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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
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Lord
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! |
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Sheshshayi
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. |
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Surya
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.
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Samudra
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.
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Holy
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.
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Lake
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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