Akshardham Quotes

Our senses were assaulted with colours, smells and noise. We saw a million saris, and never once did I see the same pattern repeated twice. We saw poverty that both humbled and disturbed us. We bartered with street traders for Indian prices, not tourist prices. We stopped by the side of the road and watched an old man crushing sugar canes so that we could drink the juice. It was the most delectable and flavourful drink we have ever tasted. We walked barefoot around the Swaminarayan Akshardham, the largest Hindu house of worship in the world, and were absolutely awed. The whole temple echoes with spirituality and we could have spent an entire day there. I saw a village of dirty black bricks, no rendering, just filth and grime, and right in the middle an exquisite and elegant white temple, freshly painted and unblemished. We drove from Jaipur to Delhi. The previous day the road had been closed due to the Jat caste protests. Thirty people died, ten women reported being raped and buildings and cars were set on fire

Water is wet, fire is hot, sugar is sweet. And for men of wisdom, Swamishri is divine! That is what he is. His innate, inherent and intrinsic quality is divinity. Even if we put aside Swamishri’s miracles, the tributes, the Sanstha and its activities, the mandirs, the Akshardham complexes, the festivals, the sadhus, the devotees…, Swamishri is still divine. They are all just as true as ever, but they do not qualify Swamishri.