The NEW PARLIAMENT of INDIA

Dr Uday Dokras
Parliament is the supreme legislative body of India. The Indian Parliament comprises of the
President and the two Houses - Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the
People). The President has the power to summon and prorogue either House of Parliament or
to dissolve Lok Sabha. The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950. The
first general elections under the new Constitution were held during the year 1951-52 and the
first elected Parliament came into existence in April, 1952. The Old Parliament House,
officially known as the Samvidhan Sadan,[1][2] was the seat of the Imperial Legislative
Council of India between 18 January 1927 and 15 August 1947, the Constituent Assembly of
India between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950, and the Parliament of India between 26
January 1950 and 18 September 2023. For 73 years, it housed the Lok Sabha and the Rajya
Sabha (the lower and upper houses) respectively in India's bicameral parliament.
The building was designed by British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and was
constructed between 1921 and 1927. It was opened in January 1927 as the seat of
the Imperial Legislative Council. Following the British withdrawal from India, it was taken
over by the Constituent Assembly of India, and then by the Indian Parliament once India's
Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950 with India becoming a republic.[3]
The New Parliament House, built near this building on a triangular plot from 2020 to 2023
was inaugurated on 28 May 2023. It was built as part of the Indian government's Central
Vista Redevelopment Project.

Th
e circular House of Parliament at New Delhi in 1926, home of the Central Legislative
Assembly
The building was designed by the British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert
Baker in 1912–1913, and completed in 1927.[4]
The foundation stone was laid by HRH Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, in
February 1921. It took five years to complete the building. On 18 January 1927,
Sir Bhupendra Nath Mitra, Member of the Governor-General's Executive Council, in charge

1
of the Department of Industries and Labour, invited Lord Irwin, then Viceroy of India to
inaugurate the building. The third session of Central Legislative Assembly was held in this
house on 19 January 1927.
After independence, the house served as the seat of the Constituent Assembly from 1947–
1950. The Constitution of India was created here, under the presidency of Rajendra Prasad.
The Parliament Museum, opened in 2006, stands next to the Parliament House, in the
building of the Parliamentary Library.
The perimeter of the building is circular, with 144 columns on the outside. At the centre of
the building is the circular Central Chamber, and surrounding this Chamber are three
semicircular halls that were constructed for the sessions of the Chamber of Princes (now used
as the Library Hall), the State Council (now used for the Rajya Sabha), and the Central
Legislative Assembly (now used for the Lok Sabha). The parliament is surrounded by large
gardens and the perimeter is fenced off by sandstone railings (jali).The current building is
planned to be converted into a Museum of Democracy after the new Parliament House is
operational.
New Indian parliament building
Proposals for a new parliament building to replace Parliament House emerged in the early
2010s as a result of questions being asked about the stability of the original structure. In
2012, a committee was assembled by the then-Speaker, Mira Kumar, to suggest and assess
several alternatives to the usage of the building.
In 2019, the Indian government launched the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, a multi-
billion dollar project to redevelop the Central Vista, India's central administrative area
near Raisina Hill, New Delhi. The construction of a new parliament building, as well as
redeveloping the Rajpath will create a new office and residence for the Indian prime minister,
as well as combining all ministerial buildings in a single central secretariat.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new building was held in October 2020 and the
foundation stone was laid on 10 December 2020. Side by side other developmental vision
was being circulated that of the redevelopment of the Central Vista. The project aims to
strengthen governance infrastructure by building new facilities for India's Parliament, an
efficient and sustainable Central Secretariat to house all the ministries of the Government of
India. Birth of the Central Vista

During the colonial era, leading British architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker
envisaged the Central Vista complex as the centre of administration in India to house all
facilities needed for efficient functioning of the Government. It was inaugurated in 1931 and
comprised of the buildings, namely Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, North and South
Blocks and the Record Office (later named as The National Archives), along with the India
Gate monument and the civic gardens on either side of the Rajpath. The plan was designed
using traditional urban planning instruments, featuring a strong axis, an emphasised focal
point, formation of important nodes, and a definitive termination point. At the time, it was
one of the largest projects of its kind in the world, conceived and designed to reflect the
spirit, progress and global importance of India. The foundation of Delhi was laid at the
Coronation Durbar of 1911 by King George V and Queen Mary as the capital of British
India. Prior to this, Calcutta had served as the capital of British India for a long time. Shifting
of the Capital from Calcutta to Delhi was led by two major factors:

 Indian Councils Act of 1909

2
  The ongoing crisis caused by the Bengal partition,
 Delhi was finalized as the nation’s capital as it was easily accessible and closer to the
summer capital, Shimla. Delhi has also been associated with the Mahabharata and the
Mughal Empire. On these geographical, political and historical grounds, Delhi was
chosen as the new capital of India.

Indian influences marked the overall design of the Central Vista. It comprised the use of red
and beige sandstone, which had been used for the monumental architecture of Delhi since the
13th century; the modelling of the dome of Viceroy’s House on the Great Stupa at Sanchi;
ancient Indian bell capitals for the Pillars of Dominion placed between the Secretariat Blocks;
and countless features of Indian architecture – jalis (pierced stone screens), chhajas
(projecting overhangs), chhatris (pillared cupolas), and more.

The NEW Capitol

The Delhi Town Planning Committee was set up in 1912 to plan, develop and design the
major buildings like the Viceroy’s House, the Secretariat buildings and other structural works
connected with the aesthetics of the new city. Edwin Lutyens became a member of this
committee in March 1912.
The Delhi Town Planning Committee prepared a layout, which divided the new capital into
three main categories. The first category focused on the buildings that the Government would
provide before the new city became the seat of the government, the second focused on the
buildings that the Government could add later on to the new city and the third included the
buildings that were to be constructed by private agencies. Priority was given to the first
category and major projects that fell under this were:

 Government House
 The Secretariats

3
  Residence of his Excellency the Commander in Chief
 Residence of the Council Members
 Residence for clerks
 Construction of roads, water supply, drainage, parks, public gardens, open spaces,
including arboriculture, railways

At its inauguration in 1931, New Delhi comprised the Viceroy’s House, the Secretariats,
Council House, Records Office, All India War Memorial, the ceremonial avenue, gardens,
and a few bungalows. The new capital was carved out from undivided Punjab province.

