Question what does Akshardham mean? According to Swaminarayan Hinduism, Akshardham means the abode of Swaminarayan. Followers believe it is a temporal home of God on earth. Here at Temple Ground in Delhi, we are about to explore Swaminarayan Akshardham.
Swaminarayan Akshardham is a Hindu temple and spiritual campus. It is located in Delhi near the border with Noida. Many people also call it Akshardham Temple or Akshardham Delhi. The complex showcases traditional and modern Hindu culture. It also displays spirituality and architecture.
Yogiji Maharaj inspired the temple. Pramukh Swami Maharaj created it. BAPS constructed it. Swaminarayan Akshardham is the world’s second-largest BAPS Hindu temple. The largest is Akshardham in New Jersey, United States.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj officially opened the Temple Ground on November 6, 2005. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Manmohan Singh, L.K Advani and B.L Joshi attended. The temple follows Vastu shastra and Pancharatra shastra principles.
Like the Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the main shrine is central. It maintains the complex’s focal point. Exhibition halls offer information about Swaminarayan’s life and work. Designers used contemporary communication and technology. This enhanced the exhibition halls.
The complex includes an abhishek mandap. It features the Sahaj Anand water show and a thematic garden. There are three exhibitions. Sahajanand Darshan is the Hall of Values. Neelkanth Darshan is an IMAX film. It portrays Swaminarayan’s early life. Sanskruti Darshan is a cultural boat ride.
The Akshardham Mandir is the main attraction at Temple Ground. It stands 43 meters high. It is 96 meters wide and 109 meters long. The temple features intricate carvings. Flora, fauna, dancers and deities adorn it. It is on the banks of the Yamuna River.
BAPS Swamis and Virendra Trivedi designed the Akshardham Mandir. Trivedi is from the Sompura family. The temple is built entirely from Rajasthani pink sandstone. Italian Carrara marble is also used. Traditional Hindu guidelines were followed. The temple has no ferrous metal. Steel and concrete were avoided. The architecture reflects the Māru-Gurjara style.
The mandir includes 234 carved pillars and nine domes. It contains 20000 murtis of swamis, devotees and acharyas. The base features the Gajendra Pith. This plinth pays tribute to elephants. Elephants are important in Hindu culture and India’s history. There are 148 life-sized elephants. They weigh 3000 tons.
Under the central dome is a 3.4-meter murti of Swaminarayan. He is seated in abhayamudra. Images of the faith’s Gurus surround Swaminarayan. They are in devotional or service postures. Each murti is made of pañcadhātu, the five metals. The temple also houses murtis of Sita-Rama, Radha-Krishna, Shiva-Parvati and Lakshmi-Narayana.
The Hall of Values presents incidents from Swaminarayan’s life. Lifelike robotics and dioramas are used. The messages focus on peace, harmony, humility, service and devotion. Set in 18th-century India, the audience sees ancient Hindu values. Non-violence, vegetarianism and perseverance are highlighted. Morality and family harmony are also featured through 15 dioramas. The hall includes the world’s smallest animatronic robot. It is Ghanshyam Maharaj, the child form of Swaminarayan.
The theatre houses Delhi’s first large format screen. It measures 26 meters by 20 meters. The theatre shows Neelkanth Yatra a 40-minute film. It recounts Swaminarayan’s seven-year pilgrimage as a teenager. A 8.2-meter bronze murti of Nilkanth Varni stands outside the theatre.
The Boat Ride takes visitors on a 12-minute journey. It depicts 10000 years of India’s heritage. Life-size figures and robotics are used. Family life, bazaars and teaching are shown. It also shows contributions to science, astronomy, arts and mathematics.
The Musical fountain is also known as the Yagnapurush Kund. It is India’s largest stepwell. During the day, the steps offer rest. At night, the Sahaj Anand Water Show is presented. It uses lasers, projections and underwater flames. Lights, sound and live actors combine to tell a story.
The Garden of India, also known as Bharat Upavan, features manicured lawns. Trees and shrubs fill the space. Bronze sculptures represent contributors to India’s culture and history.
The Narayan Sarovar is a lake surrounding the monument. It contains holy waters from 151 rivers and lakes. These waters are believed to be sanctified by Swaminarayan. Surrounding the lake are 108 gaumukhs. They symbolize the 108 names for God.
Akshardham is accessible by Delhi Metro. The Akshardham Metro Station is nearby. This magnificent Temple Ground stands as a testament to devotion, art and culture. It embodies India’s timeless values and spirituality.