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Feature on BAPS, Toronto
This
section of GaramChai.com features the BAPS Hindu temple innaugrated
July 2007 in Toronto.
About BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam
Swaminarayan Sanstha): BAPS has built over 600 mandirs
(temples) and 9090 centres in 45 different countries.[3] All
activities are centered around understanding the inherent
unity of the Self (Atma) and God (Paramatman) through worship,
meditation, study of the scriptures, and attending weekly
lectures conducted by the sadhus (monks) of BAPS. The fundamental
philosophy of BAPS was expounded by the faith's central figure
Lord Swaminarayan in the late 18th century which entails a
comprehensive understanding of five basic eternal entities:
Jiva, Ishwar, Maya, Brahman, Parabrahman. Wikipedia
Facts about the temple in Toronto: The temple was
built using 24,000 pieces of Italian marble and Turkish limestone.
carved by hand in India, then labelled and shipped to Canada
for assembly. The chief engineer was a Hindu monk. Most of
the mandir was carved using hammer and chisel by close to
2,000 craftsmen, 100 of them transplanted from India and housed
next to the dusty highway for the duration of the project
-- they went home during Toronto's winters.The project effectively
spanned four countries: creamy white Turkish limestone and
translucent Carrara marble were shipped to small villages
in India, where they were painstakingly carved by craftsmen.
Blacksmiths were kept on hand to forge new chisels and sharpen
blunt ones. The individual pieces -- 24,000 of them -- were
labelled with bar codes and shipped by container to Toronto,
where they were reassembled. Virtually every inch of the place
is embellished with carved deities -- cavorting horses, peacocks,
elephants, lotus flowers and vines -- each representing different
Hindu virtues. The project was spearheaded by Pramukh Swami
Maharaj, the spiritual leader of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar
Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS for short. The local
Hindu community offered up about 400 devoted volunteers, and
it footed the bill for much of the temple, which was erected
in 18 months without government funding.
canada.com
Stories in the mainstream media about the
temple:
- Hindu temple opens in Toronto: After more than
a year's worth of construction, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
helped open a $40M Hindu temple Sunday – the BAPS Shri
Swaminarayan Mandir. Harper led a procession of dignitaries
down a long, red carpet leading to the temple amid hundreds
of flag-waving onlookers. Located at Highway 427 and Finch
Avenue in north-west Toronto, the temple, made of Turkish
limestone and Italian marble, is being called an architectural
masterpiece. It's 2,000 builders were required to follow
ancient Hindu rules governing how a holy shrine is to be
built. Federal Opposition Leader Stephane Dion and Ontario
Premier Dalton McGuinty were also on hand for the opening.-
Toronto
Star
- Hand-made Hindu temple ready to open in Toronto:
Canada’s most ornate Hindu temple -- a $40-million
vision hand-carved by Indian artisans out of 24,000 hunks
of Italian marble and Turkish limestone -- is to open this
Sunday in part of Toronto known more for its suburban bungalows
and strip malls. On Wednesday as tractor-trailers rumbled
past the sun-drenched Swaminarayan Mandir next to busy Highway
427, orange-clad swamis, elegantly suited Indian men and
women draped in brilliant saris strolled the grounds, all
anticipating the opening ceremony. The mandir -- or house
of worship -- is the largest initiative of its kind ever
undertaken by this country’s Indo-Canadian community.
National
Post
- Hindu community opens $40M-temple in Toronto: It
took 18 months, 24,000 hand-carved stones, and $40-million
in fundraising. What was once a dusty patch of land by Highway
427 and Finch Avenue is now an architectural masterpiece.
The temple is one of the largest of its kind in Canada.
It's also the first Hindu temple in Canada to be built according
to traditional vedic principles.- 680
News.com
- Harper officially opens elaborate Hindu temple:
After 18 months of construction and millions in fundraising
efforts, a one-of-a-kind Hindu temple opened Sunday in Toronto.CTV.ca
News Staff
- PM Harper on hand as Canada's first traditional Hindu
temple opens in Toronto Worshippers, dignitaries and
Hindu priests celebrated a unique blend of ancient architecture
and modern building techniques on Sunday at the opening
of Canada's first traditional Hindu mandir - or temple.
. . Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Stephane
Dion, Premier Dalton McGuinty and Toronto Mayor David Miller
were all on hand as thousands of people gathered outside
the BAPS Shri Sawminarayan Mandir for the ceremony. - Canada
East Online
- Premier Helps Officially Open Canada's Largest Hindu
Temple: Impressive Complex Celebrates Indo-Canadian
Art, Architecture And Culture. Premier Dalton McGuinty today
celebrated the inauguration of the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir,
a marvel of Indian art and architecture that will attract
tourists and teach visitors about Ontario's Indo-Canadian
community. - Newswire.ca
- Canadian Hindu temple weaves itself into Toronto's
tapestry : It is said Hindu temples are built to last
one thousand years, and to be a source of peace and serenity.
The one that oversees a busy highway in Toronto was built
to withstand the bluster of one thousand Canadian winters
- and its inauguration Sunday gathered under the same roof
two sworn political foes, Prime Minister Stephen Harper
and Opposition Leader Stéphane Dion. Mr. Harper led
a column of dignitaries inside the Swaminarayan Mandir,
the first Hindu temple of its kind in Canada, located near
Highway 427 and Finch Avenue West. Theglobeandmail.com
- Hand-carved $40M Hindu temple opens in Toronto
: A massive $40-million Hindu temple that is being called
an architectural wonder, constructed with ancient techniques
and 2,000 volunteers, had its official opening Sunday near
Toronto's airport. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is
a monument to the Indo-Canadian Community, a structure considered
like none other in Canada. The local Indian and South Asian
community raised the money to build the temple..Cbc.ca
-
Harper officially opens elaborate Hindu temple
: After 18 months of construction and millions in fundraising
efforts, a one-of-a-kind Hindu temple opened Sunday in
Toronto. Prime Minister Stephen Harper was on-hand to
celebrate the official unveiling of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir. Harper said the $40 million architectural marvel
represents India's and Canada's embracement of spiritual
and ethnic pluralism. .Ctv.ca
- New $40 Million Hindu Temple Opens, While Millions
Starve! : Toronto, Canada: is now the proud home of
a new Hindu Temple, from an architectural standpoint it
is not the Taj Mahal, but it certainly is a work of art.
Built using Turkish Limestone and Italian marble The Swaminarayan
Mandir temple was constructed both in Canada and India,
the building blocks were even bar coded to facilitate their
placement in the structure. I guess this is old carving
skills meets new technology. bloggernews.net
- $40M Hindu Temple Opens : It's already a source
of tremendous pride for Canada's Hindu community. After
more than a year's worth of construction, Prime Minister
Stephen Harper helped open a $40 million holy temple Saturday,
the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto. citynews.ca
- Elaborate Hindu temple opens its door to public
:BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Temple will certainly be
a sight to behold and a testament to Ancient Indian craftsmenship.
Not only will it be the pride and joy of Indian Culture,
but hopefully a Canadian Landmark as worthy as the Parliament
buildings, Quebec City Citadel and other notable Tourist
attractions.barryoregansblog.blogspot.com
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