Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Neasden Temple Consecrates New 42-Foot Nilkanth Varni Tapomurti
On Sunday (20), a Hindu temple in London held a special ceremony.
Mahant Swami Maharaj consecrated a 42-foot sacred image called Nilkanth Varni Maharaj.
Thousands of devotees came to watch and participate.
The ceremony included singing, prayers, speeches and traditional Vedic rituals.
Water from the River Thames was used during the ceremony.
This connected the event with an earlier BAPS ceremony in 1970.
The Tapomurti represents the youthful form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
It will give visitors a place to pray, reflect and seek darshan.
Mahant Swami Maharaj consecrated the new 42-foot Tapomurti Nilkanth Varni Maharaj at Neasden Temple on Sunday (20).
Thousands of devotees attended the ceremony at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.
The ceremony included bhajans, discourses, Vedic rituals, offerings, the first arti and devotional dances.
Water from the River Thames near Putney Bridge was used, linking the event to a 1970 ceremony led by Yogiji Maharaj.
Mahant Swami Maharaj said the Tapomurti would offer peace and spiritual benefit to those who came for darshan.
- Who
- Mahant Swami Maharaj, senior swamis and thousands of BAPS devotees participated.
- What
- A new 42-foot Tapomurti Nilkanth Varni Maharaj was consecrated.
- When
- Sunday (20); the articles do not specify the month or year.
- Where
- BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, also known as Neasden Temple.
- Why
- The ceremony established a new spiritual feature for devotees and visitors and linked the temple’s present with the history of the BAPS community in Britain.
- Tapomurti height
- 42 feet
- Sacred image
- Nilkanth Varni Maharaj
- Ceremony leader
- Mahant Swami Maharaj
- Attendance
- Thousands of devotees
- Historic connection
- Water was collected from the River Thames near Putney Bridge
- Earlier ceremony
- Yogiji Maharaj bathed Shri Harikrishna Maharaj in the Thames on June 28, 1970
- Ceremony elements
- Bhajans, discourses, Vedic rituals, arti, pradakshina and devotional dances