Shree Krishna Mandir officially opened the doors of its new Mandir on Monday 30th August 2010. This Mandir occupies a distinctive place in British Hindu history since it is the only traditional Panchayatan Mandir in the Western world with sacred areas dedicated to the Vedic Hindu Gods: Lord Ganesh, Lord Surya Narayan, Goddess Ambe Maa, Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu (Krishna).
Shree Krishna Mandir is unique in being one of the few purpose-built Hindu temples in the UK to have adopted the principles of Vedic architecture based on the Vastu Shastra and Shilpa Shastra texts. An underlying theme in Vastu Shastra is harmony. Within the Mandir design, construction and rituals, we have invoked and sought harmony with the Earth, the Heavens and the Divine forces, thus ensuring that the Mandir is a sanctuary for meditation, worship and community life. The building of this Mandir according to sacred principles has transformed the site into a sacred place of pilgrimage.
We humbly request all devotees and pilgrims to join us in maintaining the sanctity of this Holy place by adhering to the following regulations:
1. Modest and respectable attire should be worn, particularly in the presence of the deities. Shorts or skirts above knee length should be avoided.
2. Devotees should avoid entering the Mandir during the period of ‘Sutak’ following family bereavements and births. 3. Other restrictions of ritual impurity should be similarly followed.
4. No illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco should be brought or consumed. Smoking is therefore not permitted on site; including the car park as the whole site is considered holy.
5. Meat, fish and eggs are strictly prohibited. Sweets, cakes and other food containing eggs and animal products are also banned. This rule applies to both, food offered to the deities and that consumed at weddings and other private functions.
6. Silence should be maintained in the Mandir and mobile phones should be switched off or turned to silent.
7. The deities (Murtis) are living entities so photography inside the Mandir is strictly prohibited. Click here to find out why.
8. Before entering the Mandir, shoes should be removed.
9. Litter and chewing gum must be discarded in dustbins.
10. Money should be placed in allocated donation boxes and not placed in the shrine areas.
11. With the exception of Annakut celebrations during the Hindu New Year, all Bhog offered to the deities must be prepared by our Pujaris on site.
12. Contributions of flowers and Tulsi leaves are very welcome. However, dyed flowers should not be offered as they can contain animal-based products.
Shree Krishna Mandir was established by a network of Gujarati families, who in the 1960s and 1970s migrated from India and Africa to West Bromwich, Tipton, Wednesbury and surrounding industrial towns.
In 1968, a simple shrine of Shree Ambe Mataji became the focal point of worship during Navratri celebrations at Lodge Road Primary School, West Bromwich. These annual celebrations motivated the community to find a more permanent place of worship.
In 1971, our community purchased the former Ebenezer Church (built in 1839) on Old Meeting Street and converted it into a Mandir. The old school building next door became our community hall.
In 1973, the Birla family in India donated our Shree Shree Radha-Krishna murtis, along with another pair for Shree Sanatan Mandir in Leicester. These deities along with the murtis of Shree Ganeshji and Shree Hanumanji were installed on 22nd June 1974.
With few other Mandirs in the area, Shree Krishna Mandir became an important focal point for Hindus across the West Midlands to worship, celebrate festivals and mark rites of passage, such as weddings. Notably our Mandir and community hall were instrumental in establishing the Mandhata Hitwardhak Mandal (UK). In 1988, the Mandir was granted ‘Grade II listed building’ status.
The Mandir was opened and Pran Pratishta of all our deities took place on Monday 30th August 2010, the culmination of a grand 9 day festival.
In the traditional Panchayatan Puja, the Ishtadevta or chosen deity is placed in the centre and the other deities are honoured in the surrounding four corners. The West Bromwich Mandir is dedicated to Krishna who is an incarnation of Vishnu, therefore it is technically known as a ‘Vishnu Panchayatan Mandir’. There is no difference between Vishnu and his incarnations, so it is not uncommon to find deities such as a Lakshmi-Narayan, Narasimha, Sita-Ram, Radha-Krishna or Balaji occupying the centre of a Vishnu Panchayatan Mandir.
Today it is wrongly assumed that Panchayatan worship was started by the great saint and philosopher Shrimad Adi Shankaracharaya (born in either 5th or 8th century CE). Panchayatan worship is recommended in numerous Puranas and Agamas, hence its history is believed to pre-date Shankara.
Shankara is well known for reviving Hinduism, after a long period of Buddhist dominance. Amongst his many achievements, this great intellectual studied the vast and complex philosophical teachings of the Vedas (Upanishads) and summarised his interpretation through the ‘Advaita Vedanta’, which today remains one the most influential schools of Hindus philosophy. As he traveled across India, Shankara encountered and debated with many different religious groups. In Shankara’s Advaita, the Ultimate Reality is formless but can be worshiped through the different Gods and Goddesses mentioned in the Vedas and Puranas. Shankara therefore was very critical of the sectarian rivalries he came across. He himself composed hymns, revived Temples and established the worship of various deities. In particular Shankara approved of the worship of Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Surya, Ganesh as well as Kartikeya (popular in South India). The Panchayatan Puja therefore remains popular amongst families and monasteries who follow the teachings of Shankara, which is probably why he later got mistaken for creating this system.
Vishnu, or the ‘All pervasive one’, is the Preserver of the Universe and the One who maintains cosmic order. He is regarded as ‘Purushottam’ (the highest, or most complete manifestation of Godhead) and Narayan (the One in whom all beings reside). The Vedas describe Vishnu as residing in ‘Paramapadam’, the highest realm. This is a place beyond time and space and is the final destination of all beings that have broken free from the cycle of birth and death.
Vishnu is believed to take ‘Avatar’ (incarnate) on Earth during each cosmic cycle of the Universe. The Avatar destroys negative forces, protects the innocent, re-establishes the principles of Dharma and imparts spiritual teachings. Whilst Vishnu takes infinite Avatars, the Scriptures, such as the Bhagavad Purana and Vishnu Purana describe the ‘Lilas’ or pastimes of the 24 main Avatars of which Krishna, Rama and Narasimha are the most popular.
In our Mandir, Vishnu appears as Krishna, the incarnation that appeared approximately 5000 years ago in Mathura, North India. Scriptures such as the Bhagavad Purana and Mahabharata describe the detail of the pastimes of Krishna and his complex personality and roles. As a child, Krishna lives amongst the cow-herders of Gokul and Vrindavan. Here, He is remembered as the adorable child of Yashoda, a mischievous prankster and the Protector of cows. The Vrindavan Krishna is also the Supreme lover of the Gopis (milkmaids), who where enchanted by the melody of Krishna’s flute. Krishna later goes to Mathura to vanquish his evil Uncle Kansa and from there starts His adult pastimes which mostly centre around the Kingdom of Dwarka. Here, Krishna is remembered for His role as the skilled statesmen, ideal husband and Father, valiant warrior and mentor to his cousins, the Pandavas. Most significantly, Krishna acts as a Guru, or spiritual master, to his friend Arjuna, before the great Mahabharata war, where He reveals the ‘Bhagavad Gita’; the summary of the Vedic philosophy and science of yoga.
Significant Deity: Krishna
Other Deities:
Amba bai
Ganesha
Hanuman Avatar
Parvati
Radha
Shiva
Surya
Vishnu
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