Government of India

he The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) is a ministry of the Government
of India with executive authority over the formulation and administration of the rules and
regulations and laws relating to the housing and urban development in India. The ministry
was under the charge of Venkaiah Naidu and was given to Hardeep Singh Puri when Naidu
was elected Vice President of India. The Ministry became independent from the Ministry of
Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation in 2004 but was later re-merged with it in 2017.
The ministry also published the National City Rating, which ranked the cleanest cities in
India, under which Indore was rated as the cleanest.
The ministry announced Smart Cities in India on 27 August 2015.
In July 2019, the ministry released specifications for Metrolite transport system - a cheaper,
smaller and slower metro system.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is the Cadre Controlling Authority (CCA) of
the three cadres in CPWD
1) Central Architects Services (CAS)
2) Central Engineering Services (CES)
3) Central Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Services (CEMES)
These are Group A Civil Services.

Organisation
Attached Offices

 Central Public Works Department (CPWD)

 Directorate of Estates
 Directorate of Printing
 Land & Development Office

4
Subordinate Offices

 Town & Country Planning Organisation

 Stationery Office
 Department of Publication
Statutory Bodies

 Delhi Urban Arts Commission

 National Capital Region Planning Board
 National Institute of Urban Affairs
 Rajghat Samadhi Committee
 Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
Central Public Sector Undertakings

 NBCC (India) Limited

 Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited
 Hindustan Prefab Limited
 National Capital Region Transport Corporation
 Urban Mass Transit Company (UMTC)
Schemes

 Smart Cities Mission

 HRIDAY
 AMRUT
 Urban Transport
 Swachh Bharat Mission
 Cleanest cities in India
Joint ventures

 Delhi Metro
 Chennai Metro
 Kolkata Metro
 Bangalore Metro
 Rapid Metro Gurgaon
 Jaipur Metro
 Mumbai Metro
 Lucknow Metro
 Kochi Metro
 Noida Metro
 Navi Mumbai Metro
 Mumbai Monorail
 Nagpur Metro

the Central Vista of Today

5
Rashtrapati Bhavan -
The Emblem of World's Largest Democracy

The Rashtrapati Bhavan, home to the President of the world’s largest democracy, epitomizes
India’s strength, its democratic traditions and secular character. Lutyens and Baker
conceptualized the H shaped building, covering an area of 5 acres on a 330-acre estate. It has
a total of 340 rooms spread over four floors, 2.5 kilometres of corridors and 190 acres of
garden area. Joint efforts of thousands of labourers including masons, carpenters, artists,
carvers, and cutters saw the completion of this masterwork in the year 1929. Originally built
as the residence of the Viceroy of India, Viceroy's House as it was then called, has
metamorphosed into today’s Rashtrapati Bhavan. It is emblematic of Indian democracy and
its secular, plural and inclusive traditions.
North and South Blocks -
Seat of India's Administration

The Central Vista currently functions as the administrative centre of our nation. The North
and South Block, and the Bhavans along Rajpath, house the administrative offices of the
Government of India. Whilst the existing Central Vista complex houses 22 out of 51
Ministries, the iconic North Block and South Block buildings currently house the most
important administrative institutions in the country, including the Prime Minister’s Office.

6
The Parliament Building -Icon of India’s Democratic Ethos

A 93-year-old Heritage-I grade building, functioning as the legislative and parliamentary hub
for one of world’s biggest democracies.
An icon of India’s democratic spirit, the Parliament Building sits at the heart of the Central
Vista and houses the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of the People) in
separate chambers in the Parliament Building. In 2006, the Parliament Museum was also
added in the Parliament Library Building to showcase the 2,500 years of rich democratic
heritage to the citizens.
The Parliament building has, over the years, become an enduring symbol of India’s thriving
democracy and was notified as a Grade I heritage structure by the Heritage Conservation
Committee in 2009.
Kartavya Path - The Ceremonial Boulevard

Kartavya Path (previously known as Rajpath) is one of the most iconic places in Delhi,
renowned for hosting the Annual Republic Day parade, showcasing India’s military prowess
and cultural diversity at the global stage.
Post-independence, Kartavya Path, which extends along the 3 km stretch between The
Rashtrapati Bhavan and The India Gate, was renamed; King’s Way became Rajpath and now
known as Kartavya Path, which is a magnificent icon of New Delhi. Over the years, several
modifications have been made to the Kartavya Path. An additional cross street (Rafi Ahmed
Kidwai Marg) and node was added in order to cater to the increasing city traffic by improving
north-south connectivity.
The Kartavya Path is also renowned for having a plush green cover, with complete access to
citizens.

7
India Gate - A Tribute to the War Heroes

The India Gate is an iconic monumnt of India. Originally called All-India War Memorial, it is
a sandstone arch that is dedicated to the troops of British India who died in wars fought
between 1914 and 1919. It commemorates more than 80,000 Indian soldiers. Designed by the
famous architect Edwin Lutyens, the monument is 42 meters high. The design of India Gate
is almost similar to its French counterpart war memorial, the Arc-de-Triomphe.
National War Memorial is a 40-acre memorial devoted to war heroes from 1947 through the
end of 2017. Its design was chosen in a worldwide competition. The complex is a memorial
to Indian troops' sacrifices, with the names of 25,942 martyrs carved in stone in gold letters
for posterity.

8
The Rashtrapati Bhavan, North and South Block, Parliament Building and India Gate are
illuminated daily between 7 PM and 5 AM with the new dynamic LED facade lighting that
changes colour every few seconds. The system is equipped with dimming feature. The
lighting system is dynamic, and comprises of 16 million colour patterns, offering an
enhanced aesthetic experience. The LED dynamic facade lighting was inaugurated by the
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India on 11th August 2017.
Office Buildings of the Central Vista. Post-independence, the Central Secretariat buildings
such as Udyog Bhawan, Nirman Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, Rail Bhawan and Krishi Bhawan
were constructed during 1956 - 1968 to cater to the increased demand for office spaces,
required for the Central Government Ministries. These additions were built to address the
immediate need for office spaces, besides the original master plan of Central Vista.

