Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Mohamed chose plan for grand traditional temple over simple building, says Hindu leader

Presented with two plans for the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, chose a grand traditional stone temple over a normal building of worship, revealed Pujya Brahmaviharidas Swami.

In his address during the ongoing centenary celebrations of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha’s late spiritual leader His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the Indian state of Gujarat, Brahmaviharidas Swami recollected the journey behind the realisation of the under-construction temple.

Brahmaviharidas Swami, the head of the BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi, noted that Pramukh Swami Maharaj during a visit to the UAE in April 1997 had prayed and wished for a temple to be built in the Capital.

“Even now many are wondering how it is possible that a temple is coming up in Abu Dhabi. Almost a 1,000 sensible people told me that it is impossible to build a traditional stone temple in Abu Dhabi. The only essence, comfort and energy that we banked upon were the prayers of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1997,” he said during the BAPS Gulf Countries Day observed in Ahmedabad.

In August 2015, the UAE government allotted land to build a temple in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mohamed, the then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, gifted the land during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first official visit to the UAE. In 2018, BAPS representatives met Sheikh Mohamed and Modi at the Presidential Palace during the Indian Prime Minister’s second visit to the UAE.

Brahmaviharidas Swami noted that it was a day when he experienced Sheikh Mohamed’s generosity.

“As we walked to the ruler and our prime minister, we were wondering what would happen. We placed two plans before them. First was to create a mandir (temple) like a normal building, put the ‘murtis’ (an image of a deity) inside and do worship like a Hari mandir and the other plan was to create a stunning traditional stone mandir that captures 10,000 years of Indian art and culture. When two plans were presented, with all generosity Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, he chose the traditional mandir, the first such mandir in the history of human civilisation.”

While initially 13.5 acres were allotted for the temple, later an additional 13.5 acres was provided for parking space.

“The will to spread love, harmony and tolerance is the basic foundation of the temple. It is bringing countries, communities and people closer together. This has become more than just a temple,” he added.

In his address, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said the construction of the temple is a story of “heart and mind”.

“The Abu Dhabi temple story was referred to as a miracle. It is a story of hearts and minds, and a story of the generosity of kings. This temple was the dream and prediction of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.”

The under-construction temple lies on 27 acres of land. The pink sandstone structure is expected to last more than 1,000 years.

A prayer in the desert comes true

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