Once, Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan was sitting on a cot (dholiyo) in the room where the Sukh-shaiya is located in the mandir of Shree Gopinathji Maharaj in Gadhpur. He sent a parshad (attendant) to call Acharya Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj and Acharya Shree Ayodhyaprasadji Maharaj. As soon as they received the news from Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan, both Acharyas came before Shreeji Maharaj. Gopalanand Swami, Nityanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami, and Punja Sheth were also called; they too came near Shreeji Maharaj, bowed, and sat down.
Addressing everyone, Shreeji Maharaj said: “O Raghuvirji! O Ayodhyaprasadji! You both are the pillars of this Satsang; therefore, I have placed the weight of this Satsang upon your shoulders. I have recognized all the qualities of a Sadguru in you. Therefore, I have seated you both on My throne. Thus, even in difficult times or circumstances, do not lose patience. Many obstacles will come in Satsang. I do not remain even slightly distant from you; therefore, always knowing Me to be near, perform the works of the Satsang. Do not abandon patience, because based on you, all Satsangis happily perform our bhajan”.
Hearing the words of Shreeji Maharaj, both Acharyas and the Sadguru santo were filled with wonder and began to think: Why is Shreeji Maharaj speaking like this today?
Shreeji Maharaj began to speak again:
Ichho mujne jo karva prasanna, tame to mano maru vachan;
Vali em bolya narvir, tame sanbhlo he Raghuvir.
Pratima Gopinathni jeh, jano maru svarup chhe teh;
Toy pragatnu dharvane dhyan, dhatunu rup muj saman.
Gopinath pase purva thame, sthapjo Harikrushnane name;
Junagadh tana mandirmay, padhravjo te murti tyay.
Dev Radharamana tani pase, sthapjo pratima te hulase;
Tem Dholerama pan kode, dev Madanmohana tani jode.
Harililamrut 10.3
“Raghuvirji! Listen. It is My command to you that just as you established Ranchhodray in Vadtal, I have established Gopinathji Maharaj in Gadhpur, which is My own form. However, for the devotees to meditate upon My manifest form, have My Harikrishna murti made of metal and install it in the east direction of Gopinathji Maharaj. Similarly, in Junagadh, install My Harikrishna murti beside Radharaman Dev. And in Dholera also, install My Harikrishna murti alongside Madanmohanji Maharaj”.
Thus, Shreeji Maharaj Himself gave the agyna to both of His sons to install the manifest swarups of Shree Harikrishna Maharaj across various mandirs.
As per that very agyna of Shreeji Maharaj, Acharya Shree Raghuvirji Maharaj first established the idol of Shree Harikrishna Maharaj in Dholera on the day of Samvat 1888 (2032 C.E.), Maha Sud 5 (Vasant Panchami), and celebrated the festival:
Murati Harikrushnani sthapi, rup pragat prabhunu pratapi;Sant vipra jamadya te sthan, dvijne didha dakshinadan.
Harililamrut 10.14
Currently, the wood-carved idol of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj is seated in the eastern shrine of the mandir. According to the history known through santo residing in Dholera, the Nand-santo had installed this murti of Ghanshyam Maharaj in the sabha mandap for dhyan (meditation). Thereafter, around 1890 C.E., the murti was moved to the main mandir. No specific date or history has been found regarding this.
In 1940 C.E., the mandal of Brahmachari Shree Vishnupriyanandji was appointed as the priests (pujari) of Shree Madanmohanji Maharaj. In this group were Brahmachari Balkrishnanandji, Brahmachari Pavitranandji, Brahmachari Ghanshyamanandji, and others. Along with this group, a Brahmin Satsangi youth from Rozka village was also in seva. In those days, electricity had not yet come to the mandir, so at night, lanterns were used in the inner sanctum (Nij-mandir) and other places. The mandir was small but full of natural beauty and remained filled with santo and parshads. Devotees from surrounding villages would take unique advantage of murti darshan, katha, and satsang.
During this time, the head Brahmachari would wake up early in the morning around five o’clock for the Mangala Darshan, open the mandir doors, perform the seva of Thakorji, and illuminate the mandir with lanterns. One time, around five in the morning, the Brahmachariji went with a parshad holding the lantern for the seva and Mangala Aarti of Shree Madanmohanji Maharaj. As they opened the mandir doors, a sudden gust of wind blew, extinguishing the lantern and leaving the mandir in pitch darkness. To relight the lantern would take time and lead to a delay in the seva, so the Brahmachariji began to worry.
At that moment, Shree Madanmohanji Maharaj said to Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj, who had recently been installed beside Him: “Lord! Provide light, or else there will be a delay in the seva”. Immediately, a divine light emerged from the murti of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj. Seeing this, the Brahmachari became extremely joyful. He opened all the temple doors, performed all of the seva, and allowed everyone to have the darshan of the Mangala Aarti on time.