Click on the images to know more

Central Vista Redevelopment Project refers to the ongoing redevelopment to revamp the
Central Vista, India's central administrative area located near Raisina Hill, New Delhi. The
area was originally designed by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker during British colonial
rule and was retained by the Government of India after independence.
Scheduled between 2020 and 2026, the project as of 2020 aims to revamp a 3 km (1.9 mi)
long Kartvyapath between Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate, convert North and South
Blocks to publicly accessible museums by creating a new common Central Secretariat to
house all ministries, a new Parliament building near the present one with increased seating
capacity for future expansion, new residence and office for the vice-president and the Prime
Minister near the North Block and South Block and convert some of the older structures into
museums.[1]
New Parliament House
A new triangular-shaped building to house the Parliament of India was built beside the
existing structure as the first building under the project. The new structure is spread on area

9
of 20,866 metres (68,458 ft) and have a built-up area of 694,270 sq ft (64,500 m2), throughout
four floors (16,125 m2 (173,570 sq ft) each floor) and have a larger seating capacity than the
current building as India aims to expand its parliament in 2026. The new Rajya Sabha hall
has a capacity of 384 seats while the new Lok Sabha hall has 888 seats, with additional
capacity up to 1272 seats for hosting joint sessions. It has digital interface systems, will
consume significantly less power and serve for following 150 years while the older structure
will be retained as an archeological asset of the country and will be refurbished to house a
museum. Tata Projects won the bid to construct the building at a cost of ₹861.90 cr in
September 2020 and began construction in January 2021. It was inaugurated on 28 May 2023
by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Kartavya Path
Under this project of the 3 km (1.9 mi) long Central Vista Avenue (renamed as Kartavya
Path) was refurbished & redeveloped with construction of new bridges over canals,
pedestrian underpasses, wide footpaths, new parking lots, more green areas, benches as well
as trees.[22] Shapoorji Pallonji was awarded the tender for the redevelopment of the Central
Vista Avenue in January 2021. They were required to complete the project within 300 days
and maintain it for five years post-completion. [23] It was inaugurated on 8 September 2022 by
the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
Common Central Secretariat
A set of ten doughnut-shaped buildings on four plots as Secretariat will be built on either side
of Kartavya Path. The height of all the buildings will be less than 42 meters (height of India
Gate) and they will have 7 floors. Exteriors of all buildings will be similar to surrounding
Lutyens buildings and they will be connected to each other and to the Delhi Metro network
by electric people-movers in underground ways and overground buses.[24]
The existing Secretariat Building houses only 22 ministries with 41,000 employees while the
rest are spread across the city of New Delhi. The new facility itself will house all the 51
ministries.
Central Conference Center
Vigyan Bhavan will be demolished and a new Central Conference Center will be built.
New office and residence for the Vice President and the Prime Minister
The residence of the Vice President will be relocated to a plot north of the North Block, while
the residence and office of the Prime Minister will be moved to a plot south of the South
Block. Bringing them both within the Central Vista will cut down on travel time and decrease
traffic restrictions.The Vice President's enclave will be on a site of 15 acres, with 32 five-
storey buildings at a maximum height of 15 meters. The Prime Minister's new office and
residence will be on a site of 15 acres, with 10 four-storey buildings at a maximum height of
12 meters with a building for keeping Special Protection Group.
Indira Gandhi National Centre for ArtsThe Indira Gandhi National Centre for the
Arts (IGNCA) will be relocated from its current home on Man Singh Road, and its role as a
cultural space will be expanded. A 15-acre plot near Jamnagar House has been identified to
relocate the present building. The new building will retain IGNCA's existing role as a centre
for research, publication, events and training while allowing additional facilities to be added.
Reception
Supporters of the project have disputed labelling transformation as an erasure, but rather
recognition of the sentiment that India can no longer be defined by colonial symbols.

10
Colonial symbols will neither be destroyed nor appropriated but simply remain. The engaged
architect Bimal Patel called the project a triumph of "common sense" with a simple and
functional design. He has also stated that the existing listed heritage buildings will be
integrated into the project, with any new buildings will be "aesthetically harmonious" with
existing buildings.
The project was criticized for being built at a time when India was facing an unprecedented
crisis due to Covid-19, as the money allocated for the project could have been used for
controlling the pandemic.
Misconception
There was a misconception for a while when earlier on in the project the estimated cost of the
new parliament building (₹8,620,000,000) was mixed up with the old estimate of the entire
project (₹200,000,000,000). The new estimate of the entire project is around ₹
134,500,000,000

Claims and Responses

Claims made about the project Responses from the Government

 Project commenced in September 2019, many

months before the pandemic outbreak in March
₹ 200,000,000,000 spent during 2020.
the COVID-19 pandemic
 ₹200,000,000,000 is a rough estimate of all
planned development/redevelopment.
 Funding for public healthcare has increased by
137%.
 One-time grant for Covid-19 vaccination is 175%
Funds being diverted from public
higher than the total project budget.
healthcare and Covid-19 response
 Delaying construction won't mean that funds are
diverted to other items, and doing so will create
liabilities for the government.
 Current parliament building is at full capacity and
can't be expanded upon.
Current parliament building can
 Any additions or alterations to the current building
be renovated instead of
aren't possible, as they could compromise the
constructing a new parliament
structural integrity and safety of the building.
building
 Current parliament building wasn't built for the
current purpose.
Contribution to environmental  Green cover will actually increase.
damage and reduction of green  No trees will be cut, and there will be a net
spaces increase of 563 trees after all the
transplatation/plantation.
 Measures are also being taken to minimise
environmental impact of the project itself.
 All waste from the project will be processed at

11
 waste treatment plants and recycled for use in
construction.
 No listed heritage building is to be demolished.
 Heritage buildings listed under the project are to be
Destruction of architectural
refurbished for future use.
heritage
 All planned works are mindful of the original
layout, geometry and architectural character.
 All project planning and implementation has
followed all relevant procedures at every stage of
Circumvention of procedure the project.
during approval process  The project has been taken up after obtaining all
statutory and local body approvals, including
scrutiny by the Supreme Court.
 Public and green spaces are to be added to the
Central Vista avenue.
Reduction of public spaces and
 80,000 square metres of government space will
conversion of public space to
open as public space, and 2.25 hectares of public
government use
and semi-public land is to be converted to green
spaces.
Continuation of project during  No provision of the "Essential Services
second wave of Covid-19 Maintenance Act" was invoked.
pandemic by using Essential  Covid-19 compliant arrangements were established
Services Maintenance Act at the site.

The cost of the Central Vista Redevelopment project, which also includes a Common Central
Secretariat and the Special Protection Group (SPG) building, has been estimated to be
around ₹13,450 crore (equivalent to ₹160 billion or US$2.0 billion in 2023) spread over four
years.

