The Sri Mayapur Vedic Temple and Planetarium, Mayapur, West Bengal, India:

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/8554/r2vz5.jpg

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/4648/image2og3.jpg

http://img454.imageshack.us/img454/9864/image3dj0.jpg

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Hi,

The focal point of Indian architecture, like its culture, has always been religious in nature. Just as the Indian economic boom is bringing incredible economic and architectural growth in the secular area, so has Indian religious architecture started once again creating some of the worlds largest, massive, and most intricate religious architecture in world.

In the last 2 years, here are just some of the major religious megaprojects undertaken in India: Quote:
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/7035/1bk0.jpg http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/3305/3iz7.jpg
http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/5376/2nd4.jpg http://img458.imageshack.us/img458/4822/2961300915eeea42eb7ouu4.jpg
^ Global Vipassana Pagoda, Mumbai (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=10133932&postcount=336), largest stupa, largest dome, and largest rock cave in the world.

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/4465/mood06fkl0.jpg http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/438/mandovar10fbf8.jpg http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/8041/elephant04fcf1.jpg
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/637/dom05fkd0.jpg http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1107/sahajanand01fil1.jpg http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9593/dom18ftn3.jpg
^ Akshardham Hindu Temple, New Delhi (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=287153), the largest Hindu Temple in the World. [just opened this year]

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/1522/crosssecca3cc2.jpg http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/7821/a49tpbv6.jpg
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/5379/a84grav9.jpg http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8976/parkjj3yd7.jpg
^ Maitreya Buddha Statue and Temple, Kushinagar (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=389451), the world's largest statue (three times the size of the Statue of Liberty.) [construction starting in 2007]
Now, plans are underway in Mayapur, West Bengal, located on the banks of the River Ganga near Navadvip, about 130 km north of Kolkata, to build another massive religious work: the tallest Hindu temple in the world, one of the largest religious buildings ever constructed (the largest being the Ankgor Wat Hindu temple in Cambodia), and one of the largest religious complexes to be built in last 200 years. A temple that, at 35 storeys, and will be just shy of the Pyramids in Giza in height, and without major repair is built to last over a thousand years --the Sri Mayapur Vedic Planetarium and Temple:

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7659/1yo5.jpg http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5747/fud0506ejb7.jpg
^ Perspecive and Aerial view of the Sri Mayapur Temple.


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[U]Location: The Pilgrimage Town of Mayapur, West Bengal

Mayapur is a pilgrimage place for various traditions of Hinduism, but is of particular import to followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism as Mayapur is the birthplace of 16th century saint Caitanya Mahaprabhu.The town is heavily centred around the Gaudiya Vaishnava religious tradition, with temples devoted to Radha and Krishna throughout. Since the 1970's Mayapur has also the site of the world headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) amongst a number of other Vaishnava organisations such as the Gaudiya Math.
Quote:
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2193/14128752832865d0379byq6.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/2043/14128752832865d0379b52dhw5.jpg) http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/4023/14128753212b1653621btk0.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6818/14128753212b1653621b52dbr7.jpg) http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6641/141301384c3d26c7912bsk0.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7357/141301384c3d26c7912b52dia5.jpg)
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7167/1412875334d7f8c4e03bkq8.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9780/1412875334d7f8c4e03b52esu7.jpg) http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3337/141287529b6a973705fb52exy7.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/7497/141287529b6a973705fb52end1.jpg) http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/2775/1413013799ab0f6c9a4bqq0.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/5063/1413013799ab0f6c9a4b52egp4.jpg)
^ Sri Mayapur Dham, Mayapur, West Bengal
It is ISKCON which is planning to build a huge "Religious Tourism" project, which includes as its feature the 35-storey tall Sri Mayapur Vedic Planetarium and Temple, built to last over a thousand years. As Hindu temples are built to symbolically represent the cosmos (here's a nice paper on Indian Architecture and Cosmology (http://www.ece.lsu.edu/kak/Time2.pdf)), the temple includes a Planetarium and learning center, and is to be surrounded by a large Vedic Village, a Village Industrial Park, hotels and accomidations, and house a large Vedic university the Mayapur Centre of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.


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The Temple Complex

Spearheaded by the ABF foundation, run by Alfred Brush Ford, descendent of US automobile pioneer and the Ford founder, Henry Ford, the entire Temple Project is estimated at Rs 600 crore.

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/4952/image25ti6.png (http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/8827/image24im0.png) http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1413/image20ye1.png (http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2804/image19rj9.png)
^ Plan of Temple and first phase of the Vedic Village. (click to enlarge)

Completion of the project would lead to several things, including spin-off benefits for the local economy, improvement in healthcare and education facilities, availability of micro credit to the people. The idea is to ensure that tourist arrivals in Mayapur goes up by "1,000 per cent by 2020". With proper infrastructure in place, Mayapur could figure among the top-20 tourist destinations in India.

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4897/diag1ib7.jpg
^ Scale model of the immediate temple vicinity. Photos taken in Mayapur earlier this year.

A "vedic planetarium" would be built at Mayapur as part of the tourism project. It would also have a Mayapur Centre of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The Ganges would be used as a thoroughfare for ferrying tourists from Sundarbans to Mayapur via Dakshineswar (a place en route which houses the famous Kali temple built by Rani Rashmoni in 18th century Bengal.)

The planetarium's research centre will have scientists from NASA and the ISRO explaining the contributions of Vedic cosmology to the study of today's space science, as well as regular symposia on the subject by astro-physicists. The project aims to make a the project a center of astrophysical and cosmological research.

http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/3358/1jl4.jpg
^ Another view of the model. Note the model of the Mayapur Centre of Gaudiya Vaishnavism university in the second model, behind the temple.

