An Abode of Inner Peace: The Laxmi-Narayan Temple

Laxmi-Narayan Temple(Birla Mandir)

Have you ever thought that when we plan to meet a person or attend a celebration, we all work on our outside appearance- new clothes, fragrant bottles, settled hair, and mostly all the things that make our first impression? Am I right?

But, when we prepare to visit a religious sanctum, why do we all work on our inner cleanliness? We all begin to focus on inner beauty and inner thoughts. We are lenient to the outside look and try to enter a shrine with a pure heart and mind, don't we?

This thought arose in my mind when, after being frustrated by the noise of Delhi roads, I entered its most famous religious place, "Laxmi Narayan Mandir(temple)." It is popular as the Birla Mandir.

Last time, I visited one of Haryana's famous restaurants- "The Great Khali Dhaba." You can click on the link to learn more.

So, this time, I again turned towards a religious place.

Every religious place possesses its uniqueness. This temple has theirs. The vibes from the Laxmi-Narayan temple astonished me. The serenity of the shrine is dissolved in my soul.

This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, a preserver of the universe, according to the Sanatan religion known by the name Narayan. The name "Narayan" signifies "one who resides in water." The name is derived from "Nara", which means "water," and "Ayana",  which means "abode, place." He lives in this temple with his wife, Goddess Laxmi. Laxmi is a Sanskrit word, which means "she who leads to good fortune." She is a goddess of wealth, prosperity and good fortune.

When I stepped inside the temple, each step on the stairs had a powerful positive energy. I never expected this powerful force in Delhi, where chaos always comes first.

It was a mesmerising experience for me. And to make it an extraordinary experience for you, too, I am back with another religious place in India.

Let's dive into the ocean of sacred learning.

History

Laxmi Narayan Mandir is located in New Delhi, India. Its other name, "Birla," is based on the industrialist Baldeo Das Birla and his sons. It is not the temple whose roots are connected to Yugas.

The foundation of the Laxmi-Narayan temple was placed in 1933 by Maharaj Udaybhanu Singh. He was the ruler of Rajasthan, India. The construction work was supervised by Pandit Vishwanath Shastri, and after its completion, Mahatma Gandhi was inaugurated in 1939.

Anyone from any religion, caste, or nation is welcome in the temple. The temple premises allow every devotee with love and gratitude.

It is a ritual in Hinduism that before any spiritual or good thing, people do yagya for a good beginning. Yagya is a spiritual effort that contains all five elements. It is a tradition whose roots are millions of years old. Yagya performs for good fortune, cleans the environment(from negative energies) and ignites lights in life. This ritual of Yagya was performed by Swami Keshav Nandji in the Laxmi-Narayan Temple.

Construction

The temple is spread over 7.5 acres. It is built in the ancient Nagara Style. This style structure has multiple parts, and each contains strong spiritual and scientific beliefs.

Nagara Style

The temple is a three-story architecture carved to illustrate many Hindu deities and Sanatan scriptures stories.

Its main sanctum has the idols of goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayan, while side shrines are of deities, including Shiva and family, Krishna, Ganesha, goddess Vaishnavi and Buddha.

The temple has attracted lakhs of devotees by its magnificence and vivid sacred atmosphere.

It also features lush greenery, gorgeous fountains and sculptures. Its beauty multiplies during any Hindu festival.

The temple was constructed using white marble and red sandstone of Jaipur.

A Geeta Bhawan is also present in the shrine, where the teachings of the Bhagavad Geeta are written and portrayed.

Rituals

Every morning, prayer happens in Birla Mandir, called Mangala Aarti. It is the beginning of dispersing divine energy in the entire temple. During this, the deities are bathed, dressed, and adorned with fresh flowers. The whole process is divided into steps.

Archana means offering flowers and prayers.

Abhishek means the traditional bathing of deities.

Naivedya is food offerings.

Deep Aarti is an ignited lamp offering.

Any devotee can visit the shrine by following some basic rules.

Rules and Regulations

• Devotees should be in respectful attire. Traditional Indian clothes are best suited.
• Footwears are not allowed inside.
• Photography is strictly prohibited inside the shrine.
• Devotees are requested to maintain cleanliness.
• Silence is a priority.

Every sacred place is a place of devotion. It is our responsibility not to make it a place for reels and views.

The Laxmi-Narayan Temple is a sacred location that showcases the incredible architecture of religious India. It is a place where the soul finds serenity. A shrine where all are one.

If you feel exhausted and looking for a place for peace, add the Laxmi-Narayan temple to your visit.

With it, now, it is a time to say bye and search for a new spiritual learning.

Till that, have a wonderful day! And chant,

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण, कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे | हरे राम हरे राम, राम राम हरे हरे ||

ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं श्री सिद्ध लक्ष्म्यै नम:

Enjoy reading!