Laxminarayan Temple

File:Gandhi at the Laxminarayan Temple.jpg

The construction of the temple dedicated to Laxmi Narayana started in 1933, built by industrialist and philanthropist, Baldeo Das Birla and his son Jugal Kishore Birla of the Birla family, thus, the temple is also known as Birla Temple. The foundation stone of the temple was laid by Jat Maharaj Udaybhanu Singh. The temple was built under guidance of Pandit Vishwanath Shastri.{{cite web|url=http://expertbulletin.com/birla-mandir/|title=Birla Mandir – Lakshmi Narayan Temple Delhi - Expert Bulletin|first=Expert|last=Bulletin|access-date=16 October 2016}} The concluding ceremony and Yagna were performed by Swami Keshavanandji.{{cite web|url=http://www.hdfcbank.com/personal/donate-online/religious-offering-inner/1323254400|title=Archived copy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703142515/http://www.hdfcbank.com/personal/donate-online/religious-offering-inner/1323254400|archive-date=2014-07-03|url-status=dead|access-date=2014-09-19}}{{cite news |title=Making history with brick and mortar|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Making-history-with-brick-and-mortar/Article1-745801.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205200651/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Making-history-with-brick-and-mortar/Article1-745801.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2012 |publisher=Hindustan Times|date=15 September 2011 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-temples/birla-mandir-delhi.html|title=Birla Temple Delhi- Birla Mandir in Delhi, Laxmi Narayan Mandir Delhi, Laxminarayan Temple New Delhi India|access-date=16 October 2016}}

Gandhi inaugurated the temple and ensured that it allows members of all castes.

This is the first of a series of temples built by the Birlas in many cities of India, which are also often called Birla Temple.

File:Birla mandir,Delhi.JPG of the temple]]

Its architect was Sris Chandra Chatterjee, a leading proponent of the "Modern Indian Architecture Movement."A Concise History of Modern Architecture in India, Jon T. Lang, Orient Blackswan, 2002, p. 27 The architecture was influenced heavily by the principles of the Swadeshi movement of the early

twentieth century and the canonical texts used. The movement did not reject the incorporation of new construction ideas and technologies. Chatterjee extensively used modern materials in his buildings.

The three-storied temple is built in the northern or Nagara style of temple architecture. The entire temple is adorned with carvings depicting the scenes from golden yuga of the present universe cycle. More than a hundred skilled artisans from Benares, headed by Acharya Vishvanath Shastri, carved the icons of the temple. The highest shikhara of the temple above the sanctum sanctorum is about 49 m (160 feet) high. The temple faces the east and is situated on a high plinth. The shrine is adorned with fresco paintings depicting Shastri's life and work. The icons of the temple are in marble brought from Jaipur. Kota stone from Makarana, Agra, Kota, and Jaisalmer was used in the construction of the temple premises. The Geeta Bhawan to the north of the temple is dedicated to Krishna. There is an rtificial landscape and cascading waterfalls.{{cite web|url=http://www.laxminarayan.blessingsonthenet.com/|title=Birla Mandir:About the Temple|access-date=16 October 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413070334/http://www.laxminarayan.blessingsonthenet.com/|archive-date=13 April 2012}}

File:Laxminarayan Temple Delhi 2013.jpg

The main temple houses statues of Narayan and Lakshmi. There are other small shrines dedicated to Shiva, Ganesha and Hanuman. There is also a shrine dedicated to Buddha. The left side temple shikhar (dome) houses Devi Durga, the goddess of Shakti, the power. The temple is spread over an area of {{convert|7.5|acre|m2|order=flip}} approximately and the built up area is {{convert|0.52|acre|m2|order=flip}}.

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The temple is located on the Mandir Marg, situated west of the Connaught Place in New Delhi.

{{wide image|Birla Mandir Delhi, a panoramic view.jpg|1200px|Panoramic view of Birla Mandir}}

• Tourist attractions in Delhi

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File:Shivaji_Birla_mandir_6_dec_2009_(38).JPG | Shivaji statue with a verse by Poet Bhushan

File:Chandragupt_maurya_Birla_mandir_6_dec_2009_(31).JPG | Chandragupta Maurya

File:Birla Mandir - Delhi, views around.JPG |Flower Shop

File:Birla Mandir, Delhi, views at night2.JPG | Dharmashala

File:Birla mandir 6 dec 2009 a temple.JPG | South Indian style Gopuram

File:Budha statue in a Budha Vihar near Birla Mandir Delhi1.JPG | Buddha Vihar

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Laxminarayan temple, New Delhi}}

• [https://shribirlamandir.com/ Shri Birla Mandir, New Delhi]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120413070334/http://www.laxminarayan.blessingsonthenet.com/ Laxminarayan Temple]
• [http://wikimapia.org/#lat=28.633528&lon=77.198128&z=18&l=19&m=a&v=2&gz=1;77198583;28632445;0;212;247;551;660;311;424;0 Laxminarayan Temple on Wikimapia]

{{Delhi landmarks}}

{{Famous Vishnu temples}}

{{Hindu temples in Delhi}}

Category:1939 establishments in India

Category:Hindu temples in Delhi

Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1939

Category:Vishnu temples

Category:Birla Mandir

Category:20th-century religious buildings and structures in India