What Happens at Akshrdhaam

It is ironical that having written a critique on faith about a week back, I have ended up visiting the largest temple in the world. I think that is because India is surrounded by so much faith, spirituality and religion that you can never escape it entirely wherever you may get away to over here. And I don't mean that in a bad way. The critique last week was related with the brouhaha made by some small-time hooligans over the movie 'PK'. And it would be right to say that the previous blog was critical more of the false faith propogated by some black sheep saints than of faith itself.
Coming back to what I was writing this blog about, it was a truly uplifting experience to visit the Akshardham Temple. The temple is a tribute to SwamiNarayan who was born in Chappaiya, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1781. He is considered an incarnation of Narayana by his followers. And the way his life-story has been described through the exhibitions and shows in the temple is nothing less than life-changing. It is a bold attempt at redefining how a temple is supposed to be. You HAVE TO see it to know what I am talking about.
Whether it is the craftsmanship done in the temple carvings or the lifelike robotics which display incidents from SwamiNarayan's life; whether it is seeing the 40 minute film 'Neelkanth Yatra' based on SwamiNarayan's seven year pilgrmage across India during his teenage years or the boat ride through the 10,000 years of India's glorious heritage using life size figures of the Greats that India have produced; whether it is the 400 kg solid gold statue of SwamiNarayan inside the temple that makes you bow your head in respect when you behold it or the musical fountain that makes your jaw drop when you see its show in the evening- the Akshardham visit never ceases to surprise.
Talking of the music fountain, it was so amazing that time literally seemed to stand still when the show began. It was sheer perfection. And a show like this also tells you about how exceedingly well we are doing in creating our works of art as a nation. I have no doubt that the countries' best minds must have sat together to design this thing.
Besides all the grandiose, the thing that Akshardham has tried to hit home are some priceless messages that were preached by SwamiNarayan. Message of peace, love, and living life happily. In fact, this last message of living life happily is what was most striking. The show's backgroud narrater said, 'Anyone can live happily for a day. But living life in happiness thoughout one's life is an art. This art is aimed at SahajAnand (which means effortless happiness)." That is what this sect teaches- SahajAnand.
And I think that I can safely say that we all need some of that. :-)
Do visit if you haven't already.

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