While the 22-acre Vedic planetarium project will be undertaken by Mayapur project society, a charitable body, work for the village industries park will be taken up by Mayapur Village Industries Park Pvt Ltd. The Mayapur Tourism Development Pvt Ltd will be responsible for the tourism hospitality complex.

According to ABF International director John Robert Sims, the 19.9-acre village industries park has been conceived as an integrated area to provide physical infrastructure, world-class engineering and technological inputs, common facilities. Human resource development and platform to all productions units.

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/7469/t1vy9.jpg http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/903/t2qc4.jpg

It will have units like local handicrafts, sculpture, terracotta manufacturing and handlooms for cotton, jute and silk products, earthen products, organic food processing zones, fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products, chilling plants, cold storages, packaged drinking water including bottling plant, multi-commodity raw material, finished goods and warehouses.

The hospitality tourism complex, spread over 19.2 acre, will have 700 high-end hotel rooms, 2,700 middle-standard rooms and 6,700 lower-end rooms, besides other hospitality facilities.


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Design and architecture of the Mandir

The temple is a modern interpretation of ancient Nagara (Northern) and Kalinga (Orissan) Hindu temple design. It has a consists of three connected domed structures.

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6746/t3jv7.jpg

The first, the Exhibition Hall, will include many exhibits, a large planetarium, and a Garuda stambha (a column supporting the carved image of Garuda.) The smallest of the three structures, the Exhibition Hall will be about nine stories high. Construction for the Exhibition hall has already begun.

The second building, the Kirtana Hall, will be approximately eighteen stories tall and features an enormous vyasanafor Sri Prabhupada at its center.

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9943/t5kf3.jpg http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/865/t6ox1.jpg
^ Prerenderings of the inside chamber, showing general layout. The entire struture will be hand-carved in the Hindu temple style.

The third structure, the Shikar, or main temple, will stand about thirty-five stories tall. This building will house a magnificent Deity chamber and a beautiful glass and marble gopuram.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/134/t4mh1.jpg http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/8538/t7uw4.jpg
^ Cross section of Kirtana Hall, and a Front Profile view of some of the glasswork


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Size of the Mandir

The size that the temple will be is simply immense. A lot of the renderings don't do justice to the scale of the project. Some comparisons with other major religious landmarks of the world:

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/5579/tkasiqm1.jpg http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1323/ttajtw0.jpg
^ Compared to the Mahadeva Temple (http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3897/329147681764359703cb4e9pr7.jpg), Khajuraho (11th Century), and the Taj Mahal (http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4161/360291856d914035869b4eboe7.jpg), Agra (17th Centuruy)

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/2224/thaguk0.jpg http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/551/tpaulzn0.jpg
^ Compared to Haga Sophia (http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4218/35271604476e6d779aao4efch0.jpg), Istanbul (6th Century), and St. Pauls Cathedral (http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7010/31313278934004843f2b4f0ys2.jpg), London (17th Century)

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/9738/tpetersm0.jpg http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/2690/tpyrnp5.jpg
^ St. Peters (http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/209/2148577422fd70ff0beoip4.jpg), Rome (16th Century), and The Great Pyramid of Giza (http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/8324/335287541d191afbf68b4f4bz2.jpg), Egypt (2400 BC)


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Material Construction of the Temple:

No steel /will be used in the building of the Temple. The entire structure will be built with bricks fired from Ganga silt. Near Mayapur, an ancient Bengali palace built essentially the same way still stands after nine hundred years.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7865/t8fj4.jpg

The Temple will be built five meters above the highest recorded flood level of the Ganges. The entire structure rests atop a poured concrete slab 2.5 meters thick covering roughly four acres. This slab will act as a raft to literally float the building on the muddy Gangetic delta which makes up Mayapur.

The Project is to be completed by 2010-15 timeframe. Preliminary groundwork has begun.


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Cheers,
Jai

This is a neat project, but I wonder how they'll make it hold together without any metal whatsoever (esp. since Mayapur is probably in an earthquake zone).

The idea of having ppl from NASA and ISRO explaining India's contributions to astronomy is a much-needed bit of cultural education.

And IMO, they should build similar buildings in Varnasi, Amaravathi, and Tirupati...I wonder why temple builders in India never went beyond 70m before this...

what height will have in meters?

Looks pretty amazing. This should be just under 140 metres but then with all the detail, maybe taller.

in the comparisons with to other weathers, it lacked the comparison with sagrada falimia of Barcelona because will have 170 ms

in the comparisons with to other weathers, it lacked the comparison with sagrada falimia of Barcelona because will have 170 ms
^^ Um. Ok... So? The project is not an attempt to be the tallest religious structure in the world. The objective of those comparisons was just to give an approximation of this building's size using well-known landmarks.

Cheers,
Jai

WOAH... go INDIA!

im expecially interested in the maitreya statue...

its a beautiful symbol of peace in such troubled times

Looks pretty amazing. This should be just under 140 metres but then with all the detail, maybe taller.
Yeah, my guestimation would be about 130m-ish :cheers:

Regardless of height, whats important is that it matches its surroundings well, which it does perfectly. This will be an amazing structure well worth visiting in the coming years...

:eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2: Wow this is a wonderful religius project, I like the design and I hope the build it because is fatanstic and wonderful.

Marvelous!!

so stunning!!! this is architectural marvel.

i like it!
a modern culturally unique building, hiza!!!

