OPINIONS

Prof. V. S. Ramamurthy
Chairman, Science & Engineering Research Council, Secretary, Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India

In today’s globalized world it is extremely important for all Indians to look back and reminisce on what were the strengths of the Indian society and I think it is a unique opportunity for the young and the old to get acquainted, reminded of what they had and what they are probably losing if we are not careful. This will be a unique contribution in not losing that.

October 8, 2005
Swami Jitatmanand
Vice Chairman, Ramakrishna Mission

I have been most impressed by the Sanskruti Vihar (Boat Ride) which you have created for the Indian Vedic civilization, that gave me much joy. I was dreaming that when the westerners will come, they will be moved for 10 minutes and they will have a total impression about how our civilization began, how it developed, how it matured, how it diversified and how it excelled in many-many dimensions; you have done it very well.

October 14, 2005
Pranav Adani
Director, Adani Enterprises Ltd

It is much more than a temple. It is a reflection of world peace.

October 15, 2005
Swami Nirliptanandaji Maharaj
Vice President, The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh

The Akshardham complex will go a long way to rouse interest among the visitors about the glorious Indian Culture, will give a very good idea about it and will transform the lives of the people, taking them along the good and noble life, bringing them enduring peace and lasting happiness.

October 16, 2005
Swami Padmanabhanandaji Maharaj
General Secretary, The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh

Pramukh Swami Maharaj and the team of sadhus and sadhaks have done a unique work. They have brought the ancient wisdom in the most modern way.

October 16, 2005
Ramesh Chandra Agarwal
Chairman, Dainik Bhaskar Group

Akshardham is a sangam(confluence) of Indian art and culture.

October 16, 2005
Pujya Swami Mangalanandji
President, Bharat Sadhu Samaj

Here the culture of India is shown through exhibitions. By this divyadarshan everyone will learn about sanskars. This is a heritage of our nation.

October 18, 2005
Pujya Swami Harinarayananandji
General Secretary, Bharat Sadhu Samaj

The (boat ride) presentation on Vedic and Puranic traditions of our past is indeed incomparable.

The founder of the Swaminarayan Faith, Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s early life and pilgrimage, when he was known as Neelkanth shown in the IMAX film is unparalleled. It inspires the viewer to live truthfully, in self-control and generously.

October 18, 2005
Pujya Swami Mangalanandji
President, Bharat Sadhu Samaj

Here the culture of India is shown through exhibitions. By this divyadarshan everyone will learn about sanskars. This is a heritage of our nation.

October 18, 2005
HH Swami Dayananda Saraswatiji
Founder, Arsha Vidya Gurukulum and AIM for Seva, Tamil Nadu

Anybody who comes to this place and comes out, and having gone through the experience, the learning experience cannot be the same person has to be different, has to come back with a certain self-respect, self-esteem - what a great country this is, he feels Indian, then he will have the feeling that my God, that I belong to such a great heritage and if he is from a different country that he will carry home the image India not as full of snake charmers.

October 19, 2005
Pujya Pranav Pandya
Head, All World Gayatri Parivar, Haridwar

If you want to learn Indian culture scientifically, if you want to learn Indian culture in a live way, and if you want to know what India used to look like in Satyug, the vedic era, and whatever India was, and whatever Bharat can give to various people in the future ……… go to Akshardham and see it.  I will give this message to each and everyone wherever I go.  I will deliver this message.   

October 19, 2005
V. Thulasidas
Chairman & Managing Director, Air India

It has been a wonderful and moving experience – to see this immense work of devotion, of labour, of love and beauty, arguably the greatest monument in Delhi.

October 19, 2005
HH Sri Kaliyan Vanamamalai Ramanuja Jeeyar Swami
Head, Vanamamalai jeeyar Mutt, Totadri, Nanguneri, Tamil Nadu

Akshardham is going to be biggest inspiration to the world for the revival of our culture.

October 20, 2005
HH Balagangadharanath Swamiji
Head, Sri Adichunchanagiri Maha Samsthana Math
Akshardham is Vaikuntha itself. It can be called nothing other than Vaikuntha. In this Kaliyuga, whosoever comes here and does darshan will attain the merit (punya) of doing darshan of Vaikuntha.
October 20, 2005
Sudarshan K. Birla
Chairman, Birla VXL Ltd. / Birla Brothers Pvt Ltd

I came as a tourist, frankly I can say that, but the things which I have seen here, the thoughtfulness which is gone into its construction and the idea behind it, inspires anybody, even if he is a non-believer.

October 20, 2005
HH Sai Vishvesha Teertha Swamiji
Madhavacharya, Sri Pejawar Adhokshaja Math, Tamil Nadu

Pramukh Swami is the new Bhagirath because he has inspired the Ganga of Indian culture to flow throughout the world. Akshardham is the source of the cultural Ganga.

