The 2nd Largest Hindu Temple In The World Just Opened In NJ

The opulence is breathtaking

Faithful from across the United States and Canada flock to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

It took 15 years to build the largest Hindu temple outside India. All the stone was hand carved by professional artists and volunteers. That translates into more than four million hours of work. And by the way, we are talking about some two million cubic feet of stone.

The mandir is designed to represent millennia of Hindu faith and culture. Expansive architecture is part of this expression representing ancient traditions. The artistic displays are often representative of wisdom.

To me, the most impressive edifice is the Ideal Yogi who greets visitors. Arms outstretched, this is the teenage form of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The bronze murti is 49 feet tall and is placed in a yogic tree. Its height is designed to capture the 49 years Hindus believe Bhagwan Swaminarayan graced the Earth.

Steps away in Nilkanth Plaza are incense sticks which visitors are encouraged to light to offer prayers.

I also particularly liked this elephant statue display. In the Hindu faith, elephants are believed to be an incarnation of the Hindu god Lord Ganesha, said to be a remover of obstacles and provider of fortune or good luck. Elephants are often used in temples and religious festivals in India.

The mandir is a Hindu place of worship that includes spiritual and cultural activities. The Robbinsville mandir is 133 feet long, 87 feet wide and, at its highest point, 42 feet tall.

The marble - 68,000 cubic-feet of it - was imported from Italy. The stone - there are 13,499 pieces! - was carved in India and assembled onsite following a 21,500 mile journey for each piece. The limestone was shipped from Bulgaria

The pillars - there are 98 of them - are representations of Hindu sages, seers and devotees.

All of this sits on 126 acres of land.

The building of this temple is not without some controversy. A lawsuit is still pending which claims that some of the laborers, who are from lower castes in India, were overworked and underpaid. But some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit have recanted since it was filed two years ago.

All photos copyright Gary Baumgarten.

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