Wow.

The Sri Mayapur Vedic Temple and Planetarium: a (long) update

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/2740/image66ib7pf5.jpg (http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/4906/image66ib7.jpg)

Hi all

After I had posted this thread here, Skyscrapernews.com picked it up and wrote an awesome article on the temple (http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=802), that architecture critics on the blogosphere picked up and went nuts (in a good way ;)) over. Many of them wondered about the architecture of the temple and many have linked back to this thread. :)

Therefore, I've collected more information on the structure and design of this temple which I hope will go to address many of the questions they (and maybe you guys here) posed on the Mandir's (temple's) architecture. I've tried to explain how the temple relates to traditional Indian temple architecture and its design significance to Hindu philosophy by explaining the history of it's design, and its geometrical-spiritual context as well. Some of my information comes from people who have been privy to its design conception process.

Oh, yeah, and the first post has been edited with better/clearer renderings.


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Evolution of the Design of the Mandir

First design:

The Sri Mayapur Vedic Temple and Planetarium is planned to be one of the most striking examples of Vaishnavite architecture, hence it draws heavily from the architecture of Vaishnavite tradition. In the ten or so years of its conception, it has undergone a design evolution that is a fascinating story itself.

The Vedic Temple design was created to evoke Vedic architecture, the miniature of the cosmos, and be true to the exceptionally large, intricate and ornimentally detailed architecture depicted in art and scripture. The first design of this Temple was to emulate the architecture of Ayodhya, which was the capital city of Ram. The architecture of Ayodhya has been depicted as reflecting the Himalaya mountains in both color (white marble) and and its massive, lofty spires.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7554/sutra2cv9.jpg

While traditional northern Nagara architecture did evoke this image, no temple built has ever come in scale or scope. This original design of the Vedic Temple was designed to address both the image and the size.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/3981/1strender01fk3.jpg
^ The first design of the Temple, viewed from the air

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/9526/1strender02xq3.jpg
^ A cut-away profile view, showing the inside design

It was designed to be singularly massive, almost 35-40 stories at spire height.

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Second design:

After much debating, the Temple was once again redesigned to reflect the ancient city of Dvaraka, Krishna's capital city, which according to legend was so diverse and beautiful in its architecture that it was said to have inspired the various temple traditions of India:

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8119/sutra1oq8.jpg

Also added to this design was the conception of the Vedic Village that would surround the Temple, where traditional craft and industry would be promoted, allowing villagers in one of the poorest parts of India educational, economic and cultural opportunities, as well as the concept of using the river as it has traditionally been, a highway used to ferry pilgrims back and forth from holy sites. Hence a harbor was also planned.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4161/t1vg6.jpg http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3488/t2dr8.jpg

The views of the redesigned Temple above to a larger scale than the very first rendering, which just consisted of the central island above. While the Temple itself hasn't changed much, the massive courtyard was redesigned to feature gardens and landscaping. Surrounding the main temple would be the Temple complex itself, which would contain exhibition centers, schools, monestaries and the like. The Vedic Village would surround this.

Just like the popular conception of Dvaraka encompassing north, south, central, east and west Indian temple architecture, this redesign is a very unique melding of all styles. The main tower iself is representative of the east Indian Bengali/Assamese architecture in its body, while the spire at top is from Orissan styles. The Temple's podium and main building design is based on traditional north and west Indian architecture, while western Rajasthani and Kashmiri inspired havelis (halls) would ring the building. The plan of the Temple compound evokes Deccan and coastal Southern traditions, while the Gopurams (pyramidal gates) are very much in the Southern tradition.

All in all, it was a fascinating plan, and, had it been the final plan, would by far be the largest and most comprehensive "blended" architecture temple design. I personally liked this plan the best. Unfortunately, detailed renderings of it were never made, as it hadn't gone much past the conception stage when it was changed once again.

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Third design:

In order to both portray the spirit of Gaudiya Vaishnava culture, the Temple was redesigned again to best portray the tradition's roots in Gura Desh, which comprises the region of Bengal, Orissa and Bihar.
Quote:
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1447/tbengali1co3.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5035/bengaliqq9.jpg) http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/5157/tbengali2ti5.jpg (http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1811/bengali2ek7.jpg)
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2442/tbengali4wk6.jpg (http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/4016/bengali1ve9.jpg) http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7954/tbengali3zh9.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6008/bengali3qx8.jpg)
^ Examples of traditional Bengali Temple Architecture (http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/wb/wbtemps.htm). (Click thumbnails for full-size images)

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3416/tjaggannathjy1.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7453/jaggannatheq9.jpg) http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3672/tpuriyc8.jpg (http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/6032/purikd9.jpg)
^ Examples of traditional Orissan Temple Architecture (http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Archit/Oriya.html)(Click thumbnails for full-size images)
This third design of the Vedic Temple see a fusion of mainly Bengali but also Orissan architectural styles.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6607/image01ez4.jpg

Notice how the main structure of the third design has the distinctive 'hive' like appearance of Bengali temples. Note also the Chajjas or curved arching roof edges, as a prominent feature. Like the Bengali tempes, this design would be made of an extremely strong clay and terracotta brick.

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/3193/image02rs2.jpg

The main Shikarha, or the dome, is heavily influenced by Orissan architecture, especially the spire.

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Final design:

The fourth and final design change came about around 2000. As the project really started to pick up steam, and as project objectives were better realized, the Temple underwent a radical (especially for temples) design change.

