His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, a prominent global Hindu spiritual leader, arrives in the UK on May 2 for a five-week visit to inspire faith, service and global harmony.
His Holiness is the present guru of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), an international community-based Hindu fellowship affiliated to the United Nations. In the UK, it is headquartered at the iconic Neasden Temple in north-west London and respected as one of the largest and most active Hindu communities in the country.
Neasden Temple said the visit will bring renewed hope, energy and enthusiasm across communities in the UK who, in recent times, have experienced uncertainty and adversity through the Covid-19 pandemic, cost-of-living difficulties, and various other challenges.
Various programmes and community events have been organised in his presence. These will be focussed on strengthening faith, mobilising community service and inspiring harmony among people of all generations and backgrounds.
Sanjay Kara, a trustee at the temple, explains: “News of Mahant Swami Maharaj’s visit has lifted the community. So many people have experienced challenging times of late; his spiritual wisdom and presence here in the UK will bring much optimism, joy and stability.”
Mahant Swami Maharaj visited the UK for the first time as the leader of BAPS in 2017, having previously visited the UK and Europe on several occasions since 1970.
This visit will also coincide with the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. This momentous event and associated celebratory and community events will also be marked in His Holiness’s presence, the temple noted.
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Mahant Swami Maharaj inspires millions across the world through his virtues of devotion, humility and service. He was born in Jabalpur, India, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. In 1961, he was ordained as Keshavjivandas Swami and appointed as the “Mahant” (head) of the BAPS temple in Mumbai, and thus affectionately became known as ‘Mahant Swami’.
In 1970, he accompanied His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj to the UK, and has continued to visit the UK and Europe on numerous occasions, imparting his spiritual wisdom. Before his passing in 2016, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj – the creator of Neasden Temple – had chosen Mahant Swami Maharaj to succeed him as the guru and head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, an international community-based Hindu fellowship affiliated to the United Nations.
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In 2017, Mahant Swami Maharaj visited the UK for the first time as the religious leader of BAPS. He carries forth Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s legacy by serving for the greater good of humanity, such as mobilising volunteers to care for and connect with communities across the world during the Covid-19 pandemic and supporting the humanitarian relief work near the Polish border during the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
*Info: Mahant Swami Maharaj; BAPS; Neasden Temple
