Birla Mandir

Shri Nathji gave a powerful sermon to a large gathering at Birla Mandir, in Delhi.

One Rai Bahadur Narain Das of Delhi, who had accompanied Shri Nathji to the Mandir, listened to Shri Nathji's words and said to him: "Your words can even put life into stone!"

And Shri Nathji said laughingly:

"The government's policy of ‘grow more food' had left out stones, so I had to make use of them."

The pujaari-priest, who stood before the idols of Laxmi and Narayan at Birla Mandir was so startled at the appearance of Mateshwari and Shri Nathji, that he turned involuntarily towards the idols and then towards them, exclaiming loudly:

 "Main iddhar dekhoon ya uddhar dekhoon!

“Where should I look–towards the idols or towards you!”

The pujaari was struck at the resemblance of the moorti, the idol of Narayana, with Shri Nathji. This was a feeling many persons were to have whenever they visited the Temple.

Shri Nathji often used to tell his devotees: "The idols in the Mandir cannot speak or eat or walk–but the idols you worship do all this for your sake!" 

Here is the photograph of that Moorti of Laxmi Narayan at Birla Mandir, which resembled Shri NAthji when he was there to deliver His sermon.

The Laxminarayan Temple also known as the Birla Mandir  in Delhi, was build by B. R. Birla and Jugal Kishore Birla from 1933 and 1939, when it was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi.

The temple spread over 7.5 acres, is adorned with many shrines, fountains, and a large garden, and also houses Geeta Bhawan for discources. (This was were Shri Nathji gave His sermon.) The temple is one of the major attractions of Delhi and attracts thousands of devotees on the Hindu festivals of Janmashtami and Diwali.

The foundation stone of temple was laid by Maharaj Udaybhanu Singh. - Ruler of Dholpur State in 1933.  The three-storied temple is built in the northern or Nagara style of Hindu temple architecture. The entire temple is adorned with carvings depicting the scenes from Hindu mythology. More than hundred skilled artisans from Benares, headed by Acharya Vishvanath Shastri, carved the idols of the temple. The highest shikhara of the temple above the sanctum sanctorum is about 160 feet high. The temple faces the east and is situated on a high plinth. The shrine is adorned with fresco paintings depicting his life and work. The icons of the temple are in marble brought from Jaipur. Kota stone from Makarana, Agra, Kota and Jaisalmer were used in the construction of the temple premises..The Geeta Bhawan to the north of the temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Artificial landscape and cascading waterfalls add to the beauty of the temple.

 The temple is located on the Mandir Marg, situated west of the Connaught Place in New Delhi. Nearest Delhi Metro station is R.K.Ashram Marg, located about 2 km away.