Akshardham : A Tribute to Lord Swaminarayan

Akshardham Temple

Akshardham is a homage to the Sarafan DAa/ma in stone. The monument which is set in a 23-acre plot at Gandhinagar (Gandhinagar district) is built in pink sandstone. It is 108 feet tall and 6000 tonnes of stone has gone into its making. A point worth noting is that this modern monument to Hinduism was built as per the injunctions of Vastu Shastra. Not a bit of steel has been used.

The monument stands on 93 sculpted pillars, 210 single-piece stone beams, 57 window grills, M domes, eight ornate zarokhas, etc. The sanctum sanctorum contains a 1.2 tonne gold-plated idol of Lord Swaminarayan, the founder of the sect that bears his name. The 7-foot idol is shown in a sitting posture with his right hand raised in abhay mudra. He is flanked by Swami Gunatitanand on his right and Swami Gopalanand Swami on his left. Both of them were his disciples. Swami Gunatitanand is called Swaminarayan's Akshardham the eternal abode. According to the Swaminarayan philosophy whenever Lord Swaminarayan incarnates on this planet he brings with him his Akshardham.

Gunatitanand Swami is also called Aksharbrahma and ranks second in the hierarchy of the Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha which built the Akshardham monument.

Inspiring episodes and incidents from the glorious history of Sanatan Dharma are presented in sound and light form for the benefit of the visitors. The show takes the visitors through various facets of Hinduism. So far millions of people have visited the monument since its inception on November 2,1992. They have been able to savour the story of Hinduism and to imbibe the message of universal peace and brotherhood.

The wisdom of the Vedas, the epics, the Puranas is depicted on a crowded canvas by the exhibition. The visitor comes face to face with personages who have made this land what it is.

It is a perfect mix of modernity and ancient values. Apart from Lord Ram going in search of his kidnapped wife, the visitor can see Shravan, the dutiful son, the Pandavas losing the game of dice in the Hastinapur palace, etc. Besides the visitors can see Sabari's long wait for Ram and Draupadi's humiliation in the Kauravasabha.

The Hall of Harmony projects world religious side by side. The monument is ringed by aparikrama containing 365 stone pillars.

 • Tallest structural stone pillars in India - four delicately sculpted pillars rise    
    to 33 ft.

• Longest stone support beams in stone architecture - 22 ft. long single-
   piece beams each weighing 5 tons.
• No iron or steel - from foundation to pinnacle - only stone has been used.
• 73 richly patterned and 63 partially carved pillars.
• 16 pillars with profuse roopkam - sculptures and figures.
• 64 large traditional sculptures with spiritual meanings and 192 small figures of gods and goddesses adorn the pillars.
• 5 types of stones used in the Monument : 1. Pink sandstone from Bansipahadpur. 2. Yellow stone from Jesalmer. 3. White marble from Makrana. 4. Maroon granite from Jhansi. 5. White marble from Ambaji.
• 25 domes of varying sizes and depths.
• Grandly ornate porch and 3 exclusively decorated porticos.
• Intricately carved from both sides - 30 large windows and 24 small grills.
• 220 stone beams for structural support.
• 57 stone screens for controlling light and enhancing beauty.
                                  • 160,000 cubic feet of pink sandstone has been carved and assembled.

Akshardham Temple - Night View