INDIAN home minister Amit Shah on Monday (1) visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sarangpur in the western state of Gujarat along with his family for darshan (holy sighting). Shah was given a warm welcome at the temple with Gnaneshwar Swami and Brahmavihari Swami garlanding him on behalf of Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current guru and president of BAPS.
The home minister went to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s Smruti Mandir and performed five pradakshinas to pay respects and praised the divinity and universal work of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the former guru and president of BAPS.
Shah also did darshan of the murtis (idols) at BAPS Mandir built by Shastriji Maharaj, the founder of BAPS, more than a hundred years ago.
Shah’s wife Sonalben Shah was also given a warm welcome. The devotees garlanded her and she paid respects at Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s Smruti Mandir.
The home minister met sadhus in the temple complex and they prayed for his health and well-being and achievements that would benefit the people of India. He also spoke to Brahmavihari Swami the need for values and spirituality to usher in harmony and social change. The Shah family also took mahaprasad and departed after spending more than an hour at the temple in Sarangpur.
Shah later tweeted about his visit in Gujarati and Hindi.
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