Information of Bharat Mata Temple, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Bharat Mata Temple is situated in Kashi Vidyapeeth campus of Varanasi. Among other popular and ancient temples in Varanasi, Bharat Mata temple is one with a variance. Bharat Mata Temple is dedicated to Mother India. It was created by Shiv Prasad Gupt and Durga Prasad Khatri who were a nationalist and numismatist respectively. The installation of Bharat Mata Temple was done by none other than the Father of the Country, i.e. Mahatma Gandhi in the year 1936.

Bharat Mata Temple Religious Significance

The image of Bharat Mata was created during the independence movement of India in late 19th century. In the year 1873, on a drama played by Kiran Chandra Banerjee, the role of Bharat Mata was first performed. Afterwards, Bipin Chandra Pal, a nationalist asserted in idealising the role of Bharat Mata with Hindu ethical traditions and religious activities. He signified Bharat Mata as an ancient divine spirit, a mystical notion of expressing Hinduism and nationhood.

In later days, Abanindranath Tagore, a popular artist represented Bharat Mata as a four armed Hindu goddess. It wears a saffron coloured cloth & a necklace and holds the Vedas & piles of rice. Bharat Mata is a sign which was constructed in order to generate a nationalist sensation among Indian people during the fight for freedom. Sister Nivedita, a popular social worker refined the symbol of Bharat Mata who stands on green ground with blue sky behind her head and having four arms with marvellous power. It is believed that Bharat Mata gifts education, discipline, rice and clothes to the children of the motherland. Bharat Mata Temple serve as multicultural stage for people irrespective of any religion, class and faiths to encourage a religious harmony, peace and affection in the nation. Various festivals such as republic day and independence day which have national significance is celebrated in Bharat Mata Temple with national hymn and other popular songs which was created during the freedom movement of India.

Bharat Mata Temple Mythology & History

Shiv Prasad Gupt and Durga Prasad Khatri are attributed with the creation of Bharat Mata Temple. They were quite concerned regarding the fact that Varanasi is a home of various temples and mosques, however, there is no such structure in this religious place of India which can be regarded as a reasonable representation of spirit of patriotism and secularism. Hence, they generated such innovative thought of creation of a temple where motherland India can be worshipped, where there are no habitual gods and goddesses and where there is no link with a particular religion. Hence, based on this idea, Bharat Mata Temple was created in Varanasi.

Bharat Mata Temple Architectural Significance

The most significant fact of Bharat Mata Temple is that it do not have any idol of Bharat Mata, rather there is a release map of India which is decorated with white marble. The map existed in Bharat Mata Temple demonstrates the unbroken India before independence. The plain grounds, hills and oceans are all marked in the map in details, i.e. with absolute latitude and longitude. The perfect scaling of the map in the temple can amaze any visitors.

The ideas and architectural design of Bharat Mata Temple is quite unique. It is situated on five separate columns and each of the columns symbolise the five key components of creation, which are wind, water, earth, fire and sky. Every column ultimately joins at the top of the temple which indicate that every component of creation finally combines with supreme power.