Akshardham (Gujarati: , Devnagari: ) is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India.

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!lso re"erred to as Delhi
Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, the complex displa#s millennia o" traditional Hindu andIndian culture, spiritualit#, and architecture. $he
%uilding &as inspired and developed %# 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj, the spiritual head o" the +ochasan&asi )hri !(shar 'urushottam )&aminara#an
)anstha, &hose ,,--- volunteers helped .,--- artisansconstruct !(shardham.
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$he temple, &hich attracts approximatel# .- percent o" all tourists &ho visit Delhi,
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&as o""iciall# opened on 1 2ovem%er /--3.
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It sits near the
%an(s o" the 4amuna adjacent to the /-1- 5ommon&ealth Games village in eastern 2e& Delhi.
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$he temple, at the center o" the complex, &as %uilt
according to the 6astu )hastra and 'ancharatra )hastra. In addition to the large central temple cra"ted entirel# o" stone, the complex "eatures
exhi%itions on incidents "rom the li"e o" )&aminara#an and the histor# o" India, an I*!7 "eature on the earl# li"e o" )&aminara#an as the teenage #ogi,
2il(anth, a musical "ountain on the message o" the 8panishads, and large landscaped gardens. $he temple is named a"ter a %elie" in )&aminara#an
Hinduism.
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Contents
[hide
1 9eatures
o 1.1 *onument
o 1./ :xhi%itions
1./.1 Hall o" 6alues
1././ $heatre
1./., *usical "ountain
1./.0 +oat ride
1./.3 Garden o" India
o 1., !dditional "eatures
1.,.1 4ogi Hrada# ;amal
1.,./ 2eel(anth !%ishe(
1.,., 2ara#an )arovar
1.,.0 'remvati !hargruh
1.,.3 !!<)H 5entre
/ Histor# and development
o /.1 'lanning
o /./ Development
o /., =pening 5eremon#
o /.0 Gar%hagruh renovation and events
, Guinness >orld <ecord
o ,.1 Disputes
0 <e"erences
3 :xternal lin(s
[edit]Features
[edit]Monument
$he central monument at !(shardham
$he main monument, at the center o" the complex, is 101?"oot (0, m) high, ,11?"oot (@1 m) &ide, and ,.-?"oot (11- m) long,
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and is covered top to
%ottom &ith carved details o" "lora, "auna, dancers, musicians, and deities.
Designed in accordance &ith ancient 6edic text (no&n as the )thapat#a )hastra, it "eatures a %lend o" architectural st#les "rom across India.
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It is
constructed entirel# "rom <ajasthani pin( sandstone and Italian 5arrara mar%le, and has no support "rom steel or concrete.
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$he monument also
consists o" /,0 ornatel# carved pillars, nine domes, and /-,--- murtis and statues o" HinduismBs sadhus, devotees, and achar#as.
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$he monument
also "eatures the Gajendra 'ith at its %ase, a plinth pa#ing tri%ute to the elephant "or its importance in Hindu culture and IndiaCs histor#. It contains 10A
scale siDed elephants in total and &eighs a total o" ,--- tons.
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>ithin the monument, under the central dome, lies a murti or statue o" )&aminara#an &hich is 11?"oot (,.0 m) high. $he murti is surrounded %# similar
statues o" the gurus o" the sect.
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:ach murti is made o" paanch daatu or "ive metals in accordance to Hindu tradition. !lso &ithin the central
monument lie the murtis o" other Hindu deities, including )ita <am, <adha ;rishna, )hiv 'arvati, andEa(shmi 2ara#an.
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$he monumentCs central dome
[edit]Exhibitions
[edit]Hall of Values
!lso (no&n as )ahajanand 'radarshan, the Hall o" 6alues "eatures li"e?li(e ro%otics and dioramas &hich displa# incidents "rom )&aminara#anCs li"e,
portra#ing his message a%out the importance o" peace, harmon#, humilit#, service to others and devotion to God. $he )ahajanand 'radarshan is set
in 1Ath centur# India and displa#s o" 13 dioramas through ro%otics, "i%er optics, light and sound e""ects, dialogues, and music.
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$he hall "eatures the
&orldCs smallest animatronic ro%ot in the "orm o" Ghansh#am *aharaj, the child "orm o" )&aminara#an.
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[edit]Theatre
2amed 2eel(anth ;al#an 4atra, the theatre houses DelhiCs "irst and onl# large "ormat screen, measuring A3?"oot (/1 m) %# 13?"oot (/- m). $he theatre
sho&s a "ilm speciall# commissioned "or the complex, Neelkanth Yatra, to recount a seven?#ear pilgrimage made %# )&aminara#an made during his
teenage #ears throughout India. Mystic India, an international version o" the "ilm called, &as released in /--3 at I*!7 theatres and giant screen
cinemas &orld&ide.
