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I along with my wife and other members of
the family have had most rewarding spiritual experience for
our two hours. The Akshardham – The Eternal Temple truly
reminds one of the great Angkor wat of old Kampuchea and the
present day Cambodia.
Our prayers to Swami Narayan and his vast numbers of disciples
and swamis. (09/03/08)
H.E.
MR. T.V. Rajeswar
Governor of U.P.
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Indeed a great piece of spiritual art. The
boat ride – 10,000 years of proud history – wonderful
experience. (30/12/07)
Arti
Mehra
Mayor of Delhi
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I do not have words. Just amazing, incredible work. It is
the 8th wonder of the world. Thanks. Grateful to the workers
for enlightening us. This trip makes me proud of my country.
(30/12/07)
Suresh
Oberoi
Film Actor, Mumbai
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“His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj
and his team of dedicated disciples have recreated the ancient
civilizational heritage, which we have seen only in theory
so far -- in reality with technology. It brings a new dimension
of the entire ancient Indian cultural heritage under one roof.
Pramukh Swamiji Maharaj has inspired thousands of people across
the country and abroad and brought together the best of minds
for creating this beautiful cultural complex.”
“It has become a place of visitation,
experience and enlightenment. It creatively blends the tradition
of stone art and architecture, Indian culture and civilization,
ancient values and wisdom and the best of modern media and
technology. The multiple layers of this complex express the
strength of the mind, the will-power of the human being, the
indomitable spirit, flowering kindness, the fusion of scientific
and medical talent, myriads of colours – colours of
varying cultures, and ultimately the power of knowledge. In
essence, it is a dynamic complex with lively images.”
The spirit of that divine child entered into
Pramukh Swami Maharaj and we see the breadth of Akshardham
– the civilization and heritage of India in dynamic
form in front of us.” - 6/11/2005
Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
President of India
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“This beautiful complex will become the number one monument
of Delhi and hundreds of thousands of devotees and visitors
will come to visit it from all four corners of the Earth. They
will all be impressed by the attractive murtis, and the peaceful
and devout atmosphere. Also, they will certainly return with
increased spirituality and peace of mind.” -
6/11/2005
Dr.
Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
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“Today, I believe that any visitor coming to India and
coming to Delhi would not ever fail to visit this place. Just
until now, people who come to India, who are visitors, who are
keen to see what are the marvels of India, they invariably go
to Agra, to Taj Mahal, to several other places, where they get
a glimpse of India’s architectural achievements and a
glimpse of history as well. But if they come to Akshardham in
Delhi, they would see how spiritualism has flowered in India
-- how India has become a spiritual giant in the world. Therefore,
when I saw it today, I felt elated, I felt elevated.”
- 5/11/2005
L.
K. Advani
Former Deputy Prime Minister of India;
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha |
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“A remarkable and unique place to visit which one can
never forget. First of all, I must compliment all of those who
have given us this unique structure, symbolizing the past civilization
of our nation. Every child and every youth, belonging to any
caste, creed, or religion, must visit this place and draw inspiration
from it because the children and youth are the future of our
country. And I have no doubt that they will draw the necessary
inspiration after having a round of this place. It is a great
contribution to the present and future humanity of our country.”
“Sadhus like Pramukh Swami are
all the gifts of God to us. It is because of these great people
that our country is still moving forward. I am very optimistic
that with the blessings of these great people that India will
prosper and the downtrodden will not remain downtrodden in
years to come.” -15/11/05
Justice
Y.K. Sabharwal
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India
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“The temple is very beautiful and inspiring. It reflects
the spirit of “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram” --truth,
bliss and beauty. It speaks of the devotion and universality
of the human being. It will keep giving strength to all those
who visit it. It is on the strength of the inner self that humanity
rests. Words cannot express the ecstasy one feels after visiting
it. May it keep helping human beings to evolve towards divinity.”