12
Ensemble of government buildings on Kartavya Path, New Delhi in 2016.
The Central Vista was first designed by architect Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, when
the capital of the British Raj was moved from Calcutta to Delhi. The Parliament building
alone took six years to construct, from laying the foundation stone on 12 February 1921 to
the inauguration by then Viceroy Lord Irwin on 18 January 1927. After Independence in
1947, it became the seat of the government of the new Republic. The Parliament campus was
declared a heritage precinct in the 1962 Master plan of Delhi.
The government statement for the new Vista development project stated “As the needs and
duties of the government expanded, so did the usage of the space. However, due to the
development in the area being around a century old, and the current growth and development
of India, the current Central Vista has failed to keep up with the needs of the country”

13
The Central Vista Redevelopment Project was launched in 2019. [9] The project includes
converting North and South Blocks into public museums, creating an ensemble of new
secretariat buildings to house all ministries, relocating the Vice President and the Prime
Minister's offices and residences near the North and South Blocks, and revamping the 3 km
(1.9 mi) long Rajpath between Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate.[10] A new Parliament
building with increased seating capacity will be built beside the older one as India aims to
expand its Parliamentary membership in 2026. The project aims for completion in 2026. This
plan did not include the proposed PMO as there were issues of pending land-use change and
litigation. The construction of the new Parliament building was temporarily put on hold
by Supreme Court of India but was released again within few days with some riders.
Approval Process
The criteria for the competition were set by the Council of Architecture, which included no
building being taller than India Gate. The project proponent or client had to seek conceptual
approval from the Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC). Financial decisions received
clearance from the Central Vigilance Commission. Monetary allocation was provided from
the Finance Ministry. Project assessment studies were done by the New Delhi Municipal
Corporation (NDMC). The regulatory master plan was done by the Central Public Works
Department (CPWD).
Competition
In reality, instead of a call to competition, there was a Notice Inviting Tender (NIT). The
difference is that in a competition the winner is awarded a prize, not a contract; in a tender,
there is a firm intent and the winner receives the contract. The bidding was held in two
rounds. In the first round, merit was given on possibilities and innovation. In the second
round, the winner was decided based on their capacity to deliver results. The winner was
decided by a jury, and the names of jury members were announced before the competition.
Finalists
There were six bidders in the final competition, who presented their proposal to the Central
Public Works Department (CPWD), Government of India.

 HCP Design Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd.

 CP Kukreja and Associates Pvt. Ltd.
 HS Contractor Consultancy Pvt. Ltd.
 Sikka Associates Architects
 ARCOP Associates Pvt. Ltd.
 INI Design Studio Pvt. Ltd.
The design contract was won by Bimal Patel led HCP Design Planning and Management Pvt.
Ltd. of Ahmedabad, Gujarat in October 2019. There are different components to the overall
project, and the contractors for each component are to be chosen by individual bidding
processes.
The project is expected to cost around ₹13,000 crore (equivalent to ₹150 billion or
US$1.8 billion in 2023) over several years and to be fully completed by 2026.

14
Central Vista redevelopment project

Structures to
Structures to Structures to be
New structures be retained as
be repurposed demolished]
it is

 Annexe building
of National Archives
 Indira Gandhi
National Centre for the
 New Parliament House Arts
 Kartavya Path (Rajpath)  Rashtrapati  Vice President's House
 Old Bhavan
 Common Central Secretariat  National Museum
Parliament
 Central Conference Centre  India Gate  Shastri Bhawan
House
 New Vanijya Bhawan  National War  Vigyan Bhawan
 North and
 New residence and office for Memorial
South Block  Krishi Bhawan
Vice President  Rail Bhawan
 Presidential  Nirman Bhawan
 New residence and office for Gardens  Vayu
 Udyog Bhawan
Prime Minister Bhawan
 Vanijya Bhawan
 New facilities for IGNCA
 Raksha Bhawan
 Nehru Bhawan
 Transport Bhawan
 Shram Shakti Bhawan

Proposed Masterplan for Central Vista

 Sep 2019: The master plan of Redevelopment of Central Vista Avenue is conceived by
the Government of India.
 Oct 2019: Ahmedabad based HCP Design Planning and Management Pvt Ltd, won the
architectural consultancy work.
 Sep 2020: Tata Projects Ltd won the construction work of New Parliament Building for
₹862 cr by the CPWD.
 Dec 2020: Foundation stone of New Parliament Building laid by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi on 10 December 2020.
 Jan 2021: Supreme Court of India approves the Central Vista Project on 5 January.
[42]
Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Pvt Ltd won the construction work of Rajpath
Redevelopment for ₹477 cr from CPWD.
 May 2021: The High Court of Delhi dismissed the plea on 31 May, that sought direction
to suspend the construction activities. The court order also said that Central Vista Avenue
is a vital and essential national project
 Jun 2021: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs issues a clarification about the
project value of Central Vista Avenue. Only two construction projects worth ₹1,339 cr
have been awarded up to now.
 16 Sep 2021: Inauguration of the new Defense Offices Complex.

15
 26 Sep 2021: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent almost an hour at the site of the
proposed Central Vista project and carried out a first-hand inspection of the construction
status of the new Parliament building. There was no prior intimation or security detail
regarding his visit.
 23 Jun 2022: Vanijya Bhawan is inaugurated by PM, it is the new headquarters
of Ministry of Commerce and Industry.[50]
 11 Jul 2022: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a bronze cast of India's National
Emblem on top of the new parliament building.
 8 September 2022: Prime Minister inaugurated the revamped Central Vista Avenue and
renamed it Kartavya Path, from Rajpath. This was done as a part of recent anti-
colonial drive in the country. The Prime Minister also unveiled the statue of Netaji
Subhash Chandra Bose installed at the India Gate Hexagon, under the Grand Canopy.
 28 May 2023: Prime Minister inaugurated New Parliament Building and the there was a
session of representation of political, Religious,Diplomatic, famous and Important
personality

III
BACKGROUND

 September 2019: The master plan for 'Redevelopment of Central Vista Avenue' is
conceived by the Government of India.
 September 2020: Tata Projects Ltd won the contract for the construction of the new
parliament building for ₹862 crores by the CPWD.
 October 2020: Ahmedabad-based HCP Design Planning and Management Pvt Ltd, wins
the architectural consultancy work.
 10 December 2020: The foundation stone of the new parliament building is laid.[8][10]
 11 July 2022: A statue of the country's national emblem is unveiled on the top of the new
Parliament building.[49][50]
 28 August 2022: The main structure of the new Parliament is completed
 20 May 2023: Construction is fully completed.[
 28 May 2023: The prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the new Parliament
Building.
 19 September 2023: House proceedings to commence from Parliament Special Session,
2023

Bimal Patel: Architect of Modi govt’s grand projects prepares for biggest challenge yet —

