Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir

For other Swaminarayan Mandirs in London, see Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.
Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir

A side view of the Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir in Wembley, London

A side view of the Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir in Wembley, London
Name
Proper name Shri Sanatan Hindu Mandir Wembley
Geography
Country United Kingdom
District Greater London
Location Wembley in Middlesex
Elevation 20 m (66 ft)
Culture
Important festivals Diwali, Navratri, Jalaram Jayanti, Krishna Janmashtami
Architecture
Architectural styles Gujarati/North Indian
Inscriptions Vasudev Kutumbakaum
History and governance
Date built May 2010
Creator Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK
Website Official website http://www.svnuk.org/

The Shree Sanatan Hindu Mandir (roughly translated as "All-inclusive Hindu temple") is the name of two Hindu temples in London, one situated off the Ealing Road in Wembley and the other in Whipps Cross near Leytonstone. They are run by charity Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK.[1]

The temples follow Sanatan Dharma, and in common with other temples called Sanatan their intention is to be non-sectarian and ecumenical.[2][3]

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.[4]

Wembley temple

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.[5] Its site has an area of 2.4 acres (9,700 m2).[6]

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.[7]

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).

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 Ramanbhai Patel of the six gham patidar community with the blessings of Krishna Shankar Shashriji (Dadaji) [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "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. ↑ "Leytonstone temple". Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK.
  5. ↑ Nye, Catrin (2010-05-31). "New £16m Hindu temple opens in Wembley". BBC News.
  6. ↑ "New syncretic temple opens in London". The Hindu.
  7. ↑ "Wembley temple". Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK.


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