Akshardham Complex in Delhi

इतने अद्भुट था! अक्षरधाम मंदिर बहुट सुन्दर था - और हमने बहोत चीजे हिंदु धर्म के बारे में सीखी ! मुझे भुत अछा लुगता था, और भुत साफ था।

Today we visited Akshardham Temple in East Delhi on the banks of the Yamuna river, and it was quite impressive! Built and inaugurated only a few years ago (started in 2000, done by 2005), it is a remarkable modern Hindu Temple and visitors center that showcases traditional Indian architecture and explains Hindu beliefs. It was constructed by the BAPS, or Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan, a major organization within the Swaminarayan faith (a version of Hinduism; see BAPS). It sharply contrasts the traditional, historical sites in Delhi as a modern, clean, and crisply managed attraction, and it must have cost a fortune.

For the American visitor it was a sort of Hindu-hybrid of Disneyworld and Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. For instance, we arrived in a large parking lot with neatly marked rows, queued through security lines, checked our bags, cameras, and cell phones (none of those allowed!), and were given a neat brochure outlining the attractions offered. By Indian standards, this place was immaculately clean, complete with restrooms, food stands, and the occasional gift shop.

There was a live animatronic "experience" through 5 or 6 air conditioned theatres as modern as anything you would find in Orlando or L.A. Then a 40 minute IMAX film, followed by another squeaky-clean, air-conditioned indoor boat ride with more live animatronic robots...a la "Pirates of the Caribbean," but newer!

As for the purpose of the complex, it was to showcase the beliefs and values of Hinduism, specifically as held by the Swaminarayan Faith. From our visit and a brief web search, I learned it is a relatively recent sect of Hinduism comprised of the followers of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was born to poverty in Uttar Pradesh (North India) in 1781 AD, renounced his home at the age of 11, performed austerities in the Himalayas and traveled throughout India for the next seven years before settling in Gujarat (Western India). He then preached his doctrine of love, peace, purity, and non-violence until his death in 1830. Followers believe that he lives on beyond his mortal form. (see Bhagwan Swaminarayan)

First and foremost I was impressed with the amazing architectural work, all hand carved entirely from Rajasthani pink sandstone and Italian marble, erected without steel or concrete. It is and awesome monument to the traditional beliefs, history, and architecture of Hindu India. But I also got the impression that it represented the new optimism that can be felt in parts of India. I spoke to several people (both visitors and employees) in Hindi as we waited in line or wandered the complex (I am still getting used to the instant openness and surprising sincerity they show when they hear me try to speak to them in their language). While they are committed to their faith and traditions, they seem equally committed to the modern, looking to the future. That is not to say "all is rosy" here, but the fact that such a vibrant display exists in a place so often associated with the ancient, the backward, or the hopelessly quagmired was thought provoking and eye opening!

P.S. - Most of these great pictures were "borrowed" from their website...try as we may absolutely no cameras or cell phones were allowed. In fact, they said they were on heightened alert because radical Muslim groups had threatened at times to attack the site - obviously a tempting target for those who would attack resurgent Hinduism. But we felt perfectly safe there...on the 4th of July!