This Sunday, one of the largest temples in the world, and the largest outside India, will open in New Jersey. About the "Taj Mahal of the West" we will tell with the help of ChatGPT:
The Akshardham Temple of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) community is the third of its kind in the world, with the first two being in India – Gujarat and New Delhi. Upon its inauguration, it will also become the second largest temple in the world, at an area of about 740,600 square meters, with the largest temple being Angkor Wat in Cambodia, at 2 million square meters.
The new temple is a 12-year project of meticulous planning and construction, and is the world's largest Hindu temple hand-carved by over 12,500 volunteers from different backgrounds and even religions.
BAPS is a Hindu community founded in 1905 by Yaganpuroshdas (Shastriji Maharaj). Their faith centers on the idea that the divine presence of Swaminarian exists through a lineage of gurus, beginning with the Gunatitanand Swami. The community has no less than 100 temples throughout the United States, beyond its many temples in India.
Akshardham Temple Complex is a true architectural marvel, including a Maha Mandir (main temple), a reception centre, museum and event spaces. The structure is an intricate masterpiece, meticulously crafted from white sandstone, limestone, marble and granite, with every detail carefully carved by hand. The temple boasts nine shikara (minarets), each symbolizing different aspects of the Hindu scriptures.
At the entrance, a statue of Nilekanth and Ernie about 15 meters high, or 49 feet, awaits visitors – a symbol of his 49 years on Earth. Inside the temple complex, the atmosphere immerses visitors in Indian culture, with thousands of dyas (lights), Sanskrit hymns and a Brahm Kund pool featuring river water flowing through all 50 states.
The construction of Akshardham Temple was not without controversy, as the BAPS community was accused of forced labor in 2021. Although the lawsuit was dismissed, the case remains under investigation.
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