It was to not only be grounded in the traditional architecture of Gura Desham, but it was to be an modern elaboaration on this style that would eschew Western, Islamic and Buddhist styles, and attempt to make a futuristic Hindu style of temple architecture.

This goal of modernizing Bengali architecture is not the first time ISKCON has attempted to revolutionize modern Temple architecture. They are indeed very good at thinking out of the box when it comes to futurizing ancient styles. The Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Bengaluru (Bangalore), Karnataka state is a recently completed temple that is a modern take on traditional Dravidian architecture, incorporating both ancient and modern design and materials.

Quote:
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4909/tbanga1of4.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9164/banga1sx7.jpg) http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/3816/tbanga2dg7.jpg (http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/4341/banga2ju0.jpg)
http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/9652/tbanga4eg5.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9292/banga4ni4.jpg) http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5294/tbanga3ed0.jpg (http://img413.imageshack.us/img413/3370/banga3zu9.jpg)
^ The retro-futuristic Sri Sri Radha Krishna Chandra Temple (http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Culture/Archit/Oriya.html) in Bengaluru (Bangalore). (Click thumbnails for full-size images)
To say the least, a rather beautiful and successful interpretation, in my opinion.

Taking advantage of revolutions in artistic cast glass design, the architects of the Vedic Temple posed the following question: how could they take advantage of modern glass detail work in the modernation of the traditional terracotta geometric designs of Bengali temples...

Quote:
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/2456/tterromo6.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/8263/135806397582d0c66a6996api8.jpg)
^ Example of Bengali Temple terracotta bricks (http://members.tripod.com/%7ESaumyaGanguly/) that make up the facade of Bengali temples.(Click thumbnails for full-size image)
...and translate that into cast glass sculptures that will crown the Sikharas? The answer is something that is a building that is at once incredibly gorgeous, steeped in tradition, and also a revolution in materials design.

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6851/templemodelqw9.jpg

Now that is how the design of the Temple came to be. Below, I'll temple's layout in more detail.


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Geometry and Layout of the Vedic Mandir

External Form:

In Hindu architecture, the principles on which the Temple is designed, especially in terms of sacred geometry, remain fixed, however, the external form and embellishment can be designed freely

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/9696/image27ps4.jpg
^ Illustration of the side elevation, with indication of guiding geometry.

After two years of study of Bengali and Orissan temples, the Vedic Temple had been re-designed to grow more naturally from the stoil, and better reflect the spiritual tradition of Bengal. The most important inclusion is the "Bengali Arch", which developed from the simple bamboo temples of the villages. This arch is found in many ancient stone temples throughout the region.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/1562/image11ob0.jpg

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Sacred Geometry:

In Hindu philosophy, geometry is seen to exist everywhere in creation: its order underlies structure of all things from molecules to galaxies. As such, Geometry is symbolized as a sacred language -- normally hidden in the Lord’s own design work of the natural world.

The ancient Vedic science of Vastu Shastra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastu), the canon of ancient codes of town planning and architecture that had been transmuted to China via Buddhism and developed in their own tradition of "Feng shui," is concerned with harmonizing the building with the natural geometric laws of the Universe. A temple constructed according to Vastu, and related Vedic sciences, it is said, will enhance the devotional experience of the pilgrim.

The Mayapur Vedic Temple is planned as both a place of worship as well as a Vedic Planetarium that will teach people ancient traditions as well as modern astrophysics, and how it relates to the Hindu worldview. As such, many elements of Sacred Geometry has been incorporated within the Temple.

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5884/image31zk8.jpg
^ An overlay of the floor plan of the Temple complex on a field ion micgograph of metallic atoms.

The floorplan of the Temple is based on the Vastu Purusha Mandala grid. The square in the centre of the mandala is presided over by Brahma. Encircling it are a number of squares called ‘padas’, or seats presided over by lesser deities, who form a hierarchy. Around it in the boarder of the mandala are 32 divinities that preside there.

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/6610/image32jk4.jpg
^ Pursha Mandala and the floor plan

It had already been known Indian astronomers long before Nicolaus Copernicus that there are 9 major planetary bodies that orbit the Sun. This fact plays a major role in traditional Hindu theologic-geometic concepts. In Vastu Purusha Mandala design, the eight cardinal/diagonal directions are presided over by the eight planets (the 9th one being Earth.)

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/8927/image34vs8.jpg

In this way, the mandala symbolically represents sacred space and the cyclic movement of time. With these affinities, this mandala embodies an all-inclusive, contained image of the ordered cosmos and is a potent architectural mechanism that provides a blueprint for the building.

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Scale

The objective height for the Temple's design was set by Srila Prabhupada for a temple of ‘about thirty stories’, whilst keeping beauty, buildability and costs in mind. The criteria for scale is based, for example, on the large proportions and number of the main deities, the magnitude of the structure required to fulfil the 1000 year longevity brief and the floor area required to hold the large number of pilgrims. The Temple height and proportions of the structure are rooted so many sacred geometries, scales, and mandalas to list here.

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/7714/image14wv9.jpg

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Heavenly Harmonies

Any temple or sacred structure is traditionally considered as a bridge between heaven and earth. A formula that links the two is found in number, geometry and harmony which is encoded in the cosmology of the fixed stars and the moving planets. The Vedic Temple, like most Indian temples, incorporates this.

Pole Star Alignment

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/7165/image38jw5.jpg

An example of the Temple as a planetarium is its alignment with the Pole Star. The Pole Star is the only stationary point in the sky, and everything else revolves around it, both day and night. The Pole Star sits at 23.5 degrees above the horizon, due North of the Temple. The Temple is designed so that when one stands at the South entrance and visually lines up the top of the gateway with the top of the kailasa upon the central sikhara, one will locate the Pole Star.

