Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir

The Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir (Hindi: श्री सनातन हिंदू मंदिर) is the name of two Hindu temples in London, one situated off the Ealing Road in Wembley, in the Brent and the other in Whipps Cross in Waltham Forest near Leytonstone. They are run by charity Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK.[1]

For other Swaminarayan Mandirs in London, see Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.

The temples follow Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism), and in common with other temples called Sanatan which is the true (original) name of the religion that was later referred to as 'Hindu'.[2][3]

Wembley temple
Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir
श्री सनातन हिंदू मंदिर
A side view of the Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir in Wembley, London
A side view of the Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir in Wembley, London
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictGreater London
FestivalsDiwali, Navratri, Jalaram Jayanti, Krishna Janmashtami
Location
LocationWembley, London
CountryUnited Kingdom
Architecture
TypeVedic
CreatorShri Vallabh Nidhi UK
CompletedMay 2010
InscriptionsVasudev Kutumbakaum
Elevation20 m (66 ft)
Website
svnuk.com

It was opened in the Summer of 2010, took 14 years to build, and is made entirely of imported Indian limestone. It was constructed according to the scriptures of the Hindu holy texts, and so contains no steel supports.[4] Its site has an area of 2.4 acres (9,700 m2).[5]

Many of the temple's component pieces were hand carved in the town of Sola, in the Indian state of Gujarat - before being flown to Britain and assembled. There were 41 marble statues of deities made in India especially for the mandir. The interior is elaborately decorated with carvings on the pillars and walls, as well as the numerous shrines with painted figures of Hindu deities. Some famous spiritual leaders and forms of Gods from other religions are featured in the carvings, including one of Mother Teresa and the Sikh Guru Nanak. At its highest point, the temple is 66 ft (20m) tall.[6]

The temple has the following deities: Shri Ganeshji, Shri Sahajanand Swami, Shri Amba Mataji, Shri Simandhar Swami, Shri Radha Krishna, Shri Ram Darbar, Shri Shrinathji, Shri Tirupati Balaji, Shri Shiv Parivar, Shri Jalaram Bapa, Shri Hanumanji.

The temple was built using funds raised by the charity Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK (SVNUK).

Leytonstone temple
The original temple in Leytonstone

The temple in Leytonstone is called Shri Nathji Mandir and was inaugurated in June 1980. It has the following deities - Shri Ram, Shrinathji, Shiv Parivaar, Amba Mataji, Jalaram Bapa and Hanumanji.[7]

Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK

The charity which runs the temples was founded by Vaishnav Hindus in London and one of its objects is "Advance the Hindu religion in accordance with the teaching of Shri Vallabh" (Vallabha Acharya), the founder of the Pushtimarg sect. However, the temples are intended to be ecumenical. The Charity was founded by Late Shri Balmukund P Parikh & Shri Ramanbhai Patel of the six gham patidar community with the blessings of Krishna Shankar Shashriji (Dadaji).[1]

See also

References
  1. "Welcome to Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK". Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK.
  2. "Sanatan Dharma". Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK.
  3. Eleanor Nesbitt (2006). "ISSUES IN LOCATING HINDUS' SACRED SPACE" (PDF). Contemporary South Asia. 15 (2).
  4. Nye, Catrin (31 May 2010). "New £16m Hindu temple opens in Wembley". BBC News.
  5. "New syncretic temple opens in London". The Hindu.
  6. "Wembley temple". Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK.
  7. "Leytonstone temple". Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK.
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