Temples are a splendid form of religious architecture. There are many temples in various parts of the country, all boasting unique architecture and beautiful designs. However, The capital city of India- New Delhi, alone has hundreds of temples, many of which are quite important.
One of them is the Laxminarayan Temple or the Birla Mandir of Delhi. It has amazon architecture which is old and precious. The temple is a place of significance for the Hindus and other religions too. It is an important religious place, just like the Bangla Sahib Gurudwara of Delhi.
Today, we will talk about the Birla Mandir and all the information you need to know before going to visit this amazing place.
About the Temple
The name of the Birla Mandir also recognizes as the Laxminarayan Temple. This famous temple is located in the capital of India, Delhi. Laxminarayan temple is a combination of modern art with beautiful colors depicting the holy Hindu culture.
The main purpose of inaugurating the Birla Mandir was to welcome people of all classes without any discrimination.
The main portion of the Laxminarayan temple is dedicated to Lord Narayan and Goddess Lakshmi. Besides that, the other shrines are for Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, and Lord Hanuman.
There is a section of the temple that is to worship Lord Buddha. The left side of the Laxminarayan temple is wholely dedicated to Devi Durga, who is known as the Goddess of Shakti (the power).
Historical and Religious Significance
The Birla Mandir, or the Laxminarayan Temple, is a holy place for the people of the Hindu religion. During its construction, the makers specified that everyone, irrespective of their class or caste, could enter the temple and worship their god and goddess with full faith and harmony.
The temple is solely dedicated to Goddess Laxmi, who is the goddess of prosperity, and Lord Narayan, the preserver of the universe.
Each year, lots of Hindus come together and celebrate the two major festivals of the Hindu religion here. The first is the Janmashtami, coming every year in August or September. It is the occasion when Lord Krishna, an avatar of Lord Narayan, was born.
The other festival when thousands of people come together and greet each other is Diwali, the festival of lights held in October or November.
The Architecture of the Temple
This amazing piece of art was made in the 1990s, and the man behind building the modern historical temple was Sris Chandra Chatterjee. The Birla Mandir is covered with three major colors- red, yellow, and white which are symbolized as the holy colors in the Hindu religion.
The land dedicated to the Birla Mandir is about 3 hectares (7.5 acres), so besides praying, people can meditate, relax, and can even have a great gathering on the occasions like Janmashtami as well as Diwali with great pleasure. The beautiful shrines, fountains, and large gardens embrace the beauty of the temple.
To make it more impressive, hundreds of architects from Benares, headed by Acharya Vishwanath Shastri, carved paintings showcasing the scenes of Hindu mythology from the golden yuga of the present universe cycle.
Other Facts About the Temple
The Laxminarayan temple is a stunning piece of art. But, besides that, there are other few amazing facts that will make you keener to see the place in person. It is because of its Shikara, which is above the sanctum sanctorum, that the temple looks huge. It is about 160 feet in height and makes the view of the temple best during the sunrise.
The Kota stones were brought from various places like Makarana, Agra, and Jaisalmer, and Kota adds shining stars to the building of th temple.
Other Details About Birla Mandir of Delhi
The timing of visiting the Birla mandir is different from other temples. It opens early in the morning at about 4:30 AM, till noon at 1:30 PM.
The temple re-opens for visitors at 2:30 PM. The closing time of the Birla Mandir is 9:00 PM. To avoid any inconvenience and to have a proper vision of God, it is important that one should know the timings of the temple before visiting the Birla Mandir.
There is no entry fee that applies to enter the Birla Mandir. One should keep in mind that cameras or mobile phones are not allowed inside the temple.
Things to Do In the Temple
Besides seeking the blessings of the Lord, there are several other things that you can do when you visit the Birla Mandir in Delhi. These make it one of the must-visit temples in India. Here are some of them:
- Small Shops: Inside the temple, there are small shops from where one can buy all the stuff related to Lord Vishnu as well as other gods. They even sell all the necessary products for pooja. One can even get to eat different varieties of Indian food inside the temple.
- Temple Garden: Covering the large area of the temple, there is a beautiful garden situated inside the Birla Mandir. The visitors get fascinated with the beauty of the garden and love to spend time meditating or even enhancing the beauty of the temple.
- Laxminarayan Temple Dharamshala: The Laxminarayan temple dharamshala is the place of residence for the priests of the Birla Mandir. They live here and regularly chant prayers in the name of god. It is very peaceful to hear the sound of bells and their melodious voice. Their soothing voice brings great energy and a wonderful vibe to your heart.
Conclusion
The unique color combination of the temple awes the visitors. It is nothing like the other temples of India, as it has a touch of ethnicity and simplicity. Moreover, it has stones engraved in it, which were brought in from different parts of the country.
The Birla Mandir of Delhi, or the Laxminarayn Temple, receives a hoard of tourists every day. Also, there are many devotees that come to visit the place every day, and participate in all the important rituals and events.
With all the information mentioned above, you can plan your visit to this beautiful temple to feel the overflow of spirituality and God’s love.