Spring and Autumn Equinoxes

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4535/image39ed9.jpg

March 21 and September 21 are known as the Spring Equinox and the Autumn Equinox respectively. They are singularly important days in the year since the Sun rises exactly opposite the East everywhere on Earth and sets exactly in the West. Also, everywhere on Earth experiences 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night, thus the equinoxes are days of perfect balance and harmony.

The alignment of the Temple to the four directions means that its relationship with the Sun will be strengthened on these two days each year, with the Sunrise occurring directly through the East Gate, falling at the feet of Sri Sri Radha Madhava sanctum sanctorum

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Vedic Temple as a Planetarium

The objective of this Adbhuta Mandira is the exposition of the Vedic cosmology. This theme is present in every stage and aspect of the design. The very proportions and geometry of the Temple, both externally and internally, are reflections of the cosmic design.

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/8270/image10cm2.jpg

Within the Temple, each space will house artistic exhibits. A variety of ideas have been developed which will work harmoniously with the interior spaces.

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/7151/image42ak6.jpg


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Temple Construction Phases

The Temple is designed from the outset to be easily, cheaply and ascetically built in modular phases from the foundation to the Shikara. According to the project's Managing Director, Abhirama Dasa, the temple itself can be completed and opened for tours within six years and cost less than $20m to build.

The very basic groundwork prep on the Temple has begun, but as of yet construction of the Temple elf has not started. The the Temple was expected to be completed by 2010, though due to very heated last minute politcal wrangling with the West Bengal state government (an elected communist government.. go figure) who, fearful of losing political power at the draw this project will have, threw up a slew of insane roadblocks that do not have much legal foundation but will take time in overcoming. As such I personally don't see it finishing until the 2013 at the least, though preliminary groundwork and site prep has begun. One good thing about the delay is that it allows more time and money to be channeled into this project.

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2776/image21et2.jpg
^ Illustration of the three main phases of construction. Starting with the Planetarium/Entrance building in the front, followed by Kirtan Hall and Shikara.

The phase construction method allows the Temple to be used as a sacred structure from whence the first building is completed. The first phase

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/3451/image24jm9.jpg
^ Another view of the complex, with the Planetarium/Entrance building in the foreground

Just to again put the renderings in scale, to see how large the Temple is, check out how freaking tiny the pilgrims approaching in the Temple are in the picture above

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/6233/image47fs6.jpg
^ The temple in entierty. The dots are people. ;)


-----==--=--==-----

Temple of the Vedic Planetarium and Vedic Village

The Vedic Temple is just the crowning glory of the project, which also includes the establishment of the Vedic Village. The village is to be designed in three phases, phase one which will be developed concurrent to temple construction.

There are two major roads in the Vedic Village, Chaitanya Avenue, which leads to the main enterence, and Prabhupada Avenue, behind the temple which will lead to the Vedic University and Prabhupada's Samadhi Mandir. Both roads and the village itself will be extensively landscaped.

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/9966/image59yl0.jpg
^ Model of first phase of Vedic Village in relation to the temple. Existing buildings are yellow. Phases two and three wlil fill in the open areas.

The village will see extensive dyking and drainage systems carefully integrated into the master plan. This area of Bengal is among the wettest spots on Earth, and has historically been prone to flooding.

An earthen dyke will be built around the perimeter of the property, which will protect the whole township from floods. It will appear as a raised grassy area, reinforced on the outer side with rocks. A strengthened retaining wall on the Ganga side of the property will for flood protection, so that existing buildings can be retained intact.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7972/image3ki0.jpg
^ A section through the dyke, as planned for the Taranapur Road side of the area

Roads along the top of the dykes, with ramps at various points for access. Landscaping and tree planting will be used to screen all traffic that is on the dyke from the residential areas. To drain internal water, 25 percent of the total area will be kept open for holding ponds, to contain water in times of high rainfall. This water will be pumped out from two or three points.

-=----=---=--

Architecture in Vedic Village

The architects studied in great detail the existing architectural styles in Mayapur, and Navadwipa district, as well as buildings and architectural elements in Kolkata (Calcutta.) The temple architects are designing buildings on in the immediate temple vicinity in some detail, and these designs, and of course the buildings themselves, will serve as an example which the developers want future developers to follow.

The architectual goal for the township design is for it to have discernible regional character, and the seamless integration of this project into the Bengali landscape. Keeping in mind that the construction of this temple will lead to the rapid urbanization of the surrounding area, development and architectural guidelines for the public and private zones throughout Mayapur will be written up so that the ambience and overall character remain consistent and attractive.

These guidelines will not be rigid, but will be open to a certain amount of interpretation, so that variety is not excluded. In this way, it is planed that the entire development will look visually coherent and appropriate to the location, and make for a harmonius and inspiring experience, especially in the public areas around the temple.

-=----=---=--

Prabhupada Avenue

Prabhupada Avenue runs from the Samadhi down to the site of the new temple. It is planned as a garden area, with a quiet and peaceful mood.

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/3209/image50uq1.jpg

The buildings on either side of the Avenue will house exhibition halls, perminant party residences, public offices and a few shops. The Avenue will be pedestrian only with trees and areas of grass. It will be an area in which to linger and to relax.

