His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, consecrated the 42-foot Tapomurti Nilkanth Varni Maharaj at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London (popularly known as Neasden Temple), marking a significant new chapter in the UK.
He arrived in London for a month-long spiritual visit after travelling from Paris, where he had inaugurated the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Bussy-Saint-Georges following a 13-day Festival of Culture.
Thousands of devotees welcomed him at Neasden Temple with flags, drums and performances by children and young people. After offering darshan, he entered the assembly hall to cheers and applause and said he had “arrived home”, reflecting his longstanding bond with devotees in the UK. His return, at 93, comes three years after his previous London visit in 2023.
The Swagat Sabha also saw Editor and Publisher of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, CB Patel, receive Mahant Swami Maharaj’s blessings and marked the launch of the commemorative supplement “The Power of Seva”, celebrating his UK visit and BAPS’s spirit of service. His month-long programme has also included a special programme marking the United Nations International Day of Peace.
Devotees welcome Mahant Swami Maharaj with Swagat Sabha
Thousands of devotees gathered at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London for a special Swagat Sabha (welcome assembly) to formally welcome His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj to the UK.
The first major programme following his arrival marked his return after three years and highlighted the preparations devotees had made for his visit.
In his guidance ahead of the visit, Mahant Swami Maharaj encouraged devotees to focus on two key areas: ‘Satsang nu Vatavaran Vadharvu’ (strengthening the spiritual environment) and ‘Ek Bijano Mahima Samajvo’ (understanding and appreciating one another’s virtues and spiritual significance).
The evening began with devotional songs, videos and addresses by swamis exploring the two teachings and how they could deepen personal faith and strengthen relationships.
Mahant Swami Maharaj was then welcomed with dhols and a special dance by children and youths, followed by arti. The programme also highlighted the personal disciplines and acts of devotion undertaken by devotees in preparation for his arrival, reflecting a collective effort to make the preceding months meaningful.
The assembly also highlighted the importance of recognising virtues in others. A special initiative encouraged devotees to identify and appreciate positive qualities in those around them, which were symbolically presented to Mahant Swami Maharaj.
The preparations for his visit went beyond organising events, giving devotees an opportunity to reflect inwardly, deepen their faith, strengthen devotion and put his teachings into practice.
Devotional music and dance complemented the celebrations, including ‘Guruna Vachanthi Guru ne Vadhaviye’, expressing the joy of welcoming their guru by striving to follow his guidance.
The Swagat Sabha was also graced by the presence of Sadguru Pujya Bhaktipriyadas (Kothari) Swami, Sadguru Pujya Tyagvallabhdas Swami, Sadguru Pujya Ishwarcharandas Swami, Sadguru Pujya Viveksagardas Swami and Pujya Atmaswarup Swami, along with many other revered sadhus and sants.
As visitors enter BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, a striking new addition catches the eye – a 42-foot statue of Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj, depicting the youthful form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Inside, thousands of devotees gathered to welcome His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, back to the UK after three years. As he appeared, the hall erupted in applause and cheers, followed by welcome dances and traditional music and performances.
“For devotees young and old, who have come from far and wide, this is a special moment. Many are seeing him after more than a thousand days, while for younger children, it is their first time seeing him in the flesh. There is unbridled love for the guru, and getting that one glimpse of him can bring so much joy. This is pure reverence,” said Swami Atmaswarupdas, a BAPS sadhu serving in Pune who travelled to the UK specially for the occasion.
Mahant Swami Maharaj arrived in London from Paris, where he had recently inaugurated the BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Bussy-Saint-Georges, marking a significant milestone for BAPS in France. “The temple in Paris is a miracle. We have been trying to build a temple there for years. But finally we’ve seen it being built. Previous efforts have been unsuccessful – but we didn’t lose hope,” said Swami Atmaswarupdas.
