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Swaminarayan Akshardham (Delhi)

Coordinates: 28°36′50.35″N 77°16′39.73″E / 28.6139861°N 77.2777028°E / 28.6139861; 77.2777028
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Swaminarayan Akshardham (Delhi)
The Swaminarayan Akshardham complex in New Delhi, India
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
Location
LocationNH 24, Noida Mor, New Delhi, India
Geographic coordinates28°36′50.35″N 77°16′39.73″E / 28.6139861°N 77.2777028°E / 28.6139861; 77.2777028
Architecture
TypeVastu Shastra and Pancharatra Shastra
CreatorBAPS / Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Akshardham (Gujarati: દિલ્હી અક્ષરધામ, Devnagari: दिल्ली आक्षरधाम) is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India.[1] Also referred to as Delhi Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, the complex displays 10,000 years of traditional Indian and Hindu culture, spirituality, and architecture. The building was inspired and moderated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, whose 3,000 volunteers helped 7,000 artisans construct Akshardham.[1][2]

The temple, which attracts approximately 70 percent of all tourists who visit Delhi,[3][4] was officially opened on 6 November 2005.[1] It sits on the banks of the Yamuna River adjacent to the proposed 2010 Commonwealth Games village.[5] The complex features a large central monument crafted entirely of stone, exhibitions on incidents from the life of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the history of India, an IMAX feature, a musical fountain, and large landscaped gardens.

Monument

The central momument at Akshardham

The main monument at the center of the complex is 141-foot (43 m) high, 316-foot (96 m) wide, and 370-foot (110 m) long,[6] and is covered top to bottom with carved details of flora, fauna, dancers, musicians, and deities.

Designed in accordance with ancient Vedic text known as the Sthapatya Shastra, it features a blend of architectural styles from across India.[7][8] It is constructed entirely from Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian Carrara marble, and has no support from steel or concrete.[9] The monument also consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, nine domes, and 20,000 murtis and statues of Hinduism’s sadhus, devotees, and acharyas.[10] The monument also features the Gajendra Pith at its base, a plinth paying tribute to the elephant for its importance in Hindu culture and India's history. It contains 148 scale sized elephants in total and weighs a total of 3000 tons.[11]

Within the monument, under the central dome, lies a murti or statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan which is 11-foot (3.4 m) high. The murti is surrounded by similar statues of the gurus of the sect.[12][13] Each murti is made of paanch daatu or five metals in accordance to Hindu tradition. Also within the central monument lie the murits of other Hindu deities, including Sita Ram, Radha Krishna, Shiv Parvati, and Lakshmi Narayan.[13]

Exhibitions

The monument's central dome

Hall of Values

Named Sahajanand Pradarshan, the Hall of Values features life-like robotics and dioramas which display incidents from Bhagwan Swaminarayan's life, portraying his message about the importance of peace, harmony, humility, service to others and devotion to God.[14] The hall features the world's smallest animatronic robot in the form of Ghanshyam Maharaj, the child form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.[15]

Theatre

Named Nilkanth Kalyan Yatra, the theatre houses Delhi's first and only large format screen, measuring 85-foot (26 m) by 65-foot (20 m). The theatre shows a film specially commissioned for the complex, Nilkanth Yatra, to recount the journey Bhagwan Swaminarayan made during his teenage years throughout India. An international version of the film called Mystic India was released in 2005 at IMAX theatres and giant screen cinemas worldwide.[16] A 27-foot (8.2 m) tall bronze statue of Nilkanth Varni is located outside the theatre.[17]

The musical fountain at the Akshardham complex

Musical fountain

Known as the Yagnapurush Kund, it is India's largest step well. It features a very large series of steps down to a traditional yagna kund. During the day, these steps provide rest for the visitors to the complex and at night, a musical fountain show representing the circle of life is played to an audience which is seated on the same steps.[18] The fountain is named after the founder of the Hindu organization, Shastriji Maharaj.[19]

Boat ride

Named Sanskruti Vihar, this ride takes visitors on a journey through 10,000 years of Indian history in approximately 12 minutes. Visitors sit in specially designed peacock shaped boats that make their way around an artificial river, passing through a model of Takshashila, the world's first university,[20] chemistry laboratories, ancient hospitals, and bazaars, finally ending with a message expressing hope for the future of India.[21]