-=----=---=--

Chaitanya Avenue

The main entrance for pilgrims and all vehicles will be from Chaitanya Avenue, to the North of the township. This Avenue aligns to and re-inforces the spiritual axis that connects Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura's house, via the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, to Sri Yoga Pitha.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6795/image53ct8.jpg

The buildings on both sides of the Avenue have shops on the ground floor, which will create a lively environment. The upper floors are planned for pilgrim hospitality. In the centre of the Avenue, there will be a large open space, where artists and artisans will be working.


----------==-----=----==-----------

Conclusion *phew*

Sorry for the long post guys, but I hope you all enjoyed peruzing it as much as I did writing/researching it! :)

Cheers,
Jai

Thanks for the update Jai.

I've been to Dwarka on the Gujarat coast, and its the prettiest little temple town i've seen. Quiet, calm, clean and with great people. The temple itself is magnificent, having survived Pakistan's bombing in the wars and the massive earthquake earlier this decade.

Legend has it, and the locals swear by it, that the city has been submerged many times and this is the sixth or seventh time the city has been built on its own ruins. Wikipedia says (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarka) its the seventh city.

They say the original city built by Lord Krishna is submerged under the sea. Here is the NIO project (http://www.nio.org/projects/vora/project_vora_1.jsp) to unearth it.

I hope this project becomes a true cultural and spiritual center for the eastern world.

wow, great project

Amazing project!

wonderful post. I think it is great that there is investment being made into the Hindu architecture. I don't know what else to say other than wow.

:eek2:

at least one country still believes enough to invest in meaningful signs of faith!

Gorgeous... nice to see the classic temple interpreted in glass/transparency.

Beautiful, really beautiful

Man, and I thought that Americans blew their wealth on pointless things.

What is the point in building another religious monument in this century !!

I believe, religion is just another artificial division in mankind like skin colour, caste and even country.

Rs. 600 crore can be spent to build a mega hospital or may be an educational hub. With some amount of planning, it could draw lot of tourist and in the same time it could have positive effect on human civilization.

As per my experience, most religious centers around the world are den of bad people.

I wish one day world will be free from temples, mosques, churches.

Btw, just to clarify, I am hindu and from the same state in India where this super tall temple is planned to be built.

Man, and I thought that Americans blew their wealth on pointless things.

^^^ Surely you must be talking about the Millenium Dome, except that only cost over 11 times more than this entire project, standing lonely, empty and unused by the Thames...

Whereas this entire project will employ tens of thousands in one of the poorest areas of India, singularly save an entire architecture tradition, will bring free state-of-the-art educational opportunities to tens of thousands of children that would not otherwise see the inside of a schoolhouse, generate tourist revenue that will be pumped right back into poverty alleviating social and economic developmental works in India, be a center of science, learning, and above all else an important place of pilgrimage and religious worship to over a billion people.

Yeah, what a waste of money :|


What is the point in building another religious monument in this century !!

I believe, religion is just another artificial division in mankind like skin colour, caste and even country.

Rs. 600 crore can be spent to build a mega hospital or may be an educational hub. With some amount of planning, it could draw lot of tourist and in the same time it could have positive effect on human civilization.

As per my experience, most religious centers around the world are den of bad people.

I wish one day world will be free from temples, mosques, churchesCivitas,
If you're against having religious places of worship in general, you are entitled to your opinion. However, if a religious monument is to be built, better it contribute significantly and continuously to social, economic, education development as well as pushing architectural envelopes as this project does, rather than simply be a monument to hubris.


Your comments very much need to be put in prespective. The temple itself will cost only $20 million dollars in its construction... that's absolutely penuts. The rest of the money goes to developing the surrounding district.

The project designed to generate real economic growth by being a main economic and spiritual catalyist, as well as a charitable works project on a massive scale. This was Prabhupada's original goal for this project when he first announced it in the '70s. ISKCON is very good at building their places of worship in very impoverished areas in order to bring wealth and development. I'm born and raised in Detroit, and I saw with my very eyes how the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center in Detroit, established in an urban decay wasteland, contributed significantly and materially to the rebirth of what has become some of the most happening real estate in D-town. I've seen them literally give their entire collections, putting their temple in debt, to charity so that the homeless could be fed, and clothes given to needy children. In their later years, major civil rights activists like Rosa Parks used to come to the meet temple and take prasad on a regular basis, as they were so impressed about what they did for the community.

This sheer success at socio-economic empowerment is why the communist government of West Bengal opposes this Temple so much; because development in this region would no joke spell the death of the party.

The influx of tourists and pilgrims to see this project would bring tourism up by 1,000% in 10 years. This will bring over a billion dollars itself to this backwards and impoverished area of India. The Rs. 600 crore ($175 million) for the total project includes the $20 temple, as well as the development of the city around it, including hospitals, universities, schools, and the sheer ammount of infrastructure needed to accomadate so many new travellers. Moreover, they are building, with the help of the Ford Foundation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Foundation), an examplar charitable foundation with years of experience, knowlege, human assets, and track record for successful anti-poverty reduction schemes, a Village Industries Park that will empower rural industry as well as the logistical network so that the village craftsmen of Bengal, who otherwise be one of the few Indians to loose by globalization, would be able to compete with the world in the production of local craft.


I honestly do not see anything wrong about this project. Sure I have issues with ISKCON's religious philosophy (which I find to be sometimes exclusivist) and organization (with suffers the bane of other organized religions and churches in thier political infighting), but if there is one thing that I can truely say with an open heart, is that ISKCON is damn, damn good at helping out the poor and most destitute. They are far, far more active in India than other religious sects in their social works.

This project is proof of it.

