A FUSION OF TRADITION And MODERNITY
Mandir Elements
Mandirs take many forms, such as a mandir enshrined in one’s home or a mandir built of cement, concrete, and steel and serve as a place of worship. In addition, Hindu scriptures prescribe principles to build a purpose-built place of worship, which is aligned with the environment.
Shikhar
The mandir is distinguished by a prominent 15ft (4.5m) high shikhar gracing its front façade above the ground floor. With a base of 3.4m x 6.4m, this shikhar is elevated 3.5m above the slab. It represents a simplified version of the intricately carved stone shikhars found in traditional Nagara temples, utilizing GRC (glass-reinforced concrete) composite for its lightweight and durable properties. The shikhar features two additional layers on each of its three facing sides, further embellished with smaller shikhar replicas known as urushringa on its base layer. Miniature models of the Aksharderi, crafted from the same GRC material, adorn the center of each side's base. Crowning the shikhar is a large GRC amalsādo, supporting a 1.1m tall golden kalash sanctified on July 14, 2024. A tall dhvajā dand rises behind the kalash, proudly displaying the BAPS flag.
Sāmaran
Five sāmarans adorn the front façade of the temple. The three at the front feature five-stepped tapering slabs resting on miniature columns, measuring 3.5m wide and 3.2m tall. The two sāmarans flanking the shikhar are slightly smaller, with four layers, a width of 2.7m, and a height of 4.1m. These sāmarans, like the shikhar, are constructed using GRC and FRP (fibre-reinforced concrete) molds.
Jharukhā
Jharukhās, traditional protruding windows reminiscent of bay windows, offer a serene view of the surroundings. Typically adorned with chhajjā lintels, a balustrade-like base for seating, supporting columns, and a dodiyu cap, these elements combine to create the distinctive jharukhā design. The DSM temple's jharukhās draw inspiration from this tradition, skillfully molded in GRC and FRP and incorporating intricate Indian motifs, evoking the charm of their traditional counterparts.
These jharukhās are integrated into the exterior façade, aligning with the window placements. However, to maintain symmetrical aesthetics, some jharukhās are purely decorative and non-functional. A total of 87 jharukhās grace the temple's elevations, complemented by two addiional jharukhā frames adorning the exterior of the side vestibules housing the shoe racks.
Chhatri
The front terrace of the temple is adorned with five chhatris. One chhatri graces each of the projecting elevations, while three are positioned on the central recessed elevation. Each chhatri is crowned with a ghummat (small dome), an amalaka (crown), and a dhvajā (flag). The two side chhatris stand 3.8m tall from the terrace base, while the central three reach a height of 4.8m. All chhatris feature a 2.6m high amalsādo topped with a golden kalash.
Stambh
The temple incorporates 16 RCC stambhs (columns). Twelve of these are structural, while the remaining four are decorative, positioned at the front to define the antaralā. On the ground floor, all exposed stambhs are embellished with intricately designed FRP cladding, mimicking the appearance of carved stone columns. On the upper levels, the columns feature modern claddings tailored to the design requirements of their respective spaces.
Front Facade Gāndharvas
The front elevation features 10ft tall Gāndharva (heavenly statues) positioned between the jharukhās on the second and third levels, backed by a GRC jhāli. These GRC statues are mounted on GRC/FRP stands, which are secured to the jhāli and the wall structure. The lower level Gāndharvas are depicted showering flowers, while those on the upper level hold garlands. The Gāndharvas on the projecting elevations mirror each other. All statues are painted gold, enhancing their celestial aura.
Jhāli
The tall, perforated wall partition on the front elevation is a modern interpretation of a traditional Indian jhāli, serving both decorative and screening purposes. This jhāli, a composite of numerous 1.2m x 1.2m GRC segments with floral patterns, forms a continuous structure 33m high and 8.8m wide. It is attached to the rear wall using aluminum frames fixed to the adjacent wall surfaces. Smaller, solid jhālis in a darker shade are situated behind the Gāndharvas on the projecting side façade, directly affixed to the wall. Additional smaller jhālis enhance the aesthetics in the nij mandir walls.
Toran
Decorative torans (archways) grace both the ground floor entrance and the top canopy beneath the ghummatis (smaller domes). These FRP structures, molded into intricate curvatures, are affixed to FRP columns within the temple. Most torans span approximately 2.5m, while two are 2m wide.
Kamān
Beneath the central jhāli lies an equally wide kamān (arch), supporting both the jhāli and the ornate glass partition behind it. This kamān, assembled from smaller GRC/FRP prefabricated molds, spans a total width of 8.8 meters. The glass partition, in a tinted maroon shade with intricate designs, complements the mandir elements on the front façade. Smaller kamāns are also present above the jharukhās on the first and second floors of the front exterior, as well as on the third level above the Gāndharvas on each side.
Kapchar
These decorative elements flank the three front sāmarans on the first level. The kapchars, FRP molds resembling dodiyu, serve as ornamental features on the temple's exterior. Each kapchar showcases peacock figurines and floral motifs.
Brackets
The brackets, also crafted from GRC and FRP molds, vary in design depending on their location. The nij mandir features 68 S-shaped brackets, each 1.5ft in size, running along the interior wall perimeter as cornices, colorfully decorated with small floral details. In the main lobby, 17 similarly designed brackets in a single beige shine adorn opposite sides. The largest brackets, located on the rear exterior elevation under the lower barajā, are intricately detailed with figurines of sādhus playing musical instruments and floral designs. These three-layered S-brackets, combined to a size of 5’x5’, are painted to harmonize with the surrounding exterior elements. The smallest S-shaped brackets are situated in the Thakorji's room on the fourth floor.
Hidden Ghummat
The dome, with its 8.2m wide GRC base structure, is internally adorned with FRP molds showcasing traditional Indian designs. These include peacocks, Gāndharvas showering flowers, kamāns, jharukhās, and various floral patterns. A central sun with radiating rays is encircled by sixteen 2'6" Gāndharvas standing on jharukhās, which are further surrounded by two different types of peacock figurines. A dropping ceiling mold hangs from the center of the sun, holding a large chandelier. Small elephant faces embellish the area around the sun and between the jharukhā designs.
Decorated Ceiling
The ground floor ceilings are clad with GRC and FRP prefabrications, featuring different designs in the nij mandir, main lobby, and ardhamandap areas. Besides the central ghummat, the nij mandir showcases four distinct ceiling designs:
Lotus ceiling: Adorned with pink Indian lotus flowers and traditional patterns.
Shriji Maharaj's raas-leelā ceiling: Depicts small figures of Santos engaged in raas with Maharaj, along with seated murtis of Maharaj in each corner, complemented by Indian patterns and peacock motifs.
Nilkanth Varni mandapam ceiling: Showcases a central floral design encircled by peacocks, with small S-shaped brackets at the side-ends and a chandelier suspended from the center.
The ardhamandap and main lobby ceilings consist of monotone, beige-colored FRP molds with floral and peacock designs arranged in square or rectangular modules. The Thakorji's room also boasts a beautifully decorated ceiling with radiating peacock and floral patterns centered around an elegant chandelier.