BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chicago
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Chicago, Illinois is a traditional Hindu place of worship built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which is headed by Mahant Swami Maharaj, is a denomination of the Swaminarayan Sampradaya within Hinduism. The mandir is located in the Chicago suburb of Bartlett and opened on August 7, 2004. It was built of hand-carved Italian marble and Turkish limestone. The mandir is the largest of its kind in Illinois and was constructed in accordance to the Shilpa shastras. The mandir complex spreads over 27 acres and includes the mandir and the haveli.
Daily rituals
The central shrine of the mandir houses the murti of Swaminarayan, with Gunatitanand Swami to his left, together worshipped as Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj. Other shrines hold the murtis of Ghanshyam Maharaj, Harikrishna Maharaj, Radha-Krishna, Shiva-Parvati, Sita-Ram, Hanumana, Ganesh, and the lineage of BAPS gurus who are Swaminarayan's spiritual successors in BAPS. The Swaminarayan swamis offer devotional worship by performing the aarti ritual five times throughout the day and offering food to the deities.Aarti is a ritual where devotees sing the glory of God while a lighted wick is circulated before the murtis. Food that has been offered to the deities is considered sanctified, and is distributed to devotees as holy prasadam. Shrine doors are closed when food is being offered and when the murtis are put to rest.
Mandir activities
Followers gather for weekly assemblies in the haveli where devotional hymns are sung and discourses on Hindu scriptures are conducted. The temple also organizes activities for the youth, such as Hinduism classes, traditional Indian music classes, Gujarati classes, leadership seminars, and charitable initiatives.Some of the major festivals celebrated annually include Rama Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Maha Shivaratri, Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Diwali. Diwali is one of the grandest Hindu festivals observed in the temple, an occasion that attracts many visitors and devotees.
Tours
Tours of the temple can be scheduled for individuals, groups, and educational institutions. Group visits are available on weekends and holidays and can be scheduled from 10AM to 5PM Monday to Saturday, and before 12PM on Sunday. Tours can be scheduled through the temple's website.History
In 1972, at the behest of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a small group of devotees in Chicago began gathering in homes to hold spiritual assemblies. The number of followers grew after Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited Chicago in 1974, 1977, and 1980. The growing attendance necessitated a larger permanent space for worship. A building on a four-acre plot of land was acquired in Glen Ellyn, a suburb of Chicago. In 1984, Pramukh Swami Maharaj consecrated murtis in the building and inaugurated the first Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in the Chicago area. Within several years, the number of devotees outgrew the mandir in Glen Ellyn. In 1994, land for the current mandir complex in Bartlett was purchased.Construction
The mandir complex is situated on 27 acres. The mandir is classified as a traditional Hindu shikharbaddha mandir and has been built according to principles laid out in the Shilpa Shastras. The Shilpa Shastras are Hindu texts prescribing standards of sacred architecture. Construction of the complex took place over various phases, beginning with the haveli and culminating with the opening of the shikharbaddha mandir. The haveli is a cultural center wherein weekly spiritual assemblies are held.The limestone and marble stones used in the mandir were quarried from Turkey and Italy and shipped to Gujarat, India. From here, the stones were transported to Rajasthan where they were carved by 2000 craftsmen. In total, 70,000 cubic feet of stone was chiseled and shaped with intricate patterns and designs. Once the stones were sculpted, they were shipped to Chicago. In total, 40,000 pieces of stone were shipped to Chicago, where they were fitted together like a 3D jigsaw puzzle. The mandir exterior is Turkish limestone and the interior is Italian Carrara marble.
The mandir occupies 22,000 square feet, and is 78-feet high, 112-feet wide and 215-feet long. It is topped by 16 domes and has 151 pillars, 117 arches, five pinnacles and four balconies.
| Outside Turkish Limestone | Inside Marble and Granite | Cararra Marble | Bansipahadpur Pinkstone | Total Stone Used |
| 36, 131 cu. ft | 31, 000 sq. ft | 29, 510 cu.ft | 70, 240 cu. ft | 8,430 tons |
Mandir Inauguration
The haveli was inaugurated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj on October 29, 2000. The mandir was constructed in 16 months and inaugurated on August 7, 2004 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Congressman Henry Hyde and State Representative of Illinois John Miller were in attendance at the ceremony. The mandir's inauguration was celebrated with a 16-day celebration, which included a Vishvashanti Maha yagna and a shobhyatra through downtown Chicago.Architectural recognition
In 2004, the BAPS mandir complex was awarded the Chicago Building Congress Merit Award for its unique style of Indian stone architecture and engineering, as well as its positive cultural and spiritual impact on Bartlett. Also in 2005, the mandir was recognized in Stone World magazine as a true symbol of ancient heritage and craftsmanship of traditional Indian temples. The American Institute of Architects has recognized the mandir as one of the 150 Great Places in Illinois.Community involvement
International Women’s Day celebrations
Since 2008, the mandir has celebrated International Women's Day by hosting an annual conference. The conference's aims include empowering women and fostering spiritual growth. A conference held on March 22, 2014 was themed ‘Lead from Within.’ The program illustrated that true leadership is rooted in a person's character, actions and examples.In 2013, the theme was “Timeless Traditions: Celebrate the Past and Cultivate the Future.” The conference focused on understanding and communicating Hindu traditions and preserving them in order to help nurture future generations.
On April 6, 2019, the mandir held the annual Women's Conference themed "Sādhanā: The Purpose and the Pursuit." The conference elaborated on how sadhana plays a role in maintaining strength and courage while navigating life experiences and events.