Murtis

CENTRE SINHASAN

Ghanshyam Maharaj

Radha Krishna Dev and Harikrishna Maharaj (Bhuj)

• Radhaji is the most prominent devotee of Krishna
• She symbolises love for the Lord.
• Deities installed by Acharya Maharajshree Vasudev Prasadji Maharaj and Mahant Swami Aksharjivan Dasji
• Date installed: VS 1967 Chaitra Vad 7

Surya Narayan Dev

• As per modern science, earth rotates and revolves round a stationary sun.
• As per scriptures, the Sun god rides non-stop on horses to illuminate all parts of the stationary universe.
• There are many Sun gods, one per universe.
• Sun provides light and heat. Swaminarayan Bhagwan has cool light emanating from Himself much greater than billions of suns combined.

Prasadi no Takto

• Sanctified items (Prasadi ni Vastu) used by Swaminarayan Bhagwan
• Touching these brings us feel closer to Maharaj, as Prasad means
• Pra - Prabhu nu
• Sa - Sakshaat
• D - Darshan
• Other examples of Prasadi ni Vastu seen in Mandirs are: Mala, utensils, garments, bed, blankets, prasadi ni sheela (stone), trees, rivers and lakes, etc
• Visit the Swaminarayan Museum project for more prasadi items

Right Hand Takta - Upper

Nar Narayan Dev

• Sons of Dharma and Murti, brothers of Hari and Krishna
• Decided to be Vairagis and do austerity in Badrikashram for the benefit of satsangis
• Considered as kings of Bharatkhand
• Installed by Swaminarayan Bhagwan Himself in Ahmedabad temple [Falgun sud 3, VS 1878 (24 February 1822 AD)], and Bhuj temple [Vaishakh sud 5, VS 1879 (Friday, 15 May 1823 AD)]
• This murti (and all other murtis) are portraits of the deity in Ahmedabad
• Nar is always on the left of Narayan

Uddhavji

• Always remains at the side of Bhagwan to carry out His commands
• Same one who served Krishna Bhagwan
• Later became Ramanand Swami

Narad Muni

• Bhagwan's official messenger in all His avtaars.

Surya Dev & Chandra Dev

• Had asked Bhagwan to allow them His darshan at all times
• Are a witness to the austerity done by Nar & Narayan in Badrikashram

Right Hand Takta – Lower

Ramanand Swami & Nilkanth Varni in Piplana

• Nilkanth Varni receiving teachings from Ramanand Swami after being initiated.

Central Takta

Swaminarayan Bhagwan

• The supreme Lord Himself.
• Do dhyaan of this murti and His attire and pose.
• Ways of naming to a Murti of Bhagwan:
  Standing – Ghanshyam Maharaj
  Seated cross legged with frontal view – Sahajanand Swami
  Seated with side view – Swaminarayan Bhagwan
  

Harikrishna Maharaj

• The unique form of Bhagwan found in all mandirs, regardless of other murtis installed
• Found in personal poojas of some Mahant Swamis or other great saints.
• All saints must carry Harikrishna Maharaj along in their travels (mobile form of Bhagwan)
• Must do all poojas of Harikrishna Maharaj, e.g: waking Him up, bathing Him, feeding Him, making Him go to sleep, etc.

Left Hand Takta – Top

Radha Krishna Dev & Harikrishna Maharaj

Please see above for explanation

Left Hand Takta - Bottom

Dharmadev, Bhaktimata & Ghanshyam Maharaj

• Portrait showing Ghanshyam Maharaj with His parents after learning to walk.
• Dharmadev – Born in Ittar in VS 1796, Kartik Sud 11 Sunday
  Named as Hari Prasad Pande.
  Father was Dev Sharma
  Mother was Bhagyavati Sharma
  
• Bhaktimata – Born in Chhappaiya in VS 1798, Kartik Sud 15. Departed in VS 1848:
  Named as Premvati.
  Father was Krishna Sharma
  Mother was Bhavani Sharma
  

