This mesmerizing structure, in the shape of a half-open lotus, is
situated in the south of Delhi. The temple, made of marble, cement, dolomite
and sand, is often called the Taj of modern India. It is open to all faiths
and is an ideal place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranquility.
Completed in the year 1986, this architectural fete is the Canadian
architect Fariborz Sahba's creation for the Bahai faith - the youngest of
the world's independent religions. It is open to all faiths and is an ideal
place for meditation and obtaining peace and tranquility.
Structure of the Temple
The structure of this magnificent edifice consists of three ranks
of nine petals; each springing from a podium elevating the building above
the surrounding plain. The first two ranks are in the form of inward
curvatures embracing the inner dome; the third layer protrudes outward and
form canopies over the nine entrances. The petals are constructed of
reinforced white concrete and are bedecked in white marble panels. The main
support to the superstructure is provided by nine arches ringing the central
hall. Nine reflecting pools, suggesting the leaves of the flower, surround
the building on the outer side.
Undertones of the Design
The lotus, the emblem of purity and tenderness, bears connotations
to the Manifestation of God. The lotus is universally held in reverence as a
sacred flower and its significance is deeply rooted on the minds of the
Indians. According to Indian mythology, the Creator Brahma sprung from the
lotus that grew out of Lord Vishnu's navel when that deity lay absorbed in
meditation. In Buddhist folklore the Boddhisatva Avalokiteswara is
represented as born from a lotus, and is usually depicted as standing or
sitting on a lotus pedestal and holding a lotus bloom in his hand. Lord
Buddha said you have to be like a lotus which grows and lives in dirty
water, yet its beauty remains untarnished by the surroundings.
