The Laxminarayan Temple: A Modern Hindu Temple

The Laxminarayan Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Laxminarayan in Delhi, India and also known as the Birla Mandir. The temple is located on the Mandir Marg, west of Connaught Place. The temple is easily accessible from the city by local buses, taxis and auto-rickshaws. The Nearest Delhi Metro station is R. K. Ashram Marg, located about 2 km away. The temple is one of Delhi’s major temples and a major tourist attraction visited by numerous devotees and international tourists every year.

The temple was built by industrialist and philanthropist, Baldeo Das Birla and his son Jugal Kishore Birla of Birla family. The construction of the temple started in 1933 and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939 on the condition that the temple would not be restricted to the Hindus and people of all castes especially untouchables will be allowed in the temple.

Sris Chandra Chatterjee designed the temple, which is built in the northern or Nagara style of Hindu temple architecture. The entire temple is adorned with carvings depicting the scenes from Hindu theology. Adorning the interiors of the temples are beautiful carvings depicting the scenes from mythology. Numerous Hindu symbols and quotes from the Gita and the Upanishads ornament the temple walls.

The temple is spread over 7.5 acres, adorned with many shrines, fountains, and a large garden, and also houses Geeta Bhawan for discourses. The main shrine of the temple is dedicated to Lord Narayan and Goddess Lakshmi. There are other small shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman and Lord Buddha. Krishna Janmashtami and Deepawali are the two major festivals that attract thousands of devotees to the temple.