An epitome of Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture, Akshardham Temple is a famous Hindu temple and a spiritual-cultural complex. Also known as Swaminarayan Akshardham, it is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan.
Akshardham has made its way to the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple.
The Akshardham Temple is known for its stunning architecture. It has eight ostentatiously carved mandapams while timeless Hindu teachings and...
...flamboyant devotional traditions find their place on the temple's walls. The centrepiece, i.e. Lord Swaminarayan's Murti along with that of 20,000 deities, significant personalities in Indian history and sages showcase the essence of Indian architecture, traditions...
...and timeless spiritual thoughts
Akshardham complex is home to India's largest step well which is a host to the mesmerising water show; an open garden, Narayan Sarovar, various expeditions, and rituals. The complex is not less than a paradise for spiritual seekers.
The temple opened on 6th November 2005 is constructed by BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha). The main attraction of the complex, i.e. the Akshardham Mandir stands as high as 141 foot, stretches as wide as 316 foot and extends as long as 356 foot.
The walls and roofs carved with the images of different deities, musicians, dances, flora, and fauna are a work of great architecture. Every detailing here speaks highly of Indian cultural aspects.
A blend of several ancient styles of Indian architecture has been used to build the Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir. The principles of Maharishi Vastu Architecture are followed carefully in its construction.
The builders of this beautiful temple have abided by the norms Shilpa Shastras and hence have made no use of steel and concrete to maximise the lifespan of this great architectural piece. Akshardham is entirely a temple built of Rajasthani pink sandstone & Italian Carrara marble.
It has nine domes with 20,000 murtis of different deities, acharyas, and sadhus
Garbhagruh
Under the temple's central dome is the 11-foot high statue of Swaminarayan seated in Abhayamudra. Surrounding him are the figures of the divine succession of Gurus.
As manifestations of Aksharbrahma, the gurus are God's eternal servants, symbolising devotion and saintliness. Garbhagruh behind itself offers the items sanctified by Lord Swaminarayan during his premises on Earth for direct darshan.
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THERE ARE 35 CITIES FROM THE MAHABHARATA THAT STILL EXIST TODAY
Bharat during the Mahabharata times was divided into mighty kingdoms. 35 Cities mentioned in the epic are very much alive & kicking today verifying and reinforcing our Historic roots in the Epic.
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🌺01. Gandhara (modern Kandahar): Stretched from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, to far Afghanistan. Dhritarashtra's wife, Gandhari, was the daughter of King Subala; her brother, Shakuni, was Duryodhana's uncle.
🌺02. Takshashila (Rawalpindi): Gandhara's capital, famed as the city of knowledge and learning.
🌺03. Kekaya (northern Jammu-Kashmir): King Jaysena married Vasudeva's sister; their son Vinda was Duryodhana's ally in the war.
🌺04. Madra (Jammu-Kashmir, next to Kekaya): Called "Uttara Kuru" due to Himalayan proximity. King Shalya ruled; his sister Madri was Pandu's wife and the mother of Nakula-Sahadeva.
🌺05. Ujjayini (Nainital): Guru Drona trained Pandavas-Kauravas here in weapons. Bhima installed a Shivling on Drona's orders—now Bhimashankar, possibly one of 12 Jyotirlingas!
🌺06. Shivi (south Punjab): King Ushinara's grandson Shaivya wed Yudhishthira; Shaivya was a master archer who sided with Pandavas.
🌺।।The Secret of the Healing Power of Palani Murugan Idol।।🌺
⚜️Did You Know?
The Palani Murugan Idol is made up of 9 Deadly Poisons and still the substances that touch the idol are believed to acquire healing powers.
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The temple in Palani is one of the six renowned pilgrimage sites for Sri Murugan, in the form of Dandāyudhapāni. While the story of how Lord Murugan came to reside in Palani is a popular tale, many have yet to learn of the ancient secret behind the making of the main idol and why the temple is a powerful religious healing centre.
The idol in Palani, is in the form of an ascetic. Having renounced the world, Lord Dandāyudhapāni stands with a staff in his right hand and with rudraksha beads around his neck. Shunning all worldly possessions, the only apparel he has chosen to retain is a breechcloth.
The temple has been sanctified by the penance of numerous sages and siddhas. In one of his immortal songs, the great Saint Arunagirināthar sang "My Lord, You sit on a Holy Hill which is superlative and exceeds even the spiritual glory of Kasi (Benares)."
🌺।।रामायण में तीन मुख्य पात्र हैं - महर्षि वशिष्ठ , राजर्षि विश्वामित्र और भगवन परशुराम। इन तीनो दिग्गजों का संबंध और कहानी बहुत चित्ताकर्षक करने वाली है।।🌺
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राजर्षि विश्वामित्र महाराज गाधि के पुत्र कौशिक थे - इनकी बहन के पुत्र थे महर्षि जमदग्नि। महर्षि जमदग्नि की पत्नी भगवती रेणुका भी क्षत्रिय थी और इनके पुत्र थे भगवन परशुराम। तो कायदे से भगवन परशुराम के मातृकुल और दादीकुल का प्रभाव उनपर भरपूर रहा। इस रिश्ते से राजर्षि विश्वामित्र और परशुराम जी सम्बन्धी भी हुए।
राजर्षि विश्वामित्र और महर्षि वशिष्ठ की प्रतिद्वंदिता भगवान् राम के अवतरित होने से पहले चरम सीमा पर थी। महाभारत के आदि पर्व में अंगारपर्ण नामक गन्धर्व अर्जुन को इन दोनों की एक कहानी सुनाता है जो कुछ यूँ है।
एक बार भगवान श्री कृष्ण के परम मित्र उद्धव ने भगवान कृष्ण से पूछा: "आप द्रोपदी चीरहरण के समय चुप क्यों रहे?"
उद्धव और श्री कृष्ण जी का यह संवाद हम सभी के जीवन के लिए एक बड़ा सबक है।
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उद्धव का प्रश्न:
"हे कृष्ण! आप तो अंतर्यामी हैं। आपने कहा कि सच्चा मित्र वही है जो बिना मांगे मदद करे। फिर आप पांडवों के संकट के समय चुप क्यों रहे?
आपने युधिष्ठिर को जुआ खेलने से क्यों नहीं रोका?
आपने पासे को धर्मराज के पक्ष में क्यों नहीं पलटा?
जब द्रोपदी को भरी सभा में घसीटा गया, तब भी आप नहीं आए।
आप तब आए जब दुशासन उनका चीर हरण करने लगा। इतनी देरी क्यों? क्या यही सच्ची मित्रता है?"
भगवान कृष्ण का उत्तर (कर्म और विवेक का सिद्धांत):
भगवान मुस्कुराए और बोले, "उद्धव, विजय उसी की होती है जो विवेक से काम लेता है। दुर्योधन के पास विवेक था, उसने शकुनि को अपनी ओर से खेलने दिया। धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर भी विवेक से काम लेकर मुझे अपनी ओर से खेलने को कह सकते थे। सोचो, अगर शकुनि और मैं खेलते तो कौन जीतता?"