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! /.?"oot (A./ m) tall %ronDe murti o" 2eel(anth 6arni is located outside the theatre.
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$he musical "ountain and the statue o" 2eel(anth 6arni in its %ac(ground
[edit]Musical fountain
;no&n as the 4agnapurush ;und, it is IndiaCs largest step &ell. It "eatures a ver# large series o" steps do&n to a traditional #agna (und. During the
da#, these steps provide rest "or the visitors to the complex and at night, a musical "ountain sho& representing the circle o" li"e is pla#ed to an
audience &hich is seated on the same steps.
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$he "ountain is named a"ter the "ounder o" the Hindu organiDation,)hastriji *aharaj.
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$he "ountain
measures ,-- "eet (@1 m) %# ,-- "eet (@1 m) &ith /,A.- steps and 1-A small shrines. In its center lies an eight?petaled lotus shaped #agna (und
designed according to the Fa#aa(h#a )amhita o" the 'anchratra shastra.
[edit]Boat ride
2amed )ans(ruti 6ihar, this ride ta(es visitors on a journe# through 1-,--- #ears o" Indian histor# in approximatel# 1/ minutes. 6isitors sit in speciall#
designed peacoc( shaped %oats that ma(e their &a# around an arti"icial river, passing through a model o" $a(shashila, the &orldCs "irst universit#,
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chemistr# la%oratories, ancient hospitals, and %aDaars, "inall# ending &ith a message expressing hope "or the "uture o" India.
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[edit]Garden of ndia
!lso (no&n as the +harat 8pavan, this garden has lush manicured la&ns, trees, and shru%s. $he garden is lined &ith %ronDe sculptures o"
contri%utors to IndiaCs culture and histor#. $hese sculptures include children, &omen, national "igures, "reedom "ighters, and &arriors o" India, including
nota%le "igures such as *ahatma Gandhi.
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$he 4ogi Hrada# ;amal, a lotus shaped sun(en garden
[edit]Additional features
[edit]!o"i Hrada# $amal
! sun(en garden, shaped li(e a lotus &hen vie&ed "rom a%ove, "eatures large stones engraved &ith Guotes "rom &orld luminaries ranging
"rom )ha(espeare and *artin Euther ;ing to )&ami 6ive(ananda and )&aminara#an.
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[edit]%eelkanth Abishek
Devotees o""er a%hishe(, a ritual o" pouring &ater on to the murti o" 2eel(anth 6arni, and express their reverence and pra#ers "or spiritual upli"tment
and "ul"illment o" &ishes.
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[edit]%ara#an &aro'ar
$he 2ara#an )arovar is a la(e that surrounds the main monument. $he la(e contains hol# &aters "rom 131 rivers and la(es that are %elieved to have
%een sancti"ied %# )&aminara#an, including *ansarovar. )urrounding the 2ara#an )arovar are 1-A gaumu(hs, s#m%oliDing Fanmangal 2amavali or
the 1-A names "or god, "rom &hich hol# &ater issues "orth.
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[edit](rem'ati Ahar"ruh
$he 'remati !hargruh or the 'remvati 9ood 5ourt is a vegetarian restaurant modeled on the !janta and :llora caves in *aharashtra, India and
an !#urvedic %aDaar. $he restaurant caters a variet# o" traditional dishes.
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[edit]AA)&H Centre
$he !(shardham 5entre "or !pplied <esearch in )ocial Harmon# or the !!<)H 5entre is a centre &ithin the complex that applies research o" social
harmon# and related topics. )cholars and students ma# conduct practical research through !!<)H. <esearchers have the a%ilit# to carr# out their
research projects and a""iliate their papers &ith !!<)H. )tudies on education, medicare, tri%al and rural &el"are, ecolog#, and culture are conducted
&ithin the centre.
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[edit]Histor# and de'elo*ment
$he !(shardham complex in Delhi
[edit](lannin"
$he %uilding had %een planned since 1@1A as a vision o" 4ogiji *aharaj.
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4ogiji *aharaj, the spiritual head o" the +!') )&aminara#an )anstha at
the time, expressed his desire "or &anting a grand temple %uilt on the %an(s o" the 4amuna river to t&o or three devotee "amilies o" )&aminara#an
that resided in 2e& Delhi at the time.
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!ttempts &ere made to start the project, ho&ever little progress &as made. In 1@.1, 4ogiji *aharaj died.
