New Jersey Swami Narayanan Akshardham- The world's second largest Hindu temple in New Jersey, USA. On October 8, 2023, the BAPS organization held the inauguration ceremony of the BAPS Swami Narayan Akshardham, a marvel of Hindu art, architecture, and culture. Swami Narayan Akshardham is a temple built by his devotees for the spiritual guru Yogiji Maharaj.
The Akshardham temple was built only in Delhi and Gujarat, India. Now, beyond India, it has been built in New Jersey, USA, in a grand manner. It has the distinction of being the second largest Hindu temple in the world and the largest Hindu temple in the United States.
Located in the town of Robbinsville, New Jersey, Akshardham is a testament to the rich heritage and traditions of the Indian community. It is the largest Hindu temple complex in the world. It connects the Asian Indian diaspora and a diverse American audience. The temple invites everyone to explore the spiritual and cultural treasures housed within its sacred walls.
Akshardham is the darshan of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the late spiritual leader of BAPS.
In an effort to combine ancient Indian codes and New Jersey state laws, Akshardham includes a traditional temple, a reception center, a museum, and an event space. Swaminarayan Akshardham is spread over 183 acres. Constructed entirely of white marble, the temple houses more than 10,000 idols of the deity.
Construction of the temple, which began in 2011, was completed after 12 years with the hard work, help, and efforts of 12,500 volunteers from all over the world. More than 12,500 men, women, and children took time off from their studies and jobs to build the temple.
Marble from various parts of India, sandstone from Rajasthan, teak from Myanmar, marble from Greece, Turkey, Italy, and limestone from Bulgaria and Turkey, among other materials, have been brought from 29 places around the world and used in the construction of this temple.
The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple invites you to experience joy, peace, spirituality, meditation and devotion. It is a place where cultures merge, traditions flourish and hearts unite. BAPS is a volunteer-driven spiritual organization committed to fostering personal growth through the Hindu values of faith, service and harmony.
It enriches society through the dedicated efforts of tens of thousands of volunteers from diverse professional and social backgrounds. It contributes millions of volunteer hours annually. Under the spiritual leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS nurtures Indian traditions in over 100 communities in North America and 3,500 worldwide. Through these communities, it promotes holistic personal development, promotes social progress, and embraces diversity. Photos courtesy of Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple New Jersey website.
- Our reporter Murugavelu Vaidyanathan