-13/11/05
Shivraj
V. Patil
Union Home Minister, India
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“In this place of pilgrimage I have experienced tremendous
peace and pleasure in the presence of Pramukh Swamiji. Our ancient
culture has been revived using modern technology. The teachings
of Bhagwan Swaminarayan are truly relevant today. This beautiful
and great work is not possible without the grace of God. The blessings
of God are experienced here.” -08/11/05 Justice
Rameshchandra Lahoti
Former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, India
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“Well, it is something extraordinary. I have never experienced
anything like this. I am still trying to recover from the impact
it has left. It is really marvellous.”
“It will be one of the finest attractions.
Of the twenty-first century, I think this will be one of the
best buildings that have been made. Not only is it an extraordinary
marvel of architecture, but there is spirituality, devotion,
and faith that comes out of a visit to this structure.”
“I can only say that Swamiji
has done something, which if you have not seen it, or in fact,
even after you have seen it, looks humanly impossible. For
a person to have conceptualised this, to have inspired so
many people --- he must be God himself on earth to be able
to do that.” -04/11/05
Smt.
Sheila Dixit
Chief Minister of Delhi
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“To finish this in five years -- it is God’s work
-- impossible for any group to achieve. You have been able to
achieve two things: The scale and the details. If somebody concentrates
on the scale, you lose the details. If somebody concentrates
on the details, you cannot have a big scale. You have been able
to achieve both – a grand scale and great detail, which
is very difficult for such projects.” -13/11/05
Mukesh
Ambani
Managing Director of Reliance Industries
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“This place of pilgrimage is not only a feast to your
visible eyes, but also the inner eyes which are prompted to
look far beyond, beyond this century, beyond this age, and far
beyond to the relationship which man has with God, since the
day of creation.
An inspiring atmosphere, with a spiritual effect on your mind
and thoughts, it’s a place worth visiting again and again
to bring you closer to the Almighty.” -15/11/05
Justice
B. P. Singh
Judge, Supreme Court of India
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“A very rewarding and invigorating visit. The Akshardham
monument is a magnificent structure, architecturally superb,
with fantastic detail and with lessons for the young and old.
The life of Swaminarayan, depicted through robotics episodes
and the [Giant Screen] film, is beautiful and spiritually ennobling.
Akshardham combines spirituality and high technology in presenting
India’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage.”
“Whether you are a scientist or otherwise,
you are really impressed by the spirit of spirituality that
you see in Akshardham and I myself feel tremendously invigorated
by my visit here today.” – 15/10/05
Dr.
R. Chidambaram
Chief Scientific Advisor to the Government of India
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“In terms of
architecture, of course, I don’t think sculpting of
this quality has been undertaken in recent times, anywhere.
And the care with which it has been done -- I know how complicated
it was because all the major pieces of the sculpture were
being done somewhere else, brought in pieces, put here…
and the micron-level accuracy with which these things were
done -- I am aware of that. I think it’s a unique effort.
It’s a great effort in project implementation which
has been done. And it has been done without much fuss but
with tremendous amounts of efficiency, and I think it’s
a great thing.”
“Oh! Pramukh Swami Maharaj is a person who ignites you
with enthusiasm. I think he is a fountain of hope and forward
movement…The kind of encouragement that radiates from
him, I think, is a source of great strength to the people
around him and people who come into contact with him.”
-2/11/05
Vijay
Kapoor
Former Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
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“I am otherwise not a believer, but there are times when
you see such a thing that you have to make yourself believe
that there is something like Providence which gives man such
power to create such a place. This place, as I am told, is created
in just 5 years. I am not only an artist but an architect myself,
and I have seen projects being built. And seeing the limitations
and style in India, I think normally it would have taken 50
years to build such a thing. But it’s not just the time
they took that is admirable but what is created. It is a very
beautiful place, very well planned and, as I told you before,
it can make a non-believer become a believer. Because there
are some things which cannot be explained just by logic. There
is something more in it. And in this place I found there was
somewhere the hand of Providence that worked and is still working.
I congratulate you.”
