The construction of prestigious Panchayatana Temple at Ekta Dham, Omkareshwar in Khandwa, is now underway. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Dr. Mohan Yadav attended the ceremony of laying the foundation stone and was also present at the Vedic ceremony along with his wife and participated in it with the help of the saints, public representatives and other dignitaries.
The ceremony took place in a Vedic manner, 45 sacred stones were worshipped before the foundation stone and it was laid. The architecture of the temple will adhere to Panchayatana which is the traditional architecture of Panchayatana temple with Lord Shiva as the central deity. Lord Vishnu, Surya, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Shakti will be worshipped in the four directions with shrines being built.
The temple is being built in the traditional Nagar style, and will include 100 intricately carved pillars, big toran gateways, eight smaller structures, and even a 26 ft wide artistic dome. It will be built on a platform 16 feet high, and will require almost 80,000 cubic feet of carved pink sand and 45 cubic feet of concrete blocks. It will also be adorned with 121 kalash.
Adi Shankaracharya’s concept of equality and harmony of various worshipping communities can be achieved through the help of the temple, expressed CM Mohan Yadav. He also announced that an Ekta Yatra would make its run across the country culminating at the Simhastha at Ujjain.
More than a statue of unity, the Ekta Dham project is already being spearheaded out there with a 108-foot high statue and the next phase involves the construction of the Rs. 2,195-crore large-scale Advaita Lok Museum.
The Panchayatana Temple is poised to enhance the significance of Omkareshwar as a hub of spirituality, Indian culture, heritage and traditional architecture.