Latest news with #BochasanwasiShriAksharPurushottamSwaminarayanSanstha
News18
21-04-2025
- General
- News18
JD Vance In India: How BAPS Is Setting The Standard For Modern-Day Architecture With Akshardham Temples
By blending ancient traditions with innovative techniques, BAPS has made significant contributions to modern-day temple architecture and contemporary temple design United States Vice-President JD Vance kick-started his four-day India sojourn with a visit to New Delhi's Akshardham Temple, which is managed and operated by the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a prominent Hindu socio-spiritual organisation. Inaugurated on November 6, 2005, under the guidance of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the then spiritual leader of BAPS, the temple complex is a repository of India's rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions. It features the central deity of Swaminarayan, along with representations of Sita-Rama, Radha-Krishna, Shiva-Parvati, and Lakshmi-Narayana. As Vance's visit brings the capital's popular attraction in focus again, News18 takes a look at BAPS, its history, accomplishments and contribution to modern-day temple architecture. TRACING THE ORIGINS BAPS was established in 1907 by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj and is dedicated to the teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The organisation is renowned for its commitment to spiritual, cultural, and humanitarian activities worldwide. According to its website, BAPS was founded on the pillars of practical spirituality and reaches out far and wide to address the spiritual, moral and social challenges and issues we face. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha strives to better society through individual development by instilling values, promoting spirituality, cultivating skills, and nurturing growth. The organisation's universal work through a worldwide network of over 5,025 centers has been recognised through many national and international awards and affiliation with the United Nations. After over 100 years of growth, the organisation has 5,025 centers, 55,000 volunteers, and over one million followers around the world. WHAT DOES BAPS DO? The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha advocates a life based on spiritual progression. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and its sister organisation, BAPS Charities, work together to help those in need across the globe. Some instances include recycling seven million aluminum cans, freeing 700,000 individuals from addiction and substance abuse in just 15 days, planting 10 million trees and providing free medical treatment to 2.5 million tribal community members. Apart from this, the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha honours the rich culture and heritage of India through various initiatives such as mega cultural festivals, mandirs, and cultural complexes. It organises India tours for youths living abroad to rediscover Indian heritage and imparts lessons on ethnic cuisine, language, and the performing arts for people to connect with their cultural identity. The organisation also runs schools that provide quality education with a focus on character building, moral values, and spiritual growth. A GRANDEUR LIKE NONE By blending ancient traditions with innovative techniques, BAPS has made significant contributions to modern-day temple architecture and contemporary temple design. BAPS temples, particularly those like the Akshardham Temple in Delhi and the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, feature intricate carvings, sculptural work, and traditional domes, reflecting ancient Vastu Shastra principles. One of the most striking features of BAPS temples is their detailed stone and marble carvings, which are hand-carved by artisans following traditional methods and architectural precision. While the temples may be an ode to traditional aesthetics, they are new-age in incorporating cutting-edge construction techniques and materials. For instance, in Delhi's Akshardham Temple, the central monument is constructed using sandstone and Italian Carrara marble, which are both durable and visually stunning. The temple's central Yagnapurush Kund (the world's largest stepwell) was built using modern hydraulic engineering techniques. Keeping in mind the need to be environmentally conscious, many newer BAPS temples also incorporate eco-friendly practices. The Akshardham Temple in Gandhinagar, for instance, utilises natural resources like solar energy and rainwater-harvesting systems to reduce its environmental impact. The stunning landscaping around BAPS temples is also in harmony with nature, featuring lush gardens, water bodies, and indigenous plants. The temple designs often incorporate large open spaces and glass windows that allow natural light to flow in, symbolising the divine light and enlightenment. BAPS temples go beyond serving as community spaces for worship; they also double up as cultural centers. Delhi's Akshardham Temple, for instance, includes not just the central sanctum but also exhibition halls, an IMAX theater, and a boat ride that narrates the story of India's ancient culture by combining modern technology with storytelling. Accessibility for all also reigns supreme in the construction of the temples with ramps, elevators and spacious hallways. BAPS has built temples around the world, and each one is designed to suit the specific needs of its local community while preserving core architectural principles. By seamlessly blending ancient traditional designs with contemporary engineering techniques, sustainability practices, and cutting-edge technology, BAPS has been able to create temples that are not only beautiful and functional but also serve as cultural, educational, and spiritual centers. First Published:
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Southern California Hindu temple desecrated with anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti calls for peace
