By the grace of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the blessings and inspiration of Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Singapore was inaugurated and the murti-pratishtha vidhi performed by Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami on the auspicious day of Sunday, 15th May 2016 (Vaishakh Sud Nom, Samvat 2072). This new Hari Mandir is located at 81 Joo Chiat Road, #02-04, Singapore 427725 in the central part of the Lion City-State of Singapore.
The Singapore BAPS satsang activities began in 1984 with the satsang visit by Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Swamishri has blessed Singapore with three satsang visits - 1984, 1996 and 2002. Regular activities are conducted by the devotees. Regular visits by sadhus have also helped the growth of satsang over the years. By the continued efforts of devotees, these satsang activities have now resulted in the opening of this mandir.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj had performed the murti pran pratishtha rituals of the murtis for the Singapore mandir in Sarangpur earlier on 5th March 2016 (Maha Vad Ekadashi). The same murtis - Shri Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Harikrishna Maharaj, Shri Radha-Krishna Dev, Shri Sita-Ram Dev, Shri Shiv-Parvati Dev, Shri Hanumanji, Shri Ganeshji and the Shri Guru Parampara - were installed ceremoniously by Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami and sadhus during this ceremony.
The Vedic ceremonies and celebrations started on Saturday, 14 May, 2016 with the “Kalash Yatra” by the mahila mandal where women carried Shri Harikrishna Maharaj in a peacock palanquin through the streets of Singapore to bless the city.
On Sunday, 15 May, 2016, the murti-pratishtha vidhi began at 4:15 pm with mahapuja conducted by Munivatsal Swami and performed by Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami for world peace and the well-being of everyone. This was followed by the murti-pratishtha vidhi in the mandir. Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami and sadhus performed the Vedic ceremony which concluded with first arti and annakut in the new mandir.
A temporary pavilion was erected next to the mandir for the main mandir mahotsav sabha. Dignitaries from Singapore Gujarati Society, Singapore Gujarati School, Singapore Jain Religious Society and other groups as well as devotees from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, India, UK and USA together with devotees of Singapore had gathered.
Divyamurti Swami addressed the assembly to re-emphasize the important role of “Mandir” in society.
Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami then blessed the sabha which was followed by the inauguration of a Souvenir to commemorate this special event.
The sabha ended at 7:30 pm followed by mahaprasad. A total of 650 people participated in this historic and memorable event.