Parliament House

16
Bimal Patel. (Illustration: Suvajit Dey)
The Parliament House (IAST: Sansad Bhavan) in New Delhi is the seat of the Parliament of
India. It houses the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, which are lower and upper
houses respectively in India's bicameral parliament.
As part of India's Central Vista Redevelopment Project, a new parliament building was
constructed in New Delhi. It was inaugurated on 28 May 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
It is located on Rafi Marg, which crosses the Central Vista and is surrounded by the Old
Parliament House, Vijay Chowk, India Gate, National War Memorial, Vice President's
House, Hyderabad House, Secretariat Building, Prime Minister's
Office and residence, ministerial buildings and other administrative units of the Indian
government.
The New Parliament House was first used for official business on 19 September 2023 during
the Parliament Special Session,[4] with the name designation Parliament of India.
Proposals for a new parliament building to replace the existing complex emerged in the early
2010s due to stability concerns with the older structure. [5] A committee to suggest several
alternatives to the current building was set up by the then-Speaker Meira Kumar in 2012. The
original building, a 93-year-old structure, suffered from inadequate space for house members
and their staff and design changes that put its structural stability at risk as it wasn't
earthquake-proof. Despite this, the building is important to India's national heritage, and
plans are in place to protect the structure.[6]
In 2019, the Indian government launched the Central Vista Redevelopment Project, which
included the construction of a new parliament building along with other projects in New
Delhi, including revamping Kartavya Path, construction of a new residence for the vice
president, a new office and residence for the prime minister and combining all ministerial
buildings in a single central secretariat
The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction was held in October 2020, and the
foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on 10 December 2020. The
ceremony included an interfaith prayer service performed by religious leaders.

17
Although the laying of the foundation stone was allowed, a bench led by Justice A. M.
Khanwilkar of the Supreme Court of India put a hold on the Central Vista Redevelopment
Project until the resolution of pleas received against the project in the court. The project was
cleared in a majority judgment of the Supreme Court in January 2021, with riders for
environmental concerns, and work on the building was begun.The old parliament architecture
built in 1927 was designed by the British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert
Bakerand it was largely influenced by Hindu Chausath Yogini Temple, Mitaoli.
The new complex has a hexagonal shape and it is built next to the existing complex and is
almost equal in size to the former one
The design of this Parliament building resembles the Vijaya Temple of Vidisha

Beejamandal ruins
Beejamandal is a ruined temple in Jatkara village near Khajuraho, that has not yet been fully
excavated and exploredIt has a length of 34.60 meters and is thus longer than the largest
temple of Khajuraho namely Kandariya which measures about 30 metres.
Beejamandal which is popularly known as Vijaya Temple is situated about 2 km from Eidgah
square on Vidisha-Ashoknagar road. It is rich in archaeologically interesting objects. It is said
that the building was built in 8th century and was then later on reconstructed in Paramara
period in the second half of 11th century by Emperor Naravarman. Since Emperor
Naravarman was a devotee of Goddess Charchika, who is also known as Vijaya, this
landmark is popularly known as Vijaya temple. The building was never finished which can
easily be seen by the carved niches and unfinished architectural pieces found round the base
of the temple plinth. It is said that during the mughal Emperor Aurangzeb period (1658A.D.-
1707 A.D.), the temple was demolished by Aurangzeb and he made a mosque over the
demolished remains of the temple and named it as "Alamgir Mosque" (around 1682).
Muslims started worshiping at the mosque after the construction of the mosque for many
years.
In 1991, there was a heavy rain in the night in town that caused one of the walls of the
mosque to fall down. Because of this destruction, many Hindu idols that were inside the
mosque for more than 300 years were exposed and brought to the public attention that this is
a Hindu temple. An investigation by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found that the
Hindu idols were buried under the platform on the northern side, used as the Hall of Prayer
conducted especially on the days of Eid. Figures of Goddess Mahishasur Mardini and Lord
Ganesha were also recovered during the excavation in (1972-1974). Unfortunately, a stay was
put on the officer of Archaeological Survey of India, who was conducting the research. As an
effect, the collector of that time of the town was transferred as under his orders only as the
entire investigation was happening. The stay was applied by the government to avoid any
riots between Hindu and Muslims. The case is still in the court but to maintain peace and
Harmony, this case is under status quo. This is not related with BMandal Khajuraho.

18
Cunningham [7] and Phanikanta Mishra regard this as the Vaidyanath temple mentioned in
the Grahapati Kokkala inscription.
It was one of the 18 unexplored mounds in the vicinity of Khajuraho. [9] The Archaeological
Survey of India does not have the authority to excavate other mounds.
The building is designed to have a lifespan of more than 150 years.. It is designed to
be earthquake resistant while incorporating architectural styles from different parts of
IndiaThe Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha chambers have large seating capacities to
accommodate more members in the future, resulting from India's growing population and
consequent future delimitation exercises.

The Lok Sabha chamber in the New Parliament

building
The new complex has 888 seats in the Lok Sabha chamber and 384 seats in the Rajya
Sabha chamber. Unlike the old parliament building, it does not have a central hall. The Lok
Sabha chamber able to house 1,272 members in case of a joint session. [9] The rest of the
building has four floors with offices for ministers and committee rooms.[1]
The building has a built area of 20,866 square metres (224,600 sq ft) (including its open-sky
area of 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft) for a banyan tree), which makes it 10% smaller in
size than the existing old circular building of 22,900 square metres (246,000 sq ft) (diameter
170.7 metres (560 ft)) including its open sky area of 6,060 square metres (65,200 sq ft), split
into three sectors.[21]
The Parliament House has three entrances, named Gyan Dwar (knowledge gate), Shakti
Dwar (power gate), and Karma Dwar (karma gateThere are six guardian statues that man the
three entrances, namely, Gaja, Ashwa, Garuda, Makar, Shardula, and Hams.
A foucault pendulum is suspended from the ceiling of the central foyer. This pendulum,
created by the National Council of Science Museums in Kolkata, is the largest of its kind in
India, standing at a towering height of 22 meters and weighing an 36 kg. As it rotates on its
axis, the pendulum almost reaches the floor, hanging from a skylight positioned at the top of
the Constitution Hall. Its presence symbolizes the integration of India's concept with the
vastness of the cosmos.
The Lok Sabha chamber at the new building also houses the Sengol.
The gallery Shilp Deergha (crafts gallery) was conceptualised with eight
themes: Parv (festival), Swabalamban (self-reliance), Prakriti (nature), Ullas (joy), Gyan (wi
sdom), Samrasta (harmony), Astha (faith), and Yatra (journey). About 255 crafts were
sourced from around 400 artisans from across the country.
PM Modi lighting the lamp at the inauguration of New Parliament
On 28 May 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated India's new
parliament building. The ceremonies began in the morning, with Modi unveiling a plaque
dedicating the building to the nation and addressing a gathering of lawmakers. As part of the
inauguration ceremony, following a Tamil tradition, Adheenam priests handed over a gold-

