| JaiSwaminarayan
After 5 years of non-stop, round-the-clock construction, the massive and awesome Swaminarayan Temple Monument to World Peace was inaugurated today.. The Temple in New Delhi, India, is truely a modern day Wonder of the World!
It is one of the biggest and most intricate religious places of worship ever constructed. Combining several completely different and contrasting architectural styles of Hindu temple architecture of northern India -- Rajasthani, Orrisan, Gujarati, Mughal and Jain -- the Monument is entirely constructed of marble and the red-sandstone that Delhi is famous for, and that so many of her monuments are constructed of. It was completed in only 5 years, a world record of sorts.
So after years of waiting, the Temple was yesterday opened to the public -- and to photographers. Below is the Temple Complex as seen through the eyes of a photographer. The pictures are a great many and might take some time to load, but totally, totally worth the wait!
At its inaguration, it is widely being heralded as one of the greatest monuments India has ever produced. I hope you enjoy viewing this architectual marvel as much as I enjoyed having the honor presenting it.
Monument of the Temple
The monument, built without steel, is entirely composed of sandstone and marble. It consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone elephants) and 20,000 murtis ( idols ) and statues of India's great sadhus, devotees, acharyas ( religious heads ) and divine personalities.
The monument is a fusion of several architectural styles of pink stone and pure white marble. Pink stone symbolizes bhakti (devotion) in eternal bloom and white marble of absolute purity and eternal peace. The monument was built after over 300 million man hours of services rendered by 11,000 volunteers, sadhus ( saints ) and artisans.
It is the one of the wonders of the modern world, and the wonders of modern India.
.......Below are views of some of the buildings and areas that make up the Complex...
Lord Sahajanand - Swaminarayan Darshan / Hall of Values
The Sahajanand Darshan or Hall of Values is a huge museum of India's Spiritual Heritage, and the heritage of the Swaminarayan sect, featured through the life of His Holiness Bhagwan ( Lord )Swaminarayan. The many exhibits portray the messages of ahimsa (nonviolence), endeavor, prayer, vegetarianism, family harmony, etc. through 3-D dioramas and presentations from the life of His Holiness Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Exquisite settings and statues in each diorama are brought to life through robotics, fibre optics, light and sound effects, dialogues and music, transporting the audience to 18th century India.
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Garden of India or Bharat Upvan
"Through the millenniums people have always looked up to role models for inspiration, guidance, peace and courage. Their sterling lives radiate a perennial glow for the whole of mankind, regardless of all human, geographical and cultural distinctions. India, which has the most ancient continuous civilisation in the world, which hosts one sixth of humanity and has the largest democracy in the world, has produced from its vast cultural matrix a legion of role models for the world to emulate."
The Garden of India is a huge garden featuring flora and fauna from all over the length and breadth of India, from the Himalayas to the Kanyakumari, and the Deserts of Persia to the Jungles of Burma. The Bharat Upvan also has statues and figures of India's Kings, Warriors and Freedom Fighters, India's National Figures, and India's Women Personalities.
Musical Fountains / Yagnapurush Kund
The Yagnapurush Kund is a fascinating combination of a Vedic yagna kund and a musical fountain. It is the world's largest yagna kund measuring 300' X 300' with 2,870 steps and 108 small shrines. In its center lies an 8-petaled lotus shaped yagna kund designed according to the Jayaakhya Samhita of the Panchratra scripture. Its perfect geometric forms testify to ancient India's ancient knowledge in mathematics and geometry. At night the center comes to life with a colorful musical water fountain that echoes the Vedic sentiments of India.
.......Below are more views of the areas of the Temple itself...
Vibhuti Mandovar
Pari Krama
Narayan Pith
Garbagruh
Hope you enjoyed the tour, for those who haven't actually visited the temple, we, Swaminarayan satsangis ( followers ) and all fellow Indians heartily welcome you to come visit us in New Delhi, India and share this wonder with us.
JaiSwaminarayan 
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