News Brief
Nishtha Anushree
Dec 18, 2023, 01:54 PM | Updated 01:54 PM IST
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On Monday (18 December), the Swarved Mahamandir, situated in the Umaraha region of Varanasi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Following the inauguration, PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, toured the center, which is designed to accommodate about 20,000 people for meditation sessions simultaneously. The Swarved Mahamandir spans seven floors.
On his trip to the temple, Prime Minister Modi also took part in the 100th anniversary celebration of Vihangam Yoga. According to Business Today, this marks his second visit to the location, with the first one having taken place in December 2021.
The annual gathering of Vihangam Yog celebrates the centennial of the establishment of Vihangam Yog Sansthan by Sadguru Sadafal Deoji Maharaj, a revered spiritual leader, mystic poet, and seer from the 19th century. The Mahamandir houses the idol of this esteemed seer.
What's special in Swarved Mahamandir
Located around 12 km from the heart of Varanasi city, the Swarved Mahamandir meditation centre spans a massive 3 lakh square feet. The temple's architecture features 125 petal lotus domes. It is one of the largest meditation centres globally.
In 2004, Sadguru Acharya Swantantra Dev and Sant Pravar Vigyan Dev established the groundwork for this expansive meditation center. The construction process employed the skills of 15 engineers and a workforce of 600.
The center is named the Mahamandir, a tribute to the Swarved, a spiritual manuscript penned by Sadguru Shri Sadafal Deoji Maharaj. He was a timeless yogi and the originator of Vihangam Yoga.
According to the Swarved Mahamandir temple's official website, their goal is to "radiate a powerful spiritual aura to enlighten humanity and encapsulate the world in a state of serene vigilance."
The temple boasts an architectural design featuring teakwood ceilings, intricately carved doors, and 101 fountains. The walls are adorned with pink sandstone, and the gardens are populated with medicinal herbs. Additionally, the walls of this grand temple are inscribed with verses from the Swarveda.
The construction of the temple was guided by the intention of advancing the doctrines of Swarveda, with a particular focus on Brahm Vidya.
Nishtha Anushree is Senior Sub-editor at Swarajya. She tweets at @nishthaanushree.