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There are various types of Hindu Temple Delhi, each dedicated to different deities and embodying unique architectural and spiritual significance. The city's rich diversity in temples reflects the myriad forms of worship and traditions within Hinduism.
Some of the renowned types of temples in Delhi are:
Shri Hanuman Mandir is a large congregation temple located in Delhi. It is well known because of its distinctive property of being painted all in red-white colors.
This is a shrine of Lord Hanuman, a popular deity in the Hindu religion believed to be the incarnation of God Shiva. Lord Hanuman is known to have the strength and agility of a monkey.
As such, this temple is dedicated to Hanuman; thus, devotees of Hanuman call Hanuman Chowk. This temple is a famous tourist attraction in Delhi and is always crowded with people.
The Lotus Temple is a Bahai House of Worship in New Delhi. It's unique shape resembles a giant lotus flower, and it is one of the most iconic modern buildings in Delhi.
The temple is not a Hindu temple only as it is a shrine of Bahai faith religion that believes in only one God for all religions.
This temple does not believe in idol worship or rituals. This temple is a magnificently built unique temple that attracts a lot of tourists.
Delhi also has some famous Hindu temples dedicated to some other religious faith. Jama Masjid is the famous mosque in Delhi. It was built by the Mughal king Shah Jahan.
Many Indians think it to be a Hindu temple, but it's a mosque built for Muslim devotees. This mosque is famous for its red color and a white dome which adds on to its architectural beauty. It is also a renowned tourist attraction in Delhi.
The ISKCON Temple in Delhi is one of the most famous temples dedicated to Lord Krishna. The temple, which is situated in East of Kailash and owns a part of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, was built in 1998.
It is a large temple surrounded by lush and ample green fields. The temple is famous for its exquisite beauty and peaceful ambiance since many people come and enjoy the ambiance of this temple.
The shrine has several modern features, well engraved idols in white and gold colors, and intra-communal harmony ceremonies. Daily prayers and Gita discourses are run inside the temple to educate the people about Lord Krishna and the Bhagavad Gita.
Hindu temple design is characterized by intricate carvings, sculptures, and architectural elements that reflect the rich cultural heritage of India.
These elements include ornate pillars, detailed frescoes depicting mythological scenes, and spires (shikharas) that tower above the temple structure. These embellishments have religious significance and are meant to draw devotees closer to the divine through beauty and craftsmanship.
These are usually common on temple walls and pillars, and these inscriptions have different sayings from the Hindu texts.
Some of the sayings are verses from the Vedas and Upanishads, which are the oldest sacred books of the Hindus. Some other sayings are from the Bhagavad Gita, which is probably the most popular and widely read Indian scripture.
These inscriptions also have sculpted representation of divinity, celestial beings, and animals to beautify the temple well more.
Every Hindu temple is constructed around the main deity worshiped in the temple. For instance, a Shiva temple will have Shiva Lingam or an idol of Lord Shiva.
The idol of each deity is placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. The sanctum sanctorum is the innermost and the most sacred part of the temple where the main deity's idol is situated.
The exterior and even the interior sections of the temple have sculptures representing Ramayana and Mahabharata stories, Heroic acts of Gods, and numerous deities and demi-gods.
Delhite Hindu temples use natural building and constructing materials like sandstone, granite, and marble to enhance the structure's beauty.
For instance, the Lotus temple is made of white marble from Makrana in Rajasthan, while some of the old temples monuments like the Red Fort, Taj Mahal, and Jama Masjid are made of red sandstone.
These natural stones were used due to their availability and durability properties. They were also used to create intricate carvings and designs.
While many temples follow traditional designs, Delhi also houses modern temples like the ISKCON temple, which was erected in 1971 and boasts contemporary architectural styles.
Such temples usually incorporate new materials and design principles to appeal to the younger generation and symbolize a more modern approach to spirituality.
The Hindu temples in Delhi serve a variety of roles beyond just being places of worship. They are centers of community activity, cultural preservation, and spiritual education.
