By Shastriji Maharaj in May 1916.

Images
1st shrine - Mulji Brahmachari, Harikrishna Maharaj, Gopinathji, Radha
2nd shrine - Sukh Shayya/Guru Parampara
3rd shrine - Dham, Dhami, Mukta (Central)
4th shrine - Ghanshyam Maharaj
5th shrine - Acharya Ayodhyaprasadji, Acharya Raghuvirji, Ghanshyam Maharaj, Dharmadev, Bhaktimata

Significance
Lord Swaminarayan often came to Sarangpur to celebrate the spring festival of Fuldol. In 1812, He played ras with the saints at the house of Rathod Dhadhal and introduced Gunatitaand Swami as His choicest devotee.

In 1813, Lord Swaminarayan rode on His horse around the outskirts of the village and then remarked: "Today, I have just performed the ground breaking ceremony for a magnificent mandir here."

In 1820, Lord Swaminarayan stayed at the darbar of Jiva Khachar and delivered 18 Vachanamritas.

The Lord wished to build His 6th mandir in Gadhada on the hillock on the banks of the River Ghela but Jiva Khachar of Gadhada refused to part with his share of the land. Disappointed, Lord Swaminarayan visited some of the neighbouring towns, eventually coming to Sarangpur.

Here, Jiva Khachar of Sarangpur offered his land for the purpose of building a mandir. Meanwhile, Dada Khachar and his sisters arrived from Gadhada and offered their darbar as an alternative site for the mandir in Gadhada. Lord Swaminarayan consented to their offer and Jiva Khachar's joy turned to dismay. Lord Swaminarayan consoled him and promised. "Don't worry, at your place a huge mandir will be constructed."

History

During his time at Vadtal, for five years Shastriji Mahaaj was Mahant of the local Swaminarayan mandir in Sarangpur, which he converted from a small shrine into a beautiful mandir. Whilst going from the mandir to bathe at the stepwell Narayan Kund, Shastriji Maharaj often said: "I see a three pinnacled mandir here."

After constructing the first mandir in Bochasan, Shastriji Maharaj decided to build the second mandir in Sarangpur to fulfil Lord Swaminarayan's promise to Jiva Khachar. It was an uphill struggle from day one. The opponents spread hostile propaganda discouraging anyone from giving support to Shastriji Maharaj's work. There was a shortage of manpower, funds and equipment. The saints had to beg for alms, grains and even buttermilk from the neighbouring villages.

What little they received, they cooked in kerosene tins on log fires. Despite these difficulties, the saints and devotees remained enthusiastic in their services. Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj personally helped out in the construction work. (During the installation ceremony, the mirror held by Shastriji Maaraj before the images cracked into pieces.)

Information
The mandir is the largest of all the temples in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya and the second highest in all of Gujarat - 108 feet high.

Shastriji Maharaj personally supervised the sculpting of the image of Harikrishna Maharaj.

In 1947, a magnificent towering entrance gate was constructed in front of the main mandir.

In 1951, Shastriji Maharaj passed away in Sarangpur (in the Rang Mandap on the ground floor of the mandir). A beautiful one-pinnacled mandir stands over the spot where his last rites were performed. This mandir-Yagnapurush Smruti Mandir-houses a marble image of Shastriji Maharaj and was inaugurated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in April 1981.

Presently the Sarangpur mandir complex serves as an educational centre for all new initiates to the monastic fold.

Festivals
The festivals of Fuldol - Holi (March) and Jalzilani Ekadashi (September) are celebrated here annually in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

Directions
Distance from Nearest Airport:
- 80 km. from Bhavnagar
- 150 km. from Amdavad

Distance from Nearest Railway Station:
- 14 km. from Botad

Nearest Bus Station:
- Sarangpur

Convenient ways to reach:
- Take Aeroplane / Train to Amdavad
(overnight from Mumbai).
Take Bus or Taxi from Amdavad (110 km.)
- approximately 3½ hours by road.