“If someone asked me that as an artist
what I felt, my feeling would be that it can put many an artist
to shame these days when they see how devoted artists work.
Every pillar, every canopy is a masterpiece and made with
such craftsmanship that is incomparable. I think this will
become the most important piece of architecture as well as
of faith for the city. I do not think any other monument will
match it within a few years. It will draw more people to Delhi
than anything before.”
“What I will take with me is an image
that I cannot describe in words. It has dumbstricken me. I
am not a stranger to such things; I have seen the world, I
have seen great monuments. It made me very proud that such
a place exists just a few miles from where I live.”
- 27/10/05
Satish
Gujral
World renowned artist and architect;
Awarded India’s Padma Vibhushan, Mexico’s Leonardo
Da Vinci Award, and
Belgium’s Order of the Crown
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“Being here is a spiritual experience. One feels blessed
on entering here – the love and care with which our cultural
and religious history has been presented is so evident. This
experience is one that I will cherish and carry with me throughout
my life. The temple that stands here will be a source of spiritual
strength to the people of our country as well as to countries
around the world.” - 28/10/05
K.
V. Kamath
CEO, ICICI Bank
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“This place inspires Bhakti from inside. Frankly, I came
as a tourist, but the things which I have seen here, the thoughtfulness
which has gone into its construction and the idea behind it
-- it inspires anybody. Even if he is a non-believer, he will
go away with a great deal of inspiration. Devotion to God and
The Divine energy of God is very much present; this is what
you want in any temple.” - 20/10/05
Sudarshan
K. Birla
Chairman, Birla VXL Ltd. / Birla Brothers Pvt Ltd.
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“I have gone around the world seeing many things, but
nothing like the experience I have had here.” –
12/11/05
R.
K. Laxman
Eminent Indian Cartoonist and Social Commentator
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“I think Akshardham represents, today, an ideal of the
heritage of India. It represents excellence at its best. It
represents the values of human life and the larger sense of
humanity and the oneness of humanity. And that humanity is one
family. “Vasudev kutumbakam” is the underlying ideal
of the heritage of India, and Akshardham represents it, its
quintessence in the most beautiful manner. Look at the sculpture
of any of your temples created during the recent years and you
feel what excellence is -- how excellence can be defined.”
“This is not one poem in stone. This
is a million poems in stone. One of the great epics of India
is Akshardham. That is why I consider this the greatest pilgrimage
of the truth, the good and the beautiful. There is no place
other than Akshardham where the truth, the good and the beautiful
are combined so beautifully.”
"This is truly the greatest gift that
Pramukh Swami Maharaj has given to India. It is the greatest
temple built in 10,000 years of human history on the face
of this Earth." - 2/11/05
L.M.
Singhvi
Former Indian Ambassador to the UK, Indian Elder Statesman
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It is greater than imagination, but true. Grand. A feast to the
beholder's eyes and soul inspiring. I feel blessed with my visit
to the Akshardham temple at New Delhi. -13/11/05
Justice
Santosh Hegde
Judge Supreme Court (retd), India
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“It was the most exhilarating and uplifting experience
of my life. The beauty and splendour of the creation that we
saw today left us speechless. One feels proud to be an Indian
when one sees the evidence of our rich heritage, values and
culture, the like of which does not exist anywhere. It will
be my endeavour to see that the entire family of CSIR, with
20,000 members, have the same priviledge that I and my wife
had today – namely to see, experience and feel this ‘miracle’
here.” -20/11/05
Raghunath
Mashelkar
Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
& President,
Indian National Science Academy
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“I didn’t expect anything like this at all. I had
seen it from the outside while driving across. What I have seen
here is much more than a temple. It is an expression of modern
India - with our feet firmly planted in our ancient past. It
has been a Bharat-darshan so far. It has also been an immersion
in Indian cultural ethos for me. And for just pure sight seeing,
I don’t think I have seen anything quite like this anywhere
in the world.”
