Lotus Temple

A modern architectural marvel, the Bahá'í House of Worship at New Delhi is must-see for tourists planning to travel to New Delhi. Also known as the Lotus Temple because of impression of a half-open lotus flower afloat, surrounded by its leaves, the Bahá'í Temple in New Delhi is a remarkable tabernacle of peace and beauty in pure white marble and is an engineering feat that will set standards for centuries.

Dedicated to the purpose of prayer, meditation and spiritual upliftment, the Bahá'í Temple is a symbol of religious harmony. The Lotus Temple has no clergy in the temple, no idols, no pictures, no sermons, no rituals. And from within its hallowed confines glorification of the Almighty voices rise in unison, of Hindus and Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians people of all castes, colours and cultures. It is a place for communication between man and God.

Popularly known as the Taj Mahal of the twentieth century, the Lotus Temple bloomed on December 24, 1986 and has been designed by a young architect, Fariburz Sabha, a Canadian citizen and a Bahá'í of Iranian descent, who was selected from among the world's top architects.

The lotus shape of the Bahá'í House of Worship at New Delhi holds a lot of significance. Besides being the national flower of India, it has been inseparably associated with religion, be it Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism or Islam. Therefore, to describe merely the beauty and symmetry of the architecture of the Bahá'í shrine is not sufficient. The story it tells to the hearts of the people is also important. Says Fariburz Sabha, "To design a temple which would reflect the rich cultural heritage of India and at the same time, be compatible with the cardinal principle of the Bahá'í Faith, that is the unity of religions, was the most unusual and remarkable chance. I want it should, on one hand, reveal the simplicity, clarity and freshness of the Bahá'í revelation as apart from the beliefs and man-made concepts of many divided sects and on the other, should show respect for the basic beliefs of all religions of the past and act as a constant reminder to the followers of each faith that the basic principles of all the religions of God are one."

Rightly so, Fariburz Sabha has upheld the soul of Bahá'í teachings of acceptance of the oneness of mankind, oneness of religion and oneness of God. The faith that was founded in Iran by Bahá'u'lláh, that raised worship above ritualistic and communal forms, shines brilliantly in the heart of New Delhi in the foam of a lotus.