19
plated scepter, Sengol to PM Modi, who installed it near the chair of the Speaker of the Lok
Sabha in the new Parliament building.
The opposition parties largely abstained from the event, expressing their preference for the
president to open the building instead of the prime minister.
During the inauguration, a 'Sarva Dharma Prarthana' (all-religious prayer) was performed in
which religious leaders from Zoroastrian, Baha'i
Faith, Judaism, Islam, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Hinduism were present
Boycott and criticism
Despite the boycott and criticism led by the Congress party of India, more than 300 members
of Parliament attended the inaugurationAt least 19 opposition parties boycotted the
inauguration, highlighting their discontent with Modi's leadership. They expressed concern
that President Droupadi Murmu, the head of state and highest constitutional authority, was
sidelined from the event. Opposition parties accused the government of passing controversial
legislation without adequate debate and criticized the "disqualification, suspension, and
muting" of opposition lawmakers. They argued that with the erosion of democratic values
within the Parliament, the new building held little significance. Rahul Gandhi, a member of
the Indian National Congress, accused Modi of treating the ceremony as a coronation,
emphasizing the need for parliamentary proceedings to remain focused on representing the
people rather than showcasing personal grandeur.[38]
Diplomatic row
A mural that depicts a map of an "undivided India" in the new parliament caused a diplomatic
row with the neighbouring Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh. On 28 May 2023, India's
parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi tweeted a photo of the mural with a sentence
in Kannada, a translation of which says "Resolve is clear – Akhand Bharat". The same
day, Manoj Kotak, a BJP politician, also tweeted "Akhand Bharat in (the) New Parliament. It
represents our powerful and self reliant India"
On 30 May 2023, former prime minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli criticised the action stating
that "If a country like India that sees itself as an ancient and strong country and as a model of
democracy puts Nepali territories in its map and hangs the map in Parliament, it cannot be
called fair".Baburam Bhattarai, former prime minister of Nepal, also criticised "The
controversial mural of 'Akhand Bharat'" that according to him "has the potential of further
aggravating the trust deficit already vitiating the bilateral relations between most of the
immediate neighbours of India".
On 1 June 2023, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch expressed
concern stating that "We are appalled by the statements made by some BJP politicians,
including a union minister, linking the mural with 'Akhand Bharat'".
On 6 June 2023, Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam stated that
his government is in the process of seeking clarification from India regarding the map. On 8
June 2023, replying to concerns, India's foreign minister S. Jaishankar said, "The mural of
undivided India shows the spread of the Ashoka empire and the idea of responsible and
people-oriented governance.". To Pakistan's criticism, he said that "Pakistan cannot
understand it because it does not have the power to understand" and added that the
neighbouring countries will understand the meaning of the mural.
Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson of India's Ministry of External Affairs had also
previously clarified that the mural depicted the spread of the Mauryan period in Indian
history

20
These 8 temples in India enshrine within them, the most fascinating architectural stories
With celestial carvings, epigraphs and vernacular design elements, temples like Tungnath,
Somnath, Dilwara and more, are truly one-of-a-kind destinations
By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar
20 January 2020

Find out everything about these temples, that are big tourist destinations in India
Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Built by Raja Raja Chola I in 1,002 AD, the magnificent Brihadeshwara Temple is deeply
embedded in the Dravidian architectural legacy as a tribute to Lord Nataraja. Perched along
the shores of the Cauvery, the temple was constructed using over 1,30,000 tonnes of granite
—a momentous feat, considering that granite is nowhere to be found within a 100-mile
radius. Notably, the temple casts no shadow on the ground when the sun is at its pinnacle, a
fitting emblem of its sanctitude and spiritual significance. Some architectural gems in the
complex include a glorious Nandi monolith weighing 20 tonnes, intricate Bharatnatyam
carvings on the temple exterior, and a spectacular spread of musical pillars.

21
This temple was made using 1,30,000 tonnes of granite. Photo credit: Jean Pierre Dalbera/
Wikicommons
Tungnath Temple, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand
Situated 3,680 metres above sea level, the Tungnath Temple is the highest of the five Panch
Kedar temples nestled in the wondrous Rudraprayag mountain range of Uttarakhand. The
temple's exquisite location beckons travellers from India and abroad to witness its magical,
mythological aura. Legend has it that Lord Shiva took a bull's avatar during the war of the
Mahabharata in an attempt to evade the Pandavas, only to rematerialise in a disincarnate
form, his bull's body divided across five different locations. The site of the Tungnath is
where Shiva's hands are believed to have appeared. Interestingly, the temple is so small that
it only permits ten people at a time.

22
The Tungnath temple is located on a high altitude in Uttarakhand.
Vitthala Temple, Hampi, Karnataka
Part of the expansive Vijayanagara temple landscape, this 15th-century temple, built by
King Devaraya II, is a homage to Lord Vishnu. Regarded as the most majestic temple in
Hampi, the structure is a sculptural and artisanal masterpiece, with imposing walls and
resplendent gateways. The temple complex is bejewelled with enchanting shrines, chambers
and piles made of stone. Also worth admiring are the temple's musical pillars, famous for
their acoustics. The British apparently were so stunned by these magical pillars, that they
hacked a pair off, only to find nothing inside.

The Vitthala Temple is especially known for its acoustics. Photo credit: Shivajidesai29/
Wikicommons
Virupaksha Temple, Pattadakal, Karnataka
A confluence of North Indian Nagra and Dravidian Vimana Shaili architectural styles, this
temple is emblazoned with extravagant friezes, epigraphs and reliefs that narrate stories of
divine glory. Observe closely, and you'll see that the structure is seeded in curious
mathematical concepts. Recurrent fractal patterns modelled on natural wonders, a triangular
dome, and square-shaped layouts echo the geometry of nature. The temple was
commissioned by Queen Lokamahadevi in the 8th century to immortalise her husband King
Vikramaditya's triumph over the Pallavas. It has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.

The entire structure is seeded in mathematical concepts. Photo credit: Saranya Ghosh/
Wikicomons

23
 Somnath Temple, Saurashtra, Gujarat
The crowning glory of the Saurashtra peninsula, many believe that the central structure of
Somnath was made in gold and silver by the moon and sun divinities respectively, in timber
by Lord Krishna, and in stone by the 11th-century ruling Rajputs. The indelible layers of
time have led to several reconstructions of the temple, with the seventh occurring as recently
as 1951, in the Chalukya style. The temple's architectural paragon contains ornate
engravings, silver partitions, convex pyramidal forms and an awe-inspiring Nandi idol.


