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SPECIAL FEATURE DECEMBER 01, 2023 | The Indian Eye 40 DECEMBER 17, 2021 | The Indian Eye 5
The Indian Eye
DECEMBER 17, 2021 |
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People of Akshardham: Stories Beyond the Stones if stones could sing...

Over 12,500 people volunteered in the creation of BAPS two years, or even more than a decade—to make Akshardham highlighting the devotion and sacrifice of the volunteers excerpted This title weaves together the story of the making of Akshardham and its integration into by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Following are a few stories highlighting the devotion and
Swaminarayan Akshardham. Students, parents, professionals, and a reality. The volunteers came to help build the mandir but from the book, People of Akshardham: Stories Beyond the Stones. the social and spiritual landscape of a local community. This Akshardham, a modern-day sacrifice of the volunteers excerpted from the book, if stones could sing... By Yogi Trivedi.
more, dedicated their time and effort—for two weeks, six months, discovered transformative experiences. Following are a few stories You can order a copy of this exceptional book at us.baps.store. architectural marvel is a standing tribute to the Hindu practices and beliefs as exemplified

Full Stomachs, Fuller Hearts A Family That Serves Together...

Savita Patel and her husband, Soma chai for the volunteers full-time. Vinod Patel left his first job to serve had brought from home. He jumped
Patel, had previously purchased a Savita’s chai would warm the hearts in the building of mandirs, most nota- around from quarry to quarry and
beachfront townhome in Hawaii. of hundreds of volunteers over the next bly the Akshardham Mahamandirs in even traveled as far as Turkey and
Retirement was going to be great in this decade. She and her husband arrive at Gandhinagar and New Delhi and the Bulgaria by car to secure marble and
picturesque setting. When they heard the mandir at 6:45 am and stay until renowned BAPS Shri Swaminarayan limestone. He spent about six-and-a-
that construction of the Akshardham 3:30 pm. Despite undergoing two knee Mandir in London. After years of seva half years on that island, away from
complex was about to begin, they replacement surgeries in 2016 and in India, Vinod was called to serve in his family and away from the comforts
changed their lifelong plans and 2019 and bearing the loss of one of her America. of home, until all the required stone
moved to Central Jersey. There is a children over the last decade, Savita Over time, Vinod was requested had been excavated and shipped
Gujarati colloquialism, “Worship the continuesto brew her trademark chai to settle on the small Greek island to India for testing and carving.
stomach first. One can then effortlessly and serve daily in the kitchen. Many of of Thasos. Amidst the backdrop of a Meanwhile, Taru Patel, her wife, sin-
“I’m volunteering at Akshardham, amassing spiritual “One of the things we gain from serving worship the Divine and its creation.ˮ the volunteers who go back home after foreign land with a language that he gle-handedly managed the household,
did not speak, he toiled at those quarry
worked part-time, and raised their chil-
Savita knew how food motivated
serving at Akshardham, often regard
wealth in the form of contentment and inner peace is spurts of inspiration from those around us and united people. And that is the now 80-year old, loving figure sites from dawn to dusk, after which dren. A senior swami once remarked,
to pass on to my daughter.” that help us grow.” why, in 2012, Savita undertook the as their “motherˮ in Robbinsville. he returned to his room and often “The only people who deserve more
task of making food and spiced prepared a simple porridge with rice credit than Vinod are his wife and
Akash Patel, a 39-year-old from provide purpose and meaning. Inspired Yesha Shah, 27, of Skokie, Illinois, and develop patience. Reflecting on the and lentils in the pressure cooker he kids. Truly a family effort to serve.ˮ
Charlotte, North Carolina, reflects on his by the spiritual atmosphere, he and his volunteered for three days in 2019 but impact of her time volunteering, Yesha
upbringing and the importance of leaving wife, Vandana, made a life-changing when she returned to pharmacy school, she said, “I used to get very easily hurt if
a meaningful legacy for his daughter. decision to move to NJ and volunteer at missed the fulfillment she had felt while someone pointed out my mistakes. Over
Despite facing financial challenges, Akash Akshardham while raising their daughter, volunteering. She took a 1.5-year leave the last year, I stopped dwelling so much Voice of the Volunteers
worked his way up the corporate ladder, Prapti. Akash’s journey highlights the to continue volunteering to be part of this on the external factors I can’t change and
eventually joining Ernst & Young. He importance of imparting moral and spiritual once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She served chose to focus on things that I can change
decided to volunteer at Akshardham, a values to the next generation, valuing inner as co-lead of the rebar team. Inspired by the in myself. This has helped me feel more
spiritual place, during a two-week vacation. peace, and leaving a lasting legacy beyond virtues of her teammates, Yesha strove to at peace with myself.”
This experience led him to realize that material wealth. serve humbly, accept criticism positively,
material wealth alone wasn’t enough to