The prime and most obvious function of a temple is that people congregate there to worship God. People in these temples offer prayers to the deity, perform pooja rituals, attend religious ceremonies and festivals, and seek the priest's blessing.
Daily worship practices differ from temple to temple, and often, temple management arranges the ceremonies with a priest's help, who oversees the rituals.
Many Hindu temples also run programs to educate people, especially the young, about Hindu philosophies, scriptures, and moral values.
These educational programs taught by scholars through the Gurukul system focus on spiritual learning and the formation of values and ethics based on the teachings of the scriptures.
Festivals like Diwali, Navratri, and Janmashtami are celebrated with great zeal and enthusiasm at Hindu temples in Delhi.
The temple premises are well decorated, and prasad is distributed to the devotees after the festival food inside the temple is prepared by the management. These all have a considerable contribution toward the temple culture and community bonding.
Almost every Hindu temple in Delhi has a community kitchen, known as prasad or langar, where free meals are prepared and served to needy people regardless of their caste, color, or religion.
People from all backgrounds sit and eat the delicious food together, which helps promote unity and harmony among people. Also, many temples provide medical services, education, and shelter for the poor and needy.
Some of the Hindu temples, such as the ISKCON temple and Akshardham temple, are so famous that they attract thousands of tourists daily, both from India and abroad, to come and see their magnificent architectural structures.
The temples have elaborate architectures such as pillars, domes, and shikharas, which make people want to visit them as tourists. People also go to some temples for pilgrimages, which means going to holy places to get the blessings of God. Some popular pilgrimage destinations in Delhi are the Jain temple, Hanuman temple, etc.
Main Shrine (Sanctum Sanctorum)
The innermost part of a temple that houses the idol or image of the main deity.
Pillars and Courtyards
These are important parts of the temple structure and are used during many religious ceremonies.
Ritual Items
These items include bells, lamps, and offerings that are used during pooja.
Festooning Materials
These are items used to decorate the temple for festivals and events, such as flowers and cloth.
Water Bodies
Some of the temples also have water bodies like ponds, kunds, or wells used for ablution.
Maintaining a Hindu temple involves a combination of routine upkeep, repair work, and adherence to sacred traditions. Here's a detailed breakdown:
Daily cleaning is done for the temple hall, the main shrine, and the areas around the temple. The temple is a sacred place, and cleanliness should be maintained at all costs.
Luxuries like sweeping, washing, and scrubbing the floors, walls, idols, and decorations are done to maintain the temple's dignity. Prasad or food offered to God should strictly not be allowed to rot or decompose; thus, daily cleaning is important.
Temples being constructed with stone, concrete, iron, and wood demand regular inspection to check for breaks, rust, and dampness. Such repairs and maintenance work should be done timely, or else the temple structure may lose its strength and glory.
Repair works should keep in mind preserving the original aesthetics of the temple.
The items used for rituals, like bells, lamps, and utensils, should be well maintained and checked regularly. All these items need to be cleaned after every ritual to maintain hygiene.
Broken or damaged items should be repaired or replaced as per the requirement, but no new items should be of a cheap brand that will affect the temple's sanctity.
Many Hindu temples conduct poojas and festivals, after which the temple is redecorated using flowers, fabrics, and lights.
Proper maintenance of the decorations is also vital as the items can quickly go bad. One must ensure proper disposal of used materials and proper care of items that have the potential to get damaged.
If the temple has a pond, kunda, or any water body, then it is the management's responsibility to look after the water body.
Water usage has to be checked, and water bodies should be cleaned as per the availability of water. If any fish or plants are there in the water body, then proper care and maintenance of them should also be taken.
A1. The Akshardham temple is the biggest Hindu temple in Delhi.
A2. The Adhchhatre temple is the oldest temple in Delhi.
A3. Delhi is famous for its historical monuments, rich cultural heritage, vibrant markets, and diverse cuisine.
A4. Lord Hanuman is the most famous deity in the temples of Delhi.