India is a spiritual country, where the number of gods worshipped is likely equal to the buildings you see in Mumbai, which is precisely unaccountable. And India is also a little eerie, nonetheless, we are proud of it. We not only honor our bizarre but beautiful mythology but also our jaw-dropping history just the same.
When talking about Indian history, who doesn’t know Gandhi, the human power behind a revolutionary victory. But what if I tell you that not only do Indians respect and honor Gandhi, but we also worship him like a god.
Mahatma Gandhi is just exceptional and no one actually needs to remind his story. But this Gandhi Jayanti, we are here to share with you something that you might have missed till now – Temples dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.
Mahatma Gandhi, Bapu, Aka father of the nation, is also worshipped as a god by his followers. Every year on Gandhi Jayanti, thousands of people go to these temples and pay their respect just like the way we indian do to our beloved gods.
Here are five special temples where Gandhi Ji is worshipped with all the proper rituals, and even special pujas are performed on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Let’s read further to find out the significance and history of these temples.
1. Gandhi Temple In Odisha
The Gandhi Temple is located in Bhatara, Sambalpura district in Odisha. It was built in 1974 and it was the first temple dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was a great pioneer who fought for the independence of India and he also stood against the evil thinking of untouchability.
During the decade of 1960, Untouchability was still prevailing in the district of Sambalpur. To stop this heinous practice, this Gandhi temple was built by the villagers of Bhatara. Dalit MLA Abhimanyu Kumar, a former legislator of the Rairakhol assembly constituency took the lead and was supported by all the villagers. He was inspired by the visit of Gandhi ji in 1934. He considered him as the God of Dalits.
The temple’s foundation stone was placed on March 23, 1971, and it was officially opened on April 11, 1974, by Odisha’s chief minister, Nandani Satpathy. The temple has the bronze ideal of Mahatma Gandhi with a 3.5 ft height. At the entrance of the temple, Ashoka Chakra is placed and the national flag, Tiranga is waved on the top of the temple.
The most special thing about this temple is that the worship of Mahatma Gandhi is done by the Dalit priest every day. Gandhi’s favorite scriptures, Bhagwat Gita and Ram Dhun are recited daily mornings and evenings. National festivals like Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti are celebrated in this temple every year.
2. Gandhi Mandiram & Smruthi Vanam, Andhra Pradesh
Gandhi Mandiram and Smruthi Vanam were built by social activists in Municipal Park in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. Gandhi Mandiram is the special temple for Mahatma Gandhi while Smruthi Vanam was built in remembrance of freedom fighters. Through these temples, social activists want to inculcate the feeling of patriotism among the youth.
Statues of Mahatma Gandhi and various freedom fighters were erected in Srikakulam’s Municipal Park. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi and the Smritivanam was unveiled on the eve of Gandhi ji’s death anniversary in Srikakulam city.
3. Kirti Mandir, The Memorial Shrine, Porbandar
Kirti Mandir is a memorial shrine located in Porbandar, Gujarat. It was built in 1950 and unveiled by Sardar Vallabhai Patel on 27 May 1950. This shrine was established in remembrance of Mahatma Gandhi and his wife, Kasturba Gandhi.
The word, Kirti means “fame” in Sanskrit. So, this temple displays the various belongings, photographs and exhibits related to Mahatma Gandhi. The museum provides visitors with insights into the life and times of this iconic figure in Indian history.
Kirti Mandir serves as a pilgrimage site for admirers of Gandhi and is an important landmark in Porbandar. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy and influence of Gandhi Ji in India and around the world.
4. Mahatma Gandhi Temple, Telangana
Mahatma Gandhi Temple is located in Chatiyal town of Nalgonda district, Telangana. This temple was opened in September 2014 for the public. This temple is taken care of by the Mahatma Gandhi Charitable Trust.
Two priests offer prayers to the presiding deity, the father of the nation, followed by unique hymns created especially for Mahatma. As part of the structure, there is a meditation room. The temple was built on four and a half acres of land, with intentions to expand the shrine complex with spiritual and calm elements.
The statue of Gandhi ji is in a sitting position with a blessing posture. All the pujas and distribution of prasad just like Hindu temples are also done here. But the specialty of this temple is the idol forms of Panch Bhutas, Water, Fire, Air and Earth that are installed on one side of the temple. This is the first time and first temple where the Panch Bhutas’s idols are placed.
This temple also displays the different types of soil taken from the 30 Indian temples such as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Kashi and Rameswaram. All of this soil includes the name of the temple and little description of the temple. On the backside of the temple wall, one can find the books written by Gandhi Ji and some religious books. It’s a perfect spot for ardent readers.
5. Gandhi Temple in Tamil Nadu
This Gandhi Temple is located in Senthampalayam village, near Goundapadi in Erode District. In 1996, the temple’s foundation stone was established. Kumbabishegam was held on the 6th of February, 1997. The construction cost of this temple is Rs. 10 Lakh. It has two alters, one is for Mahatma Gandhi and the other one is for his wife, Kasturba Gandhi.
Just like all other temples, this temple remains open for the whole day and the pooja of Mahatma Gandhi is performed three times a day. It was built by Vaiyapuri Mudaliar, a resident of the village. After the death of Vaiyapuri, his son, Thangaraj has been taking care of the temple.
A special ritual, “Tirumanjanam” is a ritualistic bath that is performed on national festivals of Independence Day, Republic Day and Gandhi Jayanti. In this “Tirumanjanam” ritual bath, the statue of Mahatma Gandhi is bathed with milk, tender coconut water, curd, sandal paste, honey and scented water among others.
India is really a country of wonders where even noble humans are worshipped. On this Gandhi Jayanti, these temples will be the perfect place to visit as a way of paying respect to Mahatma Gandhi.
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