“You know you keep hearing about
whether India is shinning, whether India is going to make
it, whether it’s going to be a great country –
a great power in the 21st century, but then you see what the
people have done here. Something that should have taken a
decade, something that should have taken 40, 50, 100 years
-- you have created this in five years; it’s unimaginable
that Indians can do that. I feel very proud to be an Indian
to see this. And to all the volunteers: keep up the good work.”
– 15/10/05
Kiran
Doshi
Indian Foreign Service, Former Indian Ambassador to Austria
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“Akshardham is a unique combination of architecture and
spirituality. It stirs one’s soul and motivates to do service
for mankind. Important people from all walks of life have been
on duty for months together ignoring their businesses and practices,
etc. This is a living example of dedication and devotion. The
statues are better than the wax museum of London. The day is not
far off when Akshardham will be designated as the Eighth Wonder
of the World.” - 15/10/05
L.D.
Mittal
Sonalika Group
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“One thing that stands out is that an institution like
this, founded so many, many, many years ago, is so much alive
today - that is wonderful. There has to be something really
moving, really spiritual behind this if it can produce this
kind of an impact after so many centuries”
“It has been a wonderful and moving
experience – to see this immense work of devotion, of
labour, of love and of beauty. This is arguably the greatest
monument in Delhi, and it was accomplished in such a short
time all because of the greatness of one Great Soul, Pramukh
Swami. I am indeed fortunate and blessed that I could witness
this.” - 19/10/05
V.
Thulsidas
Chairman/Managing Director, Air India
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“If ever there is again going to be an assessment on the
new Seven Wonders of the World, I think this complex is going
to get the top-most place. Every Indian should be proud of this.
In fact, it is a great contribution to humanity because this
is not only the glory of the art and culture of India, but values,
living values are being imparted at every stage.”
“This, I think, is something which
governments and multinational corporations all over the world
should learn. How one person, one sanyasi, one saint who has
sacrificed - who has given up everything for the sake of society
-- can inspire so much love, affection and dedication is something
amazing. That is the biggest of miracles I have seen.”
- 30/10/05
D.
R. Kartikeyan
Former Director of CBI and
Director General of the National Human Rights Commission
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“My visit to this wonderful institution will remain etched
in my mind forever as an experience in pursuing the true qualities
of mankind. The world will be a place of peace and harmony with
people who are engaged in this type of work for creating better
human beings.” -15/11/05
R.
S. Mooshahary
Director General Border Security Force (IPS)
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“As a matter of fact, such inspirers are not even rare
but they are not available in the world. Because if he fixes
a date, however difficult, however impossible things are, he
achieves it on that particular date. I have heard so many things
about him. Neasden Temple -- he fixed the date; it was impossible,
but it was made possible because of the grace of God and the
words of Swamiji. And this temple is a jewel on the Earth -
not only in Delhi and in India. And the way you put the robotics
here; they are life-like; they are amazing. People will forget
the house of wax when they will see the robotics here.”
- 22/10/05
Balkrishna
Shriya
Advisor, LML Ltd. |
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“This wonderful “Akshardham” will be remembered
by generation after generation.” - 22/10/05
Justice
S. Mittal
High Court Judge (Punjab)
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“I have been coming here almost every second month and
what I have been impressed with is the teamwork, the dedication
and the total commitment which has been shown by the volunteers
- virtually without an office and without any bureaucratic hassles,
and with so much dedication, so much commitment. I am really
surprised how the whole thing has been created and envisioned
and come to existence.” 23/10/05
Bhagwat
Swaroop
Settlements Commissioner, Government of India
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“Truly one of the wonders of the world! Long after I,
we, the society we live in ceases, this monument, which is a
glorious tribute to the humanity, will continue to shine its
illumination on mankind for its welfare.” -23/10/05
A.
Bhattacharya
IAS Director General
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“This abode of Lord Swaminarayan embodies the minutest
traits of Hindu religion and mythology. The sculptural renderings
are amazing and display the rare and envious artistic skills
of Indian artisans. The structure is not only a manifestation
of our heritage but is a unique emblem of Hindu values.”