Nilkanth Varni Tapomurti consecrated in London
His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj consecrated the Tapomurti Nilkanth Varni Maharaj at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London, marking an important turning point for Neasden Temple and creating a lasting source of spiritual inspiration.
Depicting the youthful form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Nilkanth Varni Maharaj is remembered for his remarkable seven-year pilgrimage across the Indian subcontinent, with his journey continuing to inspire devotees and spiritual seekers.
Thousands gathered for the consecration ceremony, which featured devotional bhajans and discourses highlighting Nilkanth Varni’s courage, faith, discipline and compassion for people and nature.
Senior swamis began the Vedic rituals before Mahant Swami Maharaj joined to perform the principal rites of the murti pratishtha. Standing on a specially designed elevated platform alongside the 42-foot Tapomurti, he performed the traditional rituals and made offerings at different levels of the sacred image.
In a poignant moment, Mahant Swami Maharaj performed the abhishek of Tapomurti Nilkanth Varni Maharaj with water collected from the River Thames near Putney Bridge. The site holds special significance as Yogiji Maharaj had bathed Shri Harikrishna Maharaj there on 28 June 1970, linking the historic occasion with the new consecration.
The ceremony concluded with Mahant Swami Maharaj performing the first arti and offering flowers. He spoke of the peace and spiritual benefit the Tapomurti would bring to all who received its darshan.
He then performed the first pradakshina before viewing new relief sculptures depicting Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s life and a mural tracing Neasden Temple’s history and its connection with Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
The celebrations ended with devotional dances, as the Mandir grounds filled with colour and festivity.
Celebrating the UN International Day of Peace
Neasden Temple welcomed faith and community leaders for a special programme marking the United Nations International Day of Peace in the presence of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj.
Titled ‘Pathways to Peace: Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day’, the assembly explored how peace can be embraced by everyone and become part of everyday life. The evening opened with a ceremonial lamp-lighting, followed by ‘Symphony of Shanti’, a rendition of the Shanti Path featuring Indian and Western instruments, led by Kavi Pau, vocalist Alap Desai and a choir.
The first theme, ‘Everyone’, focused on inclusion across abilities and faiths. Robin Spinks of the RNIB spoke about accessibility and belonging, while the organisation also released a braille version of the Mandir’s visitor guidebook. Blind devotee Mansukh Lalji from Luton shared how Mahant Swami Maharaj’s teachings had deepened his understanding of inner peace.
The Rt Revd Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, Bishop of Willesden, highlighted the role of faith communities in promoting peace, while Bhai Sahib Mohinder Singh emphasised the importance of inner peace. The ‘Everywhere’ theme explored how service strengthens communities through BAPS humanitarian work and its partnerships with charities. The final theme, ‘Every Day’, focused on cultivating inner peace, with Anandswarupdas Swami reflecting on its importance in daily life.
The programme concluded with a welcome symphony for Mahant Swami Maharaj, who joined devotees for arti accompanied by the orchestra and choir.
James Ömer Bridge, Chief Executive and Secretary-General of the UK Commission for UNESCO, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the significance of the International Day of Peace and the role of everyday acts of service in building peace. He also praised BAPS, noting that its service to society is an expression of its faith.
He encouraged attendees to contribute through small acts, from helping others and supporting positive change to sharing messages of peace and harmony.
The evening concluded with blessings from Mahant Swami Maharaj, who recited ‘A Pilgrim’s Poem for Peace’, written especially for the occasion. His handwritten poem was presented to James Ömer Bridge as a lasting symbol of the evening’s message.
Asian Voice celebrates HH Mahant Swami’s UK visit
The occasion also marked a special moment for Asian Voice, that published a commemorative supplement “The Power of Seva”, celebrating Satpurush HH Mahant Swami Maharaj’s UK visit, paying tribute to his life, selfless service and the enduring global tradition of BAPS.
CB was also felicitated at the same gathering, an occasion he described as deeply humbling and memorable. He attributed his honour to the ABPL team across the UK and India, for making the commemorative supplement possible and such a success.
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