Temple Darshan
Performing the darshan of the Supreme Lord Swaminarayan refers to seeing and having a direct spiritual encounter with Him. Devotees experience a profound connection with Lord Swaminarayan through darshan and receive His blessings.
Visit a Swaminarayan temple or a place of worship where an authorized murti of Lord Swaminarayan resides.
Ensure you are clean and dressed modestly before entering the temple. Wear appropriate attire, such as traditional Indian clothing or modest Western clothing.
Approach darshan with sincerity, reverence, and a pure heart, seeking a divine connection with Lord Swaminarayan. As you enter the temple, maintain a respectful and reverential attitude. Remove your shoes before entering the sanctum where the murti of Lord Swaminarayan resides.
Before proceeding for darshan, you can offer prayers or recite the maha-mantra of Lord Swaminarayan. The Shikshapatri recommends bringing offerings of flowers, fruits, sweets, or other items to present to the deity as a sign of devotion. These offerings can be placed in a designated area or given to a Sadhu.
Approach the murti of Lord Swaminarayan with reverence and devotion. It is customary to prostrate before the Lord’s murti as a sign of devotion and respect. You can spend a few moments silently or verbally offering prayers, expressing gratitude, or seeking blessings from the Lord. It is important to remember that the murti of the supreme Lord Swaminarayan is an authorized depiction of his incarnated form. Because of this, the Supreme Lord offers us a direct connection to Him through it. When gazing at His Murti, one must realize that they are establishing a direct connection with the Supreme Lord through his authorized, incarnated form. Our eyes cannot view his divine form directly, but since He remains present within his established Murti, we can obtain a direct spiritual connection with him. Therefore, we must realize that we are looking directly upon the Supreme Lord Swaminarayan Himself while looking at His murti.
After darshan, you may have the opportunity to seek blessings from the presiding Sadhu. They may apply a red kumkum chandlo (round mark) on your forehead or offer you blessings, sacred water, prasadam, or a flower.
Once you have completed the darshan, sit, meditate, and reflect on the experience or gracefully exit the temple and maintain a peaceful state of mind.