Akshardham 108-Foot Statue: Divine Story of Neelkanth Varni

Did you know that the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in New Delhi holds a Guinness World Record for being the Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple in the world? Bhagwan Swaminarayan is worshipped as the Parabrahma or the supreme deity at this temple. In fact, we are able to see a 108-foot-tall statue in front of the temple since March 2026. Many devotees visiting the shrine from distant lands have been to curious to know the story the behind the statue. Lets learn about the importance and every key detail related to this statue in this article.


Considered as the tallest “one-foot-standing” moorti in the world, the Akshardham statue was consecrated on grand Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav. The statue is that of Lord Swaminarayan as Neelkanth Varni which is his ascetic, youthful form at the age of 11. It is believed that Bhagwan became an ascetic when he was 11 years old, engaging in a pilgrimage throughout India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Tibet and Nepal on foot.

The statue depicts Lord Neelkanth Varni standing in a powerful meditative posture i.e., on one leg with both the arms raised. This position represents intense spiritual focus, devotion and discipline. Indeed, it is said that the Lord practised deep meditation in the Himalayas in this posture during his pilgrimage.


It should be pointed out that Lord Neelkanth Varni’s statue in front of the temple represents not only Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s divine energy, but also his pilgrimage, spreading his saintly teachings throughout the subcontinent. Bhagwan visited a large number of important pilgrimage sites, meeting spiritual leaders from various corners of the earth. Furthermore, this was the time period in which the Lord’s teachings, that were rooted in strong discipline, inner strength and kindness, began to be propagated throughout the world.


Filled with thousands of sculptures, intricate carvings, cultural programs and the sacred spiritual energy of Lord Swaminarayan, Akshardham has already become one of the most visited places in New Delhi. The brilliant architecture is marked by white marbles and pink sandstones. As a matter of fact no steel was used in constructing the shrine. Another key reason to visit this temple is the fact that it blends together almost 10,000 years of Indian culture and spirituality, along with artistic excellence. Additionally, the temple complex features a mesmerising Sahaj Anand Water Show in the evening and a 12-minute boat ride throughout India’s heritage, among many other spiritual experiences for devotees.

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