Cheers,
Jai

Majestic!!, India needs more of these how long has it been since we saw construction of major iconic Hindu temples?? Most Hindu temples that you hear friends making trips to India were constructed hundreds of years ago..definetly need the modern era continue the old artistic architectural traditions.





Man, and I thought that Americans blew their wealth on pointless things.

Actually, if you read close enough you will find that this structure would do wonders for the local area's tourist industry.. On top of that as Jai has already stated Hundreds and thousands will be employed in the actual construction of this temple. Hindu temples require specific detailed hand carvings from almost everything to the basement to pillars all the way to core.. Plus India is a society that values its spiritual fabric, even if your not convinced by the social/economic gains from such a structure how could you argue against the progress of architecural artistic impression in such a spiritual/faith oriented structure?

What is the point in building another religious monument in this century !!

To preserve cultural heritage of a nation, its history, mythology & principled values.

Jai, there are many ways to generate revenue, tourism and overall develop a poverty ridden region. You can build a Las Vegas or a Disney World ! There are even better ways too.

Some how I cannot accept any form of religious activity. It is my personal opinion. I know lot of people won't agree.

ab041937, look at your signature. Somehow it demonstrates that once upon a time India was best and hindu holy book is one of the best. I strongly feel that this is the problem with any religion. Hindu will say(or think in his mind) Gita/Upanishad is best, muslim will say Koran is final word and Christian will think bible is most sacred. So, religion is finally another way of dividing people. Just my way of thinking. No offense intended.

^^
but is it just so much more than that.

you cannot make such a bold statement about society and the human condition and justify it with it being just your 'personal opinion.' I think religion is best summed up by Dan Dennett in his TED presentation (http://mefeedia.com/entry/706460/) (yea he is a little crazy but the main idea is important). He says that religion is just like anyother aspect of nature that is used as a tool for humanity and he gives the example of a cow. If you look at the cow today it is no where close to what it was 5000 years ago. Humanity changed the cow through to serve what was needed. Religion or spirituality is apart of the human experience, even if it doesn't fit into the boxes of the three branches of Moses, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Taoism, or Indigenous beliefs. Even those who do not believe in anything must have some sense of spirituality. It is ironic that Hinduism is the religion in question because it has changed a lot form the days early of the Rig Veda to the diversity it is today.
Given the case of 'the death of God' stated by Friedrich Nietzsche, in which even in the absence of god people still act ethical, thus we do not act morally because of god, but rather we act morally because it is ethical. Even in that sense there is some sense of spirituality.

And please this temple kicks Epcot's ass.

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/6851/templemodelqw9.jpg

http://www.guide2wdw.com/images/EPCOT/Epcot%20Ball.jpg

Make a disneyland?
how boring and unoriginal is that!?

Thanks for the great info. Jai. But...
How will people get to the last floor? Will it have an elevator? remember, you said no steel...

It's ironic that they won't have any steel, after all a significant number of old temples (most notably the Konark temple) feature steel frames. And needless to say, the Mayapur temple will have to withstand a lot more stress than the Konark temple.

Jai, there are many ways to generate revenue, tourism and overall develop a poverty ridden region. You can build a Las Vegas or a Disney World ! There are even better ways too.

Some how I cannot accept any form of religious activity. It is my personal opinion. I know lot of people won't agree.

ab041937, look at your signature. Somehow it demonstrates that once upon a time India was best and hindu holy book is one of the best. I strongly feel that this is the problem with any religion. Hindu will say(or think in his mind) Gita/Upanishad is best, muslim will say Koran is final word and Christian will think bible is most sacred. So, religion is finally another way of dividing people. Just my way of thinking. No offense intended.

I can understand your idealistic viewpoint, but the fact is that religion will always remain in our society. That is what holds society together in any part of the world. Those worlds without Gods, Godless societies are limited only to science fiction and probably will remain there till the next world war, till the next world war destroys us all (unless mother nature decides to do that first).

I am okay with religions propagating their goodnesses, as long as they are not on the streets bent on killing who is not one of their own. Stop with the self-flagellation.

Make a disneyland?
how boring and unoriginal is that!?

Thanks for the great info. Jai. But...
How will people get to the last floor? Will it have an elevator? remember, you said no steel...Koolkid, that’s a good question! I realize I should have prefaced that point that metal girders wouldn’t be used in the structure of the original temple plan, as it was to be made out of limestone and marble (like the Akshardham temple is in Delhi), however,in this new design, as they are making it with brick and sandstone, I’m not sure if or how the structure is designed. I think though that metal will be used within the building (for exhibits, planetarium, etc.) and for building services (elevators, fire fighting systems, etc.), but not in the monolithic building structure itself.

Hopefully I'll be getting more information on it soon

Cheers,
Jai

Why do people always ask "why didnt the money go on a hospital?" when it is a religious or cultural project, and not when it is a huge and conspicuously expensive mall or sumsuch? Priorities please!!!!!

Thanks jai for your response

It wouldnt hurt to just walk up 35 stories, now would it?.. =D

see ya

ab041937, look at your signature. Somehow it demonstrates that once upon a time India was best and hindu holy book is one of the best. I strongly feel that this is the problem with any religion. Hindu will say(or think in his mind) Gita/Upanishad is best, muslim will say Koran is final word and Christian will think bible is most sacred. So, religion is finally another way of dividing people. Just my way of thinking. No offense intended.
My signature hasn't got any of my own spoken words. Its a quote from a learned scholar regarding what vedas & upanishads taught him. It was his desire to share his views with the world & I am simply carrying the message. But to say that I should roll it back simply coz it gives a feeling of superiority is simply nonsensical. I have put this signature since I believe in it & there is absolutely no harm in that. Religion is a way of life for every individual & there is absolutely no reason why he should shun it be it hinduism, islam, christianity, buddhism. There is absolutely no problem as long as one learns to live within his domain & respect other's. Trouble starts when people try to assert they way of life onto others through coercive means & the number of such individuals is minute compared to the majority of any community. Neutralize those individuals & the problem is solved. But, I don't see why we should stop building temples/mosques & churches simply for the reason that few people believe that it can divide communities.