Inside the Somnath Temple, you will find intriguing engravings. Photo credit:
Dhimant2702/ Wikicommons
Terracotta Temple, Bishnupur, West Bengal
Built by the Malla dynasty in the 17th century, this rustic terracotta temple complex, devoted
to Lord Vishnu, mirrors the thatched architecture of rural Bengal. The architecture of
Bishnupur is inspired by a coalescence of styles and cultures from surrounding regions.
Rustic terracotta tiles, buildings in laterite and brick, and carved panels narrating
mythological epics reign as the temples' most prominent attributes.

24
The architecture of this temple is a coalescence of styles and cultures from surrounding
regions. Photo credit: Pinakpani/ Wikicommons
Dilwara Temples, Mount Abu, Rajasthan
A white marble magnum opus, the Dilwara Temples' complex enshrines five prominent Jain
idols, each housed within a separate courtyard. The complex is bordered by bijou shrines
honouring holy tirthankaras (saints). Built by the Solankis in the eleventh century, the
temples are renowned for their marble ornamentation and carvings. Among the many
mysteries harboured within the temple walls, perhaps the greatest is how long-ago labourers
managed to transport huge blocks of marble from Arasoori Hill to Mount Abu, along an
incline of 23 kilometres, on elephant back.

The marble ornamentations and carvings set this temple aside. Photo credit: Eye
Ubiquitous/ Getty Images
Kailasa Temple, Ellora, Maharashtra
Carved from solid rock, this titanic temple construction was helmed by King Krishna I in
760 AD as a symbolic expression of Lord Shiva's Himalayan abode. Observe the temple
structure and it's clear that its creation was nothing short of an architectonic miracle.
Enveloped by three immense trenches whose hollows would have required the manual

25
removal of 2,00,000 tonnes of rock, the sanctum sanctorum features remarkable engravings
of scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

It is said that the Kailasa Temple in Ellora was commissioned by King Krishna I in 760
AD

Chaunsat Yogini Temple in India and the Women of Angkor Wat

Article by Kent Davis
From my paper on ESOTERIC SEXUAL CONCEPT,ART & ARCHITECTURE of Y O G I N I S
Ancient Asian religions worshiped women as goddesses. How do the women
of Chaunsat Yogini Temple in India and the Women of Angkor Wat
compare?
“Strange temples that beat the canons of popular architecture echo the presence of an esoteric
cult of the Mother Goddess in the form of Chaunsat Yogini shrines…Shakti transforms into
power here….” Indian Temples and Iconography by Kavitha

Can India’s vibrant goddess traditions help us decipher the mysteries of

the women of Angkor Wat
By Kent Davis

Siem Reap, Cambodia – Angkor Wat, the renowned 12th century Hindu temple now
located in the jungles of Cambodia, is much more than the largest religious structure in the
world. This Khmer temple also has a human side: for nearly 1,000 years, it has enshrined the
images of more than 1,796 sacred women. The puzzling fact is that no one knows who the
women of Angkor Wat were and what principles of spirituality or government they
represent. Why these female were chosen to dominate this magnificent structure with their
prominent presence remains a mystery.

Each female portrait at Angkor Wat is distinctly different, with myriad varieties in their pose,
hand positions (mudras), ethnicity, jewelry, clothing, hair style, accoutrements and location.
Almost no written records detailing the Khmer civilization have survived through the ages.
The best account we have is from the Chinese diplomat Zhou Daguan, who visited 150 years
after Angkor Wat was built.

Daguan makes no secret of his interest in Khmer women. He comments in detail about the
importance of women in conducting business, the huge numbers of women who live in the
palace and even to ogling women as they bathed topless. Despite his fascination, one of many
questions Daguan does not answer is: Why did the Khmers populate their greatest
temples with respectful images of women?

To understanding these women, and to paying tribute to them in the context of their
contributions to the greatness of the Khmer civilization would be unfair. Some clues may be
found in India, where many aspects of the Khmer civilization originated. This article
considers Indian Yogini traditions, which involve both female worshipers and female
divinities. It is unknown if the Khmer religion at the time of Angkor Wat had similar female-
centric traditions. However, it is quite clear that Khmer temples prominently featured sacred
women to the near exclusion of men. A handful of Indian Yogini temples exhibit this same
trait.

26
This article examines one Indian temple that, like Angkor Wat, predominantly features
female images: the Chaunsat Yogini Temple of Bheraghat Jabalpur.

What is a Yogini?
The term Yogini, used in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, has multiple meanings. These
aspects are drastically simplified for this article and readers are encouraged to investigate
more specialized sources.

First, it can refer to a human woman dedicated to pursuing spiritual knowledge and
enlightenment through the practice of Yoga. A male practitioner is called a Yogi. Through her
practice, a Yogini may acquire certain supernatural powers including the power to control
bodily functions (i.e. heartrate, fertility, resistance to pain or cold and metabolism), or even
the ability to fly.

Sri Dhanendri – Photo by Raju-Indore.///Lakshmi (wealth/material fulfillment), Parvati

(Power/love/spiritual fulfillment), and Saraswati (learning and arts/cultural fulfillment) joined in a single
manifestation of Devi. Painting by V.V. Sagar.

A Yogini’s path may include the practice of Tantra (Sanskrit=weave), a religious philosophy
focusing on the interplay between the male and female forces of the universe embodied
by Shakti and Shiva.

Yogini can also refer to personifications of aspects of nature, manifested from the Divine
Mother Goddess, or Devi. These Yoginis include the ten Mahavidyas (also called the Great
Wisdoms or dakini) who represent the spectrum of feminine divinity, from beautiful and
gentle to violent and terrifying.

27
In some branches of Yoga and Tantra, these powerful manifestations serve as models for
human Yogini practitioners to emulate.

Another definition characterizes Yoginis as aspects of the Hindu goddess Durga, who is
another form of Devi. During a battle to save the universe, Durga emanated eight Yoginis to
achieve her goal. In some systems they are called Matrikas. Later texts multiplied these 8 into
64 Yoginis representing the full range of forces in the world, controlling fertility, disease,
abundance, vegetation, life and death itself.

The variety, complexity and power of the Yogini traditions are such that the final
understanding of this concept is best left to the individual. For the purposes of this discussion
we will summarize by broadly stating that Yoginis are range of women, from human to
divine, who represent, control or seek to control powerful forces of nature, including life
itself.
The images in the Yogini temples of India and the spiritual practitioners who
have worshiped there for more than a millennium are all somehow connected to
the Yogini tradition.