- 27/10/05
Justice
Amitava Roy
High Court Judge (Guwahati)
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“To be here in the new Akshardham which is many times
larger than the Gandhinagar, Gujarat complex, and to experience
it – I think there are no words which can express one’s
experience. It is simply a fantastic experience and it is a
real glory to our spiritual heritage and tradition.”
HH
Gajapati Divyasinh Devji Maharaj
King of Jagannathpuri
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“I think this is impossible for any industry or anything
in public life to do. It can be only with dedicated people that
this was created in such a short time. I think that is what
people will learn from here: in such a short time, this sort
of thing cannot be created without dedication, and that you
people have here.” 29/10/05
O.
P. Lohia
Chairman of Indorama Group
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“I think this is the first time that Delhi is going to
get a place where they will see the entire culture of this country
displayed - this past five thousand or even more years. Thus,
it shows what we as Indians and as people of this great heritage
can do, not only for ourselves as a country but also for the
humanity.” - 31/10/05
Gopal
Swami
Chief Election Commissioner, Govt. of India |
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“It is an experience inexplicable. It is a wonder which
took place before our eyes. It is an edifice which stands lofty
pronouncing the heights reached and scaled by the Indian in
the fields of life and life beyond. It is a unique gift to Delhi.
It is a proof for the strength of sankalpa sakti of the Sant
Mahapurush.”
Prof.
V. Kutumba Shastri
Vice Chancellor, Rashtriya Sanskrut Sansthan, New Delhi
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“Bhartiya sanskruti ka ek adbhut prayer jo nisandeh vyapak
hoga. ham sab dhanya hai ki hame apane jivit kal me aesa bhavya
darshan mila."
Jai Swaminarayan
Amitabh
Bachhan |
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“A truly wonderful and enlightening darshan. It was great
to see such dedication and belief.”
Abhishek
Bachchan |
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“Dedication, honesty of purpose and deep love for the
country and pride of its culture and heritage is obvious behind
the entire complex. This is a great place for younger generation
to know and learn about Indian tradition, creativity. Regards
to the great minds who have planned this place.”
Jaya
Bachchan |
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“OM”
“An overwhelming experience ……. your culture,
your deep commitment to society, people is extraordinary.
Tina
Anil Ambani |
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“This is first time I visited Akshardham Temple. And it
is a great feeling and wonderful experience I had. I was very
much impressed about Swami Narayan’s contribution and
inspiration to the society.”
Jaya
prada |
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“This is a most fabulous temple that I can conceive of.
Having come and paid obeisance here, I feel elevated and also
gripped by a deep sense of humility.”
Lt. Gen. S. K. Sinha (retd.)
Governor of Jammu and Kashmir |
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“A song in stone, a poem in wood, an exquisite and unforgettable
creation of dedicated minds, inspired by the supreme leadership
and spiritual magnetism of Swami Pramukh Maharajji.
After Gandhinagar and Neasden, both of which I have had the
privilege of visiting, it was difficult to believe that the
concept and its manifestation could be excelled. I have been
pleasantly surprised once again at Akshardham."
Dr. Abhishek Singhvi
National Spokesman, Congress Party. Senior Advocate, Supreme
Court, New Delhi |
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This
is an excellent monument created to educate the people blending
technology, entertainment and spiritualism. - 2/4/06
K. Ramlingam
Chairman – Airport Authority of India |
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Actually, totally speechless! But I shall
have a lot to say. It was the most amazing experience ever.
FANTASTIC !!! Mind Boggling !!! Over Whelming !!! - 4/4/06
Deval Vinod Ambani
Advertising – Art Group Head,
Reliance Ind. Ltd |
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It we follow Swaminarayan’s followings
there can be heaven on this earth. Akshardham Delhi is a power
of Spiritualism. Sanskars of India are safe in the hands of
Akshardham. - 4/4/06
Parvinder Sharda
Chief Sub Editor – Punjab Kesari,
Delhi |
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