CHINO HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The recent desecration of an iconic Hindu temple in Southern California with anti-Hindu and anti-Indian government graffiti has heightened concerns among South Asian groups following a slew of such incidents over the past year. Devotees who arrived early morning on March 8 at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills were shocked to find the words 'Hindustan Murdabad,' which means 'death to' or 'down with' Hindus and India, scrawled on a pink stone sign bearing the temple's name, said Mehul Patel, a volunteer with the organization. Expletive-laden graffiti targeting India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was written on one of the outer brick walls and abutting sidewalk, he said. San Bernardino Sheriff's officials have said they are investigating the incident as a hate crime and have not identified any suspects yet. Patel said the incident 'invoked a sense of fear' among community members. The impact was felt as far away as India, where most major media outlets reported the incident, and India's External Affairs ministry condemned the vandalism. 'We condemn such despicable acts in the strongest terms,' said ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. "We call upon the local law enforcement authorities to take stringent action against those responsible for these acts, and also ensure adequate security to places of worship.' Patel said the vandalized temple had nearly 1,000 visitors every day, with thousands of people gathering during Diwali and temple festivals. 'We do have security protocols in place, but such a violation still makes you think twice about how safe you really are, especially if you have young children," Patel said. The majestic temple, the largest in California, sits on a 20-acre lot along a freeway, its arches and domes carved out of pink sandstone and interior decked with white Italian marble. In October 2023, the organization built in Robbinsville, New Jersey, the largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern era. The Swaminarayan sect, a branch of Hinduism, oversees more than 1,300 temples and 5,000 centers around the world, according to the group's website. This is not the first time the global Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, known as BAPS, has been hit by vandals. The organization's temple in Melville, New York, was tagged with similar writing on Sept. 16. Nine days later, their temple near Sacramento was hit, and there was also an incident at the Newark, California, temple in December 2023. Those incidents are also being investigated as hate crimes. The denigration of Modi, under whom Hindu nationalism has surged in India, appears to be a common thread in these vandalism incidents across the country. Other non-BAPS Hindu temples in the U.S. have also been attacked recently. In Hayward, California, Vijay's Sherawali Temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Durga and run by a family of immigrants from Fiji, was vandalized in January 2024 with graffiti calling Modi a 'terrorist' and with the words 'Khalistan Zindabad' (Long live Khalistan). Khalistan is the name by which Sikh separatists refer to a sovereign state they hope to create in Indian state of Punjab, birthplace of Sikhism. A violent Khalistani insurgency in India was quelled by the government in 1984; India has declared it a terrorist movement. Activists in the diaspora are currently holding a nonbinding referendum across the United States to create an independent Khalistan; voting will take place in Los Angeles on March 23. In the summer of 2023, tensions escalated between India and Canada over allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government had a hand in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice stated that an Indian government official plotted to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader, in New York who is spearheading the Khalistan referendum. In August, the FBI opened an investigation into a drive-by shooting that targeted Satinder Pal Singh Raju, a close associate of Nijjar, in Yolo County, California. The temple vandalism incidents in Northern California last year were condemned by local Sikh groups. Sikhs in the diaspora and in India are divided on the issue of Khalistan. Immediately after the incident in Southern California, the Coalition of Hindus of North America posted on X raising the possibility of a connection between the tagging incident and the upcoming Khalistan referendum in Los Angeles. Pushpita Prasad, a spokesperson for the group, said Thursday that regardless of who committed the crime, 'this repeated assault on the freedom of Hindus to gather in their place of worship is unacceptable.' 'We go to a place of worship to find solace,' she said. 'If that place becomes a target, how do you find solace there?' Prasad called for a robust discussion on what is driving these attacks against Hindu temples and acknowledge that anti-Hindu hate exists. She called for treating Hindu places of worship equally. Another South Asian group pointed out the perils of jumping to conclusions about perpetrators of a crime before an investigation has concluded. Without evidence, such assumptions only serve to further divide communities, said Prachi Patankar, board member of the interfaith Savera Coalition. Her group represents Indian Americans who are Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Dalit or the people formerly regarded as 'untouchables' in the caste system, and those unaffiliated with religion. 'Such incidents should never be used to scapegoat other minority religious communities such as the Sikh community, because it can lead to further criminalization or repression of the entire community,' she said. Patel said it is important for the public to understand that Hindus are not a monolith and the Chino Hills temple is a nonprofit that does not represent any single government, leader or country. 'We are a Hindu temple in the United States,' he said. 'We are Indian Americans. But people who are not of Indian origin who practice Hinduism worship here as well.' He hopes surveillance video, which showed two suspects in the act of scoping the area and tagging the property, will help apprehend them. Members of the organization gathered in front of their temple on March 9 where a priest chanted the 'Shanthi Path,' a blessing and prayer for peace. 'We prayed not just for our community, but also for the perpetrators,' Patel said. 'We believe in the right of people to express themselves, but to get their message out in a peaceful and not in a hateful way.' ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Associated Press
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Southern California Hindu temple desecrated with anti-India and anti-Hindu graffiti calls for peace
