World’s first-ever Om-shaped temple

• The World’s first-ever Om-shaped temple Inaugurated in the village of Jadan in Rajasthan’s Pali district.

ABOUT THE TEMPLE

• This temple became the world’s first temple designed in this iconic form. This architectural masterpiece will not only attract tourists, but will also boast of an impressive visual presence that will be visible from space too.
• This groundbreaking endeavor marks a significant milestone as it pioneers the creation of such a distinctive temple globally.
• The ‘Om Aakar’ temple spans across a vast expanse of 250 acres in Jadan Village.

FEATURES OF TEMPLE

• This temple is shaped like the Om symbol and follows the Nagara style commonly seen in North India. It has an extensive layout covering an area of around half a kilometre. This intricate design pays tribute to the region’s rich cultural and architectural heritage.
• One notable aspect of this temple is that it can hold 1,008 idols of Lord Mahadev and 12 Jyotirlingas within its sacred boundaries.
• The temple stands at a towering height of 135 ft and is supported by 2,000 pillars. It also has 108 rooms on its premises, with the tomb of Guru Madhavanand ji as the central feature of the temple complex.
• The topmost section of the temple has a sanctum that houses a shivling made of rhinestone sourced from the Bansi hill of Dholpur.
• Additionally, there is an enormous tank underneath the temple complex with a capacity of 2 lakh tonnes, which adds to the temple’s grandeur.

ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF NAGARA STYLE TEMPLES

• It is believed that the Nagara style of temple architecture originated in the 5th century AD. Its influence is in parts of Northern India, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
• The Nagara style is not limited to a specific time period and has evolved and adapted over centuries, showing the dynamic nature of Indian temple architecture.
• Nagara style got its fame from the Gupta dynasty and continued to flourish through various regional kingdoms and empires that ruled over the northern parts of India.
• The word “Nagara” means “city,” which highlights the temple style’s close association with urban architectural principles.
• Nagara style temples have a unique blend of indigenous elements and influences from Central Asia.
• They are characterized by their tower-like peaks, known as “shikharas”, which rise vertically and symbolize the sacred mountain, Meru. This temple style of architecture is closely associated with the Shaiva and Vaishnava sects of Hinduism, reflecting their spiritual aspirations.