Devotees from across North America gathered to witness the first stone-laying ceremony of the Akshardham Mahamandir in Robbinsville, NJ on Nov. 22-24, 2013. At this event, the first stone (Jagatipith) was laid at the base of the Mahamandir. Jagatipith is the symbolic throne on which the mandir will eventually reside; it provides strength and support to the mahamandir and serves as an integral platform. The three-day celebration consisted of five sacred ceremonies filled with prayers and Vedic rituals to consecrate this holy moment.
The attendees were given a detailed tour of the site with updates on construction over the past few months and later guided towards the assembly to begin the pujan ceremony. The program consisted of Vedic rituals, bhajans, a special dance performance, and blessings from Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami, who arrived from India to grace this sacred occasion. Every aspect of the program echoed the spirit of enthusiasm and eagerness from each volunteer to fulfill His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s vision. Swaminarayan Akshardham aims to uphold Hinduism’s timeless traditions for generations to come and will help bring peace of mind to all. With intricate carvings depicting stories from Hindu scriptures, the intricate details of this mahamandir will provide a lesson of our rich culture and heritage to all.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, attendees offered their final prayers with the chanting of Swaminarayan dhun for the successful completion of the complex. Several dignitaries including Robbinsville Mayor, David Fried, graced this occasion with their presence and expressed their appreciation of the project as well as the dedicated volunteer force.
The success of this event would be incomplete without acknowledging the selfless sacrifices made by thousands of volunteers who have dedicated their time and efforts - all for one reason, to please their Guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and fulfill his vision.