“Neasden Temple is much more than an icon on our London skyline, but the embodiment of selfless service to the community. Your presence here reflected this.”

“I know that there will be many who follow your inspirational values which contribute positively to any community and the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha exudes them to those it serves, in abundance.”

“I am here as the leader of London to pay my respects to you and also to thank you because this community does so much good for Hindus and non-Hindus. The ripples of goodness [from your community] are felt by everyone in the city.”

“When you’re in the presence of a holy person [such as His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj] and a leader with a powerful commitment to unity and bringing people together, it’s a very remarkable experience.”

“It was a wonderful experience [to be in the presence of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj]. I was so impressed when he came onto the stage. He is a very humble man,… a deeply spiritual, deeply peaceful man. His eyes are very penetrating. He seemed like a bright, intelligent person and a compassionate human being.”

“To be the presence of His Holiness [Mahant Swami Maharaj] is something that I did not anticipate feeling quite so moved by, because to be in the presence of somebody so special and so wise and for them to share their wisdom with us is something I was not expecting. Although I am not Hindu, what His Holiness said resonates with everybody – whether you have faith or no faith. We should all follow those wise words.”

“There were thousands of people in the room, but he actually had an aura about him as though he was talking to you, or me, as an individual – and the message was quite universal.”

“I think normally of spiritual people as other-worldly, as disconnected somehow. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj was so connected.”

“A man who can lead so many from all walks of life – that tells me that he is one man who knows God and he has God in the centre.”

“It was so wonderful to see so many members of the community come together and have such a great leader [His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj] who brought such power and calmness with him.”

“The way youths identify with him helps that [spiritual power] manifest in a way that I don’t think you see anywhere else.”

“That is the most glorious thing about him, that he has never imposed a sense of leadership; that he has brought to us a sense of giving.”

“He appears akin a form of God who has come to show the world the meaning of life.”

“And that’s what I see in him – being in peace means executing peace, manifesting peace, sharing peace.”

“Any of your problems, tensions, stresses, just dissolve [in the presence of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj].”

“As a person who loves human beings, he is a person who respects others, a person who also respects other religions.”

“The meeting with His Holiness is more than meeting with a person; it’s meeting with a connection, between him and God.”

“He is divinity personified.”

“I felt that this man is something different. He is a real saint.”

“He held my hands very tightly and I just feel an emotional connection to Bapa [His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj] – a man who puts everyone else before himself.”

“I felt unadulterated and unconditional pure love.”