The river Narmada has been praised in the Skand Puran as having 100 million pilgrim places on its banks. It has been noted that by merely having darshan of river Narmada one becomes cleansed of all sins. Patel donated his land on the main Bharuch-Mumbai highway to the BAPS. After the acquirement of more land, the mandir project commenced on the 18 acre site. On 13 January 1998, Pramukh Swami Mahar
aj performed the stone-laying ceremony for the shikharbaddh mandir. In nearly four years a beautiful mandir in pink sandstone was completed through the inspiration of Swamishri. The five shikhar mandir is 75 ft high, 151 ft wide and 193 ft long. The mandir is ornamented with beautifully sculpted pillars, archways, balconies and murtis.
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Murti Pratishtha - 9 December 2001
The day dawned with the abhishek rituals of the murtis in the mandir sanctum. Later in the morning, Swamishri performed the murti pratishtha of the murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj, Shri Harikrishna Maharaj, Shri Radha Krishna Dev, Shri Sita Ram and Hanumanji, Shri Shiv Parvatiji and Ganeshji and Guru Paramapara. The chanting of vedic mantras divinized the atmosphere with devotion and joy. Swamishri also consecrated the murti of Nilkanth Varni for the daily abhishek rituals in the Rang Mandap. During the murti pratishtha assembly, dignitaries praised the services of Swamishri and the BAPS. Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly. More than 54,000 devotees and wellwishers attended the murti pratishtha rituals and assembly.
