The Model of Virat Ramayana Temple, which is slated to be the largest temple in the world, was unveiled at Patna yesterday. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Jagatguru Shankaracharya, Swami Swaroopanand Ji Maharaj were also present at the unveiling ceremony which took place at Mahavir Mandir complex.
The Temple would come up at Kesaria town in East Champaran District of Bihar. It is located at a distance of 60 Kms from Vaishali, where dawned the first republic of the world and at a distance of 120 Kms. from Patna, the capital of Bihar. Here the Temple Trust has acquired 110 acres of land.
The construction is likely to get over in 10 years. Upon completion it would be the largest religious monument in the world, surpassing Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia. It would be at least twice as
Earlier the Temple was slated to be named Angkor Wat, but after objection from the Government of Cambodia, its name was changed to Virat Ramayana Mandir.
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- Nitish Kumar interacting with Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopananda Ji Maharaj
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- Virat Ramayana Temple Full Model and Architecture
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- Proposed Model of Viraat Ramayana Temple
Former IPS Officer and the Head of Mahavir Mandir Board Acharya Kishore Kunal, who is the key person behind this Temple project, gave key information about the Project.
The Temple would be 2800 ft long, 1400 ft wide and 450 ft in height. The height of the shikhar (spire) will be 270 ft. Thus it will be the largest temple in the world in all dimensions i.e. length, width and height.
The proposed temple has taken the design of spires from the Angkor Wat but it has 13 shikhars whereas the original Angkor Wat temple has got only 9 spires.
The entire project would cost between Rs 300 to 500 Crores, which would be funded through donations from devotees across the country. The Donations would be managed through sale of Coupons through bank. The Construction is expected to cost Rs 7700 per sq. ft. There would be seating facility for 25000 devotees at an height of 65ft.
Like South-East Asian temples it has layers instead of floors and in the first layer one will have to walk more than a km. to see four temples with shikhars (spires) in four corners and the marvels of the Ramayana through electronic gadgets. In the last layer the main Rãma temple consisting of Rama, Sita, Lava, Kusha and Valmiki will be at a height of 66 ft. with will have a sitting capacity for 20 thousand devotees at one time. In all there will be 18 temples with high spires. The Shiva temple will comprise the largest Shaiva-Linga in the world and it will be installed in such a fashion that devotees will have no difficulty in offering water, milk, etc. to the great deity.
All major incidents of Ramayan will be presented in the temple premises either in the sanctum sanctorum or in the galleries which will have the electronic gadgets brought from Spain for the purpose.