Sadguru Shri Vallabh Dasji Swami

• Born in Rampur Vekra in VS 1942 (1885 AD) and was named as Naran
• Father's name: Devrajbhai Mother's name: Purbai
• Was initiated on VS 1963 Vaisakh Sud 11 (1906 AD) by Acharya Purshottam Prasadji Maharaj as requested by Aksharjivan Dasji Swami
• Was disciple of Sadguru Swami Mahapurush Dasji
• Became Mahant of Bhuj mandir in VS 1991 (1934 AD) for 20 years.
• Very enthusiastic about following Dharma, Bhakti, Gnan and Vairagya and preached this to many.
• Very powerful and close to Bhagwan:
  Made rain on his way to Tera village at the request of an old village woman
  Maharaj used to appear and give him divya darshan and mental when he was ill
  
• Went to Akshardham in Posh sud 9, VS 2010 (1953 AD) after handing over Mahantship to Swami Dharmajivan Dasji

Sadguru Aksharjivan Dasji Swami

• Born in Rampur in VS 1908 (1851 AD) and was named as Shamji
• Father's name: Meghjibhai Mother's name: Amarbai
• Was initiated on VS 1924 by Acharya Keshav Prasadji Maharaj
• Was disciple of Sadguru Swami Achyutt Dasji
• Became 3rd Das-pankti Mahant of Bhuj mandir (after Anand Dasji and Achyutt Dasji Swami).
• Was very strict about observance of 5 Vartmans of grahasthas and 5 Vartmans of saints, hence wrote the Ekadashi No Patra
• Very powerful and close to Bhagwan, he saved a village resident from Yamdoots by whipping two and tying two to a tree.
• Went to Akshardham in Falgun sud 9 after handing over Mahantship to Swami Krishnacharan Dasji

Sadguru Dharmajivan Dasji Swami

• Born in Baladia in Jeth Sud 15, VS 1960 (1903 AD) and was named as Lalji
• Father's name: Jadvabhai Mother's name: Jivibai
• Passed GCSE (equivalent of those times) and went to work in Nairobi as a bookkeeper
• Came back to India and was initiated on VS 1981 Maha Sud 5 (Vasant Panchmi) (1924 AD) by Acharya Vasudev Prasadji Maharaj at the request of Swami Mahapurushdasji
• Was disciple of Sadguru Swami Bhaktipriya Dasji
• Became Mahant of Bhuj mandir in VS 2010 (1953 AD)
• Was very keen for saints to study scriptures and established a Sanskrit school for saints and the Swaminarayan Boarding School for boys.
• He blessed many satsangis to travel and seek employment or establish companies in East Africa and England
• Inspired building of temples in all foreign regions (including Harrow)
• Went to Akshardham in VS 2033 (1976 AD) Maha Sud 5 (Vasant Panchmi) after handing over Mahantship to Swami Hariswarup Dasji

Charnarvind

• Another Prasadi ni Vastu having actual lotus footprints of Maharaj

Hanumanji

• Born in the Treta Yug (Third Age)
• Mother's name: Anjana (actually an apsara called Punjikasthala, cursed in heaven and sent to earth to be born as a vanar - monkey)
• Father's name: Pavan (wind god)
• But is regarded as not having taken birth, as he avails himself in the service of all the Avtaars.
• Gained most respect in the service of Lord Ram
• Mentioned by Maharaj in Vachnamrut as the best example of a Pati-vrata Bhakta
• Is a celibate and does not touch women. Women should not bow to Hanuman with their hands folded.
• Is found in all mandirs in Hinduism
• Hanuman Chalisa is sung worldwide in his praise
• Maharaj has advised us to recite Hanuman Stotra for protection in times of adversity

Shani Graha (Panoti)

• Demon Brahmin causing ills to the society with his mystical powers.
• Society prayed to Hanumanji
• Escaped the wrath of Hanumanji by transforming himself into a woman thinking Hanumanji would not touch "her".
• Hanumanji recognised him and held him by his hair, and stepped on him and has not let him go ever since.

Nilkanth Varni

Swaminarayan Bhagwan - Manki Ghodi

• One type of mare (other mares Maharaj had called Kesar, Beri, Bodali, Fulmad, Tajan, Tikhi & Vangani)
• Called Manki because of its colour – brown – same as that of a manek (brown ruby stone)
• Given as a gift by Dada Khachar to Maharaj
• Was most loyal to Maharaj and His 1st choice
• Has even travelled faster than Garudji when Maharaj was returning from Vadtal to Gadhpur
• Was used to estimate the amount of land to be required for construction of Ahmedabad Temple.

Bhaguji

• Was a kshatriya by caste and had given up all his villages to be in the service of Maharaj.
• Was always by Maharaj's side.