Background Vision / History of Satsang

• In 1970, Yogiji Maharaj blessed Shri K.C. Patel, who was leaving for America, “Hold regular satsang assemblies…continue your effort…Satsang will grow…Pramukh Swami will come and build a mandir. We want to inspire the whole of America.” Yogiji Maharaj sent P. Tyagvallabh Swami, P. Siddheshwar Swami, P. Ghanshyamcharan Swami and P. Narayanprasad Swami to America. Hence with his blessings the seeds of satsang were sown.
• The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chicago-located in mid-west America, is like a jewel in a crown and a grand manifestation of years of satsang activities fostered by H.D.H. Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The Satsang activities were sowed in USA through the inspiration of Yogiji Maharaj. Thereafter, they progressed in leaps and bounds through the efforts and blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
• Since 1974 Pramukh Swami Maharaj has visited and traveled ten times throughout the Midwest. The first Key to the City was presented to Swamishri in the mid-west region city of Cincinnati.
• In 1972 there were only six devotees in Chicago. The Sunday assembly was launched at the behest of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Through his ceaseless inspiration and his epic efforts during his visits in 1974, 1977 and 1980, the satsang here saw a dramatic growth.
• A small building on a four acre plot of land was acquired in the Glen Ellyn suburb of Chicago. The building was renovated and in 1984 Pramukh Swami Maharaj consecrated the first BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chicago.
• Over the years the satsang grew manifold. After searching and reviewing many plots, it was finally decided to purchase a larger piece of land in suburban Chicago.
• On the day prior to Swamiji’s’s visit to Chicago in 1994 Land was acquired along Route 59, in Bartlett, IL. Swamiji sanctified the land with Thakorji and performed the bhumi pujan rituals and wished, “A supreme mandir will be built here, and hundreds of thousands of devotees will avail by offering devotion to God.” The mandir planning and conceptualization work started henceforth.
• With Swamiji’s vision it was decided to first construct the “Swaminarayan Haveli’ that would include a large assembly hall, facilities for children, youth and women’s satsang activities, etc.
• A master plan for the mandir complex with was drafted.
• The Shilanyas for the project, (foundation stone laying ceremony) was done in 1998, by P. Viveksagar Swami at the behest of Swamiji.
• The then Governor of Illinois, Jim Edgar, proclaimed that day as ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj Day In Illinois’ and honored Swamishri.
• The construction of the Swaminarayan Haveli started on November 17, 1999. In all practicality the construction work of 100,000 sq. ft seemed impossible to accomplish in merely 365 days.
• On October 29, 2000 Swamishri inaugurated the Swaminarayan Haveli in Chicago with Vedic rites. A 10-day divine and memorable ‘Haveli Mahotsav’ was held. A yagna with 108 yagna kunds was held. Swamishri performed the pratishtha rituals of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj in the Haveli.
• On July 7, 2002 the mandir foundation was laid under the expert supervision and guidance of foundation technologists. In view of the snowfall in Chicago, the designs on the shikhars were at an angle to stop the snow from settling. For this, the angle of their slope was first carved and tested during the winter month of January 2003.
• Swamishri announced the inauguration date as August 8th 2004 for Chicago mandir.
• On November 9, 2002 the first batch of 240 containers of sculpted stones sailed from Kandla to Chicago.
• The shikarbhada mandir in Chicago was completed in 16 months with the help of 2.5 million volunteer hours, and inspiration from HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj in August, 2004. On the auspicious day of August 8, 2004, the Mandir was consecrated by HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj and laid open to the public.

          

Craftsmanship & Statistics

• The limestone was quarried in Turkey
• The marble was quarried in Italy and India
• The stone was fabricated/carved in India
• Once the limestone blocks were brought down from the Fennigan Mountains they were first placed on a small vessel and ferried to Istanbul, where they were transferred to a larger boat and shipped to India.
• Upon arrival in Mumbai (Bombay), they were barged to Kandla (India) and then placed on trains and sent to 26 other locations.
• The stones were then hand carved by more than 2000 craftsman over a period of 22 months.
• The finished pieces were then shipped to a final location for polishing, packaging and numbering before being shipped back to the port in Kandla.
• It took two months for a container ship to journey from India to the US.
• Upon reaching the port in Virgina, the containers were put on a train to Chicago where they were trucked from the container depot to the project site.
• Upon arrival at the site, the stones were grouped and classified based on a detailed database of each piece.
• The pieces were then assembled together like a massive, 3 dimensional jig-saw puzzle.
• The finished products of rich carvings were a testimony to the exquisite skills of craftsmanship, aided by superb logistics and engineering marvel.

Stones

• Outside- Turkish Limestone: 36, 131 cu. Ft
• Inside-Marble and Granite used for cladding walls: 31, 000 sq. ft
• Cararra Marble: 29, 510 cu.ft
• Bansipahadpur Pinkstone: 70, 240 cu. ft
• Total: 8,430 tons of stone used
• Size: Smallest stone 15 gm to largest stone of 5.2 tons

Features

• Shikhars (pinnacles): 5
• 1 Central Dome: 22 ft. in diameter
• 16 Domes
• 4 Balconies
• 14 Windows
• 151 Pillars
• 129 Arches

Infrastructure

• 75 ceilings with 39 different designs
• 40,000 carved stone pieces
• No iron or steel used in sync with traditional Indian architecture
• Central Air conditioning
• Heated floors
• Fiber optic lighting system
• Fusion of ancient architecture and modern technology

Man Hours

• In excess of 1,700 volunteers worked on the project
• In excess of 2,500,000 man hours to complete this project

Material

• Created according to ancient Hindu and Indian architectural science.
• No steel reinforcement was used.
• The white limestone from Turkey used for the Mandir shikhar and exterior is suitable for facing the vagaries of the Chicago climate.
• For the Mandir interior, white Carrara Marble and milky white marble from Makrana, India has been used.
• A special mix that had lesser cement and more flyash was used to ensure a strong, yet even settling in the foundations.

          

Murti-Pratishtha Ceremony

Image worship – known as Murti Puja is a firmly established practice that has facilitated devotion and meditation for generations amongst Hindus.  Moreover such practices are considered to be essential for spiritual realization.

Hindus visit Mandirs to see God, and also to be seen by him.

The Hindu Murtis that are seen in the shrines are not just statues. When a Murti, or sacred image, is installed in a Mandir the spiritual Guru performs a special rite called “Prana Pratishtha”, a ceremony invoking the divine to manifest in the “Murti”.  According to Hindu philosophy, the ceremony facilitates the vivification of the sacred image, thus transforming it from an ordinary stone image into a living manifestation of the divine. . From then onwards the Murti is considered as much alive as any other person.

Devotees even offer food to the Murtis and dress them daily in beautiful attire, as a way to honor and revere the divine Hindu devotees carefully watch what they say, even what they think in the presence of God so as not to cause offence.

The Mandir was consecrated on August 8th 2004 with traditional Vedic rituals by HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The Murti of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and other deities were ritually consecrated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

The “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony is a festival celebrated for several days leading up to the actual event. A special yagna, a ceremony of prayer and ritual offering, was held prior to this event in which special prayers for world peace took place.

A Nagar Yatra or grand procession was carried out in downtown Chicago the day before the installation ceremony. Over 2,000 devotees participated in the procession which involved a display of Indian culture via. Folk dances, costumes, music, and floats. The event was witnessed by thousands.