BAPS Sri Swaminarayan Mandir Edison
State New Jersey
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Edison, New Jersey is a prominent Hindu temple belonging to the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The temple was first consecrated in 1996 and features a mix of traditional and modern architecture.
Temple Information
Here’s some information about it:
- Location: 2500 Woodbridge Ave, Edison, NJ 08817.
- Establishment: The first BAPS mandir in Edison was consecrated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in August 1996.
- Significance: It serves as a sacred place of worship and a hub for spiritual, cultural, and community activities. It provides a serene environment for devotees and visitors to engage in practices like Darshan (seeing the Deities with reverence) and Arti (ritual waving of lighted wicks).
- Features: The mandir houses the sacred images (murtis) of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami (Akshar-Purshottam Maharaj). It is known for its beautiful architecture. A new, larger mandir was built on the same property and re-inaugurated in 2019 due to increasing numbers of devotees. This new building has three floors and a mezzanine level, totaling 150,000 sq ft.
- Community involvement: The mandir provides classes, youth programs, and community services like health fairs and blood drives.
History and features
- Original Mandir: The first temple was consecrated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1996. It was built by renovating an existing warehouse into a place of worship.
- 2019 Renovation: As the congregation grew, a larger, three-story mandir was built on the same property and consecrated in 2019. It spans 150,000 square feet.
- Inauguration Ceremony: The opening of the new temple was a nine-day celebration in August 2019 that featured rituals for world peace (Vishwa Shanti Maha Yagna), consecration ceremonies (Murti pratishtha), and a public procession (Nagar Yatra).
- On-site facilities: The new complex includes youth classrooms, a gymnasium, and an assembly hall for spiritual gatherings. The site also includes a small restaurant.
- Architectural design: Visitors have praised the temple’s eye-catching architectural design, which combines traditional Hindu elements with modern construction.
Visiting the mandir
- The mandir is a place of worship and also hosts numerous community services and charitable efforts, such as health fairs, walkathons, and blood drives.
- Entry is free, and there is no charge for parking.
- The mandir holds classes and various events.
Contact Info
- Website: https://www.baps.org/Global-Network/North-America/Edison.aspx
- Email: info.edison@usa.baps.org
- Phone: 732-572-1234
Temple Timings
- Everyday
Morning – 7:00 am to 11:00 am
Evening – 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Nilkanth Varni Abhishek: 7 am – 11 am (Mon-Sun), 4 pm – 6 pm (Mon-Fri), 7 pm – 8 pm (Mon-Sun).