Shrisatshakti (Mrs) Binda Singbal and Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Gadgil attend inauguration of BAPS Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) – The BAPS Hindu Temple Abu Dhabi is a traditional Hindu Temple built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (An organisation inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj [1921-2016]). Murti Pratishtha in this Temple was done by Mahant Swami Maharaj on 14^th February 2024. This is the first traditional Hindu stone Temple in the Middle East and third Hindu Temple in the UAE; it is also the largest Hindu Temple in West Asia.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this Temple on the auspicious occasion of Basant Panchami. An event titled ‘Harmony’ was organised by the Temple administration on 15^th February. This was attended by Sachchidananda Parabrahman (Dr) Athavale’s Spiritual Heirs – Shrisatshakti (Mrs) Binda Nilesh Singbal and Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Mukul Gadgil on behalf of Sanatan Sanstha.

This Temple was to open for darshan for all devotees from 1st March 2024. All the special invitees visited the Temple and had darshan before the programme. Shrisatshakti (Mrs) Binda Singbal and Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Gadgil were accompanied by the Temple’s Sevadhari Mrs Sheetal Tank, who provided them information about the Temple. Mr Ravindra Kadam (Office bearer) was also present. Mr Snehal Raut and Mr Vinayak Shanbhag (Sanatan Sanstha’s seekers who were video recording) were given a special pass by the Temple administration.

Unique features of the Temple

BAPS Hindu Temple is magnificently built on 27 acres of land. The carvings on the walls of the Temple not only incorporate stories from the Ramayana, Shiva Purana, Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, and the lives of Hindu Deities, but stories from other notable civilizations as well.

The confluence of Ganga-Yamuna and Saraswati is also depicted in the premises.

The Temple houses Idols of Shri Akshar Purushottam Bhagawan, Shri Radha-Krishna Bhagawan, Prabhu Shriram-Sita, Shiva-Parvati, Shri Ganesh, Kartikeya, Bhagawan Jagannath, Bhagawan Shrinivasa-Padmavati Devi and Bhagawan Ayyappa Swamy.

Three bricks in the Name of 3 Gurus of Sanatan Sanstha offered for the construction of the Temple

In July 2022, Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Gadgil was on a research visit to the UAE. On 27^th July 2022, She visited the BAPS Temple site and inspected its construction. She worshipped and offered 3 bricks for the construction of the Temple in the Name of 3 Gurus of Sanatan Sanstha (Sachchidananda Parabrahman [Dr] Athavale, Shrisatshakti [Mrs] Binda Singbal and Shrichitshakti [Mrs] Anjali Gadgil). Mr Ravindra Kadam (Office bearer of the Temple) made prepara-tions for the puja of the bricks and appraised Shrichitshakti (Mrs) Anjali Gadgil about the features of the Temple.

The BAPS Temple is the first traditional Hindu stone Temple in the Middle East; it is the largest Hindu Temple in West Asia !