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Akshardham: The World's Largest Hindu Temple Inaugurated in the United States

Pujit

Oct 13 2023

<a href='null'><div><img height='400px' width='auto;' class='img_dynaPost' src='/BlitzMobiImages/consumers/company551995499/mediafiles/yZ5XPNsT276.tmp'/></div></a><div style=' background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;font-family:Verdana;width:auto;padding:5px;max-height:100%;'><span><p class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow: visible; cursor: text; clear: both; position: relative; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: &quot;Segoe UI&quot;, &quot;Segoe UI Web&quot;, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><p class="Paragraph SCXW230835900 BCX0" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="1762605566" paraeid="{6baf6844-1af3-4d3a-a52d-2e8ba4bec166}{141}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">On October 8, in the presence of </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">Bochasanwasi</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"> Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) leader Mahant Swami Maharaj, the world's largest Hindu temple, Akshardham, was inaugurated in Robbinsville City, New Jersey, United States. The temple, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">possibly the</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">second-largest</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"> in the world after Angkor Wat in Cambodia, stands at an impressive height of 191 feet and sprawls over 185 acres.</span><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: none !important;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">The inauguration coincided with Mahant Swami Maharaj's 90th birthday, and he described the temple as fulfilling Pramukh Swami Maharaj's divine wish. The temple aims to welcome people from all backgrounds, embodying universal values and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">showcasing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"> stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata intricately carved into its stones.</span><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: none !important;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">The temple features over 150 Indian musical instruments, major dance postures on its pillars and walls, and a </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">Brahmakund</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"> or traditional Indian stepwell. The </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">Brahmakund</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"> holds water from 400 different rivers and lakes worldwide, symbolizing the temple's openness to all. The temple also incorporates sustainable practices, including a solar panel farm, a fly ash-concrete mix, and a significant effort in global tree planting.</span><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: none !important;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">The construction of Akshardham was a massive collaborative effort involving around 12,500 volunteers dedicating their time and skills over 12 years. Stones from several countries, including Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and India, were used in construction, </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">representing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"> diverse cultural </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">streams</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"> and </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">showcasing</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"> pluralism.</span><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: none !important;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the temple and its role in connecting the Indian diaspora, especially the youth, with their roots. The temple's purpose is to inspire people with values and teachings from Indian scriptures, making it a monument dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan's life and teachings.</span><span data-contrast="auto" xml:lang="EN-IN" lang="EN-IN" class="TextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif; font-variant-ligatures: none !important;"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">The design of the temple is distinctive, featuring one main shrine, 12 sub-shrines, nine </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">shikhars</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"> (spire-like structures), and nine pyramidal </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">shikhars</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW230835900 BCX0" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;">. Scholars and spiritual leaders praise the temple for conveying universal beliefs of inclusivity, service, love for humanity, and spiritual transcendence, resonating with a diverse audience</span><span class="EOP SCXW230835900 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}" style="user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19.425px; font-family: Calibri, Calibri_EmbeddedFont, Calibri_MSFontService, sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span></p></p><span></div><a href='null'><div><img height='400px' width='auto;' class='img_dynaPost' src='/BlitzMobiImages/consumers/company551995499/mediafiles/BzsaTdGp277.tmp'/></div></a>

Akshardham Temple

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