Garden of India

Also known as the Bharat Upavan, this garden has lush manicured lawns, trees, and shrubs. The garden is lined with bronze sculptures of contributors to India's culture, including Children of India, Women of India, and Heroes of India.[22]

The Yogi Hraday Kamal, a lotus shaped sunken garden

Other features

  • The Yogi Hraday Kamal - A sunken garden, shaped like a lotus when viewed from above, features large stones engraved with quotes from world luminaries ranging from Shakespeare and Martin Luther King, to Swami Vivekananda and Bhagwan Swaminarayan.[22]
  • Neelkanth Abishek - Devotees offer abhishek, a ritual of pouring water on to the murti of Nilkanth Varni, and express their reverence and prayers for spiritual upliftment and fulfillment of wishes.[23]
  • Narayan Sarovar - A lake that surrounds the main monument. The lake contains holy waters from 151 rivers and lakes that are believed to have been sanctified by Bhagwan Swaminarayan, including Mansarovar. Surrounding the Narayan Sarovar are 108 gaumukhs, symbolizing Janmangal Namavali or the 108 names for god, from which holy water issues forth.[24][25]
  • Premvati Ahargruh - A vegetarian restaurant modeled on the Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra, India. Also an Ayurvedic bazaar.[26]
  • The Akshardham Centre for Applied Research in Social Harmony (AARSH) Centre- A centre in the Akshardham complex that applies research of social harmony and related topics.[27][28]

History and development

The Akshardham complex in Delhi

The building had been planned since 1968 as a vision of Yogiji Maharaj.[29] Yogiji Maharaj, the spiritual head of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha at the time, expressed his desire for wanting a grand temple built on the banks of the Yamuna river, to two or three devotee families of Bhagwan Swaminarayan that resided in New Delhi at the time.[30] Attempts were made but little progress happened, and by 1971 Yogiji Maharaj passed away. In 1982, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Yogiji Maharaj's predecessor as the spiritual head of BAPS, started to continue fulfilling the dream of his guru Yogiji Maharaj and prompted the devotees to look into the possibility of building the temple in Delhi. A request for the plan was put forward to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and several different places were suggested, including Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Faridabad. Pramukh Swami Maharaj stood firm in following the wishes of Yogiji Maharaj to build a temple on the Yamuna. After 18 years, in April 2000, the Delhi Development Authority offered 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land, and the Uttar Pradesh Government offered 30 acres (120,000 m2) for the project.[31] Upon receiving the land, Pramukh Swami Maharaj performed puja on the site for success in the project. Construction began on 8 November 2000 and Akshardham was officially opened on 6 November 2005, with the building being completed in two days short of five years.[32]

Opening Ceremony

Akshardham was consecrated on 6 November 2005 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj,[33] and ceremoniously dedicated to the nation by the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,[34] the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Indian Parliament, Lal Krishna Advani, with the presence of 25,000 guests.[35][30] After touring the central monument, President Kalam then gave a speech on where Akshardham fits with society, and finished by saying,

"Pramukh Swamiji Maharaj has inspired thousands of people across the country and abroad and brought together the best of the minds for creating a beautiful cultural complex. It has become a place of education, experience and enlightenment. It creatively blends the traditional stone art and architecture, Indian culture and civilization, ancient values and wisdom and the best of modern media and technology. Multiple layers of this complex expresses the strength of the mind, willpower of the human being, indomitable spirit, flowering kindness, fusion of scientific and medical talent, myriad colors of varied cultures and ultimately the power of knowledge. In essence, it is a dynamic complex with lively images.  ... Akshardham has happened at the dawn of 21st century with the commitment and dedication of one million volunteers. What has happened today at Akshardham inspires me and gives me the confidence that we can do it? The realization of developed India is certainly possible before 2020 with the millions of ignited minds like you."[36]

