Why do we need a temple ?

Lord Himself doesn’t incarnate every time to pervade His noble message. God sends His saints as messengers upon this soil to perform  benevolent and divine deeds. Through His divine invisible insight  He makes the saints to perform the divine deeds for the betterment of the whole mankind.

Such would be the creation of Shri Swaminarayan Temple of Kalakunj, only by the utmost pleasure of Lord Shri Swaminarayan. That’s why Lord Shri Swaminarayan might have inspired to Shri Nilkanthcharan Dasji Swami for the construction of the marvelous temple.

Even more, through such an innermost intuition of Almighty, Pujya Shri Nilkanthcharan Dasji Swami and Pujya Shri Premprakash Dasji Swami arrived on 25^th May, 1988 in Surat. They got inspired to build a glorious temple at Kalakunj Society in Varachha area of Surat.

To put this celestial idea into the tangible, Param Pujya Dharmdhurandhar His Highness 1008 Shri Ajendraprasadji Maharaj _ head of the Vadtal area, laid a foundation stone on the auspicious day of 11^th Jan. 1989.

No sooner did the foundation ceremony over, under the personal guidance of Pujya Shri Nilkanthcharan Dasji Swami and with the selfless service of devoted devotees the construction work of the temple initiated.

It might be one of the first R.C.C. structure temple that had been under construction, in India.

The dome of the inner temple is spread over 25 feet in perimeter. The temple is constructed in 8500 sq. feet, with 125X95 feet, height is 75 feet.  Donation office, Sahajanand Literature Centre, Shriji Darshan Charitable Trust Poly Clinic are situated near the very entrance of the main gate. A big guest house, Saint Bhuvan, Dining Hall, Library and hostel are located at the back side of the temple.

The architect of this awe-inspiring temple is Shri Rameshbhai Ahalpura from Bhavnagar, while it has been designed by Shri Fateshi Vala from Gadhada.

 Such a confluence of sculptural diversities are used in the construction of the temple.  The construction of the temple lasted for ten years. For this Pujya Shri Nilkanthcharan Dasji Swami himself provided valuable guidance and instructions.

Persistence, perseverance and hard work along with benign blessing of Lord Swaminarayan, the construction work of the temple completed by the holy Saints and dedicated devotees.

The auspicious day- 23^rd April 1999_Vaishakh Sud 8 that each and every  divine soul was waiting has approached. The Idol Installation Ceremony was enthusiastically celebrated with the infinite blessings of Lord Swaminarayan by performing the rites with his holy hands of Param Pujya Dharma Dhurandhar Shri Ajendrapasadji  Maharaj, under the headship of  Pujya Shri Nilkanthcharan Dasji Swami. The lacks of devotees had witnessed the ceremony and became blessed by the divine Darshan of Lord Ghanshyam Maharaj and holy Saints. The devotees were present in the large congregation that lasted for seven days in which they became contented by taking Maha Prasad in all these days. Like this way with ear-soothing devotional sound of cymbals, trumpets and bugles, and dance and drama enthralled the devotees.  The mesmerized and magical idol of  beloved Ghanshyam Maharaj was installed in the middle of the temple. In addition to that the idol picture of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj, Shri Gopinathji Majaraj, Shri Radhikaji, Shri Ranchhodrayji, Shri Narayan and Shri Lakshmiji were installed in both the sides of the temple.

 Gods and Saints have been showering their blessing upon the devotees.