Akshardham Temple, Delhi
Located in the heart of India i.e., New Delhi, Akshardham Temple is a marvel of architecture that unfolds the cultural legacy of thousands of years and is a tribute to Lord Swaminarayan (1781- 1830) who is the avatars, devas, and great sages of Hinduism. The construction of the grand structure took almost 5 years and was inaugurated on 6 November 2005. Today the imposing structure is standing on the banks of the Yamuna River and attracts millions of tourists and pilgrims across the globe.
The term Akshardham has been derived from two words 'Akshar' which means eternal and 'Dham' which means abode, which together means abode of divine or the eternal. Entering the temple, one could see the 11 feet high gilded image of Bhagwan Swaminarayan that appears mesmerizing. Visitors could feel each element of Akshardham echoing with spirituality that makes every soul potentially divine.
Witnessing the main temple, the other exhibitions takes the visitor to the additional sighting that includes the Yogi Hraday Kamal, which is a garden in the shape of a lotus, the Nilkanth Abhishek, a place to offer Abhishek which is a ritual of pouring water in form of respect and prayers, the Narayan Sarovar which is a lake containing water from 151 different rivers that rim the temple, Premvati Ahargruh (a restaurant which caters traditional vegetarian food) and more.
Architecture
Akshardham Temple, Delhi is a celebration of classic Hindu architectural styles that were prevalent in various parts of India during ancient and medieval times. Standing in the center of this complex is the main temple that was built on the principles of Pancharatra Shastra and Vastu Shastra. Called the Akshardham Mandir, this main shrine is 141 feet in height, 316 feet in width, and 356 feet in length.
With more than 234 exquisitely carved pillars, 20 quadrangle spires, 9 elaborate domes, and 20,000 sculptures of spiritual personalities from India, the temple embodies India’s culture and spiritual richness. Carved motifs and images of deities, flowers, dancers, and musicians adorn the walls and ceilings of this temple.
Each part of the Akshardham Temple complex is a work of intricate art that exhibits flawless craftsmanship. The temple has been constructed using Italian Carrara marble and Rajasthani pink sandstone. It is surrounded by open gardens, a courtyard built in stepwell style, various water bodies, and other structures.
History
Swaminarayan Akshardham came into existence as a result of Shri Yogiji Maharaj’s wish to build a temple complex in Delhi. He conceived this idea around 1968 when he was serving as the spiritual head of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, better known as BAPS. However, it was his successor and fifth spiritual guru in line after Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Pramukh Swami Maharaj who started the construction of the temple.
About 60 acres of land was granted by the Delhi Development Authority and 30 acres by the Uttar Pradesh Government for the erection of this temple. The construction started in 2000 and was completed within five years. Standing on the banks of River Yamuna, Akshardham Temple was opened to the public on 6th November 2005. The temple was inaugurated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the presence of eminent personalities such as Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, L.K. Advani, B.L. Joshi, and Dr. Manmohan Singh – the then Prime Minister of India.
One of the biggest temples in Delhi as well as in India, this spiritual place was constructed by BAPS. More than 8000 volunteers participated and 300,000,000 volunteer hours were spent in the construction of this temple.