Prime Minister Singh followed by hoping that this would usher in religious tolerance[30] and praised the architecture of the complex. He made note of it becoming a future landmark of India[35] and L. K. Advani called it "the most unique monument of the world."[30] Pramukh Swami Maharaj ended the night's speeches and expressed the wish that, "In this Akshardham, may one and all find inspiration to mould their lives and may their lives become divine. Such is my prayer to god."[37]

Guinness World Record

The Akshardham monument in Delhi

On 17 December 2007, Michael Whitty, an official world record adjudicator for Guinness World Records, traveled to Ahmedabad, India to present a new world record to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, for the Akshardham complex.[38]

The record was presented for Akshardham as the World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple (see certificate here).[39][40]

The Certificate states,

"BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, is the world's largest comprehensive Hindu temple. It measures 356 ft (109 m). long, 316 ft (96 m). wide and 141 ft (43 m). high, covering an area of 86,342 sq ft (8,021.4 m2). The grand, ancient-style, ornately hand-carved stone temple has been built without structural steel within five years by 11,000 artisans and volunteers. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, revered spiritual leader of BAPS, consecrated the temple on 6 November 2005. Akshardham showcases the essence of India's ageless art, borderless culture and timeless values.[41]

Upon presentation of the award, Michael Whitty stated, "It took us three months of research, poring over the extensive architectural plans of the Akshardham and also those of other temples of comparable size, visiting and inspecting the site, before we were convinced that Akshardham deserved the title..."[42]

Disputes

Three temples,the Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, and the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Thiruvannamalai, all located in Tamil Nadu, India, are claimed to be larger than Akshardham. The trustees of these temples have reportedly disputed the Guinness World Record.[43]

The Meenakshi temple in Madurai has the length of 850 feet (260 m) and breath of 800 feet (240 m). The entire area of this temple is 17 acres (0.069 km2), while the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple in Srirangam covers 156 acres (0.63 km2) and the Arunachaleswarar Temple in Thiruvannamalai is 24 acres (0.097 km2).[44][45] Authorities at the Meenakshi temple have argued that temples are places for worship and hence restaurants, boating facilities and other entertainment facilities cannot be part of the temple which is the case of Akshardham. They have also argued that construction area of the actual temple is more important than the land area.[43]

Akshardham Gandhinagar

Main article: Akshardham (Gandhinagar)

Akshardham Gandhinagar in Gandhinagar, Gujarat is the sister complex of Delhi Akshardham. The sister complex in Gandhinagar was also built by BAPS.[46] Opened in 1992 amid fanfare, Akshardham Gandhinagar comprises a monument, exhibition halls, a vast colonnade, contemplative gardens, and a restaurant, much like the monument in New Delhi. The architecture and carvings of the monument in Delhi resemble those of the monument in Gandhinagar.[47]

Akshardham Gandhinagar has attracted millions of visitors from across the world, including Bill Clinton who commented, "Akshardham is not only a unique place in India but in the whole world. It is even more beautiful than what I had imagined. Taj Mahal is definitely beautiful, but this place, along with beauty, has a beautiful message."[48]

References

  1. ^ a b c "What is Akshardham". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  2. ^ "Mandir". BAPS. 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  3. ^ Sharma, Manoj (2007-12-28). "Magnificent monuments of Delhi". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2008-01-08. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  4. ^ Datta, Jyotirmoy. "The 8th Wonder - Delhi Swaminarayan temple uses modern technology to transmit timeless message". New India Times. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  5. ^ Gupta, Moushumi (2007-07-04). "Games Village gets going as DDA clears lone bid". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2008-01-08. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  6. ^ "President to inaugurate Akshardham temple today". The Hindu. 2005-11-06. Retrieved 2008-01-05. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
  7. ^ "Special Destinations- Akshardham Temple". Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  8. ^ "Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi". June 24, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  9. ^ "Akshardham Temple Complex". Ministry of Tourism Government of India. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  10. ^ "Mandir". BAPS. 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  11. ^ "Gajendra Pith". BAPS. 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
  12. ^ "Delhi Travel Guide: Akshardham Temple". Professional Travel Guide. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  13. ^ a b "Garbhagruh- Inner Sanctum". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  14. ^ "Hall of Values". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. 2005. Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  15. ^ "First time ever in India: An Audio-animatronics Presentation of an assembly in the time of Lord Swaminarayan". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. 2005. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  16. ^ "Mystic India". BAPS Charities. 2004. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  17. ^ "Giant Screen Film". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  18. ^ "Akshardham, Musical Fountain of Eternal Life - New Delhi, India". Laservision. 2008. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  19. ^ "Yagnapurush Kund". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  20. ^ Radha Kumud Mookerji (2nd ed. 1951; reprint 1989), Ancient Indian Education: Brahmanical and Buddhist (p. 478), Motilal Banarsidass Publ., ISBN 8120804236:

