<h2></h2>
<h2><img decoding="async" class="lazyload alignnone size-medium wp-image-6081" src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-469x600.gif" data-orig-src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-469x600.gif" alt="" width="469" height="600" srcset="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27469%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20469%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27469%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E" data-srcset="https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-200x256.gif 200w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-400x511.gif 400w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-469x600.gif 469w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-600x767.gif 600w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-768x982.gif 768w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-800x1023.gif 800w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-801x1024.gif 801w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-1200x1534.gif 1200w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-1201x1536.gif 1201w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo.gif 1408w" data-sizes="auto" data-orig-sizes="(max-width: 469px) 100vw, 469px" />BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha<img decoding="async" class="lazyload alignnone size-medium wp-image-6081" src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-469x600.gif" data-orig-src="/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-469x600.gif" alt="" width="469" height="600" srcset="data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27469%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%20469%20600%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%27469%27%20height%3D%27600%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E" data-srcset="https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-200x256.gif 200w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-400x511.gif 400w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-469x600.gif 469w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-600x767.gif 600w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-768x982.gif 768w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-800x1023.gif 800w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-801x1024.gif 801w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-1200x1534.gif 1200w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo-1201x1536.gif 1201w, https://media.baps.dev/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17141138/1.BAPS_logo.gif 1408w" data-sizes="auto" data-orig-sizes="(max-width: 469px) 100vw, 469px" /></h2>
<h3><b>I. Origins and Identity</b></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p class="p1">The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a worldwide Hindu fellowship rooted in the teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781–1830).</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="p1">Established in 1907 by Shastriji Maharaj, BAPS emphasizes the spiritual principle of Akshar-Purushottam, affirming the role of the living guru as a guide to God.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="p1">Today, BAPS is recognized as both a religious organization and a socio-spiritual movement that nurtures personal transformation through faith, devotion, and service.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3><b>II. Growth and Global Presence</b></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p class="p1">From its humble beginnings in Gujarat, India, BAPS has expanded to over 100 countries with thousands of centers and more than a million members worldwide.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="p1">The organization has built mandirs (Hindu temples) across the globe, including renowned cultural landmarks such as Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi and Robbinsville, New Jersey.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="p1">These mandirs serve as hubs of spiritual practice, community gatherings, cultural preservation, and educational outreach.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<hr />
<h3><b>III. Mission and Impact</b></h3>
<ul>
<li>
<p class="p1">BAPS strives to foster harmony between spirituality and service, encouraging individuals to live with integrity, compassion, and faith.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="p1">Its global humanitarian initiatives include disaster relief, healthcare, education, environmental care, and community development.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="p1">Guided by its spiritual leaders—Shastriji Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and presently Mahant Swami Maharaj—BAPS continues to inspire millions to live lives of purpose, service, and devotion.</p>
</li>
</ul>


Announcement from BAPS North America

Mahant Swami Maharaj performing mala (rosary) during his morning puja.

Puja Darshan

Mahant Swami Maharaj performs arti before beginning his morning puja.

Youths perform a skit in front of Mahant Swami Maharaj.

Cultural Program: Mahima – Yuvak-Yuvati Din – Part 1

Youths present Mahant Swami Maharaj with a blanket in Toronto, Canada, 2017.

Cultural Program: Mahima – Yuvak-Yuvati Din – Part 2

'Symphony,' a showcase of traditional Indian music, at Swaminarayan Akshardham.

Cultural Program: Celebrating Cultural Harmony

Murti Pratishtha Ceremony – Session 1

Celebrating Sanatan Dharma

Celebrating Indian Culture

Diksha Ceremony

Celebrating Values & Non-Violence

Celebrating Women’s Contributions

Murti Pratishtha Ceremony – Session 2

Celebrating Interfaith Harmony

Celebrating Community

Celebrating “In The Joy Of Others” (Pramukh Swami Maharaj Day)

Celebrating Spiritual Legacy (Mahant Swami Maharaj’s Birthday Celebrations)

Akshardham Murti Pratishtha Ceremony (Finale)

Grand Dedication Ceremony

Mahant Swami Maharaj prays to a murti of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj during his morning puja.

Viday Sabha

Foundations

East Meets West

Harnessing the Wind

<p>November 30 &amp; December 1, 2024</p>


A Gift for Generations

2014 & Beyond

Impossible & Inconceivable

Across North America, devotees joyously celebrated the 92nd birthday of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj.

Sunday September 14, 2025

HH Mahant Swami Maharaj's 92nd Birthday Celebration

Saturday September 13, 2025

HH Mahant Swami Maharaj's 92nd Birthday Celebrations

Janmashtami, marking the birth of Bhagwan Shri Krishna, was celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm.

Sunday August 24, 2025

Janmashtami Celebration

Saturday August 23, 2025

Yuvaks and yuvatis across North America participated in a 4-day Adhiveshan and Summer Shibir themed “Satsang: The Journey to Rajipo”.

Thursday August 21, 2025

Yuvak-Yuvati Adhiveshan & Summer Shibir 2025

On Sunday, August 17, 2025, devotees and well-wishers gathered at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto for a memorable occasion. The 326th Satsang Diksha Homatmak Path Yagna was held in the divine presence of Sadguru Pujya Bhaktipriyadas Swami (Kothari Swami).

Sunday August 17, 2025

Satsang Diksha Homatmak Path Yagna

<div>
<div>This is a new series called Tales of Wisdom. Storytelling is a means to impart knowledge and wisdom. Complicated and difficult-to-understand concepts can be distilled by very simple analogies. Yogiji Maharaj, one of the Gurus of BAPS, was very fond of using stories.</div>
</div>


A view of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, UK on a picturesque day.

Audio

Mandirs – Inspiring Personal and Community Growth

Personal Essays

<div>
<div>This first session discusses the context and history of the Shrimad Bhagvad Gita. With chapter 1, we discuss Arjun’s reasons for despair and his arguments for not wanting to fight the war.</div>
</div>


Pujya Yogananddas Swami, speaker of the BAPS Better Living Shrimad Bhagvat Gita Lecture series.

Video

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Lecture Series

Spiritual Talks

<p>During our most difficult times, where do we find perseverance? Meet Niki and Manan, a couple from New Jersey who relied on each other, their family, their friends, their spirituality, their guru and God during an unimaginably stressful time. Here is their story.</p>


Manan and Niki Patel's family play together in their living room.

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Inspiring Stories

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Mandirs – Inspiring Personal and Community Growth

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