Shree Swaminarayan Temple Detroit, Michigan (ISSO)

Temple Inauguration
This is the sixth temple of the Shri Swaminarayan Sampraday (I.S.S.O) inaugurated in the USA. The temple has great significance because it was the last temple in the USA that His Holiness 1008 Shri Tejendraprasadji Maharaj performed Praan Pratishta (Installation Ceremony). 

Idols worshipped

• Lord Harikrishna Maharaj (Principal God of this temple)
• Lord Radhakrishna Dev (center seat)
• Lord Narnarayan Dev (On the left hand side of Harikrishna Maharaj)
• Lord Laxminarayan Dev (On the Right hand side of Radha Krishna Dev)
• Deity of Hanuman Dev
• Deity of Suryanarayan Dev
• Deity of Ganapati Dev
• Deity of Shankar Parvati
• Deity of Tirupati Balaaji

Date of Installation
Solar Calendar: September 19, 2004
Lunar Calendar: V.S. 2060 

Brief History
Satsang in Detroit began after His Holiness 1008 Shri Tejendraprasadji Maharaj’s inaugural visit to the USA in 1978. After many years of effort, the satsangi’s of Detroit established a magnificent home for Shri Harikrishna Maharaj. 

Respected Yogendra Bhatt, Raymond Brady Williams, and chief representatives from the City of Pontiac arrived for the installation ceremony. Yogendra Bhatt spoke of the greatness of the Swaminarayan Sampraday and the values it has brought the youth today, while the renowned Raymond Brady Williams spoke on the legendary history of the Original Swaminarayan Sampraday ordained by Almighty Lord Swaminarayan. Sir Raymond Williams also spoke about the experiences he’s had with His Holiness Tejendraprasadji’s Maharaj and the respected saints of the diocese. 

The holy procession had set the transcendental mood for the installation ceremony. As the procession got closer to the divine temple, the chanting of Lord Swaminarayan’s name became louder and louder. As the doors to the temple opened the devotees began dancing to Almighty Lord Swaminarayan’s name. As the devotees entered the temple they continued dancing and chanting the holy name. Several devotees exclaimed to one another, “I can feel the presence of Swaminarayan Bhagwan in this temple.” 

Throughout the installation ceremony tears had come to the eyes of many devotees in the temple. HH Tejendraprasadji Maharaj felt the awakening of Almighty Lord Swaminarayan as he performed the installation. With the culmination of the aarti after the installation ceremony, everyone knew the grandeur of what had just happened. Almighty Lord Swaminarayan had come to Detroit to fulfill all His devotees’ wishes. 

The Detroit Temple was a gift in disguise from HH Tejendraprasadji Maharaj. Throughout His final journey in the USA, HH Tejendraprasadji Maharaj had not spoken that this would be His final Praan Pratishta before initiating the next guru of the sampraday. HH Tejendraprasadji Maharaj said in His final words, “I can see that Almighty Lord Swaminarayan in this temple looks playful, charming, and mischievous. He is the personification of Ghanshyam Maharaj (Name given to Lord Swaminarayan in his childhood) during His childhood.” With that HH Tejendraprasadji Maharaj left the holy assembly with the divine gift of Almighty Lord Swaminarayan’s presence.