“I was here for about 6 weeks. I was part of “I know that this mandir is going to stand “Volunteering here was a no brainer. An “We’ve all come together for such a
the low voltage team. We helped lay all the for thousands of years and I wanted to be a opportunity like this has never been before beautiful cause, and so many people have
pipes down for all the wiring.” part of a legacy that was greater than me.” and will never come after this.” sacrificed so much. I have so much more
- Jay, New York, NY - Nidhi, San Jose, CA - Manav, Tampa, FL respect for this generation.”
Orthopedic Surgeon Cognitive Science Process Engineer - Nilam, Westborough, MA
Scientist

“The best way to improve myself, “Every stone we place, every stone we dip,
I think, is by seeing the good in all.” is an offering to God.”

Harmiksha Patel, a 24-year-old and grouting stones. Harmiksha worked As a 10-year-old, Nilkanth Rao, 40, work as a manager at Accenture Federal
registered nurse from Brampton, Ontario, with a sense of reverence that expanded accompanied his father, Ramesh, to Service. He weatherproofed, cut, clamped,
lost her father, Snehal, to cancer in 2020. over time. “Every stone, every part of this Kandla, Gujarat, where artisans carved placed, and repaired stones throughout
When presented with an opportunity to mandir is touched by God, and so are the stones for the BAPS mandir in London. the Akshardham campus. Nilkanthʼs “I‘m a resident at Rutgers NJMS. I think “I learned unity as well as patience here. “The core principle of volunteering here is “It’s really inspiring seeing all these
serve in the Akshardham construction people building it: these volunteers have Pramukh Swami Maharaj was visiting, volunteering has taught him to imbue all being here, I’ve learned how to be a better I work as an ER nurse. I am used to fast- to give back to the community. Akshardham people’s stories come together into one big
project, she initially hesitated but ultimately done so much for my guru, and we are all and he addressed the artisans, which his actions with spirituality. “With the leader, how to be a better team player, and paced environments, and something gives back without any prejudice” story, which is Akshardham here.”
chose to volunteer, as she felt that her connected because of him. Volunteering in Nilkanth remembers vividly. Inspired right sentiments, there is no real difference give my best effort.” that I live by is always being on the go.” - Tapas, Hartford, CT - Jina, Atlanta, GA
dad would be so happy if he knew I was Akshardham has lessened the gap between by his father’s years of volunteering in between physical service on site and - Prit, Flushing, NY - Devanshi, Gainesville, FL Corporate Quality Assurance Student (Psychology)
volunteering at Akshardham. For nearly a me and the people around me.” She wishes mandir construction, Nilkanth began devotion we offer in the mandir. Every Medical Resident ER Nurse
year, she served in the Akshardham’s inner to bring this attitude home and learn to serving on the Akshardham site in 2012 stone we place, every stone we dip, is an
sanctum, cleaning, treating, repairing, recognize the beauty in all people. and joined full-time in January 2022, offering to God.”
taking a yearʼs sabbatical from his See many more volunteer stories @akshardhamusa

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