In a city filled with forts and mosques from the Islamic period, the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple is an excellent representation of the religiosity of ancient India. Situated in Delhi, it is one of the largest temple complexes in the country. It is known popularly just as Akshardham temple.
The temple is a grand and beautiful structure. It is worth visiting whenever you get the opportunity.
Origins of Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple
The place is a preferred spot for the researchers, and many studies suggest that Akshardham is much more than a temple. It is a representation of how human destiny blends with the vast universe. The temple has a charm of its own and is believed to be a place of enlightenment.
Who is the Temple Dedicated To?
The temple has been built to honour an ancient Indian spiritual yogi, Lord Swaminarayan who lived during the 18th century.
When Was It Built?
It took five years to construct the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple. This was made possible by the enormous efforts of the followers of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) and hundreds of artists. The official inauguration was held on November 6, 2005.
What Makes Akshardham Unique?
There are many things that make this temple a unique temple structure and attract so many tourists.
- The architecture symbolises the Indian culture, art, and tradition which existed 10000 years ago.
- The total area covered by the temple is 83,342 square feet making it the most extensive temple complex, as per the Guinness Book of World records.
- The makers claim that Akshardham can stand strong for the next thousand years. To ensure this, there was no use of concrete or steel.
- The shrine, which is the chief attraction of Akshardham is a massive structure having a height of 141 feet, length of 350 feet, and a girth of 315 feet.
- The lake surrounding the temple, named Narayan Sarovar, has been made with water collected from 151 other lakes all over India.
- Ten gates have been constructed to represent the ten gates mentioned in Vedas. The gates symbolise the entry for goodness from all possible directions.
- The base or Pradakshina is named Gajendra Peeth. This part contains the sculpture of 148 elephants with a total weight of 3000 tons.
- World’s biggest Yagna Kund is a part of Akshardham. It comprises of more than a hundred shrines and exactly 2870 steps.
Design of Swaminarayan Akshardham
For building the temple the main material used was pink sandstone, fetched from Rajasthan. The Italian marble was also used in abundance. The temple houses an eleven feet tall figure of Lakshmi Narayan along with idols of many other prominent Hindu gods and goddesses. The structure stands on 234 pillars carved with decorative engravings. Nine polished domes and twenty spires of quadrangle shape enhance the appearance.
One can find 20,000 sculptures consecrated to the divine Hindu gods, all around the temple. The path surrounding the temple, termed as Parikrama is 3000 feet long and has two storeys. It consists of one thousand pillars and close to 150 windows for easy air circulation.
Next to the main shrine lies a beautiful garden formed in the shape of a Lotus. The area also holds a theatre where the life story of Lord Swaminarayan is screened.
The most attractive part of this temple is the musical fountain exhibit held every day after sunset. The complete life cycle is portrayed in just fifteen minutes through a wonderful composition of music and visuals.
Conclusion
Swaminarayan Akshardham is a place where modern techniques meet the ancient culture. It is a great way to learn about our rich cultural heritage while being entertained by various activities within the temple arena.