About 2500 years ago, man lived his own natural life.

Then to induce DISCIPLINE, PEACE and LOVE in

him, religions emerged; Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc. at different periods of time.
Subsequently came the temples, churches, mosques, etc. With political influences, these buildings
assumed strategic importance, and consequently became centers for launching missionaries, planning
revolts, and even RELIGIOUS WARS! How ironic! With increasing communal tensions leading to wars and
religious terrorism, the very genie which had the power of inculcating love has turned mischievous and
its time to put it back in the bottle.
Swami Vivekananda, well-known for his speech starting with the address Brothers and Sisters of
America at the 1893 Parliament of World Religions at Chicago, was amongst the leading philosophers
who worked towards Religious Tolerance. Among the earliest rules he laid down for his followers was,
"Due respect and reverence should be paid to all religions, all preachers, and to the deities worshiped in
all religions." His Ramakrishna Mission started establishing Universal Temples in line with its philosophy
of Religious Tolerance. One of them was built in 2005 at its Nagpur center, India, which was established
back in 1928.
In the Universal Temple at Nagpur, a conscious effort has been made to integrate all religious motifs into
its architecture. Through use of materials and Architectural style, the Temple has secured for itself an
image of a sacred space, yet maintained a distance from the temple architecture of any particular
religion. The Architect, G Venkataramanana Reddy, has integrated the Central Dome from St. Peters,
Arched Entrances from mosques, interior Architectural Treatment from Buddhist caves, all onto a layout
of a North facing Hindu Temple. As one climbs from its rough paved ground of the temple premises,
towards the fine red sandstone ground floor to the fine white stone upper floor, the mind does
experience a transition from perplexed inquisitiveness to sacred peace. Inside the Temple, devotees are
free to follow their own methods of praying, as long as they are peaceful.
The building somewhat redefines temple architecture in line with todays building practices
incorporating important components, like a ramp for the disabled, shoe-rack and washroom neatly
tucked in, and an integrated Lecture Hall. The Temples Library, located on its North-east, houses
scriptures of all religions, with messages of Prophet Mohammad, Sri Krishna, Gautam Buddha, Guru
Nanak, Jesus Christ, Mahavir Jain, etc.
This new temple building was erected to house the increasing number of followers of the Ramakrishna
Mission, but its sheer tranquil magnificence soon secured itself a place amongst Nagpurs Tourist
attractions, attracting both young and the old, of all faiths, raising their inquisitiveness about the
Temple and its philosophies, and increasing followers manifold. Everyone is free to enter, pray,
meditate, or just silently experience the chorus of humming prayers around.
I believe today we require this inter-religious tolerance more than the religions themselves, and so I
propose to research on such architecture of Universal Temples and their existing and further possible
components, promoting the soul-searching through tolerance.
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