Ramakrishna Temple
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Sri Ramakrishna Temple was consecrated in the Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math on Friday, the 14th January, the Makar Sankranti Day in 1938. Swami Vivekananda, the illustrious disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the 19th century saint from Hoogli district, Bengal wanted that the architecture of the Temple should represent a harmony of different artistic cultures as Sri Ramakrishna had the image of harmonious blend of various religions.
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[edit] Cost of construction
Swami Vijnanananda, a brother-monk of Vivekananda and one of the Apostles of Ramakrishna, who was, in his pre-monastic life, an engineer, designed the temple according to the ideas of Swamiji and laid the foundation stone on 16 May 1935. The massive construction was done by Martin Burn & Co. at a cost of nine lakh rupees.
[edit] Symphony of architectures
The height of the temple is 112.5 feet and covers a total area of 32,900 Sq. ft. The temple mainly is built of chunar stone and some portion in the front is of cement. The high entrance of the temple is like a South Indian Gopuram and the pillars on both sides represent Buddhistic architectural style. The three umbrella-like domes on the top built in Rajput-Moghul styles give an idea of thatched roofs of the village Kamarpukur.
The circular portion of the entrance is a wonderful intermingling of Ajanta style with Hindu architecture and within it, placing the emblem of the Order is representation of beauty and solemnity. Just above seen is a replica of a Shiva lingam. The sooner you enter the natmandira, the spacious congregational hall attached to the sanctum, than you are reminded naturally of a church. The pillars in a line on its both sides are according to Doric or Greek style and their decorations are according to the Meenakshi Temple at Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
The hanging balconies above the temple nave and the windows show the effect of Moghul architecture. The broad parikrama path for doing circumambulatory rounds on all sides of the garbhamandira, sanctum sanctorum built like Buddhist chaityas and Christian Churches, attracts one’s attention. The lattice work statues of Navagraha figures etched on semi-circular top of outside the temple has increased manifold the beauty of the whole temple. The golden kalasha on the top of the temple and a full-bloomed lotus or Amlaca below, and between them a beacon-light is an example of unmatched beauty. The architecture of the big dome and of the other domes show a shade of Islamic, Rajput and Lingaraj Temple styles. The entrance doors on both east and west of the temple having pillars on both sides are like Rajasthan Chittor kirti-stambha, the victory-pillars. Ganesha and Hanuman images, representing success and power respectively attract visitor’s attention.
[edit] The statue
A full size statue of Sri Ramakrishna is seated on a hundred petalled lotus over a damaru shaped marble pedestal wherein the Sacred relics of Sri Ramakrishna is preserved. The Brahmi-Hamsa on the front represents a Paramahamsa. The statue of Sri Ramakrishna was made by the famous sculptor late Sri Gopeswar Pal of Kolkata and the decorations of the temple were conceived by artist late Sri Nandalal Bose. The Canopy above the deity and all the doors and windows are made of selected teakwood imported from Burma now Myanmar.
[edit] What it all means
Sri Ramakrishna Temple is a holy spot of great harmony. In no portion of the Temple a special architectural style has been followed. But here all existing artistic thoughts have been assimilated to form a unique figure of beauty, a poetry on the stones. The emblem on the entrance door designed by Swami Vivekananda not only represents harmony of Karma, Jnana, Bhakti and Yoga, but also the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna in whom all conflicts of caste, creed, race, nationality are resolved.
[edit] Spot of inspiration
Just below the monogram there is the eternal prayer: Tanno hamsa prachodayat - May the Almighty Lord grant inspiration to us.
