The atmosphere is a little bit surrealistic at the break of dawn when I am entering a beautiful landscaped park with expansive green lawns. Early morning mist hovers in the air and the sun is just rising. I am surprised to see so many people who are already here so early. Looking across the flower garden I see an imposing edifice. It really looks as a magnificent huge lotus flower. Bahai Temple is precisely due to its architecture called Lotus Temple.
It was constructed from 1980 until 1986 as a 27 petalled lotus flower having nine sides and even nine lotus leaf shaped pools surrounding them. It is 40 m tall, the diameter is 70 m and the capacity is 2,500 people. It was designed by an Iranian architect Fariborz Sahba (born in 1948). It is dedicated to the Bahai faith of universal brotherhood and love and ranks among seven major Bahai temples in the world. Every continent has a Bahai temple and this is the one in Asia.
The Bahai faith recognizes the unity of God and his prophets, teaches that the fundamental purpose of religion is to promote concord and harmony constituting the ultimate basis of peaceful, ordered society. As it must go hand in hand with science, this society is progressive at the same time. It advocates the principle of equal opportunity, rights and privileges for both sexes, advocates compulsory education, abolishes extremes of wealth and poverty. It recommends the adoption of an auxiliary international language. It strives to establish permanent universal peace.
Sacred lotus or Indian lotus – Nelumbo nucifera – belongs to Nelumbonaceae family. Since times immemorial lotus flowers are a symbol of soul purity, beauty and eternal life. Thus they play an important part in Buddhism. Their meaning is not purely symbolic and decorative. Its underground stem, roots, seeds and leaves are used to make medicine and as food.
White marble is the material used for the construction of the Lotus Temple, thus it is marvel in marble and it has been dubbed as the Taj Mahal of the 21st century. Inside the temple the architectural structure itself is the main feature which catches your eyes and as there are no decorations as statues or paintings, the interior is rather plain. However the space is generous. I refrain from taking pictures as it is prohibited. People, whatever their religion might be, can pray here individually or in groups.