In 1@A/, 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj, 4ogiji *aharajCs successor as the spiritual head o" +!'), started to continue "ul"illing the dream o" his guru 4ogiji
*aharaj and prompted devotees to loo( into the possi%ilit# o" %uilding the temple in Delhi. ! reGuest "or the plan &as put "or&ard to the Delhi
Development !uthorit# (DD!), and several di""erent places &ere suggested, including GhaDia%ad, Gurgaon, and9arida%ad. 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj
stood "irm in "ollo&ing the &ishes o" 4ogiji *aharaj to %uild a temple on the 4amuna.
In !pril /---, a"ter 1A #ears, the Delhi Development !uthorit# o""ered 1- acres (/0-,--- m
/
) o" land, and the 8ttar 'radesh Government o""ered ,-
acres (1/-,--- m
/
) "or the project.
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8pon receiving the land, 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj per"ormed puja on the site "or success in the project.
5onstruction on the temple %egan on A 2ovem%er /--- and !(shardham &as o""iciall# opened on 1 2ovem%er /--3, &ith the %uilding %eing
completed in t&o da#s short o" "ive #ears.
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[edit]+e'elo*ment
! team o" eight sadhus &ere assigned to oversee the !(shardham project.
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$he majorit# o" the team had gained experience "rom &or( on
the !(shardham in Gandhinagar,Gujarat, Delhi !(shardhamCs sister complex.
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During development, 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj &as consulted in
man# aspects o" the monumentCs construction.
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5onstruction on the !(shardham complex
!round 1@@. and 1@@A, the idea to start development on the temple, %# %eginning the stone carving, had %een reGuested. Ho&ever, this idea &as
denied %# 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj &ho %elieved that the construction should onl# start a"ter the land &as acGuired. $he initial &or( done on the site
&as on the "oundation. Due to the so"t river %an(, the site &asnCt considered ideal "or construction. !s a result, a deep "oundation &as imperative. $o
construct a sta%le "oundation, 13?"oot (0.1 m) o" roc(s and sand &ere ent&ined &ith &ire mesh and topped %# "ive "eet o" concrete. 9ive million "ired
%ric(s raised the "oundation another /1.3?"oot (1.1 m). $hese %ric(s &ere then topped %# three more "eet o" concrete to "orm the main support under
the monument.
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=n / Ful# /--1, the "irst sculpted stone &as laid.
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$he team o" eight sadhus consisted o" scholars in the "ield o" the 'ancharatra )hastra, a Hindu
scripture on architecture and deit# carving. $he sadhus &atched over stone &or( as &ell as the research on carvings on Indian cra"tsmanship "rom
%et&een Ath and 1/th centur#. $his research &as done at various sites such as !ng(or >at, as &ell asFodhpur, Fagannath 'uri, ;onar(, and other
temples in )outh India.
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)even thousand carvers and three thousand volunteers &ere put to &or( "or the construction !(shardham.
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>ith over 1,--- tons o" pin( sandstone
coming "rom <ajasthan, &or(shop sites &ere set up around places &ithin the state.
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!mongst the carvers &ere local "armers and "i"teen hundred
tri%al &omen &ho had su""ered "rom a drought and received economic gain due to this &or(. $he initial stone cutting &as done %# machine, &hile the
detailed carvings &ere done %# hand. :ver# night, over one hundred truc(s &ere sent to !(shardham, &here "our thousand &or(ers and volunteers
operated on the construction site.
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[edit],*enin" Ceremon#
!(shardham &as consecrated on 1 2ovem%er /--3 %# 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj
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and ceremoniousl# dedicated to the nation %# the 'resident o"
India, Dr. !.'.F. !%dul ;alam,
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the 'rime *inister, *anmohan )ingh, and the Eeader o" the =pposition in the Indian 'arliament, Eal ;rishna !dvani,
&ith the presence o" /3,--- guests.
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!"ter touring the central monument, 'resident ;alam then gave a speech on &here !(shardham "its &ith
societ#, and "inished %# sa#ing,
H'ramu(h )&amiji *aharaj has inspired thousands o" people across the countr# and a%road and %rought together the %est o" the minds "or creating a
%eauti"ul cultural complex. It has %ecome a place o" education, experience and enlightenment. It creativel# %lends the traditional stone art and
architecture, Indian culture and civiliDation, ancient values and &isdom and the %est o" modern media and technolog#. *ultiple la#ers o" this complex
expresses the strength o" the mind, &illpo&er o" the human %eing, indomita%le spirit, "lo&ering (indness, "usion o" scienti"ic and medical talent, m#riad
colors o" varied cultures and ultimatel# the po&er o" (no&ledge. In essence, it is a d#namic complex &ith livel# images. ... !(shardham has happened
at the da&n o" /1st centur# &ith the commitment and dedication o" one million volunteers. >hat has happened toda# at !(shardham inspires me and
gives me the con"idence that &e can do itI $he realiDation o" developed India is certainl# possi%le %e"ore /-/- &ith the millions o" ignited minds li(e
#ou.H
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'rime *inister )ingh "ollo&ed %# hoping that this &ould usher in religious tolerance and praised the architecture o" the complex.
