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Attractions of garden Sahajanand Vun:
What separates Sahajanand Vun from other parks, is its cultural dimension. The only one of its kind in India, it has educational spots that help visitors ponder upon our priceless heritage.
• Lord Swaminarayan on Manki
• Sheshshayi Vishnu
• Surya Rath
• Samudra Manthan
• Holy Rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati
• Lake Narayan Saroval

Lord Swaminarayan on MankiLord Swaminarayan on His favorite mare, Manki:
A masterpiece carved from a single piece of white marble. Located on an island in Narayan Sarovar, it offers tribute to both art and devotion. The talent of the sculptor is evident, while the devotion of the mare is to be understood. Lord Swaminarayan traveled in Gujarat on horseback, visiting villages and homes of devotees. The mare Manki was more than just a horse. She was like a devotee, full of emotion and love. Once she refused to leave the courtyard of Dada Khachar, because the love in his eyes did not want the Lord to leave. In mere days after the Lord left this earth, Manki stopped eating and died in grief!
 
Sheshshayi VishnuSheshshayi Vishnu:
The reclining form of Lord Vishnu on the coils of the multi-headed serpent Shesha is truly captivating. The Lord remains in utmost balance with his consort, Laxmiji in service. The cultural spot reveals the role of the ideal devotee - to remain eternally in the service of God. It also emphasizes the universal truth that only with the spiritual energy of God, can the spinning and spiralling energy of creation be sustained in balance. Without it, nothing would remain in order.

Surya RathSurya Rath:
The Sun Chariot is drawn by seven stallions. Perhaps, our saints and sages knew that sunlight has seven colors. Indian Culture honors the Sun for it gives us life, light and energy. Such forms of nature worship are not primitive, but scientific. They generate feelings of gratitude, respect and adoration for air, water, plants - the whole environment we live in, and teaches us the eternal lesson: If We Preserve Nature, Nature Shall Preserve Us.

Samudra ManthanSamudra Manthan:
Churning of the ocean with demi-gods pulling on one side and demons on the other. The story in the Puran has a very relevant purport. The demi-gods and demons decided to cooperate and collectively discover Amrut - the immortal Nectar from the oceans. They used mount Meru as the whisk and serpent Shesh as the rope. A host of surprises emerged from the seas - Gold, Diamonds, Kalpatru (Wish-fulfilling Tree), Kamdhenu (Wish-fulfilling Cow) ...... But before the Amrut emerged, lethal poison churned out. Nobody knew what to do. Demi-gods and demons alike, prayed to Lord Shiva to come to their rescue. The Lord drank the cup of poison and suspended it in his throat, saving the world from destruction. Our world today, should seek help from God, when poisonous elements emerge from the ocean of our civilization which is daily churned for progress and discoveries.

Ganga, Yamuna and SaraswatiHoly Rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati:
Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati are the three most worshipful rivers of India. Along their banks Hindu culture and its vast spiritual civilization has flourished. While the origins of Ganga and Yamuna can be traced to the Himalayas, Saraswati has disappeared underground over the centuries. The fourth river, Narmada is the most pious and prominent river of Gujarat. A challenging tradition of circumambulating the river, which has many mandirs and holy places on its banks, is prevalent. The river has a special place in the Swaminarayan Sampraday, because all its spiritual leaders, right from Lord Swaminarayan to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, have blessed its waters by bathing in them.

Lake Narayan SarovarLake Narayan Sarovar:
It shines like sapphire. It is bordered by raw cut stones, colorful shrubs and meandering pathways. At the center, a mighty fountain rockets to a height of over 20 ft., spraying a cool drizzle. At certain angles, rainbows dance upon the blue waters which are alive with the quacks of white swans and ducks. A 35 ft. high hillock overlooks the area. Created out of a thousand tractor-loads of earth, 50 truck-loads of boulders, some weighing 13 tons, the hillock is rich with over 5,000 trees and shrubs and a hurtling waterfall 125 ft. long ! The lake and falls dominate the gardens with sculptures of the holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati and Narmada. However, the center of attraction remains the marble masterpiece of Lord Swaminarayan on Manki, beautifully situated on an island in the lake.
 

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