Civitas - any idealism is useless, whether religious or not.

Pragmatism is best. And pragmatically speaking, this will generate jobs and tourism, so why should anyone complain about it? These are private investors, and they can do what they want with their money.

Wow! That looks great! :cheers:

It seems that this temple may have a twin in New York State!

American architect wants to construct Indian Vedic Centre (http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/36513/2)
Tuesday July 24, 09:13 AM

New York, July 24 (IANS) An American architect who has lived in India for over 30 years wants to build a Indian Vedic Center similar to one being constructed more than 100 km from Kolkata. Alfred J. Valerio wants to start work in December on an ambitious $40-million project, which he described as 'a little smaller than the Vatican', in the Southern Tier area of New York State.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or ISKCON, is building the temple of the Vedic Planetarium on the banks of the Ganges near Navadvip, north of Kolkata. Once completed, the 35-storey complex will be one of the largest religious buildings. The project was made possible by a $40-million contribution by Alfred Ford, great grandson of Henry Ford and heir to the Ford Motors legacy.

Now Valerio, 67, is seeking space and support for a similar cultural project in New York to spread Indian Vedic philosophy. 'I want to do a duplicate here,' Valerio said. 'It will be one of the biggest art projects in history. It would be a cultural, healing, educational and artistic centre.'

The entire project would require 400-500 acres of land, which Valerio hopes to persuade New York State to donate, stargazettenews.com reported.

As Valerio envisions the project, it would contain a museum, a dairy farm, an art museum and a housing development for retirees. It would underwrite scholarships, provide support for representational art, serve free vegetarian meals and offer free education.

'It has to be near a river and have water in the northeast corner running west to east,' he said.

The centre would have gardens, greenhouses and an indoor swimming pool too.

'If I can get a commitment for state land, I'll do a whole business plan on it,' Valerio said. 'It would employ a lot of people, and it would be one of the biggest tourist attractions in New York State.'

Why an Indian cultural centre in an area that has a small Indian population compared with some major cities?

'I'd like to have it in a place where you would not expect it,' Valerio said.

'India has the greatest culture the world knows,' he said. 'This would show the Vedic understanding of all aspects of life and spread the Vedic philosophy.'

Fantastic looking temple.

I just wish India would also let their skyscraper design be influenced by their traditional architecture.

Here are a couple more renderings for the temple that I'd forgotten to post:
http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/4343/01sk9.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1672/02gc8.jpg

I've found more photos of the Second Proposed Design for the Sri Mayapur Temple and surrounding Vedic Village. I'll quote from my original post:
Second design:

After much debating, the Temple was once again redesigned to reflect the ancient city of Dvaraka, Krishna's capital city, which according to legend was so diverse and beautiful in its architecture that it was said to have inspired the various temple traditions of India:

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/8119/sutra1oq8.jpg

Also added to this design was the conception of the Vedic Village that would surround the Temple, where traditional craft and industry would be promoted, allowing villagers in one of the poorest parts of India educational, economic and cultural opportunities, as well as the concept of using the river as it has traditionally been, a highway used to ferry pilgrims back and forth from holy sites. Hence a harbor was also planned.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/4161/t1vg6.jpg http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3488/t2dr8.jpg

The views of the redesigned Temple above to a larger scale than the very first rendering, which just consisted of the central island above. While the Temple itself hasn't changed much, the massive courtyard was redesigned to feature gardens and landscaping. Surrounding the main temple would be the Temple complex itself, which would contain exhibition centers, schools, monestaries and the like. The Vedic Village would surround this.

Just like the popular conception of Dvaraka encompassing north, south, central, east and west Indian temple architecture, this redesign is a very unique melding of all styles. The main tower iself is representative of the east Indian Bengali/Assamese architecture in its body, while the spire at top is from Orissan styles. The Temple's podium and main building design is based on traditional north and west Indian architecture, while western Rajasthani and Kashmiri inspired havelis (halls) would ring the building. The plan of the Temple compound evokes Deccan and coastal Southern traditions, while the Gopurams (pyramidal gates) are very much in the Southern tradition.

All in all, it was a fascinating plan, and, had it been the final plan, would by far be the largest and most comprehensive "blended" architecture temple design. I personally liked this plan the best. Unfortunately, detailed renderings of it were never made, as it hadn't gone much past the conception stage when it was changed once again.

-=----=---=--The overall design of the Temple at this stage was done by Architect Ganesh Ramachandran, at the Mayapur Master Plan office in Bangalore:

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6436/01vi0.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2935/05rs8.jpg
^ From the above two drawings, it is evident that that the Vedic City master plan is inspired by the sprawling temple cities of South India, with its layout, walled compounds, and water gardens

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/6627/02tr7.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/3254/03ft4.jpg

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/848/04vo0.jpg
^ You can clearly see the fusion of Indian architectural styles in this temple proposal. The central, north Indian inspired main temple, and the south Indian inspired Gopurams (pyramidal temple gate towers) ringing outer walls


Cheers,
Jai