Origin from 1986
The Lotus Temple is the Baha'i House of Worship serving the Indian subcontinent, standing in New Delhi as one of the continental Mother Temples called for in Baha'i scripture. Completed in 1986 to the design of the architect Fariborz Sahba, its twenty seven free standing, marble clad petals, arranged in three ranks of nine around a central hall, give the building the shape of a half open lotus flower, a form already sacred within several of the religions practised in India. Like every Baha'i House of Worship, it is open to people of every faith for prayer and for the reading or chanting of scripture, with no sermons, ritual or clergy conducted inside, and it has become one of the most visited religious buildings in the world.
Facts
Geography
LatitudeApproximate reference point, rounded to one decimal place; this marks the site's general location for a map, not a survey-grade or precise boundary measurement. LongitudeApproximate reference point, rounded to one decimal place; this marks the site's general location for a map, not a survey-grade or precise boundary measurement. Site
Type of SiteTemple or temple complex 1 Type of Site DetailBaha'i House of Worship in New Delhi, completed 1986, its lotus-shaped marble petals open to people of every faith with no sermons or clergy. 2 Origins
Origin Period Status
Status TodayIn active religious use 1 UNESCO World Heritage Location
Connections
Associated With
Source A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baha'i FaithPeter Smith
Belongs to Tradition
Source A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baha'i FaithPeter Smith
Contained In
Its own text: "standing in New Delhi as one of the continental Mother Temples," serving the Indian subcontinent.
Source A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baha'i FaithPeter Smith
Originated In
India, Regions Source A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baha'i FaithPeter Smith
In the Other Atlases
Located In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is located.
Sources
1. A Concise Encyclopedia of the Baha'i Faith
Peter Smith, Oneworld Publications, 2000Originated In: India, Stored country property on this entity, cited to this source: IndiaView the Source 2. Encyclopaedia Britannica (online academic reference)
Encyclopaedia Britannica editors, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., 2024View the Source 3. Wikidata: Lotus Temple
Wikidata Q940843, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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