The inspiring journey of BAPS, Neasden Mandir
I share a deep and personal bond with BAPS, as my grandfather was associated with the organisation even before HH Shastriji Maharaj laid its very foundation. I consider myself truly blessed to be among the fortunate few person in the UK today, to have had the divine privilege of the physical darshan of HH Shastriji Maharaj, HH Yogiji Maharaj and HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Bochasan.
One of the most cherished moments of my life took place on 26 September 2007, during the BAPS Centenary Celebrations at the Neasden Swaminarayan Temple in London. As I addressed the gathering of devotees, my heart was filled with immense joy and humility when Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj, in his divine grace, spoke for nearly twenty minutes, reminiscing about his special bond with my grandfather Manibhai, my father Babubhai and my uncle Apakaka. It was a moment I will never forget, a blessing that will stay with my family for generations.
Beginning of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
The first BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir was established on 5 June 1907 in Bochasan by HH Shastriji Maharaj, marking the formal beginning of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. HH Shastriji Maharaj, born as Dungar Bhakta in Mahelav Village, Anand, was a tall and graceful personality known for his deep faith in Bhagwan Swaminarayan, his teachings and his spiritual successors. After being initiated as a sadhu at the Vadtal temple, he studied the Vedas and Upanishads. With his profound understanding, he developed the concept of Akshar-Purushottam and founded the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
BAPS continues the legacy of HH Sahajanand Swami, who founded the Swaminarayan Movement around 1801. A revered spiritual leader and reformer, he later became known as Bhagwan Swaminarayan. His message of moral living, devotion to God and service to humanity inspired countless people across Gujarat and beyond, making his movement truly unique for its time.
In the early 18th century, when Gujarat was under British rule, the Swaminarayan Sampradaya became well known for promoting moral discipline, social reform and unity among communities. Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings strongly opposed addiction, animal sacrifice and social discrimination, efforts that even drew the attention of British officials.
On 26 February 1830, an historic meeting took place between Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Sir John Malcolm, Governor of Bombay. As the Governor of Bombay, Sir Malcolm had political responsibility for Gujarat, Kathiawad and Kutch. Governor Malcolm had heard of the positive influence Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings had on public order and morality through reports from British administrators. David Anderson Blane, the political agent at Rajkot, greatly admired his work and invited Bhagwan Swaminarayan to his residence to meet the Governor, a historic encounter that reflected mutual respect and recognition.
Though unwell, Bhagwan Swaminarayan graciously agreed to attend. He was warmly welcomed in areas under British control and was granted land to build a mandir in Ahmedabad. During the meeting, Bhagwan Swaminarayan presented Sir John Malcolm with a copy of the Shikshapatri, a concise scripture of 212 verses outlining ethical, spiritual and social values for devotees. This very copy is now carefully preserved at the Indian Institute Library, part of the Bodleian Library at Oxford University.
The Swaminarayan movement continued to grow steadily in Gujarat, with Bhagwan Swaminarayan establishing six temples, the two main ones being in Ahmedabad and Vadtal. Later, Shastriji Maharaj, driven by his reformist vision, began his work from the Bochasan temple.
By 1925, BAPS had expanded rapidly across India, especially in Gujarat. Pujya Yogiji Maharaj, lovingly known as Yogibapa, was a true saint admired for his wisdom, humility and social service. His teachings deeply inspired many young devotees, particularly Patels from the Kheda district who later migrated to East Africa. Among them were Himabhai and Maganbhai Patel, who received blessings from Yogibapa and Shastriji Maharaj before leaving for Africa. They were encouraged to continue their satsang and sadhana even in small groups.
Yogibapa often wrote letters reminding devotees to stay devoted, avoid bad habits such as alcohol and live a moral life. His guidance helped form satsang sabhas in many places, especially along the Mombasa–Kisumu railway line. Around the same time, followers of the Swaminarayan movement from Kutch also spread the faith and its values among devotees in Kenya.
A small temple was first established in Nairobi in 1945. Ten years later, in 1955, the first BAPS temple in East Africa was built in Mombasa, Kenya, in the divine presence of Param Pujya Yogiji Maharaj, Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj and other revered saints. During that time, Yogibapa foresaw the growing migration of devotees from East Africa to the United Kingdom and prophetically declared that one day, a grand temple representing Sanatan Dharma and the Swaminarayan movement would stand tall in London.
A grand temple in London
The inspiration for this remarkable journey began in 1970 when HH Yogiji Maharaj envisioned a grand stone mandir in London. During his visit that year, he inaugurated one of Britain’s first Hindu temples at 77 Elmore Street, Islington, under the banner of the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission, a branch of BAPS. I had the privilege of being present at that historic occasion. As the number of devotees grew rapidly, especially after the 1973 Uganda expulsion and the migration of families from Kenya, the Islington temple soon became too small. The community and saints began searching for a larger site in northwest London, within the Borough of Brent, where two possible locations were identified.
When HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who was closely guiding the movement, visited London, he foresaw the immense growth of the Swaminarayan movement and the wider Sanatan Hindu Dharma in the UK. I clearly remember his visit when he personally selected the site in Brent, now known as Pramukh Swami Marg. At that time, it was an old warehouse complex, but by 1982–83, it was transformed into a beautiful temple, a symbol of faith, vision and community spirit.
I was fortunate to organise several events at the temple, inviting and honouring many dignitaries, including Chimanbhai Patel and Keshubhai Patel - Chief Minister of Gujarat, for major occasions. Over time, many memorable programmes were held and soon the land for the present world-famous Neasden Temple was purchased. Construction began under the continuous vision and guidance of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj and other saints. As the community grew, so did the dream of building a traditional shikharbaddha mandir, a temple made entirely of stone following ancient Hindu scriptures. In 1991, Pramukh Swami Maharaj laid the foundation stone for what would become the Neasden Temple. This vision took shape when more than 26,000 intricately hand-carved stones, crafted by skilled artisans in India, were shipped to the UK and assembled with love and dedication by volunteers.
Almost 3,000 tonnes of Bulgarian limestone was shipped 3,900 miles to India along with 1,200 tonnes of Italian Carrara marble, which made its own journey of 4,800 miles. With a further 900 tonnes of Indian Ambaji marble, the over 5,000 tonnes of stone was hand-carved by more than 1,500 skilled artisans at 14 different sites around India into 26,300 pieces. The largest piece weighed 5.6 tonnes and the smallest only 50 grams. Just two and a half years later, the mandir stood completed.
On 15 July 1995, the magnificent BAPS Shikharbandi Mandir in Neasden, London, was inaugurated, marking a historic milestone for the Hindu community in the UK. The Pran Pratistha ceremony took place with great devotion and the celebrations continued for several days, filled with joy and spiritual fervour.
The grand inauguration was graced by the presence of many distinguished guests, including Lord R.K. Bagri, S.P. Hinduja, Keshubhai Patel, Chandubhai Dalia, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, C.M. Patel, Jashbhai Patel, Chhabildas Mehta, L.K. Advani, Dr. L.M. Singhvi and several other dignitaries from around the world. It was truly a momentous occasion that marked the beginning of a new spiritual era in Britain.
Neasden Temple was named one of the wonders of the 20th Century by the Reader's Digest in their book ‘The Eventful 20th Century – 70 Wonders of the Modern World’. The temple is also considered one of London's seven man-made marvels by sources like Time Out London and National Geographic.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj, with his remarkable foresight and wisdom, recognised the importance of involving dedicated individuals from various walks of life. He selected five people and conferred upon them a special status in recognition of their contribution and commitment to the mission of BAPS. Among them were Judge Mota Singh, Lord Gulam Noon, Sir J.K. Gohel, Manubhai Madhvani and my humble self. This initiative not only reflected Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s visionary leadership but also his belief in collective service and shared responsibility for nurturing faith and values across generations.
Presently, under the guidance of HH Mahant Swami Maharaj, the Neasden Temple continues to shine as a symbol of harmony, devotion and selfless service. From its modest beginnings to its world-renowned status, it stands as a testament to what can be achieved through vision, faith and unity. The tireless efforts of Yogvivekswami, along with other saints and trustees, have played a vital role in maintaining the temple’s spiritual and community impact.
BAPS today stands as a global symbol of devotion, unity and architectural brilliance. In the UK alone, it has established over 15 temples, many purpose-built across London and beyond. While there are other Swaminarayan temples in the country, BAPS remains a shining example of dedication and organisation.
Globally, its magnificent creations include the Akshardham temples in Delhi and Gandhinagar, the grand complex in Robbinsville, New Jersey, the beautiful temples in South Africa and Australia and the world-renowned BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi — a true landmark of spiritual and cultural harmony. The upcoming BAPS temple in Paris, set for completion in 2026, will further extend this legacy of peace and devotion.
Today, BAPS serves millions through more than 1,300 mandirs and 5,000 centres worldwide, each one a beacon of faith, service and culture. It continues to inspire people of all ages to live with compassion, integrity and devotion, proving that spirituality, when lived with purpose, can truly transform lives and communities.
As His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, it is a fitting moment to reflect upon the temple’s inspiring journey, from a humble vision to a globally celebrated symbol of faith, unity and harmony.