CHINO HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The recent desecration of an iconic Hindu temple in Southern California with anti-Hindu and anti-Indian government graffiti has heightened concerns among South Asian groups following a slew of such incidents over the past year. Devotees who arrived early morning on March 8 at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills were shocked to find the words 'Hindustan Murdabad,' which means 'death to' or 'down with' Hindus and India, scrawled on a pink stone sign bearing the temple's name, said Mehul Patel, a volunteer with the organization. Expletive-laden graffiti targeting India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was written on one of the outer brick walls and abutting sidewalk, he said. San Bernardino Sheriff's officials have said they are investigating the incident as a hate crime and have not identified any suspects yet. Patel said the incident 'invoked a sense of fear' among community members. The impact was felt as far away as India, where most major media outlets reported the incident, and India's External Affairs ministry condemned the vandalism. 'We condemn such despicable acts in the strongest terms,' said ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. 'We call upon the local law enforcement authorities to take stringent action against those responsible for these acts, and also ensure adequate security to places of worship.' Patel said the vandalized temple had nearly 1,000 visitors every day, with thousands of people gathering during Diwali and temple festivals. 'We do have security protocols in place, but such a violation still makes you think twice about how safe you really are, especially if you have young children,' Patel said. The majestic temple, the largest in California, sits on a 20-acre lot along a freeway, its arches and domes carved out of pink sandstone and interior decked with white Italian marble. In October 2023, the organization built in Robbinsville, New Jersey, the largest Hindu temple outside India in the modern era. The Swaminarayan sect, a branch of Hinduism, oversees more than 1,300 temples and 5,000 centers around the world, according to the group's website. This is not the first time the global Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, known as BAPS, has been hit by vandals. The organization's temple in Melville, New York, was tagged with similar writing on Sept. 16. Nine days later, their temple near Sacramento was hit, and there was also an incident at the Newark, California, temple in December 2023. Those incidents are also being investigated as hate crimes. The denigration of Modi, under whom Hindu nationalism has surged in India, appears to be a common thread in these vandalism incidents across the country. Other non-BAPS Hindu temples in the U.S. have also been attacked recently. In Hayward, California, Vijay's Sherawali Temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Durga and run by a family of immigrants from Fiji, was vandalized in January 2024 with graffiti calling Modi a 'terrorist' and with the words 'Khalistan Zindabad' (Long live Khalistan). Khalistan is the name by which Sikh separatists refer to a sovereign state they hope to create in Indian state of Punjab, birthplace of Sikhism. A violent Khalistani insurgency in India was quelled by the government in 1984; India has declared it a terrorist movement. Activists in the diaspora are currently holding a nonbinding referendum across the United States to create an independent Khalistan; voting will take place in Los Angeles on March 23. In the summer of 2023, tensions escalated between India and Canada over allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the Indian government had a hand in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen who was shot dead outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia. In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice stated that an Indian government official plotted to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist leader, in New York who is spearheading the Khalistan referendum. In August, the FBI opened an investigation into a drive-by shooting that targeted Satinder Pal Singh Raju, a close associate of Nijjar, in Yolo County, California. The temple vandalism incidents in Northern California last year were condemned by local Sikh groups. Sikhs in the diaspora and in India are divided on the issue of Khalistan. Immediately after the incident in Southern California, the Coalition of Hindus of North America posted on X raising the possibility of a connection between the tagging incident and the upcoming Khalistan referendum in Los Angeles. Pushpita Prasad, a spokesperson for the group, said Thursday that regardless of who committed the crime, 'this repeated assault on the freedom of Hindus to gather in their place of worship is unacceptable.' 'We go to a place of worship to find solace,' she said. 'If that place becomes a target, how do you find solace there?' Prasad called for a robust discussion on what is driving these attacks against Hindu temples and acknowledge that anti-Hindu hate exists. She called for treating Hindu places of worship equally. Another South Asian group pointed out the perils of jumping to conclusions about perpetrators of a crime before an investigation has concluded. Without evidence, such assumptions only serve to further divide communities, said Prachi Patankar, board member of the interfaith Savera Coalition. Her group represents Indian Americans who are Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Dalit or the people formerly regarded as 'untouchables' in the caste system, and those unaffiliated with religion. 'Such incidents should never be used to scapegoat other minority religious communities such as the Sikh community, because it can lead to further criminalization or repression of the entire community,' she said. Patel said it is important for the public to understand that Hindus are not a monolith and the Chino Hills temple is a nonprofit that does not represent any single government, leader or country. 'We are a Hindu temple in the United States,' he said. 'We are Indian Americans. But people who are not of Indian origin who practice Hinduism worship here as well.' He hopes surveillance video, which showed two suspects in the act of scoping the area and tagging the property, will help apprehend them. Members of the organization gathered in front of their temple on March 9 where a priest chanted the 'Shanthi Path,' a blessing and prayer for peace. 'We prayed not just for our community, but also for the perpetrators,' Patel said. 'We believe in the right of people to express themselves, but to get their message out in a peaceful and not in a hateful way.'
