Mahant Swami Maharaj, spiritual head of the global BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, will consecrate a 108-foot-tall statue of Tapomurti Shri Neelkanth Varni (Bhagwan Swaminarayan) at Swaminarayan Akshardham on Thursday, with meticulous preparations underway for the grand ceremony.
Crafted from panchdhatu, a sacred five-metal alloy primarily composed of bronze, the statue uniquely depicts Neelkanth Varni standing on a single foot, symbolising profound austerity and penance.
Officials note that this is the first statue of its kind worldwide to portray him in such a posture.
In the lead-up to the consecration, rituals have been conducted at several locations.
On March 22, ceremonies took place at newly built BAPS Swaminarayan temples in Panchkula and Kurukshetra, followed by the ritual worship of the statue destined for the upcoming Paris temple on March 23, ahead of its planned consecration in September.
The 108-foot statue at Akshardham took nearly a year to complete, relying on the dedication of artisan sadhus, nearly 50 skilled craftsmen, and numerous volunteers who contributed to realising the project.
Bhagwan Swaminarayan, revered in his youthful ascetic form as Neelkanth Varni, embarked on his spiritual journey at age 11 after renouncing home comforts.
Over seven years, he travelled more than 12,000 kilometres across India, visiting sacred sites such as the Himalayas, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Kailash-Manasarovar, Muktinath in Nepal, Kamakhya in Assam, Jagannath Puri, Rameshwaram, Nashik, Pandharpur, and Dwarka, earning recognition as Neelkanth Varni during this transformative pilgrimage.
The consecration of the statue reflects deep devotion and celebrates the enduring spiritual legacy of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, inspiring devotees to follow the path of austerity, compassion, and service.
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