(MOREPIC1)Raj Sadosh/Abohar.
In 1992, Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj gifted the divine and grand Akshardham to Gandhinagar, which portrays Indian culture and Sanatan Dharma. Now, the consecration ceremony of the 49-feet high panchadhatu murti of the ascetic form of Shri Nilkanth Varni (teenage form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan), was held at the Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar at the hands of Mahant Swami Maharaj, guru of BAPS.
Aksharvatsal Swami described the uniqueness of the murti as the tallest and only of its kind in India. This is in the exact ascetic form in which Bhagwan Swaminarayan had performed rigorous austerities, 200 years ago, for over 2 months at Muktinath in Nepal.
(SUBHEAD)Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj commenced the final consecration ceremony, followed with aarti and prayers for peace. Floral offerings were showered over the murti through a drone.
Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami, who was instrumental in the entire project, said, “At the age of 11, Nilkanth Varni Maharaj left his home and journeyed across India. For the welfare of spiritual aspirants, he undertook severe austerities and travelled for seven years, enduring extreme hardships. This murti serves as an enduring reminder of his intense austerities and compassion for humanity.”
Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj said, “The sight of this magnificent ascetic murti brings calmness to the mind and draws one’s heart towards it. Bhagwan Swaminarayan resided in the Himalayas for many months, surviving only on air. May Nilkanth Varni fulfill everyone’s aspirations and all be inspired to perform austerities.”
