Temples In India-1.pdf - Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA PATRIKAwas completed within a scheduled periodoff our years and the temple wasinaugurated by Shri Morarji Desai, the thenFinance Minister of the Republic of Indiaon Feb. 6 1960. On the advice of AcharyaVinoba Bhave it was named “SHARDA-PEETH”.Sharda-Peerh is perhaps the only templein India solely dedicated to Saraswati. Sofar as the style is concerned it belongs tothe Jain-cum-Indo-Aryan architecture.It is a replica of the temple of KandanyaMahadeva at Khajuraho, with its owndistinctive features. The temple atKhajuraho stands on 56 pillars, whereas inPilani it stands on 70 pillars having sevenparts. Copper wire is used to join the stonesto ensure a longer life which is estimatedto be at least 2000 years. The temple issurrounded by green lawns and trees, anda visitor forgets for a while that he isTEMPLE INDIAstanding on the soil of a desert. Thebasement is at a height of 7 ft. fromthe ground as though in an effort torise above the temporal surroundings,covering an area of 234ft. X 109ft,covered by square tiles of marble. Thebusts of Late Raja Baldev Das Birlaand Smt.Chhogi Devi on separateplinths at the right and left side arebridged with the main plinth as a markof honour and homage to the parentsof the builder keeping in line with thefirst teachings of Upanishads-’Matrudevo bhava, pitrudevo bhava’.Two monolithic figures of elephantsholding lotus in their trunks stand onthe sides of the stairs leading to theplinth.Like that of Khajuraho, the temple hasfive apartments. The SanctumSanctorum or Garbha-Griha is enshrinedwith a 5 ft. high idol of Goddess Saraswatistanding on a lotus flower, holding Veenain two hands and a book in her left handrepresenting Vedas or knowledge eternaland fine arts, and a lotus in her fourthhand in a posture of bestowing blessings.The idol, ‘sculptured in round, showing awell-decorated hallow of Prabhamandalreminds us of the sculpture of the GuptaPeriod whence started the tradition ofdecorated hallows behind the heads ofGods and Goddesses. The cella issurrounded by narrow Pradikshinapatha orambulatory. The basement of the sanctumsanctorum is surrounded by rows of figuressculptured in relief. On the roof of this risesthe traditional Shikhara or tower inpyramidal shape, like its architecturalcounterpart in the spire of Gothic Churchand its highest part consists of traditional220