I had to attend the annual All India Principals’ Conference at Ahmedabad and got the opportunity of visiting Akshardam at Gandhinagar. I had seen clippings of the marvellous temple on television when terrorists had attacked it. And I had always wished to see the temple and its beauty in real. When we, a group eight members, reached the place, it was like dream come true for me.
Akshardam, the highlight of Gandhinagar in Gujarat, houses a beautiful Swaminarayan temple. It is a unique cultural complex built in memory of Lord Swaminarayan. It is a miracle worked by the service and devotion of thousands of volunteers. It is an intricately-carved structure by expert artisans from Bansipahadpur. It is a majestic monument built of 6000 tons of pink sand stone from Rajasthan.
Inspired by H D Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the entire temple was designed, crafted and built according to ancient Indian Architectural Treatises (Sthapathya Shastras). I wonder how the entire monument has been built without the use of steel or cement. The total area of Akshardam complex is 1,004,349 sq ft. The temple is ten-storey high. It is 240 ft long and 131 ft wide.
More than 12 million man hours of 900 skilled craftsmen have created this magnificent monument which has 93 sculpted pillars, 40 windows carved from both sides and many other beautifully carved sculptures. The temple has a seven-foot gold leafed idol of Lord Swaminarayan which is the main attraction of devotees.
There are three floors in the temple: Hari Mandapam- the main floor. The five principles followed here are: ‘No stealing’, ‘No adultery’, ‘No alcohol’, ‘No meat’ and ‘No impurity of body and mind’.
The next is Prasadi Mandapam which preserves the garments, articles, and other holy relics used by Swaminarayan. These relics have been scientifically restored and displayed.
The Vibhuti Mandapam, the upper floor, reveals the divine philosophy of Lord Swaminarayan through His own words and teachings complied in a sacred scripture- the Vachanamrut.
The first floor has galleries which have a museum portraying the 500 ‘Parahansas’, several things belonging to Swaminarayan such as a letter written to his guru Ramanand, a piece from an old tree, a replica of his old home, his pure wool shawl, a diorama of the Lord on a horse and other displays. The galleries outside have a state-of-the-art exhibition using Chez Integrovision shows, audio-visuals, multimedia, dioramas of the life of Lord Swaminarayan and from Hindu epics.
There are 148 exquisite stone elephants on the temple. The statues of sages, acharyas, goddess Lakshmi, Lord Ganesh and other divine incarnations have been beautifully sculpted here.
Swaminarayan sect was a part of the Bhakti movement and born of the philosophy of Sahajanand Swami who was considered an incarnation of Lord Swaminarayan. He was a powerful social activist.
Sahajanand Swami was born in 1781 as Ghanshyam in Uttar Pradesh. In 1792, after the death of his parents, he became a brahmachari and took the name ‘Nilkanth’. He travelled far and wide and settled in Gujarat. He mastered the teachings of all the major philosophical traditions, engaging in debates with their leading teachers.
Finally, he accepted the theological position of Ramanuja and his Vishishtadvaita as being the true one.
In 1800 he encountered the ascetic followers of Ramananda Swami, a teacher in the tradition of Ramanuja.
Initiated into this group as Sahajananda Swami, he was appointed by Ramananda to be the next guru. As a result, at the age of 21, Sahajananda Swami was regarded as a manifestation of Lord Swaminarayan, with his image being set up in temples. He was seen as the promised incarnation of Purushottam, the Supreme person, Lord Swaminarayan.
He not only did great service to Hinduism, but also attacked social evils like superstitions, addictions, violent sacrifices and sati in Gujarat 200 years ago. He performed many miracles and transformed evil people into law-abiding citizens and devotees. He preached the message of love, brotherhood, addiction-free living and respect to all. He died in 1830. His injunctions on the practical life of a devotee are found in the ‘Shikshapatri’, and his teachings in the ‘Vachanamritam’.
Sahajanandvan is an area of 7,625 sq mts (15 acres) of landscape which has beautiful gardens along with Akshardam complex. There are lakes and waterfalls, rock gardens and spray fountains. Children love the garden for its rides. It is a world of swans, ducks, and peacocks. There is a musical fountain which has a show in the evening. The show lasts for ten to twelve minutes with a mix of Vedic chants and classical Hindustani music.
There is no dust or dirt here and the place has been maintained very well. It is not an exaggeration when they say it is “peace in pink stone”. We all got a powerful experience of Indian culture. The marvellous beauty made us exclaim: “If there is eighth wonder it is none, but this!” We were proud that we were among the two million annual visitors to the temple.
