BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Nairobi

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Nairobi

 Limuru Road, Forest Rd, Nairobi, Kenya

The Mandir encompasses: The Wooden Mandir and the Heritage Exhibition.
Open to visitors from 8:00 am – 12:00 noon & 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm daily throughout the year .

Mandir:
The Mandir is a place of worship and prayer for followers of Hinduism. The structure itself is built according to the Shilpa Shastra, a collection of architectural treatises that have been an integral part of Indian architecture and engineering for thousands of years. The sacred images and ceremonies of worship in the Mandir form the very core in elevating the soul to the pinnacle of God-realization according to Hindu philosophy. Swaminarayan Mandirs, worldwide, fulfill the ancient and lofty concept of the Hindu tradition of Mandirs.

Abhishek
Abhishek is the ancient Hindu practice of pouring water over the sacred image of God to honor him and to attain his blessings. It is also an opportunity for devotees to pray to God, asking him to cleanse one’s soul.
On special occasions, panchamrut – a holy mixture of milk, yogurt, honey, sugar and ghee – is used instead of water.
In the Abhishek Mandap on the lower floor of the Mandir, a gilded brass image of Shri Nilkanth Varni (Bhagwan Swaminarayan) has been enshrined to commemorate and pay tribute to his epic journey as a teenager.
Abhishek of this small sacred image is performed daily to the chanting of Vedic verses, including the ancient peace-prayer called the Shanti-Paath, and the recital of the 108 auspicious and liberating names of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, called the Janmangal Namavali. In all, the complete ceremony takes around 15 minutes, and is performed daily.
Devotees often offer an abhishek – or arrange for one to be performed on their behalf – on days of special significance to them, such as a birthday, wedding anniversary or in remembrance of a loved one, or sometimes to seek blessings for a personal reason.

Understanding Hinduism – A Unique Exhibition:
Walk through the beginning of civilization; learn about the history and beauty of Hinduism. ‘Understanding Hinduism’ is a well-researched multimedia presentation of facts, figures and information. For the novice or the scholar, the exhibition is inspiring and enlightening .

Souvenir Shop:
The Souvenir Shop is located near the Mandir, it is filled with a wide selection of books, CDs, DVDs, herbal products.