The location of Akshar Ordi is situated in the western part of Dholera Mandir. Whenever Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan visited Dholera, He would sit at this place and hold sabhas with the santo and haribhakto.
Hato orado uttam tyay, muki murtiyo lavi te may;
Murti jova avya Muninath, hete feravyo upar hath.
Raji the bolya Vishvavihari, murti chhe ghani chamatkari;
Vadshe eno praudh pratap, kidhe darshan talshe pap.
Harililamrut 8.50.6-7
Prior to the pratishtha of Dholera Mandir, the murtis of Shree Madanmohanji Maharaj along with Radhikaji, which were brought from Gadhpur, were kept in a room (ordo) at this location. Shreeji Maharaj Himself arrived to see the murtis and, while stroking the idols with His hand, said: “The idols are very beautiful and miraculous. Day by day, the glory of these idols will increase, and whoever has their darshan will have their sins removed.”
Over time, Devkrushna Vyas of Ganf village purchased the land surrounding this room from its owner for 3,000 rupees and used to come to this room (Akshar Ordi) to meditate.
Once, on the day of Prabodhini Ekadashi, Shreeji Maharaj granted divine darshan to Nishkulanand Swami and commanded him to construct a grand seat (Baithak) at this location. By the will of Shreeji Maharaj, at that time, Devkrushna Vyas and the Diwan of King Raysinhji of Ganf village came for the darshan of Nishkulanand Swami. Swami explained the whole situation. Devkrushna Vyas accepted the word of Shreeji Maharaj and Swami as agyna. At that time, by purchasing all of the surrounding land for 32,000 rupees and spending a total of 35,000 rupees, he constructed this baithak. Later, on Sharad Purnima V.S. 1938 (1882 C.E.), at the hands of Acharya Shree Viharilalji Maharaj, the Charanarvind of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan were installed, and a grand mahotsav was held. This is beautifully described in Chapters 6 to 9 of the ‘Shree Unmattaganga Mahatmya’ scripture.
As this Ordo was heavily damaged and dilapidated due to salty sea air and the 2001 earthquake, it was renovated into a beautiful, artistically carved stone Akshar Ordi.
