A Spiritual Sanctuary

BY AIDEN JEWELLE GONZALES

Having grown up in a house of faith, the importance of religion and spirituality in giving people an anchor through tough times, and connecting them to their roots, was instilled in from a young age. For me, churches were sanctuaries not just because you felt the presence of the divine there, but because of the community around you, bound together with the same creed and values – and I knew this was the same for many of my friends, whether they went to the mandirs, the wats, the gurudwaras, the mosques, or any other place of worship. So when I entered the newly-inaugurated Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bangkok, I immediately thought of the hundreds if not thousands of people it would prove to be a haven for, both spiritually and communally.

“The Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bangkok promotes all Hindu deities and Lord Buddha, and we worship and respect all our deities,” Surendra Patel, the spearhead who helped facilitate the building and opening of the temple in Bangkok tells me as he welcomes me to the mandir and asks me if I’d like to carry out Abhishek on Nilkant Varni and Lord Buddha, an opportunity that the temple provides to visitors every day. As he introduces me to the large number of deities housed in the temple, from Lord Ram, to Sita,Hanuman,Radha-Krishna,Swami Narayan,Shiv Parvati, and Lord Buddha, I note that no stone has been left unturned in creating this place of worship for the community – literally, with handcrafted materials shipped from India and carvings and gold leaf adding a sense of grandeur to the space. 

The Founder and CEO of New Suren Company Ltd., Surendra tells me that he’d spent the last 40 years with his company, which is the preferred supplier for customers looking for a wide variety of rubies, blue sapphires, and fancy-coloured sapphires; and also provides custom jewellery designs with their full stock of stones. However, on top of the family legacy at which his children have now joined him, he also had a dream of bringing a mandir to Bangkok that was part of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha community. The BAPS Global Network, I learn, is currently comprised of more than 1,300 mandirs and 5,025 “centres of peace and reformation,” including beautiful and majestic complexes in Delhi, Gujarat, London, Sydney, New York, and more.

“In 2005, when I had taken Thai craftsmen to help build the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Akshardham in Delhi for over six months, I realised that so many people from different parts of the world had come together as a community to help create such a beautiful temple,” Surendra recalls. “Since then, millions have visited temples from around the world, creating a community. We wished to do the same with the BAPS mandir in Bangkok.”

He spoke to Masala further about finally achieving his dream of establishing the Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bangkok, and how he hopes to foster faith, service, and harmony within the community and in the world as a whole.

What inspired you to establish the Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bangkok, and how do you envision its role and impact within the Thai-Indian community?

Our Guruji, His Holiness Pramukh Swamiji Maharaj, first visited Bangkok in 1984 to nurture the spiritual and cultural values of a few families who had settled here for business. However, since then, many more families of Indian origin had made Bangkok their home. It felt natural to create a place of worship where these families and the broader community could come together in a spirit of faith, service, and global harmony. This vision led to the conception of our mandir in Bangkok more than 40 years ago, following numerous visits by our spiritual leaders and the holy monks of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Continuing this legacy, the current spiritual leader of BAPS, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, has inspired the creation of this mandir for the betterment of individuals, families, and communities, and to educate the next generation about our rich culture, religion, and heritage.

Tell us about how you’ve raised and put together the funds for the Mandir.

The growth and success of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha are rooted in the dedication and devotion of its followers, who consistently contribute funds to the organisation. These contributions support a wide range of initiatives, including relief
efforts, as well as educational, medical,  ecological, environmental, cultural, spiritual, and social causes. The mandir in Bangkok has been primarily funded by devotees and well-wishers who have generously given their time, money, and volunteer services over the past few years. 

Can you share some historical background on why you chose this location for the Mandir?

Most of our devotees live in this area, so it made sense to establish a mandir within easy reach for both the young and old. Located just a short walk for many of our followers, this mandir allows them to visit every morning and evening, enjoying the peace and purity it offers while participating in the rituals. Our goal was to ensure the temple is easily accessible, enabling families to come together to pray frequently and gain wisdom.

A big discussion among religious communities worldwide is the growing disinterest of the younger generation in religion as an institution. Why do you think that is, and does the Mandir plan to put in place any initiatives to engage and inspire the youth to connect with their cultural and religious roots?

We believe, as do many similar organisations, that the youth are the future of our society. If young people are raised in an environment rich in spiritual, moral, and cultural values, the future will be bright. Our spiritual leader, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, has carefully nurtured the foundations of our youth, guiding them to become well-rounded, morally upright, spiritually motivated, and law- abiding citizens.

