Varanasi’s Bharat Mata Mandir features map of ‘undivided’ India as a prime deity

The ancient city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is a land of surprises and bizarre things! Besides being an age-old city, the place is also renowned for its beautiful Ganga ghats, evening aartiand, of course, temples. Among many popular religious spots, there is one Bharat Mata Mandir that will leave you awestruck, as the temple features the map of an ‘undivided’ India as its prime deity and personifies ‘Mother India’. Read on to know more about this amazing temple in Varanasi.

History

Photo by:  juggadery, Creative Commons Attribution Licence

Bharat Mata Temple is situated inside the campus of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith in Varanasi and is quite popular among tourists. The temple was built by Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta (a freedom leader) and was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in the year 1936.

It is said that Shiv Prasad thought that there were already so many temples in India where gods and goddesses are worshipped, but there is no such temple where Mother India is prayed. Following this idea, he got this temple built and today it stands as a prominent spot where all national festivals, such as Republic Day and Independence Day are celebrated with much enthusiasm.

Reason for undivided India map

You will not find any idol inside the temple but, quite interestingly, you will see the map of undivided India in place of Mother India statue. The map is carved in white marble that was brought from Makrana. The reason for undivided map of India is that the temple was built much before independence and partition of the country. You’ll be impressed with the acuteness in terms of latitude and longitude of the map; when measured in scale, the map is absolutely perfect.

Further, adding to the distinctiveness of the temple are the five pillars inside symbolising five basic elements of creation, namely―fire, earth, wind, water and sky. These pillars finally meet at one point which further represents that all elements eventually unite with one ‘Supreme’.

Timings

Photo by:  Hiroki Ogawa, Creative Commons Attribution Licence

The doors of the temple are thrown open to visitors at 9:30 AM and closes at 8 PM in the evening.

So, next time you plan a religious trip to Varanasi, make sure you pay a visit to this unique Bharat Mata Temple, which will surprise you in its unique way.