A Solemn Visit to a Hindu Temple in New Jersey - BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
- Charles Jordan
- Mar 4, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 4
Our visit to to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
On February 23, 2024 we visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (temple) in Robbinsville, NJ. We had recently heard of this place and were intrigued by it. Before the visit we published a blog post about it, not knowing quite what to expect. We are so glad we went. It was a beautiful day to spend in a wonderfully spiritual place.
Largest Hindu Temple in the Western Hemisphere
As we mentioned in our previous post, this Mandir (temple) is the largest Hindu temple in the western hemisphere and apparently the second largest one in the world, with a height of 213 feet. Construction began in 2015 and it cost about $96 million to build. The campus is is more than 180 acres, includes 10,000 statues and the largest elliptical dome ever built in stone. In case you were wondering, the largest Hindu temple is Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It was built in the 12th century and occupies more than 400 acres of land. It is said to be the largest religious monument in the world. Before our visit to the temple in Robbinsville we had Thailand on our list of places to visit. Now we think it might be fun to include Cambodia as part of that trip.
Golden Statue of Swaminarayan
Swaminarayan, the subject o the statue pictured here, is worshipped at the temple in Robbinsville. He was a yogi who lived from 1781 to 1830 and his followers believe he was a manifestation of Krishna. In 1792 at the age of 11 he set out on a seven-year pilgrimage or journey of redemption across India through harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain with modest clothing. This golden statue is 49 feet tall representing the 49 years of his life.
At the entrance to the temple grounds there are brief narratives you can read to learn the history of Swaminarayan's life and about the temple built in his honor.
Traditional Stepped Pond
After passing this statue you come to a very large, traditional stepped pond. The pond is filled with water from India's 108 holy rivers and the rivers of all 50 of the states in the U.S. It is meant to represent the importance of community. We took a brief video to give you an idea. But you really need to visit to get the full effect.
At the right end of the pond you walk through a gateway to the welcome center where you will be greeted by a friendly volunteer who will ask if it is your first time visiting. Since we had not visited previously, he invited us to view an eight-minute introductory video in one of several small screening rooms. At the end of the video, a door in the back of the room opens automatically where you can exit and find your way to the temple.
The Mandir
Approaching the temple you pass various intricately carved statues and the walkway to the temple is flanked by fountains. They were not operational when we visited, possibly due to the weather or they may have still been under construction. Some areas of the campus were still being completed. We plan to return later this year to see it during the summer months.
We were unable to photograph the inside of the temple as it is prohibited. Just imagine intricately carved white marble columns, statues, and domes. There are various altars with statues of Swaminarayan and other religious figures, some decorated with gold and vibrant colors. The floor is white marble too. You must remove your shoes at the entrance. So, even though there were many visitors, it was very silent and peaceful. Even the small children were mostly silent. The temple seemed to inspire serenity.
On the exterior walls of the temple there were various plaques with information or inspirational messages and quotes. Then there was this beautiful arcade along the side of the welcome center. We were struck by the beauty of this place.
Returning to the Welcome Center
Once back inside the welcome center there is a vegetarian café. It is a grab-and-go setup, not really a cafeteria or waitered experience. There is also a gift shop and we were pleasantly surprised by the very reasonable prices. And there was a small grocery store where we bought a few snacks. The staff was very accommodating and friendly throughout the visit. In short, we recommend this place if you are looking for a unique experience.
Planning Your Visit
Where is it and when is it open? This beautiful and serene Mandir is located at 112 North Main Street, Robbinsville Township, NJ. It's open every day except Tuesday from 9AM to 7:30PM with a daily Arti ceremony, a ceremony of lights in honor of Swaminarayan. The Arti ceremony takes place at 11:30AM.
Have you visited this inspiring place? Leave us a comment to let us know if you plan to visit or what you remember the most from your visit.
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