Nilkanth Varni's massive bronze statue unveiled

THE tallest bronze statue in South Africa will be unveiled by the BAPS Hindu Mandir and Cultural Complex in North Riding, Johannesburg, on Sunday.

The 42-foot (about 13 metre) bronze statue of Nilkanth Varni, a yogi, will be consecrated at the event, marking a major cultural and civic milestone, the temple said. 

The statue, positioned at the entrance of the Mandir complex, is the tallest bronze sculpture in South Africa and among the most prominent public monuments on the continent. The figure depicts Nilkanth Varni, an eighteenth-century yogi and spiritual leader, in a Vrikshasana pose, a variation of a one-legged yogic posture.

Weighing approximately 20 tonnes and cast primarily in copper and brass, the statue is designed to reflect discipline, focus, and resilience. 

BAPS spokesperson Hemang DesaI said that the figure represents values including self-discipline, perseverance, clarity of purpose, and service to society. 

“In an age marked by distraction and social fragmentation, the image serves as a reminder of inner balance, moral courage, and youthful idealism,” Desai said.

The consecration ceremony will be led by His Holiness Swayamprakash Swami, also known as Doctor Swami, one of the most senior monks in the BAPS Swaminarayan order. Swami, who was initiated into monkhood in 1961 after qualifying in medicine, is recognised internationally for his leadership, scholarship, and spiritual guidance, saids Desai.

Nilkanth Varni, the teenage incarnation of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, undertook a seven-year pilgrimage across India at the age of 11, covering over 12,000 kilometres with minimal possessions. 

The statue commemorates Nilkanth’s extended meditation and yoga practice at Muktinath in the Himalayas, where he is said to have stood on one leg for four months in pursuit of peace and wellbeing for humanity. 

Desai said the statue is located within the Nilkanth courtyard, which features flowing fountains, landscaped gardens, and sculptural elements inspired by traditional art and music. The Mandir complex, which includes the BAPS vegetarian restaurant Shayona, is designed as a public space for reflection, community engagement, and family visits, and is expected to become a key tourist site in the greater Johannesburg area, he said.