Lotus Temple

Lotus Temple, located in New Delhi, India, is a Bahai House of Worship completed in 1986. Notable for its flowerlike shape, it serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent and has become a prominent attraction in the city.

 

Lotus being a symbol of peace and prosperity all around the world, the shape of the temple personifies the purpose for which the foundation of this marvelous man-made architectural was laid. The Bahá’í laws emphasize that the spirit of the House of Worship be that it is a gathering place where people of all religions may worship God without denominational restrictions.

 

The Bahá’í laws also stipulate that only the holy scriptures of the Bahai Faith and other religions can be read or chanted inside in any language; while readings and prayers can be set to music by choirs, no musical instruments can be played inside.

 

Inspired by the lotus flower, the design for the House of Worship in New Delhi is composed of 27 free-standing marble clad “petals” arranged in clusters of three to form nine sides. The nine doors of the Lotus Temple open onto a central hall slightly more than 40 meters tall that is capable of holding up to 2,500 people.

 

The surface of the House of Worship is made of white marble from Penteli mountain in Greece, the very same from which many ancient monuments and other Bahá’í Houses of Worship are build.

 

This House of Worship is generally referred to as the “Lotus Temple”. In India, during the Hindu festival Durga Puja, several times a replica of the Lotus Temple has been made as a pandal, a temporary structure set up to venerate the goddess Durga.

 

If you look this temple from top view it looks like half opened lotus temple. Construction of this architecture takes 10 years to complete. There are 800 people who have worked in construction of this temple. This team includes engineers, technicians, and workers.

 

Outside of this temple there are nine reflecting pools. This temple has nine doors. White marble is used in construction of this temple and because of this beauty of temple is increased.

 

The temple complex comprises 27 independent marble “petals,” which are clustered into groups of three to form nine sides (through which open nine entrances into a central space) and into groups of nine to form three concentric rings.

Lotus Temple, Delhi

New Delhi, India.The Bahai House of Worship in New Delhi, popularly known as the Lotus Temple due to its flowerlike shape.

Petals in the first ring face outward, forming canopies over the nine entrances. The second ring covers the outer hall. In the innermost ring, the petals curve inward to partially enclose the central prayer hall, which accommodates about 2,500 people. The top of the structure appears open but actually contains a glass-and-steel roof that admits natural daylight.

 

You can experience calm like never before, for the main temple area prohibits visitors from making any noise whatsoever. This exemplifies the true nature of Buddhist traditions, which lays emphasis on meditation as a means to experience divinity. Enjoy the lush green surroundings and maybe even lounge around for a picnic.

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