This new mandir will play a key role in fostering the growth of young men and women who will not only contribute to the wellbeing of society, but also inspire others to become responsible and virtuous individuals. We will offer special programs, leadership seminars, conferences, and weekly group discussions on topics such as, “In the Joy of Others,” “Towards Better Living,” “Drug-Free Society,” “Beautiful Borderless World,” “Inter-Faith Harmony,” and “Health Awareness.” Local youth will be encouraged to participate in these events, where experienced monks and expert speakers will share their knowledge and wisdom. We will also hold weekly Bal & Balika Sabha to educate the younger children about our cultural heritage.

The Mandir is described as a place that “sustains the higher values of culture.” Could you elaborate on the specific values you hope to impart to visitors, and how these are incorporated into daily activities?

By “sustaining the higher values of culture” we mean human values of tolerance, harmony, integrity, family unity, global peace, humility, faith and service to humanity. We will hold regular assemblies and seminars for all age groups to help inculcate these values in everyday lives through daily prayers, spiritual rituals, weekly assemblies, religious festivals and annual programs.

In what ways does the Mandir teach respect and promote harmony among its visitors and within the Thai-Indian community, which has diverse needs and preferences, and encompasses a range of religions and cultures?

The Mandir will aim to promote respect and harmony among its visitors and within the Thai-Indian community through inter-faith and inter-religious dialogue. Our ancient scriptures teach us that “the world is one family.” The Mandir will, therefore, promote a sense of global peace through teachings, exhibitions, rituals, ceremonies, festivities and events for all groups.

In particular, festivals such as Shivratri, Ramnavmi and Janmasthami will highlight the significance and teachings of Shiv Bhagwan,Ram Bhagwan and Krishna Bhagwan. Moreover, Diwali, the festival of lights, will welcome everyone to learn about the universal Hindu values of truth, harmony, and goodness. Children will learn about India’s traditions and timeless spiritual messages through exciting and educational events such as children’s camps, participation in dramatic productions, folk dances, cultural classes and music classes.

What are your long-term goals for the Mandir, and how do you plan to evolve over the years to meet the changing needs and preferences of the community?

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha aims to serve communities, families and individuals by caring for their spiritual, cultural, social, physical, emotional and educational needs. It also inspires a pure and peaceful way of life. Furthermore, the Mandir will aim to sustain the universal values of Hindu culture and foster faith and devotion in God. Our aim is to nurture future generations.

However, we understand the diverse needs and preferences of all,and therefore, we will strive to address the present situation, while adhering to timeless principles of Hindu cultural and spiritual teachings. Our preachers can speak in English but in the future, they will also address guests in Thai for the benefit of the local community. That way, we will bridge the gap between communities and spread a message of love, peace, service, and universal harmony.

Can you share a personal learning that highlights the significance of having a mandir that brings together the community?

The Mandir is a place of love, peace and harmony. It teaches us that “the whole world is one nest.” A vivid feeling of universal brotherhood is reflected in that teaching – we are offspring of the same nest. We may belong to different countries and cultures, races and religions; yet we all dwell in the same house. We must learn to live happily together. The ancient Hindu texts teach, “Let us share and enjoy together.”

I often ask people:
What nationality is the sun? Russian? Indian? American?
What colour is the air? Brown? White? Black?
What is the religion of water? Christianity? Islam? Hinduism?
What class does the Earth belong to? Middle class? Working class?
Upper class?

Which race does space belong to? The human race?

All the five elements of nature are universal and owned by nobody, enjoyed by everybody. Nature is God’s gift to humanity. If there’s something that I’d hope that the community can learn, it’s to share and enjoy nature together. Let us preserve and protect it together. We may wear different skins, we may speak different tongues, we may think in different shades, yet we are linked and locked together. We are born on the same planet, standing on the same earth, covered by the same skies, gazing at the same stars, and living for the same purpose; we are one family. Our earth is our home.

How can individuals from the Thai-Indian community support or get involved with the Mandir’s activities and initiatives?

People of all faiths are welcome at the mandir, but the local Thai-Indian community can specifically support it by engaging in daily rituals, prayers, and ceremonies, as well as participating in religious festivals. They can also involve their children and youth in various activities, assist with social causes during times of need, and encourage others to join in community events like our health fairs, charity ‘walkathons,’ family gatherings, and volunteer efforts. We would like to invite you all to come and see our temple for yourselves.