The Lotus Temple

The Baha'i faith is a slightly strange one. They are new in the world of religion just getting their start in the middle of the 1800s. Since then, however, they have become the second most widely spread religion after christianity (depending on how you count).

Nonetheless, because of some funny rules about how they allow themselves to build and their 9-sided numerological obsession they take quite some time to construct their temples. Currently there are only 7 existing temples (one in Turkmenistan was leveled by an earthquake) with plans for many more in the works. I have now visiting two of their temples, one in Wilmette, IL and one in Delhi, India. The others are in Uganda, Panama, Australia, Germany, and Samoa. (More info here Baha'i House of Worship)

The Lotus temple is somehow an image of India in full. My friend mentioned to me that India is like a Lotus. The Lotus is a beautiful flower that grows in a pond of muck. This is India. Beauty and filth are never far removed from each other. This is the Lotus temple. The grounds controlled by the Baha'i are gorgeous and kept in nearly perfect condition. The area immediately surrounding the temple is full of slums and beggars and filth and trash... Let some pictures demonstrate:



Trying to stay warm
This dog was just looking for a nice napping spot, but it was cold that day and foggy without sun. So he just took up shop in the warm ashes of a newspaper fire used by some slum dwellers for warmth just minutes before.

Slums
Some slums just outside the temple grounds.

Temple


Walkway


Temple

Unless you really get close to the temple it's hard to tell that it's 9 sided. It is also quite large and shockingly gorgeous. The 9-sided business revolves around the fact that the Persian numerology for Baha'u'llah (glory of god) is 9. The architecture is also amazing. One is not allowed to take pictures inside, but it's impressive from the inside as well.

While inside talking and prohibited. I thought that seemed unnecessary, but while inside it was such a relief. The noise and chaos that is Delhi mostly disappears for as long as you want it to.

In the end, I don't agree with all the tenets of the Baha'i faith, but it's one religion that I don't have any real problems with. The Baha'i are incredibly peaceful, advocates of education, and don't ask for money. They really just don't cause anyone any problems. In the end, it was a really great experience to see the Lotus temple in person.