The Birla family is one of the most prominent business & industrialist families in India. They have built many magnificent Hindu temples or Mandirs across different cities in India known as Birla Mandir.
These Birla temples have been dedicated to various Hindu Gods and Goddesses such as Laxmi Narayan, Venkateshwara, Radha Krishna, Goddess Saraswati, Shri Rama, Lord Shiva, and Surya Deva.
In this post, we have brought for you Birla Mandir’s history and have listed all Birla Mandirs in India.
These Birla Mandirs are located in prominent locations across India. They have been carefully designed and accommodate a large number of devotees. The worship, as well as the discourses, has been well organized.
In fact, the first Birla Mandir was built in 1939 in Delhi. It was constructed collectively by Ghanshyamdas Birla and his brothers. The later temples were constructed by different branches of the family.
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History and Design of Birla Mandirs across India
The primary reason for building Birla temples in Delhi and Bhopal was because, for centuries, these cities were being ruled by Muslim dynasties. They never permitted to construct grand Hindu temples with Shikhara.
For instance, Delhi, which was the capital of India, did not have any notable temples. The Muslim dynasties prohibited the building of Hindu temples with Shikhara.
It was only the Birla family that constructed the first magnificent Hindu temple in Delhi, known as Laxminarayan Temple. This temple is located at a prominent site. It has been designed to be lofty and spacious. The temple is suitable for congregational worship and discourses. The temple has been built using modern technology and conforms to the Nagar style of architecture.
Talking about the Birla Mandirs in Bhopal and Varanasi, these temples have been built using modern construction materials and techniques.
They have been built using white marble and sandstone. The construction style is mainly adopted by the Chandela or Chaulukya style of the 10th – 12th century.
The Saraswati temple of the BITS Pilani Campus hails to be one of the few Saraswati temples that have been built in modern times. This temple is often compared with the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple of Khajuraho.
However, the temple has been built using white marble. It not only has images of Gods and Goddesses but also of philosophers and scientists.
Whereas the Gwalior Sun Temple is regarded as a replica of the famous Sun Temple of Konark.
Moreover, all the Birla Temples have been built in a grand style and have marvelous architecture. They have become major landmarks of Indian urban life in the late twentieth century.
These temples are regarded as the modern ideals of philanthropy and humanitarianism. They combine the worship of a deity with a public institution contributing to civil society.
The architecture of the two newest Birla temples (Kolkata and Jaipur) incorporates innovative style into the temple design that reflects the concerns of modern public culture in a religious site.
List of Birla Mandirs across India
| Temple | Year | Location | Deity |
| Birla Mandir | 1931-1966 | Varanasi | Shiva |
| Laxminarayan Temple | 1939 | Delhi | Laxmi Narayan |
| Birla Mandir | 1956-60 | BITS Pilani | Saraswati |
| Birla Mandir | 1952 | Kurukshetra | Krishna |
| Birla Mandir | 1941-61 | Kanpur | Laxmi Narayan |
| Tulsi Birla Manas Mandir | 1964 | Varanasi | Ram |
| Birla Mandir | 1960 | Bhopal | Laxmi Narayan |
| Birla Mandir | 1957 | Kurnool | Laxmi Narayan |
| Birla Mandir | 1966-1976 | Hyderabad | Venkateshwara |
| Birla Mandir | 1965 | Shahad | Vithoba |
| Renukeshaw Mahadeva Temple | 1972 | Renukoot | Shiva |
| Birla Mandir | 1984-1988 | Gwalior | Surya |
| Birla Mandir | 1976-1996 | Kolkata | Radha Krishna |
| Birla Mandir | 1988 | Jaipur | Laxmi Narayan |
| Birla Mandir | Patna | Laxmi Narayan | |
| Birla Mandir | Alibaug | Ganesha | |
| Birla Mandir | Akola | Rama | |
| Birla Mandir | Nagda | Vishnu | |
| Birla Mandir | Brajarajnagar | Laxmi Narayan |
Now, we offer an overview of the major Birla Mandirs across India. These temples display architectural excellence in their making. Let’s get started:
Laxmi Narayan Temple, Delhi
The Laxmi Narayan Temple is popularly known as the Birla Temple of Delhi. It is one of the most popular Hindu temples in Delhi. It was constructed by G.D. Birla in the year 1938. This temple has been dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Narayan) and Goddess Laxmi, it has become a symbol of unity among various castes.
Mahatma Gandhi had demanded that the temple should be open for all castes, and ever since its inauguration, the temple remains open regardless of caste.
The temple has many portrayals of Indian mythology in Geeta Bhawan in the Birla Mandir. Laxmi Narayan temple architecture is influenced by the Oriya style of architecture.
The temple has been constructed using white marble and red sandstone, it is filled with gardens and foundations. It is wonderfully spectacular to look at. It has many paintings of artistic excellence of Jaipur artists that reflect the cultural heritage of the land.
The temple is open on all days.
The entry fee is none.
Timings-: 6:00 am to 10:00 pm
Birla Mandir, Kolkata
The construction of the Birla Mandir Kolkata was started in the year 1970. It took twenty-six (26) years for the completion of the entire temple. The temple has been dedicated to Krishna and Radha.
Its left side dome houses the idol of Goddess Durga while the dome to the right contains the deity of Goddess Shakti.
Its architecture is an excellent example of the Rajasthani style. The temple also contains depictions from Bhagavad Gita in the stone engravings.
