The Buddha connection

Bharat Mandir's saga takes an intriguing turn with whispers of its transformation into a Buddhist monastery during the reign of Emperor Ashoka. This fascinating chapter of religious confluence came to light during archaeological excavations, which unearthed a Buddha statue and other artefacts. Today, this ancient Buddha still maintains its silent vigil beneath the sprawling canopy of an old banyan tree, a poignant reminder of the temple's rich, multifaceted history.

History carved in stone

The sculpture of Lord Vishnu or Lord Hrishikesh himself is made of a beautiful black granite known as Saligramam. This has special spiritual significance in many cultures. The same Saligram granite is used to carve the idol of Lord Hrishikesh, as was used for Lord Tirupati and Lord Badrinath.

Huge stones were used in the temple's construction. The temples walls span between seven and eight feet. One single piece of black Shaligram stone makes up the five-foot-tall idol of Hrishikesh Narayan. Next to it rests the stone image of Lord Varah.

Maharaja Yashwant Singh Malvendra Bahadur of Nabha state rebuilt the temple's exterior building in 1832 A.D. (1889 samvat). One single block of rock, weighing an astounding 125 tons, forms the top of the temple's dome. The main temple contains sixteen corners. Nine domes, arranged in a line of three, make up the exterior structure.

There is some evidence that indicates that the temple might even be older than the twelfth century. This is also demonstrated by the worn-out rocks that were used to build the temple - they have been subjected to decades of storms and rain. The temple was constructed on an elevated platform to protect it from flooding, indicating that the Ganga once flowed very close to the site. Bricks and earthen pots discovered underground by the Garhwal University's archeological department serve as further evidence.