Background
Between 1952 and 1970, His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj often said, “The whole world will chant the name of Swaminarayan. Satsang will spread to America, Japan, Germany, Russia….” Today, these prophetic words can be seen to be coming true.
In 1984, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited Japan for the very first time with a group of sadhus. Shri Popatbhai Chokshi, a devotee residing in Kobe, hosted Swamishri.
Then, in 1986, Pujya Mahant Swami, Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami and a few sadhus visited Japan.
Thereafter, in 1992, Pujya Viveksagar Swami and, in 1994, Pujya Swayamprakash Swami (Doctor Swami) visited Japan with some sadhus, and conducted many satsang assemblies and visited the homes of devotees and well-wishers.
Since then, BAPS sadhus have visited Japan on a few occasions to nurture the satsang.
In 2015, during a visit to Tokyo by BAPS sadhus, Kuldeepbhai Mehta and his family were inspired to join the Satsang. In December 2015, at Sarangpur in Pramukh Swami Maharaj's presence, Kuldeepbhai proposed that a mandir be inaugurated in Tokyo. Then, he procured a property and dedicated the ground floor for the mandir.
On 16 April 2017, in Ahmedabad, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj performed the Vedic murti-pratishtha rituals of the murtis of Shri Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Radha-Krishna Dev and the Guru Parampara for the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Tokyo, Japan.
Murti-Pratishtha Mahotsav
To commemorate this auspicious occasion, the devotees of Tokyo had devotedly decorated the mandir with flowers.
On the morning of 31 March 2018, Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami performed the Vedic murti-pratishtha ceremony of the murtis which had earlier been consecrated by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj in 2017. Over 120 devotees from Tokyo, Kobe, Kofu, Kyoto, Osaka and Yokohama participated in the Vedic rituals.
After the rituals, Ishwarcharan Swami addressed the assembly, “Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami manifested on this earth to liberate everyone from the darkness of maya. That work was carried forward by Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj, Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj, Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj, Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj and is being continued today by Pragat Brahmaswarup Mahant Swami Maharaj.
“Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj had said on many occasions that the whole world will chant the Swaminarayan mantra and that mandirs will come up in America, Japan, Germany and Russia. At that time, no one could imagine that there would be a mandir in Japan because there were no devotees here. But Yogiji Maharaj was no ordinary person and his words were not ordinary. Today, we are all witness to this mandir here in Tokyo. And Yogiji Maharaj will be extremely happy.
“Today, with the grace of Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj and the dedication of Shri Kuldeepji, this beautiful mandir has come up. The murtis are divine. God is totally present here in these murtis, and all who come here, do darshan, do dandvats, do seva, do satsang, will all be blessed. Japan is blessed. Kuldeepbhai Mehta and his family have earned the blessings of Maharaj and Swami through their seva and devotion.”
After his address, Ishwarcharan Swami presented an Amrut Kalash to Kuldeepbhai.
A Mandir Mahotsav Assembly had been organized at the nearby TKP Hall. Munivatsal Swami spoke about Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the work of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. He also explained the importance and need for mandirs in today’s society.
Thereafter, Ishwarcharan Swami concluded the assembly with his address explaining the importance of daily mandir darshan and daily satsang in one’s life. Over 230 people attended the assembly.