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etween the Eighth and Twelfth centuriesand beyond (Figure 2). Those magnificentstatues cover the walls, the columns, theceilings and the gates of the Monument(Figure 3). Of those great statues, theabove-mentioned 4-meter gold plated statueof Swaminarayan weighs 2.6 tonnes and isplaced at the centre of the Monument(Figure 1). That statue is placed on aplatform that is made of white marble whichis decorated with very colorful preciousstones.Figure 3: Sculpture in one of theMonument’s dome ceiling.There are also a number of very large andcolorful paintings of Swaminarayan’s lifeand deeds (Figure 4). Those paintingsdepict His childhood encounter with friends,austerities as a child-yogi, social andspiritual services in Gujarat and hispreaching of love, faith and morality.In addition, along with Bhagwan Swaminarayan,very colorful statues of otherdeities are also displayed in the Monument.All the construction design, buildingactivities, art work, fabulous decoration,and continuing services of the Monumentwere (and are) performed voluntarily, withdevotion, love and faith by Swaminarayan’sFollowers and devotees. The making ofSwaminarayan Akshardham was, thus,an act of love, worship and thanksgiving.The ElephantsElephants, in the Hindu religion, assume aprominent place. The head of the HinduGod: Ganesha is that of an elephant. Thepresence of elephants in a landscape impliesthe existence of ranges of grass inabundance symbolizing wealth, prosperityand goodness. Elephants are not onlyvegetarians, but also they are not viciouspredators. The elephant is a symbol ofendurance, patience, wisdom and power.Figure 4. A painting of BhagwanSwaminarayan preaching His message oflove and faith.There are 80 elephant stories from Hindu’sheritage particularly between the Eighthand the Twelfth centuries. Those storiesdepicted bravery, sacrifice and thecontinuing fight between the good and evil.10