The Lotus Temple

 

The Lotus Temple is a Baha’i House of Worship located in New Delhi, India. It was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent. It was created by architect Fariborz Sahba of Canada and he had won acclaim for the design before it was even completed. The temple has become a prominent attraction in the city and has also won many architectural awards. Like all Baha’i Houses of Worship, it is open to all people regardless of their religion. With over 70 million visitors, the Lotus Temple has become one of the most visited places in the world. In only one day, it receives an average of 8,000 to 10,000 people, the maximum being 150,000. The central prayer hall accommodates 2500 people. In terms of design, the temple is described as an example of expressionist architecture. It is over 40 meters tall, composed of 27 marble clad “petals” arranged in clusters of three. In order to maintain accordance with the Baha’i belief in the mystical properties of the number nine, the temple has nine sides. The conversion of the lotus design into working drawings and structural design alone took the architect nearly 18 months.

Prior to designing the temple the architect, Fariborz Sahba, travelled through India extensively. He was inspired by the architecture of the temples as well as by the art and religious symbols in which the lotus flower inadvertently played an important role. He was influenced by his experience, and in an attempt to bring out the concept of purity, simplicity and freshness, all prominent symbols of the Baha’i Faith, he created the temple in Delhi in the form of a lotus. The flower symbolizes purity and peace to the people of India and also the manifestation of God. It is valued by the people of India because the lotus rises pure above stagnant waters and teaches them to remove themselves from material preoccupations. The flower is highly admired in Indian mythology and culture, and therefore it attracts attention from people all over the world. The overall effect of the temple is that of a floating lotus flower on the verge of blooming and surrounded by its leaves symbolizing the purity and beauty of the Baha'i faith.  According to the Baha’i faith, the temple must act as a constant reminder to the followers of each faith that all the religions of God are one. While keeping this in mind, Sahba used the Lotus to show that the Baha’i faith is not detached from the Indian people but rather respects them.

I find the overall aesthetic of the Lotus temple to be beautiful for many reasons. For one, the design of the structure is very unique and unlike any other architectural work I’ve ever seen before. Sahba’s use of the lotus flower was truly genius and it not only encompassed the beliefs of the Baha’i faith but its design is attractive to all, proven with the amount of visitors it receives. I find beauty in how the temple is reminiscent of nature and therefore is pleasing to look at. I also like how the work is accurately created with the depiction of a lotus flower floating above water which is where it is typically found in nature as well. The beauty in the symmetry and use of various geometrical shapes also give the temple an admirable quality. Most of all, I find beauty in Sahba’s connection to the people of India and their culture and beliefs. The lotus flower is especially significant in Indian culture and the fact that Sahba took that into account when designing the temple makes the Lotus Temple seem perfect for its location. The temple is not only beautiful for what it signifies, it also holds beauty in its overall appearance.