Notable Characteristics Of Laxmi Narayan Mandir (Birla Mandir)
Laxmi Narayan Mandir also known as Birla Mandir is the famous Hindu Mandir in New Delhi. The location of the temple is in Mandir Marg in Connaught place. The Mandir was built by industrialist Baldao Das Birla and Jugal Kishore Birla in the year 1938 under the supervision of Pandit Vishwanath Shastri. Maharaja Udaybhanu Singh set the foundation stone of the temple.
The cultural significance of the temple
Dedicated to the worship of the chief shrines Lord Narayan and goddess Laxmi, the temple is a popular center of attraction to numerous worshippers all over India. Laxmi Narayan Mandir temple is built spectacularly with a touch of modernism. There are beautiful embellishments that adorn the interiors of the Mandir portraying the segments from mythology. It has engravings of innumerable Hindu symbols and quotes from the sacred book of the Hindus the Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads in the walls of the temple. The tallest Shikhara in the Mandir rise to a height of 165 feet, but the ancillary tower soar to an altitude of 116 feet. Standing on a raised platform, the Mandir manifests the sacred and holy Vedas.
The presiding divinity
The main deities in the Birla Mandir are Narayan and his wife, Goddess Laxmi. Laxminarayan refers to the manifestation of Lord Vishnu in the Hindu religion. Vishnu also known as Narayan is with his wife, Goddess Laxmi in his eternal adobe known as Vaikuntha. The Bhagavad Gita, Holy Vedas and the Puranas depict Narayana as Purushottama. Laxmi also known as Sri is the source of strength and power in Lord Vishnu. When Vishnu incarnated in the world as the descent of the superior being, Rama and Krishna, Laxmi appeared as their consort as Sita and Radha.
The chief idol
In Hindu religion, there is a special feature of worshiping the divinities as figurines or statues that personify the deities in the visual form as carved image figures. The main idol of the Birla Mandir is Narayan and Laxmi. It illustrates goddess Laxmi as standing beside the dark complexioned Lord Vishnu. It depicts Vishnu as holding the conch, a heavy club with a spiked metallic head known as mace, lotus flower, and Sudarshan Chakra.
The other Mandir's present in the complex
Geeta Bhawan devoted to Lord Krishna is situated in the north of the Laxmi Narayan temple. There is a Buddha Mandir also within the compound of the Laxmi Narayan Mandir. This Mandir has decors of murals which describes the life and works of Buddha. There are also temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ganesh and Hanuman within the complex of the Birla Mandir.
Worshiping the deity
The presiding deities of the Birla Mandir are goddess Laxmi and Narayan. Devotees irrespective of their religion and faith, worship the shrines in the temple. The Mandir includes several idols depicting various gods and goddess from the Indian mythology. In Birla Mandir Aarti takes place in the evening that numerous worshippers across the city make sure to attend. The best day to visit Laxmi Narayan temple is Friday, which is the special day for worshiping the goddess Vaibhav Laxmi. The Brahmins conduct the special rituals in the Mandir. The appointments of the Brahmins are made by the Mandir administration who acts as the priests of the temple.
Pious occasion to visit the Mandir
The finest occasion to visit the Laxmi Narayan Mandir is during the Janmashtami. Also known as Gakulashtami, it celebrates the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu with great grandeur. Birla Mandir on this holy occasion has a special display that attracts thousands of worshippers throughout the country. The celebration of the festival takes place on day eighth that is Ashtami of the Krishna Paksha in the Sravana month that is the month of August-September according to the English calendar. Rasa Lila, a special dramatic performance on the life of Lord Krishna, is the important feature of the ceremony. The Dahi-Handi celebration also takes place on the occasion of Janmashtami to focus on the playful and naughty side of Lord Krishna. Some annual and special events also take place in the Mandir during another remarkable festival of the Hindus, the Ram Navami. This religious ceremony celebrates the birth of Lord Ramchandra in the month of April.
The holy pilgrimage
The Laxmi Narayan Mandir is one of the important landmarks that fascinate several tourists all over the country. The temple showcases a modern idea of the architectural revolution that attracts numerous devotees both nationally and internationally. The worshipers can procure Birla Mandir Photos from the Mandir authorities and administration for visual pleasure.