October 21, 2005
P. Chidanand Saraswatij
Head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rushikesh

Being a few minutes in that exhibition, which gives the history of thousands of years, is going to inspire our youth. And when the youths are inspired, the whole nation and the whole world are inspired. And for those youth who are looking for direction, for those youth who are looking for inspiration, they must come to this monument - to this beautiful divine abode and see and experience and be inspired. Once they come, they will be different. They will be something very unique and this matchless divine abode is going to change their lives and charge their batteries and then they can face any challenge on this earth. That’s what I believe.

October 23, 2005
Rameshbhai Oza
Kathakar and Head, Sandipani Vidyaniketan, Gujarat

The experience of this divine Akshardham dissolves one’s conceit and helps one realize the Almighty. My mind has become elated by the darshan of Akshardham.

October 23, 2005
Swami Nikhilananda Saraswati
Acharya, Chinmaya Mission – New Delhi Ashram

Actually, in today’s time what people require is some concrete thing to guide them. People don’t understand very abstract ideas; they don’t grasp it well. This is something which is very concrete. Going through this whole place will give them the message in a modern language, in modern times.

October 24, 2005
Prof. V. Kutumba Sastry
Vice-Chancellor, Rashtriya Sanskrit Samsthan, New Delhi

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 Indians in the fields of life and life beyond.
It is a unique gift to Delhi.
It is a proof of the strength of Sainkalpa Sakti of Sant Mahapurush.

October 27, 2005
Gajapathi Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb IV
The Maharaja of Jagannathpuri

Akshardham is a most befitting glorification of our ancient and great spiritual heritage. May the Dham inspire and guide modern humanity to imbibe and live to the fullest the eternal values of our Vedic heritage.

October 27, 2005
Suresh Neotia
Chairman, Ambuja Cements Ltd

This edifice is the greatest creation of our great country, the fact that it could be built in 5 years reflects the love and dedication of the great devotees and the blessings and vision of Sri Pramukh Swamiji.

October 27, 2005
Satish Gujral
World Renowned Painter, Sculptor, Muralist & Architect

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, was created in just 5 years. I am not only an artist but an architect myself. And seeing the limitations 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.

October 27, 2005
K. V. Kamath
Padma Bhushan, MD &CEO, ICICI Bank

One feels blessed upon entering here. The love and care with which our cultural and history has been presented is so much evident. This experience is one that I will cherish and carry with me throughout my life.

October 28, 2005
Vijay Kumar Chopra
Padma Shri, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, Punjab Kesari Group Chairman, Press Trust of India
Akshardham is ‘Swargdham.’
October 28, 2005
Pujya Shrivatsa Goswami
Acharya of Gaudiya Sampraday, Heir, Sri Radha Raman Mandir, Vrindavan

This is the absolute form of Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram and I am blessed by this darshan.

October 29, 2005
G. Balasubramaniam
Director, Academics for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)

It (Akshardham) brings the universe of Indian Culture and heritage to the posterity. It is definite that theambience would make its impregnable impact on the mind-set of people who are increasingly becoming victims of a consumer society.

October 30, 2005
Abdul Hamid K. Zaman
Under Secretary of the Ministry of Finance

I would like to give my best regards and would only like to say that this unbelievable monument of Akshardham is one of the wonders of the world.

October 30, 2005
Hassan Salman Kamal
Poet, Writer & Researcher, Former Director General of the National Council of Culture, Arts and Literature

If the wonders are seven then this monument is the eighth wonder. If the wonders are nine then this monument is the tenth. This great temple shall set a great example for generations of human beings – for creativity with emphasis on selfless service of voluntary force. God is Great who created this evolution; the same God resides in the creator of this beautiful Akshardham.

October 30, 2005
N. Gopalaswami
Padma Bhushan, 15th Chief Election Commissioner of India (2005 – 2009)

This is a place of pilgrimage, a place of love and devotion and a place of discovery of what is essentially the gift to this generation of our ancient culture, also a place where one marvels at the vision and compassion of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. My head bows in reverence.

October 31, 2005
Lt. General Nirbhay Sharma
18th Governor of Arunachal Pradesh

A gift to the new generation and mankind by people who think big and are promoting peace.

October 31, 2005
Shri Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Head, The Art of Living Foundation

I think Akshardham is a living example that this ancient culture is very much alive and so very beautiful. I think every child should know this and learn from this. It is very educative, informative and skilfully sculpted and that too, done in such a short period of time! What inspiration can do is shown here.

