Sharda Peeth Saraswati Temple

Rajasthan , Jhunjhunu, Jaipur

Situated in the premises of one of the primary institutes of higher education in India, the BITS Pilani, is the temple dedicated to the Goddess of knowledge & arts, the Sharada Peeth Sarswathi temple. The temple is a blend of spirituality and science with figures of saints as well as scientists adorning the temple. The shrine which is one of the Birla mandirs, constructed by the Birla family was built in 1959. On the suggestion of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, the complex was called Sharda Peeth.

Legend

The temple was suggested by SD Pande, who on his trips to the universities abroad saw the students going to the church to seek solace. He gave the idea to construct a temple for the Goddess of knowledge on the campus to the trustees who readily acknowledged it. Thus the construction began in 1956. It was inaugurated four years later in 1960.

Architecture

The temple is built on a high platform reached through a flight of stairs, flanked by white marble elephants on either side. It is said to be a replica of the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple temple of Khajuraho, however in white marble. It is built as a series of four ascending spires adorned with carvings and motifs. The temple stands on 70 pillars and has five distinct sections namely the Garbha-Griha, the circumambulatory path, the intermediate chamber, the mandapa and the Ardha Mandapa. The walls of the temple, along with Gods also have carvings of all important scientists, philosophers, intellectuals, artists, musicians and influential individuals from all over the world.
The main clock tower of the Institute, a bronze statue of GD Birla and the statue of the goddess, all lie in a straight line and the statue of GD Birla stands with folded palms, faced in reverence towards the goddess.
Picture Courtesy : discovery.bits-pilani.ac.in

Darsan Dresscode

Devotees are advised to wear clean and conservative attire inside the shrine.

Famous Festival

October - Sarswati pooja

Culture

Pilani is a small town situated in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan,which became popular since the establishment BITS Pilani,one of India's best engineering institutes. Birla group operates many other educational centres, schhols and colleges in Pilani.