PRAMUKH SWAMI MAHARAJ: Born on Dec. 7, 1921, in Chansad, Gujarat, Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He has visited more than 15,000 villages and 45 countries, sanctified 250,000 homes, delivered over 20,000 discourses, and built and consecrated 540 mandirs. He leads an austere life of lifetime celibacy without personal wealth or comfort. Representing the essence of Hinduism, his compassion for humanity, universal wisdom and simplicity have touched several world religious and national leaders. But most important is his quiet, unalloyed love for God, which transcends all borders of nation, race and religion.

By NITISH S. RELE - [email protected]

The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) temple in Thonotosassa (near Tampa) will hold grand opening celebrations during the April 2-3 weekend. The 30,000-square-foot multi-story building at 9226 E. Fowler Ave. (between Interstate 75 and U.S. 301) is the largest BAPS Hindu temple in the Southeast United States.

Several spiritual, academic and political dignitaries will attend the weekend event, which will start with a Vishwashanti Mahayaag yagna in the morning and kirtan aradhana in the evening on Saturday, April 2. Next day, on April 3, the murti pratistha ceremony will be held.

The temple is the vision of His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader of BAPS, who instructed Tampa Satsang Mandal to construct the large 30,000-square-foot building. In 2000, Swamishri himself graced the land. Since then, construction on this massive project has been underway for the last two years.

It would be impossible to publish names of all the volunteers behind this huge undertaking. But mention must be made of father-son Ramesh and Hitesh Patel respectively, who have worked as honorary project leaders since the beginning.

The temple itself offers a prayer room, bookstalls, offices, kitchens, conference rooms, medical facilities, etc. Plans are to hold regular cultural programs, music classes and youth-related activities, with care and attention devoted toward the elderly.

For more information on the temple and opening activities, call Suresh Patel at (813) 453-2280 or Kamlesh Darji at (813) 841-9216 or click on www.swaminarayan.org

Information for this article was provided by BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Tampa.
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