November 2, 2005
Dr L. M. Singhvi
Senior Statesman, 15th Ambassador of India to the UK (1991-1997)

The entire tradition of India is present here. All the values of India have been shown here. In every stone there is divinity, grandeur and Indianness. I believe that in the last 5,000 to 10,000 years there has been no greater architect than Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

November 2, 2005
HH Bodhinatha Veylan Swami
Head, Kauai’s Hindu Monastery, Hawaii, Head, Hinduism Today

An excellent combination of traditional Indian architecture and modern technology in exhibits and film to convey the greatness and values of national and regional lines.

November 3, 2005
Dr. C. L. Patel
Chairman, Charutar Vidya Mandal, Vidya Nagar, Gujarat

Akshardham – Creation of Lord Swaminarayan, through HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

November 4, 2005
Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
11th President of India (2002 – 2007)
I feel I am in a different world.
It has become a place of education, 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.
What has happened today at Akshardham inspires me and gives me the confidence that ‘we can do it.’ The realization of a developed India is certainly possible before 2020 with millions of ignited minds like you. (6 Nov. 2005)

Akshardham is a unique creation. It is a creation of art, creation of faith, creation of civilization, celebration of culture, celebration of human life. So we are all proud of that creation. (17 Dec. 2007)

November 6, 2005
Dr. Manmohan Singh
14th Prime Minister of India (2004 – 2014)

In the days to come, this wonderful Mandir and its complex will be counted as one of the principal buildings of Delhi.
Akshardham Mandir will become a worth-visiting place in Delhi, where hundreds of thousands of people will come to see this from all corners of our country. After being impressed by the attractive murtis here and the peaceful, devotional atmosphere they will definitely leave morally and mentally elevated.

November 6, 2005
Ravi Kant
Vice Chairman & Managing Director, TATA Motors

This magnificent place is truly a temple of love and devotion. It is an amazing feat – both in terms of conception and execution. The management and organization is flawless.

November 7, 2005
Smt. Dr, Manorama Bawa
Vice President, All India Women’s Conference (AIWC)

As a social worker, I am volunteer myself.  I saw today that all the volunteers were very courteous, very polite, very carrying; that is one message but I am really impressed by the dedication and the commitment they have to Akshardham and to Swaminarayanji. I feel if they continue in that way, they will also be able to change the lives of many other people who visit your Akshardham.

November 8, 2005
Smt. Sarojini Varadappan
President, Indian Red Cross Society – Tamil Nadu

Going around the whole of Akshardham, I think it gives us so much inspiration and one can get so many messages from it. I would like to congratulate the organizers for having constructed this beautiful Akshardham complete with so much educational value. I think millions and millions of people will get a good message from this.

November 8, 2005
Raghu Rai
Padma Shri, Photographer & Photojournalist

I have travelled all over India but I have not seen a temple of this scale or detail built anywhere in the last one thousand years.

November 9, 2005
Vijai Kapoor
17th Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (1998-2004)

I knew that something extraordinary was emerging, but today has been an eye-opener because I just could not imagine that a thing of this beauty, this serenity could have been created in such a short time. I think it adds a new dimension to Delhi. I feel proud as a Delhiwala that it has been done.

November 10, 2005
Naranbhai J. Rathwa
Minister of State, Ministry of Indian Railways, Government of India (2004-2009)

A wonderful experience. Entire concept, design and presentation are unique.

November 12, 2005
R. K. Laxman
Padma Vibhushan, Ramon Magsaysay Award, Renowned Indian Cartoonist
I have gone around the world seeing many things, but nothing like the experience I have had here.
November 12, 2005
Shivraj V. Patil
Minister for Home Affairs, Government of India (2004-2008)

It (Akshardham) reflects the spirit of “Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram” – the 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.

November 13, 2005
Justice M. Jagannadha Rao
Chairman, 17th Law Commission of India (2003-2006), Judge, Supreme Court of India (1997-2000)

The Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Delhi is a symbol of India’s cultural heritage from the Vedic periods. The dedication of the authorities and volunteers is commendable. Those of us who are uninterested in modern mundane life of work and burden, can have a day-off to go back with what our glory was in the past more than five thousand years.

November 13, 2005
Justice N. Santosh Hedge
Judge, Supreme Court of India (1999-2005)

It is greater than imagination but true. Grand, a feast to behold with the eyes and soul inspiring.

November 13, 2005
Mukesh Ambani
Chairman, Reliance Industries

My heart is overjoyed on seeing Akshardham. I believe this is the real India. After seeing Akshardham I feel that nothing is impossible.
It is only the commitment and dedication of your volunteers that has got Akshardham done in five years!

November 13, 2005
K. L. Chugh
Chairman Emeritus, ITC Ltd

Awe inspiring in its magnificence and magnitude. 5 years of love to create this creation that will bring peace.
We feel blessed.

November 13, 2005
Justice Y.K. Sabharwal
36th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India (2005-2007)

A remarkable and unique place to visit which one can never forget. Every child and youth should visit and draw inspiration from our old civilization which will help in building Future India.

November 15, 2005