ABSTRACT
In 1970 the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) numbered 28 followers in the United States. In 1974 the first Swaminarayan temple was consecrated in the basement of a house on Bowne Street in Flushing, New York. This chapter traces the Hindu group's history from that small beginning through the dedication of a temple in Glen Ellyn in 1983 and subsequent consolidation and growth into the 1990s. In February 1971 the Bochasanwasi Swaminarayan Sanstha was incorporated as a nonprofit religious organization in the state of New York and licensed to operate in several states, including Illinois. The morning worship is incumbent upon sadhus as well as householders, but daily temple worship by householders is not required because each person is supposed to have a home shrine and ritual paraphernalia to perform morning worship. Religious education programs are held every week at the temple. The meetings for boys and girls began when the group was still meeting in homes.
