For all the patriots and devotees in India, there is a reason to cheer. Akshardham Temple of Delhi has been announced by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest Hindu temple complex in the world. The good news came somewhere in the week lasting from 16 to 22nd December 2007, when a high-ranking officer of the Guinness World Records Ltd. came to India. He presented world record certificates to Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the head of Swaminarayan Sansthan (the foundation under which the temple was constructed).
The awards were presented to Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sansthan (BAPS) by Michael Witty, a senior member of the Guinness World Record Main Management Committee. The awards were presented under two categories - ‘Most Hindu Temples Consecrated by a Single Person’ and ‘World's Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple’. The reason for the first award is the fact that Pramukh Swami Maharaj has built 713 temples, between April 1971 & November 2007, in five continents of the world and even consecrated them, according to Hindu rituals.
The great leader has done all this under the aegis of his organization, Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sansthan (BAPS). The reason for second award is obviously the sheer size and magnitude of the Akshardham Temple of Delhi, which spreads over an area of 86,342 square feet. The exact dimensions of the temple are - it is 356 feet long, 316 feet wide and 141 feet high. With these awards, Akshardham has also created the record of being the first Hindu temple to be included by the Guinness Book of World Records in its list of religious structures.
However, the awards did not come to the Akshardham Temple of Delhi too easily. The officials of the Guinness Book conducted an extensive search for finding the largest temple in the world. They looked over the complicated architectural plans of the Akshardham Temple as well as of all the other temples that were of almost similar size. All the temples were then visited and thoroughly inspected. It was only then that Akshardham Temple of Delhi was bestowed with the award. This award will not only boost the credibility of the BAPS organization, but also lead to a surge in the tourism industry of India.
