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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the third and current
3 spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Organization and is
4 believed to be the fifth spiritual successor to Bhagwan
5 Swaminarayan; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Born Shantilal Patel, on December 7, 1921 in the
7 village of Chansad in Gujarat, India, he was initiated into
8 monkhood as Sadhu Narayanswarupdas; at the age of 28, he was
9 appointed president (Pramukh) of BAPS by the then guru of the
10 organization, Shastriji Maharaj, and from that day,
11 affectionally called Pramukh Swami; after Shastriji Maharaj
12 passed away, he was succeeded by Yogiji Maharaj, who in turn
13 chose Pramukh Swami Maharaj to be his successor as the
14 spiritual leader of BAPS; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Under Pramukh Swami Maharaj's leadership, the
16 BAPS Swaminarayan Organization, and Hinduism in general, has
17 enjoyed much success in promoting its message in India and
18 abroad; this partly lies in the organization's approach, which
19 is characteristic of other monotheistic religions, namely
20 their centralization and huge organizational strength, and
21 their emphasis on community development, the practice of
22 dharma, and the understanding of spiritual knowledge based on
23 the teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, founder of the

 

 

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1 Swaminarayan movement within Hinduism in the late 18th century;
2 many mainstream Hindus, primarily from the state of Gujarat in
3 India, find themselves attracted to this and start identifying
4 with BAPS; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Away from India, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has
6 embarked on 15 world tours, covering 43 countries in 5
7 continents over the last 25 years; over 600 Temples and 9,000
8 spiritual centers have been established across Africa,
9 America, Australia, Europe, the Far East and the Middle East;
10 and
 
11     WHEREAS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj is credited as being the
12 inspirer of the Swaminarayan Akshardham cultural complexes in
13 New Delhi and Gujarat, and numerous traditionally built stone
14 temples across the world, such as the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
15 Mandirs in London, Chicago, Houston, and Nairobi; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has contributed to projects
17 in social (famine relief, cattle camps, earthquake relief
18 work), educational (literacy campaigns, youth hostels),
19 ecological (tree planting, well recharging, recycling
20 projects), medical (diagnostic camps, blood donation), moral
21 (anti-addiction drives), cultural (child and youth
22 development), and spiritual areas; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, In July 2000, Pramukh Swami Maharaj was awarded a
2 place in the Guinness World Records as one of the 20 most
3 influential people in the world; also in July 2000, BAPS Shri
4 Swaminarayan Mandir London, a temple inspired by Pramukh Swami
5 Maharaj, was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the
6 largest Hindu temple outside India; in November 2000, BAPS Shri
7 Swaminarayan Mandir, London was awarded a Guinness World Record
8 for the "Most Different Dishes on Display", where 1,247
9 different vegetarian dishes were displayed; the dishes were on
10 display as part of the Annakut festival, celebrating the Hindu
11 New Year; and
 
12     WHEREAS, The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Chicago), the
13 largest traditional Hindu mandir constructed of stone and
14 marble in the United States, is located on Illinois Route 59 in
15 Bartlett; therefore, be it
 
16     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
17 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
18 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the portion of Illinois Route 59
19 between Illinois Route 64 and Army Trail Road in Bartlett be
20 designated the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Road; and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
22 is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
23 State rules, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the

 

 

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1 name; and be it further
 
2     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be delivered to
3 the Illinois Secretary of Transportation and to officials of
4 the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Chicago), in Bartlett.