The Akshardham temple complex at Gandhinagar

Akshardham Gandhinagar is one of the largest temples lying in the Indian state of Gujarat. The temple complex combines devotions, art, architecture, education, exhibitions and research at one place. The temple came to international attention when two heavily armed terrorists attacked the temple. Akshardham cultural compelx in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. ... Akshardham cultural compelx in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. ... Gujarat (Gujarati: , Hindi: ,, IPA ; also spelled Gujrat and sometimes Gujarath). ...

Akshardham Gandhinagar is a predecessor to the Akshardham at Delhi, being built by the same religious organisation. The temple was built within a space of two years by the Bochasanwasi Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) led by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. It was inaugurated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj himself on Monday, November 2, 1992 CE, during the centenary celebrations of Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj. The complex is very popular among tourists visiting Gujarat. The main Akshardham temple complex Swaminarayan Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. ... It has been suggested that National Capital Territory of Delhi be merged into this article or section. ... BAPS mandir in Houston, TX, United States Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha or BAPS is a branch of the Hindu Swaminarayan sect with more than 1,000,000 followers worldwide and a greater presence outside South Asia than any other Hindu group. ... Pramukh Swami Maharaj (born December 7, 1921 in the village of Chansad in Gujarat, India) is a spiritual leader of the Hindu organization of Bochasanwasi Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). ... Shoaler 6 July 2005 19:05 (UTC) Categories: Possible copyright violations ...

Creator

HSDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj is the spiritual leader of B.A.P.S. Swaminarayan Sanstha. He has created international cultural complexes like; the Akshardham in New Delhi India, the Akshardham in Amdavad India, The Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden London, Atlanta Georgia, Houston Texas, Chicago Illinois, Los-Angeles California, Toronto Canada, and Nairobi Africa. Even at the age of 85 HSDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj travels and meets people throughout the world to help those lead better lives. B.A.P.S Swaminarayan Sanstha is an international social, spiritual and charitable NGO affiliated with the United Nations. Through its 9 thousand centers/Temples, 700 sadhus “saints” 55 thousand volunteers and over a million followers. B.A.P.S. performs over a 160 humanitarian activities. It selflessly serves one in all through its social and charitable activities. Akshardham is a part of B.A.P.S’s culture and educational activities. To promote Indian art, culture, and values. It is a place where art is ageless, culture is borderless, and values are timeless. “In this Swaminarayan Akshardham, may one and all find inspiration to mould their lives and may there lives become divine. Such is my prayer to God.” ~Shastri Narayanswarupdas (HSDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj) Inspirer and & Creator of Swaminarayan Akshardham.

The temple

The temple enshrining the seven foot high, gold-leafed Murti of Lord Swaminarayan is the focal point of the Swaminarayan complex. The majestic, intricately carved temple structure stands amid sprawling gardens. Six thousand tonnes of pink sandstone was used in building the temple which is regarded as an architectural masterpiece. The structure measures 108 feet in height, 240 feet in length and 131 feet in width. The colonnade around the monument is 1,751 feet (534 meters) in length. The Nataraja is one of the most famous images of Lord Shiva Murtis (singular Murti, also spelled Murthi or Murthy) refers to deities or images used by Hindus and also by some Mahayana Buddhists during worship as points of devotional and meditational focus. ... Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan Swaminarayan (April 2, 1781 - 1830) was born Ghanshyam Maharaj to a brahmin family in the village of Chhapaiya, Uttar Pradesh, India. ...

The garden

The garden which is named Sahajanand Van is a unique blend of contemplative garden and children's park. It encloses a single-piece marble sculpture of Lord Swaminarayan and includes cultural spots; rides and games for children; herbal garden; a lake and a waterfall.

The research center

The Akshardham Center for Applied Research in Social Harmony (AARSH) is a futuristic research center with a rich library, study stations and archives. Access to the library is confined to enlisted scholars.

The exhibitions

Three permanant exhibition halls have been set up to educate the visitor on spiritual matters and on the Swaminarayan movement. These are:

1. Hall 1: Sahajanand. The life of Lord Swaminarayan is portrayed through imaginative settings and shows. The exhibition includes 'travel in time' through a video show; a fiber-optics cosmos; a miniature recreation of Chhapiya village; a 'Journey through India'; and three 'sound-n-light' shows.
2. Hall 2: Sat-Chit-Anand. A spectacular 14-screen multimedia presentation, "Integrovision", presents an exposition of Vedic philosophy and of man's search for the eternal truth, through breath-taking imagery. Apart from the 14-screen multimedia presentation, the exhibition includes a 'Tunnel of Mirrors,' a glass mosaic and dancing musical fountains.
3. Hall 3: Nityanand. Walk-through dioramas and fiberglass figures display the message of the Upanishads, Ramayana and Mahabharata. The exhibition includes an audio-animatronics show; a recreation of the Hastinapur palace from the Mahabharata; a recreation of an idyllic Gurukula nestled in the lap of nature; evotional compositions of saint-poets; and an exposiiton on 'Harmony of world religions'.

The adjective Vedic may refer to The Vedas, the oldest preserved Indo-Aryan texts. ... The Upanishads (; Devanagari ) are part of the Hindu Shruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy and are seen as religious instructions by most forms of Hinduism. ... The Rāmāyaņa (Sanskrit: रामायण (a sandhi form of rāma-ayana = march or journey (Āyana) of Rāma) is part of the Hindu smriti, written by Valmiki. ... The Mahabharata (Devanagari: महाभारत, phonetically Mahābhārata - see note), is one of the three major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the others being the Ramayana and the Bhagavatam. ... A Gurukul is a type of ancient Hindu school in India that is residential in nature with the shishyas or students and the guru or teacher living in close proximity, many a time within the same house. ...

See also

• Akshardham New Delhi
• Akshardham Temple attack

The main Akshardham temple complex Swaminarayan Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. ... The Akshardham Temple attack occurred on September 24, 2002 when three heavily armed gunmen arrived at the Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, the capital of Western Gujarat state at around 16:30 local time. ...

External links

• Akshardham Gandhinagar Website
• Akshardham Delhi Website
• BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (Organization responsible for the creation of Akshardham)
• BAPS Care (Charitable arm of BAPS reponsible for part of the complex)