Video Discription |
In this video, TeamHira Adventures went to visit the recently opened 183-acre BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey. It is considered America's largest Hindu Temple built in modern times outside of Asia! About 15 years in the making, over 12,500 volunteers most from the U.S., Canada, & India worked hard to create such a beautiful historic landmark. Walking into the temple feels like you are transported to India as visitors walked barefoot on the marble floors, admiring in awe of the beauty from the intricate stone carvings of deities etched into the walls and ceilings. The images and stone carvings on the walls conveyed stories from Hindu scriptures. Designed by Hindu scriptures, it also includes design elements from ancient Indian culture of 10,000 statues and carvings. Despite the excitement of the recently built Hindu temple, let's not forget the millions of hours of labor and dedication that went into the construction of the Shri Swaminarayan Akshardham. Hundreds of immigrants from the lowest strata of Indian society were forced to work at the Robbinsville site and other temples operated by BAPS for little as $1.20 an hour, according to a pending class action lawsuit. Among the volunteers were business executives, physicians, students, and exceptional architects who dedicated their time in constructing the temple. In spite of this, the Hindu temple was only possible because people from all walks of life came together to accomplish this monumental project.
Nilkanth Varni, teenaged Bhagwan Swaminarayan bronze statue stands in a yogic posture at 49-feet tall at the entrance of the Akshardham. His calm composure symbolizes discipline, spiritual focus, compassion, empathy, and tranquil service to all.
The Brahma Kund, a traditional stepped pond is filled with the water from the sacred holy rivers of India and those flowing through the United States. The stepped pond honors precious water our planet provides. It allows oneself to stop, reflect, and engage in self-discovery.
The Welcome Center brings visitors a feeling of warmth and hospitality. As you enter you are greeted graciously by volunteers of the temple.
The Mandir is a place of Hindu worship where worshippers come to experience tranquility, self-discovery, and devotion expressed by religious Hindu scriptures carved from stone on the walls, sacred images, and murtis.
The Akshardham Mahamandir is the grand centerpiece. The Mahamandir brings people from all walks of life to inspire, educate, and connect with our beloved divine. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan envisioned a majestic spiritual temple in the U.S. to inspire through architecture, Hindu art, and Hindu culture.
The Shayona Cafe offers delightful vegetarian Indian and Western cuisines. These cuisines focus on the idea of non-violence, in which they nurture the body, the mind, and the soul with mindfulness.
*This video was recorded on October 22nd, 2023*
*Due to copyright issues the intro song was replaced. If you would like to listen to the original intro song it is Bhagwan Shiv Aarti: Om Jai Shiv Omkara by Vickey Prasad*
Happy Navratri to you and your family π Hope you liked the video. Thanks for watching and have a wonderful day! π
Address: π112 N Main St. Robbinsville Twp, NJ 08561
Website: https://usa.akshardham.org
Website: https://www.baps.org/Global-Network/North-America/Robbinsville.aspx
#nj #hindutemple #bapsrobbinsville #volunteer #baps #akshardham #akshardhammandir #akshardhamtemple #worldrecord #newjersey #shriswaminarayanmandir #bapsshriswaminarayanmandir #mahamandir #mandir #indian #india #thingstodoinnj #travel #religious #landmark #visitnj #indianculture #stonecarving #indiancultureandtradition #design #bhagwan #bhagwanswaminarayan #explore #temple |