Akshardham
Temple Swaminarayan Akshardham in
New Delhi epitomises 10,000 years of Indian culture in all its
breathtaking grandeur, beauty, wisdom and bliss. It brilliantly
showcases the essence of India’s ancient architecture, traditions
and timeless spiritual messages. The Akshardham experience is an
enlightening journey through India’s glorious art, values and
contributions for the progress, happiness and harmony of mankind.
The grand, ancient-styled Swaminarayan Akshardham complex was
built in only five years through the blessings of HDH Pramukh
Swami Maharaj of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam
Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) and the colossal devotional efforts of
11,000 artisans and BAPS volunteers
Akshardham means the eternal, divine abode of the
supreme God, the abode of eternal values and virtues of Akshar as
defined in the Vedas and Upanishads where divine bhakti, purity
and peace forever pervades
For the first time ever in
the world witness the heritage of India in all its facets,
insights and beauty at the Swaminarayan Akshardham through its
mandir, exhibitions, verdant gardens and other attractions
Birla Temple
Built in 1938, famous Birla Mandir in Delhi was
inaugurated by
Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Indian Nation) on the express
condition that people of all castes and especially untouchables
would be allowed in. (Refer to section People). Consequently a
plaque at the gate reiterates that people of all faiths and
classes are welcome. Till date, it remains one of the most popular
temples in Delhi.
Birla Mandir is also famous for the festival of
Janmashtami (birth of the Hindu deity Krishna). The festival is
celebrated here with much goodwill and cheer
The temple is designed in the Orissan style, with
tall curved towers capped by large amalakas (circular ribbed motif
at the summit of a temple tower). The exterior is faced with the
white marble and red sandstone typical of Delhi’s Mughal
architecture. The interior court is overlooked by two-storey
verandahs on three sides; there are gardens and fountains at the
rear. The profusion of sculptures, idols, spires and jalis, the
Birla Mandir in Delhi is also considered as splendor in terms of
its architecture.
Lotus
Temple In the heart of New Delhi, the bustling
capital of India, a lotus-shaped outline has etched itself on the
consciousness of the city's inhabitants, capturing their
imagination, fuelling their curiosity, and revolutionising the
concept of worship. This is the Bahá'í Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, better
known as the "Lotus Temple". With the dawning of every new day, an
ever-rising tide of visitors surges to its doorsteps to savour its
beauty and bask in its serenely spiritual atmosphere.
Since its dedication to public worship in December 1986, this
Mother Temple of the Indian sub-continent has seen millions of
people cross its threshold, making it one of the most visited
edifices in India. From its high-perched pedestal, this 'Lotus'
casts its benevolent glance over vast green lawns and avenues
covering an expanse of 26 acres of land. Its soothingly quiet
Prayer Hall and tranquil surroundings have touched the hearts of
the Temple's numerous visitors, awakening in them a desire to
trace its inspirational source and capture a bit of its peace for
themselves
As an evocative
symbol of beauty and purity, representative of divinity, the lotus
flower remains unsurpassed in Indian iconography. Rising up pure
and unsullied from stagnant water, the lotus represents the
manifestation of God. The architect used this ancient Indian
symbol to create a design of ethereal beauty and apparent
simplicity, belying the complex geometry underlying its execution
in concrete form. Twentieth-century architecture has been
characterised by a high degree of technological prowess; however,
it has been, by and large, unexceptional in aesthetic value. The
Lotus Temple provides one of the rare exceptions with its
remarkable fusion of ancient concept, modem engineering skill, and
architectural inspiration, making it the focus of attention
amongst engineers and architects the world over. In the absence of
sophisticated equipment, the extremely complex design called for
the highest order of engineering ingenuity to be implemented by
means of traditional workmanship. No wonder, then, that the Lotus
Temple, as a symbol of faith and human endeavour expended in the
path of God, became the recipient of accolades and world-wide
acclaim
ISKCON Temple - ISKCON
Delhi is surrounded by lush green gardens. This marvelous and huge
structure houses the beautiful deities of Sri Radha Krishna
Parthasarathi, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Sri Sri Rama Lakshmana
Hanumana. The Temple has air-conditioned hall that can accommodate
as many as 1,500 people at once. Known as the glory of India, The
temple has Hi-tech museum with multimedia shows
Chattarpur Mandir -
Chattarpur Mandir is situated just 4 km from Qutub Minar, located
in the Mehrauli area of New Delhi. The spectacular temple complex
is an architectural gem in itself. All the shrines in the complex
are built from white marble. Comparatively recent in its
construction, it rivals the splendor of the Mughal architecture of
the city. Devotees from all over Delhi come to pay their homage to
the deities in the temple. The main shrine is dedicated to Goddess
Durga and exhibits traits of the temple architecture of South
India
On Durga Puja, one can see
never-ending queues of devotees waiting patiently for their turn
to ask for the blessings of the Goddess. According to the popular
belief, tying a thread on the tree inside the complex of
Chattarpur Mandir fulfills one's wishes. Prayers and sermons are
conducted in the temple 24 hours a day. Anybody can participate in
these spiritual meetings, any time. The beauty of the complex is
highlighted by the lush green gardens in the area. There are also
a number of temples inside the complex, dedicated to various Gods
and Goddesses, like Vishnu, Ganesha, Lakshmi and Shiva
Hanuman Mandir - Hanuman
Mandir is situated at the Baba Kharak Singh Marg (road) near
Connaught Place. One of the oldest Hanuman temples in the country,
it was built by Maharaja Jai Singh in the year 1724. However,
since the time of its construction, the Lord Hanuman Temple of New
Delhi has undergone many restorations. One of the highlights of
the temple is the 24-hour chanting of the mantra 'Sri Ram, Jai
Ram, Jai Jai Ram', since August 1, 1964. This continuous chanting
has even secured a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.