The temple is open on all days.
There is no entry fee.
Timings -: 5.30 am to 11.00 am and 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm
Address -: 29, Ashutosh Chowdhury Avenue, Ballygunge, Kolkata – 700019
Birla Mandir, Hyderabad
The Birla Mandir (Hyderabad) was constructed in the year 1976. It is located amidst the scenic environment at the top of Kala Pahar to the southern end of Hussain Sagar Lake. The temple is a mixture of Oriya & Southern Indian Style of Architecture.
The chief deity in the temple is Lord Venkateshwara. The other important deities of the temple are Goddess Padmavathi and Andal. It is awe-inspiring to view the temple at night.
The illuminating lights and the eleven feet tall granite image of Lord Venkateshwara add tremendous magic to the air. The ‘Mukha Mandapam’ of the temple has excellent carvings in marble reflecting Indian mythology.
The entry fee is none.
Timings: 7.00 am to 12 noon and 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm
Lakshmi Narayan Temple, Jaipur
The Birla Mandir (Jaipur) has been located below the Moti Dungri Fort. The temple was built in the year 1988. It is popularly known as the Laxmi Narayan Temple, it has been dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his wife, Goddess Laxmi.
The temple has a modern treatment for it. The temple walls have quotes from Bhagavad Gita, fine carvings display various stories from Hindu mythology. The highlights of the temple are pictures and sculptures of saints as well as famous personalities like Buddha and Socrates.
The temple is open on all days.
Timings: 8.00 am to 12 noon and 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm
Address:
Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg
Jaipur, Rajasthan – 302004
Birla Mandir, Bhopal
The Birla Mandir (Bhopal) is located on top of Arera Hills. The temple has been dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi. Not only the temple, but its location is also breathtaking. The temple sports a sandy-yellowish shade. There is rich greenery all around the temple.
The main shrine here is of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu. The other shrines here include the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. There is also a museum here that has many ancient sculptures dating back to the 12th century.
Shri Geeta Birla Mandir, Kurukshetra
The Birla Mandir (Kurukshetra) was constructed by Jugal Kishore Birla in the year 1952. The temple has been dedicated to Lord Krishna. A large-sized marble chariot is the main attraction here as you enter the temple’s garden.
In the chariot, Arjuna and Lord Krishna have been portrayed. It is drawn by four horses that are made of marble. Several other marble characters around the chariot have been taken from the epic Mahabharata.
Address: Thanesar, Kurukshetra – Haryana
Birla Mandir, Varanasi
The Birla Mandir (Varanasi) is popularly known as New Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The temple is situated in the Banaras Hindu University premises. It took almost three decades to complete the construction of the temple. The foundation stone of the temple was laid in the year 1931.
The main deity in the temple is Lord Shiva, which is a replica of the original temple. Its spiral top is 252 feet in height. The temple complex houses seven temples in all. Lord Shiva temple is on the ground, whereas the temples of Goddess Durga and Laxmi Narayan are on the first floor.
The temple is open on all days.
Timings -: 4.00 am to 12.00 noon and 1.00 pm to 9.00 pm
Sharda Peetha, Pilani
The Birla Mandir, Sharda Peetha (BITS Pilani), is a white marble marvel of the twentieth century. It was built in the year 1959, it covers a sprawling 25000 square feet area, it is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
It is built in the Indo-Aryan style of architecture. The temple stands on 70 pillars, and its pyramidical tower is 110 feet in height. You can find figures of saints and scientists in the temple.
Birla Mandir, Shahad
The Birla Mandir (Shahad) is popularly known as Vithoba Rukmani Temple. It is an amazing construction that instantly appeals to your senses. Two huge-sized elephants are carved in stone on both sides of the temple’s gate.
In fact, the gate is beautifully carved out and offers a great visual feast. The temple walls have fine carvings of various Hindu Gods. The temple has amazing artwork in every inch of it.
Shri Renukeshwar Mahadev Mandir, Renukoot
The Birla Mandir (Renukoot) was built by Birla Group in the year 1972. It is popularly known as Shri Renukeshwar Mahadev Mandir. The temple looks stunningly beautiful. The main entrance has incredible carvings representing the Sun God on the chariot.
The second gate has stone carvings of elephants on either side. The temple is surrounded by a scenic landscape that elevates your spirits. Its rich landscape with garden fountains makes it a perfect location to feel inner peace.
Birla Mandir, Akola
The Birla Mandir (Akola) is popularly known as Shri Ram Temple. In fact, Akola (a city in Maharashtra) has many famous temples.
The Birla Temple here along with many other famous and ancient temples attracts devotees in large numbers.
Birla Mandir, Nagda
The Birla Mandir is a major tourist attraction in the beautiful city of Nagda situated near Udaipur. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is serene and has a picturesque garden.
The vast expanse of the garden is simply thrilling to the eyes as you enter the temple complex. The temple has an amazing architecture with intricate designs.
Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Brajrajnagar
Brajrajnagar is an industrial city in Odisha. It is famous for coal mines and paper mills. The Birla Mandir is an important attraction in this otherwise industrial locality.
So, you see that the Birla Mandirs have been constructed in various parts of India. They are housed in some big metropolitan cities as well as in some calm and remote places. Each Birla Temple displays architectural brilliance. They are a blend of ancient beliefs and modern style.
We hope that you would have liked this presentation. With this, we have reached the end of this post. Thanks for visiting. We welcome your comments and suggestions.
