Description-
Birla Mandir is referred to various Hindu temples constructed by the Birla family, in various cities and states across India. All these temples are built splendidly, some of them in sandstone and some others in white marble. The temples are generally locationally advantageous with easily accessible locations and are carefully designed to accommodate a large number of visitors. The worship area and mode of organizing the devotees are also well planned and executed. The first Birla Mandir was built in Delhi in 1939, collectively by Ghanshyamdas Birla and his brothers, as well his father. There are 14 Birla Mandirs across India and all of them are managed by different branches of the family.
History and Design of Birla Mandir-
The Birla Temples in Bhopal, Hyderabad, and Delhi were built with the aim to fill the void of no temples existing in those places because these cities were ruled by Muslim dynasties for centuries. Therefore there were no notable temples there since the ruler did not give permission for building grand temples with sikharas.
Delhi, even after being the capital city of India, did not have any notable temples. During the Mughal period, temples with shikharas were prohibited until the late Mughal period. The very first temple to be built by the Birla family was the Laxminarayan Temple in Delhi. The temple was located at a prominent place and the design was very spacious mane lofty, fit for assembly worship and other devotional purposes. The temple has imprints of the Nagara style although it was built using modern technology.
Architecture of Birla Mandir-
The Birla Temples of Banaras, Delhi, and Bhopal were constructed using all modern techniques and equipment. The later temples are built of sandstone or marble and are usually built in the classical style of Maru-Gurjara architecture of the 10-12th century, with some elements of local regional styles. For example, the gopuram of the Birla Mandir, Hyderabad.
The Saraswati temple, in the BITS Pilani campus, is one of the very few Saraswati temples built in modern times by the Birla family. It is said to be a replica of the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple temple of Khajuraho; however, it is built of white marble and adorned with not only images of Gods, but also of philosophers and scientists. The Gwalior Sun temple is a replica of the famous Konark Sun Temple, as it would have appeared before the collapse of the main tower. The architectural styles of the two newest Birla temples ie. in Jaipur and Kolkata incorporate dual-purpose and innovative structures into the temple design that alter temple practices to reflect the concerns of modern public culture in a religious site.
Here’s a list of the 14 Birla Temples located in India.-
- Laxmi Narayan Temple, Delhi
- Birla Mandir, Hyderabad
- Birla Mandir, Kolkata
- Birla Mandir, Kurukshetra
- Birla Mandir, Shahad
- Birla Mandir, Sharda Peeth
- Birla Mandir, Bhopal
- Birla Mandir, Jaipur
- Birla Mandir, Patna
- Birla Mandir, Renukoot
- Birla Mandir, Varanasi
- Birla Mandir, Nagda
- Birla Mandir, Brajrajnagar
- Birla Mandir, Akola
If you happen to make a tour to a place that houses a Birla Mandir, ensure you make a trip to the temple, which is a blend of ancient belief and modern style.
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Also read, Vaishno Devi Temple- History, Legend and Festivals