    "Thus the various centres of learning in different parts of the country became affiliated, as it were, to the educational centre, or the central university, of Taxila which exercised a kind of intellectual suzerainty over the wide world of letters in India."
  21. ^ "Sanskruti Vihar". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. 2005. Retrieved 2008-11-17.
  22. ^ a b "Garden of India". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  23. ^ "Neelkanth Abhishek Mandapam". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  24. ^ "Narayan Sarovar- Sacred Water Lake". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  25. ^ "Akshardham Temple, Delhi". Shubh Yatra. 2006. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  26. ^ "Visitors Info". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. 2005. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  27. ^ "Delhi's Akshardham: A monument to India". Rediff.com. 2005. Retrieved 2008-01-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  28. ^ "Research Center AARSH". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. 2006. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  29. ^ "Making of Akshardham". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  30. ^ a b c d Rajiv, Malik (2006). "Pride of India: How Yogiji Maharaj's Dream Was Fulfilled (Interview)". Hinduism Today. Retrieved 2008-01-05. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  31. ^ Menon, Nivedita (2007). Power and Contestation: India Since 1989 (in 219). page 79: Zed Books. ISBN 1842778153, 9781842778159. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  32. ^ Williams, Raymond Brady (2004). "Swaminrayan Hinduism". Williams On South Asian Religions And Immigration. page 132: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 274. ISBN 0754638561, 9780754638568. Retrieved 2008-08-17. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  33. ^ Arya, R.P. (2007). Incredible India: Tourist & Travel Guide. page 62: Indian Map Service. p. 320. ISBN 8189875205, 9788189875206. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  34. ^ Pruthi, R.K. (2003). President APJ Abdul Kalam. page 244: Anmol Publications PVT. LTD. p. 271.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  35. ^ a b "Akshardham designers lauded". The Hindu. 2005-11-06. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  36. ^ "The Akshardham Experience". About.com. 2005-11-07. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
  37. ^ Swaminarayan Akshardham Dedication Ceremony (vob) (DVD). Amdavad - 4, India: Swaminarayan Aksharpith. Retrieved 2008-01-12. {{cite AV media}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |date2= (help); Unknown parameter |month2= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |year2= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  38. ^ Jha, Preeti (2007-12-26). "Guinness comes to east Delhi: Akshardham world's largest Hindu temple". ExpressIndia.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02. {{cite news}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  39. ^ "Akshardham temple enters Guinness Book of World Records". MSN. 2006-07-24. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  40. ^ Khandekar, Nivedita (2007-12-26). "Delhi's Akshardham is the world's largest temple". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2008-01-02. {{cite news}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  41. ^ "Guiness Bestows Two World Records on HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj". Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, Swaminarayan Aksharpith. Retrieved 2008-10-20.
  42. ^ Khandekar, Nivedita (2007-12-26). "Akshardham temple enters Guinness Records". Rediff.com. Retrieved 2008-01-02.
  43. ^ a b "TN temples bigger than Delhi's Akshardham". MSN. 2007. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  44. ^ Natarajan, A. R. "8". Arunachala From Rigveda to Ramana Maharshi. Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning.
  45. ^ Kannikeswaran, K (1996). "Tiruvarangam (Koyil)". indiantemples.com. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  46. ^ "Akshardham Gandhinagar". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  47. ^ "Akshardham Temple". Asiarooms Pte. Ltd. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
  48. ^ "Bill Clinton Visits Akshardham". BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Retrieved 2008-09-30.
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