Laxminarayan
Temple as viewed from the street The Laxminarayan Temple,
(also called the Birla Mandir), in Delhi, India, is a
temple built in honor of the Hindu goddess of wealth,
Laxmi, and of her consort, Lord Vishnu the Preserver of
the Hindu Trinity. It is a temple with many shrines,
fountains, and a large garden . The temple attracts
thousands of devotees on Janmashtami day, the birthday of
Lord Krishna.
The famous Birla
temple patronized by Mahatma Gandhi, who inaugurated this
temple in 1938 after Raja Baldev Birla constructed it, is
dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. It is close to Connaught
Place and is frequented by many devotees regularly. The
temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi on the condition
that people of all strata of society be allowed to offer
prayers there on account of the large scale prevalence of
untouchability at that time. One of the most important
festivals of the Hindus Janamashtami coinciding with the
birth of Lord Krishna is celebrated with great fervour in
the temple with more than lakh visitors. At the entrance
is a plaque welcoming people of all faiths and religions.
About Birla Mandir
Overlooking the Tank Bund, in Hyderabad, this magnificent
shrine dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara offers a fantastic
panoramic view of the twin cities of Hyderabad and
Secunderabad. Built entirely out of marble this
magnificent structure stands atop the Kala Pahad
presenting a colorful spectacular sight when illuminated
at night.
Beauty of the temple
Built over a span of ten years, by a Birla Foundation, the
Birla Mandir is a beautiful modern temple overlooking the
south end of Hussain Sagar, providing an excellent view
over the city from the summit. One gets to view the
intricate carvings of the temple, the ceiling and the
mythological figures, which are a standing testimony to
the dexterity and sculptural excellence of the craftsmen.
This magnificent structure is a blend Of Orissan & South
Indian Temple Art where a Rajagopuram built in the South
Indian style greets the visitors. The tower over the main
shrine of Lord Venkateswara called the "Jagadananda
Vimanam" is built in the Orissan style, while the towers
over the shrines of the consorts are built in the South
Indian style. The consorts of Venkateswara, 'Padmavati'
and 'Andal' are housed in separate shrines. Beautiful
scenes from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharatha
are finely sculpted in marble. A number of lofty steps
lead the visitor to the sanctum sanctorum. Along the
winding path are many marble statues of Gods and Goddesses
of Hindu mythology located in the midst of some gardens,
full of blossoms. The granite image of the presiding deity
is about 11 ft. tall and a carved lotus forms an umbrella
for this image. The brass flagstaff rises to a height of
42 ft. |
