BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, the largest Hindu temple in the US, has opened its doors to the public. Located in Robbinsville, New Jersey, the temple is a marvel of Hindu architecture and craftsmanship. Learn about the key details of this stunning new country
The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey is the largest Hindu temple in the United States.
It opened its doors to the public on October 8, 2023, after 12 years of construction.
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha mentions: “As fireworks lit up the clear night sky and excitement filled the ground with a marching band from Dallas, TX joining the dancers across the courtyard, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj celebrated a grand dedication to the rich history of Indian culture and Hindu Sanatan Dharma as embodied through BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey on October 8, 2023.
“Today’s celebration remembers, honors and respects all the values that were instilled in the foundation of Akshardham. Experiencing Akshardham opens a window into thousands of years of Indian history,” is added.
The temple was built by Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a Hindu religious and social organization. BAPS has more than 1,000 temples worldwide, including two other Akshardham temples in India.
The Akshardham Temple in Robbinsville is spread over 183 acres and has over 10,000 statues and carvings. The main shrine is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, a Hindu deity who lived in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Other features of the temple include a cultural centre, a multimedia theater and a heritage museum. The temple also has a large garden with various plants and flowers.
Akshardham Temple is open to people of all faiths and backgrounds. Visitors can learn about Hinduism and Indian culture through exhibitions and programs at the temple.
Here are some facts about the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey:
- It has 40 small shikharas (towers) in Fasnakar style.
- It has 2 large and 8 small tires (dome)
- It has 98 sthambhas (carved pillars)
- It has 66 intricately carved peacock-style arches
- There are 144 carved holy figures
- There are 58 decorative ceiling designs
- It has 34 decorative grids
- There are 91 elephants with various musical instruments and flowers
- There are 44 Ganesh Murtis displayed that show devotion to Bhagwan
- It has 13,499 individual carved stone parts
- It is 42 feet high, 87 feet wide and 133 feet long
- Over a period of 12 years, the temple was built by over 12,500 volunteers from all over the world
- The temple is completely made of marble and limestone
- The temple complex includes the main sanctum, nine shikharas (tower-like structures), nine pyramidal shikharas and the largest elliptical dome ever built of stone
- The main sanctum houses a 32 feet tall statue of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
- The temple complex also includes a museum, a cultural center and a garden marker.
READ| List of largest Hindu temples in the world outside of India
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Source: newstars.edu.vn