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About Grand Prairie Temple (Vadtal)

In 1989, looking to build the first ever Swaminarayan Mandir in USA, the devotees found an old church in Grand Prairie, Texas and chose to renovate it. Its central location in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex made it a favorable site for the Mandir. The church also had facilities on the second floor to serve as accommodations for future visits by Acharayas, saints and devotees.

On July 4th 1991, the inauguration of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir took place and the murti of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj was installed in the center shrine by Acharaya Maharajshree Ajendraprasadji of Vadtal diocese. Next to Ghanshyam Maharaj were Shree LaxmiNarayan Dev, Shree NarNarayan Dev, Shree Radha Krishna Dev, Shree Ram-Laxman-Sitaji, Shree Vignavinayak Dev-Shankar Bhagwan-Shree Parvatiji, and Shree Kastabhanjan Dev.

The first saints to reside at the mandir were from Rajkot Gurukul, lead by Purani Bhaktiprakashdasji Swami (Purani Swami).

Purani Swami's devotion toward Lord Swaminarayan was unmatched. He worshipped Ghanshyam Maharaj of Dallas as though He was actually there (Pragat bhaav). In his mind, there was no difference between Swaminarayan Bhagwan residing in Akshardham, Shree Harikrishna Maharaj of Vadtal, and Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj of Dallas. Witnessing this unflinching love and devotion of Purani Swami toward Bhagwan Swaminarayan, the devotees of Dallas were truly ashtonished and came to mandir to listen to his katha-varta (sermons) daily.

Every now and then when Purani Swami would perform dandvat at Ghanshyam Maharaj, Swami claims that Kastabhanjan Dev would come out of His murti and sit on his shoulders. At times he also had visions of Kastabhanjan Dev at the service Ghanshyam Maharaj in the mandir shrine. On the night of Sharad Purnima Utsav in 1992, he had divine vision of Lord Swaminarayan. Purani Swami was asleep in his quarters after the utsav when all of a sudden he had severe chest pain. Purani Swami prayed to Lord Swaminarayan, he wished to leave his human body in India in the presence of holy saints and devotees while chanting the Lord’s holy name. He did not want to die in a foreign land. Bhagwan Swaminarayan heard his prayers, bright light filled the room and out came Ghanshyam Maharaj and placed His hand on the Purani Swami’s chest and miraculously the pain went away. Listening to these events from Purani Swami, embedded the fact in devotees that Swaminarayan Bhagwan was truly present in Dallas Mandir's Ghanshyam Maharaj and was accepting seva from saints and devotees daily.

In 1994, a group of saints from Kandari (near Vadodara) gurukul were invited to stay at the mandir. Sadguru Brahmaswarupdasji Swami, Sadguru Vignanswarupdasji Swami, Sadhuvallabhdasji Swami, and Parshad Ranchod Bhagat resided at the mandir from 1994 to 1996. Pujya Brahmaswarup Swami delivered daily sermons on Hari Lilamrut and was also a great poet, singer and writer. During the stay at our mandir, he wrote "Satsangji Jivan Sagarmanthan," which comprised of kathas related to Satsangi Jivan. Pujya Vignan Swami was excellent in tablas and had unique eye for decorating during utsav-samaiyas.

Since then years have gone by, several groups of saints have come and gone and today, two saints reside and provide holy services at the temple. Shastri Harivallabhdasji and Sadhu Harivallabhdasji Swami of Dholera deliver sermons every Sunday.