New Delhi, India
In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948), Indian political leader and father of India
In 1938 when the Birla family, wealthy Indian industrialists, decided to honor Vishnu (Narayan, the Preserver, when in the company of his goddess/consort Lakshmi, goddess of wealth), the family chose the site of an older temple on which to build. The Nagara-style Lakshmi Narayan Temple—with its generous use of polished marble and red sandstone, tall curved towers, lavish ornamentation, and exquisite shrines housing murtis (statues) of the deities—has been called an oasis of spiritual calm in an otherwise bustling city.
If you are experiencing uncertainty or scarcity in your life, pay your respects at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple. The temple is located near Connaught Place, an important thoroughfare in central Delhi, and is easily reached by taxi, three-wheel cycles, and buses. You will be required to remove your shoes and cover your bare arms, legs, and cleavage before entering the temple, and no cameras are allowed inside. Free lockers (with keys) are available for storing your camera, shoes, and other personal items.
At the altar, offer a flower, and with folded hands, petition the Divine from the deepest recesses of your heart.
The temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, “the father of India,” with the stipulation that all people would be welcome to worship there.