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He made note o" it
%ecoming a "uture landmar( o" India
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&hile E. ;. !dvani called it Hthe most uniGue monument o" the &orld.H
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'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj ended the
nightCs speeches and expressed the &ish that, HIn this !(shardham, ma# one and all "ind inspiration to mould their lives and ma# their lives %ecome
divine. )uch is m# pra#er to god.H
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[edit]Garbha"ruh reno'ation and e'ents
=n 1, Ful# /-1-, a ne&l# designed gar%hagruh, or inner sanctum, &as inaugurated %# 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj in the main monument &ithin the
!(shardham complex. $he ne& gar%hagruh includes a decorated, canopied sihasan, upon &hich the murti o" )&aminara#an rests and "eatures
intricate carvings and gold?lea"ed designs.
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!(shardham served as a "eatured attraction during the /-1- 5ommon&ealth Games held in Delhi. $hrough the duration o" the Games, hundreds o"
athletes, teams, and enthusiasts "rom around the &orld visited the complex.
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=n 10 2ovem%er /-1-, the )&aminara#an <esearch Institute at
!(shardham &as inaugurated through an event organiDed %# the &omenBs "action o" the organiDation, highlighting the value o" seva, or sociall#
%ene"icial volunteer e""orts, in societ# through mandirs, churches, mosGues, and other places o" &orship.
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!nju +hargava, the "ounder o" the Hindu
!merican )eva 5harities and advisor to 'resident +arac( =%ama on "aith?%ased issues, delivered the (e#note address, &hich emphasiDed the need
"or seva in societ# and the vital role o" spiritualit# in oneBs li"e.
[edit]Guinness -orld )ecord
$he !(shardham monument in Delhi
=n 1. Decem%er /--., *ichael >hitt#, an o""icial &orld record adjudicator "or Guinness >orld <ecords, traveled to !hmeda%ad, India to present a
ne& &orld record to 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj, the spiritual leader o" +!') )&aminara#an )anstha, "or the !(shardham complex.
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$he record &as presented "or !(shardham as the Worlds Largest Comprehensie !indu "emple (certi"icate).
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$he certi"icate states,
H+!') )&aminara#an !(shardham in 2e& Delhi, India, is the &orldCs largest comprehensive Hindu temple. It measures ,31 "t (1-@ m). long, ,11 "t
(@1 m). &ide and 101 "t (0, m). high, covering an area o" A1,,0/ sG "t (A,-/1.0 m
/
). $he grand, ancient?st#le, ornatel# hand?carved stone temple has
%een %uilt &ithout structural steel &ithin "ive #ears %# 11,--- artisans and volunteers. His Holiness 'ramu(h )&ami *aharaj, revered spiritual leader
o" +!'), consecrated the temple on 1 2ovem%er /--3. !(shardham sho&cases the essence o" IndiaCs ageless art, %orderless culture and timeless
values.
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8pon presentation o" the a&ard, *ichael >hitt# stated, HIt too( us three months o" research, poring over the extensive architectural plans o" the
!(shardham and also those o" other temples o" compara%le siDe, visiting and inspecting the site, %e"ore &e &ere convinced that !(shardham
deserved the title...H
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[edit]+is*utes
$hree temples, the *eena(shi !mman $emple in *adurai, the )ri <anganathas&am# $emple in )rirangam, and the !nnamalai#ar
$emple in $hiruvannamalai, all located in $amil 2adu, India, are claimed to %e larger than !(shardham. $he trustees o" these temples have reportedl#
disputed the Guinness >orld <ecord.
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$he *eena(shi temple in *adurai has the length o" A3- "eet (/1- m) and &idth o" A-- "eet (/0- m). $he entire area o" this temple is 1. acres
(-.-1@ (m
/
), &hile the )ri <anganathas&am# temple in )rirangam covers 131 acres (-.1, (m
/
) and the !runachales&arar $emple in $hiruvannamalai
is /0 acres (-.-@. (m
/
).
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!uthorities at the *eena(shi temple have argued that temples are places "or &orship and there"ore additional "eatures
and exhi%itions are not components o" a temple. $he# have also argued that construction area o" the actual temple is more important than the land
area.
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[edit])eferences