Shri Birla Ram Mandir Jatharpeth, padia Nagar, Akola, Akola

The renowned Birla Group, whose foundation stone was laid by the esteemed industrialist Ghanshyamdas Birla, a friend and associate of Mahatma Gandhi, has established numerous Hindu temple complexes across the nation. Among these temples, known for their artistic beauty and spiritual ambiance, is the temple of Maryadapurushottam Prabhu Shri Ramachandra, located in the city of Akola. Many devotees of Shri Rama visit this beautiful temple daily, which adds to the city’s temple glory. A grand festival of Ram Navami is celebrated at this temple, with over पचास हजार devotees participating in the festivities.

Like the Tatas, the Birla family is also revered as an honest entrepreneurial lineage that has worked tirelessly to develop the nation’s industrial sector and shape its future. Ghanshyamdas Birla was the founder of this family. Born on the दशमी of April, in the year एक हजार आठशे चौऱ्याण्णव, in Pilani village, Rajasthan, Ghanshyamdas’s father ran a small business in Kolkata. At the tender age of सोळा, inspired by his father, he started a cotton brokerage business. Subsequently, in the year एक हजार नऊशे एकोणीस, he established his first jute company in Kolkata. After the Second World War, his business scaled new heights of progress. By the age of तीस, he had earned a reputation as a gentleman and an honest businessman. From his youth, he was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi. Even under British rule, he fearlessly provided financial support to the freedom movement.

Like Mahatma Gandhi, Ghanshyamdas Birla was a man of deep religious inclination. Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan was ‘Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye Je Peed Parai Jaane Re’ by the saint-poet Narsi Mehta. Following this bhajan, Ghanshyamdas Birla also participated in anti-untouchability activities. In the year एक हजार नऊशे बत्तीस, he served as the president of the ‘Harijan Sevak Sangh’. With the aim of imparting true religious teachings to society, the Birla family first established the famous Laxminarayan Temple in Delhi in the year एक हजार नऊशे एकोणचाळीस. This temple was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi himself. Subsequently, temples dedicated to various deities were built by the Birla Group in different parts of the country. Most of these temples are constructed from white marble and Rajasthani sandstone. This temple in Akola was built by the then Berar Oil Industry of the Birla Group. There are two temples within the premises of this temple. In the main temple, Prabhu Ramachandra is enshrined with Lakshmana and Sitamata. Adjacent to this temple is a small Shiva temple.

Despite being in the city, the temple premises are peaceful and serene. There is a spacious courtyard around the temple, with benches for devotees to sit. In a small lawn in front of the temple, a meditative idol of Shivshankar is enshrined on a platform. The temple’s structure comprises a Mukhamandapa (front hall), a Sabhamandapa (assembly hall), and a Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). One enters the Mukhamandapa of this temple, which stands on a high plinth, by ascending five steps. This semi-open Mukhamandapa has seating arrangements for devotees. On the marble slabs on the walls on both sides of the Sabhamandapa’s entrance, verses from the Bhagavad Gita are inscribed. On the marble slabs on the walls of the enclosed Sabhamandapa, idols of Laxminarayan, Shivshankar, Radha-Krishna, Durgamata, and others are carved, with descriptions of their glories below them. Idols of Gajrajas (elephants) are carved on all the pillars within the Sabhamandapa’s walls.

To the front of the Sabhamandapa, there are two doors for circumambulating the Garbhagriha. Wooden railings are installed in the Sabhamandapa in front of the Garbhagriha’s entrance. From here, devotees can have darshan of the deities in the Garbhagriha. At the Lalatabimba (lintel) of the Garbhagriha’s entrance, there is a large idol of Ganesha and a sculpture of Garuda below it. On the Vajrapitha (pedestal) in the Garbhagriha are exquisitely carved idols of Shri Rama, Lakshmana, and Sitamata, crafted from pure white marble. To the left of these idols is an idol of Hanuman, bowing to them. On the Vajrapitha, there are sculptures of lions on both sides, and of Gajrajas on the rear pillars. Adjacent to the Mukhamandapa of this temple is an open mandapa. Near the Peepal tree next to this mandapa is a small Shiva temple. Outside this Shiva temple, on a platform, is an idol of Nandi, and inside the temple is a Shivlinga. The Garbhagriha of this temple has a Urushringa-style shikhara (spire), and the Sabhamandapa has spires of progressively smaller square slabs. Devotees can have darshan at the Birla Ram Mandir from सकाळी सहा o’clock in the morning until रात्री दहा o’clock at night. The number of devotees visiting on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays is higher. Various festivals are celebrated throughout the year at the temple. On the occasion of the Hindu New Year, a grand procession is taken out through the city by the Sanskriti Sanvardhan Samiti of Akola. This procession, which begins from the Rajrajeshwar Temple, the city’s Gramdevata (village deity), concludes at the Birla Ram Mandir. Thousands of devotees participate in this procession in traditional attire.

Ram Navami is the biggest festival at this temple. For this festival, the temple premises are adorned with attractive electrical illuminations. The temple is also decorated with flowers. The Ram Janmotsav (birth celebration of Shri Rama) is celebrated at दुपारी बारा o’clock. This is followed by a Maha-Aarti. On this day, the entire area overflows with crowds of devotees. Mahaprasada is distributed to devotees on the occasion of this festival. Annakoot is also organized here on the second day of Diwali.

Sacred History & Spiritual Significance

This sacred temple stands as a testament to deep spiritual devotion, ancient architectural grandeur, and rich local cultural traditions.

Temple Sanctum & Architecture

The sanctum sanctorum houses the divine idol consecrated according to ancient Vedic traditions, surrounded by serene courtyards and traditional temple architecture.

Sacred Darshan Gallery