Yoginis, Goddesses or…Goblins?

Early Yogini accounts by Europeans focused on their horrific aspects. For broader
understanding consider Buddhist Goddesses by Miranda Shaw and Kiss of the Yogini by
David Gordon White.
In his report for the Archaeological Survey of India 1862-65, Director General Alexander
Cunningham had this to say about the yogini temple at Khajaraho:
“Chaonsat Yogini, or the “64 female goblins,” appears to be the most ancient temple at
Khajaraho.

“It is the only one of all the temples that is not placed due north and south. It is also the only
temple that is built of granite, all the others being of a fine light coloured sandstone from the
quarries on the east bank of the Kane River. The Joginis, or Yoginis, are female goblins who
attend upon Kali, the goddess of slaughter.
“When a battle takes place, they are said to rush frantically to the field with their bowls to
catch the blood of the slain, which they quaff with delight. In the Prabodha
Chandrodaya they are called the “spouses of demons who dance on the field of battle.”
“From their connection with the blood-drinking goddess Kali, it is probable that the temple
may have been originally devoted to Siva — a suggestion which is partly confirmed by the
position of a small shrine of Ganesha on the same rocky ridge immediately in front of the
entrance. But as the Brahmans on the spot assert that the dedication of a temple to
the Yoginis ensures victory to the dedicator, it is possible that this temple may still retain its
original name.
“Vans Kennedy’s Hindu Mythology (p. 490) mentions the names of six Yoginis — Brahmi,
Maheswari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahendri — who were all called by Siva to devour
the flesh and drink the blood of the great Daitya Jalandhara.
“Under this view, however, we might expect to find the temples of the Yoginis rather
numerous, as many generals would be willing to purchase victory at so cheap a rate. But as
this is the only shrine of these goddesses that I have yet met with, I am inclined to doubt the
tradition, and to assign the temple to Durga or Kali, the consort of Siva.”

28
Could the Women of Angkor Wat be Yoginis?
In direct contrast to the women of Angkor Wat, a considerable amount of written information
has been passed down regarding the sacred women depicted in India’s Yogini temples. While
much is known about Indian Yoginis, next to nothing is known about the women of Angkor
Wat, also known as devata or apsaras. Could they represent Yoginis, too?

Angkor Wat devata from the east wall of the West Gopura/. Site plan showing the 84
cloisters of the yogini temple at Bheraghat and the central Gauri Sankara temple dedicated to
Lord Shiva in the center..

If they are Yoginis, they are all certainly quite reserved in their demeanor and seem to
represent only the gentler aspects of the Yogini pantheon.
The women of Angkor Wat display no horrific or supernatural attributes or abilities. In fact,
they appear quite normal, lacking fangs, halos, multiple eyes, wings or other fantastic
features.
No woman at Angkor Wat appears as a sakti, the manifestation of the female aspect of a god,
sometimes seen with the animal head of a boar, bull, horse or lion.
Nor do the Angkor Wat women possess necklaces or cups made from human skulls,
skeletons or weapons among their accouterments.
All of the devata at Angkor Wat are standing in dignified poses with both feet firmly on the
ground. None are seated. Only a few assume kinetic positions that can be associated with
dance.
Still, portrayed in a temple, the women of Angkor Wat do share a divine residence with
their Yogini sisters. Some also display similar hand positions (mudras), jewelry adornments
and an association with plants and flowers from nature. As admirers have noted for centuries
they are frequently quite attractive, but there are many exceptions.

29
The women of Angkor Wat only seem to only represent an harmonious relationship with
nature, while Indian Yoginis evoke more the full range of creation, including violent aspects.
Perhaps there is a connection between these two extraordinary groups of women but it is not
immediately obvious. A good place to start is by examining IndianYogini temples, using the
specific example of the Chaunsat Yogini Temple of Bheraghat Jabalpur.
Yogini Temples – Natural, Circular and Hypaethral
In India, Brahmins have long held that sangam, the confluence of two rivers, are especially
sacred because the mingling waters of two streams are considered more effective at washing
away sins. This is why Bheraghat, where the Narbada and Saraswati rivers meet, is an
especially holy bathing spot.
High on a hill near the river junction we find one circular yogini temple, whose courtyard
protects the Gauri Sankara temple devoted to Lord Shiva (see details at the bottom of this
article).
The circular form is unusual for Brahmin enclosures ; but it is the correct form for temples
dedicated to the Chaunsat Yoginis (i.e 64 yoginis). Two other Yogini temples of this form are
in Hirapur and Ranipur-Jharial. A fourth yogini temple at Khajaraho is oblong. All of
them are hypaethral, or open to the sky.
The circular Yogini temple of Bheraghat is 130 feet in diameter (its inner diameter is 116 feet
2 inches, and the outer diameter 130 feet 9 inches). Using 84 pillars, its perimeter is divided
into as many spaces. Each of the 84 cloisters or alcoves constitutes a separate shrine
measuring 4 feet 9 inches wide and 5 feet 3 1/2 inches high under the eaves. Three niches—
two to the west, and the other to the south-east—remain open as entrances. The remaining 81
spaces are fitted with pedestals for statues of sacred women. Only two male statues appear in
the temple.
The Yogini Temple Statues at Bheraghat
Among the statues at Bheraghat two poses are seen: sitting and standing. Many are damaged
and a few are missing entirely. Most are four-armed goddesses who, early writers noted, “are
especially remarkable for their breast size.”
Early reports characterized most of these images as “Yoginis or female demons who serve
Durga.” The temple is, therefore, commonly known as the Chaunsat Yogini, or “sixty-four
yoginis.”

The yogini temple of Bheraghat, circa

1875.
Eight figures are identified as ashta sakti, or female energies of the gods. Three seem to be
personified rivers. All the sitting figures are taken to be Yoginis. Each one is highly
ornamented and made of a grey sandstone.
Four dancing female figures are not inscribed (Nos. 39,44, 60 and 78]. These are made of a
purplish sandstone and are much less ornamented. One of them, No. 44, is thought to be the
goddess Kali. The others seem to be other forms of that deity.

30
Siva and Ganesha [Nos. 15 and 1] are the only two male figures.
The result of this examination shows that the statue set up in this circular cloister may be
divided into five distinct groups as follows:
Saktis, commonly known as ashta-sakti………….8 statues
Rivers: Ganges, Jumna, and Saraswati………….3
Dancing goddesses: Kali, etc……………………..4
Gods: Siva and Ganesha……………………………2
Yoginis, or chaunsat yogini, 57 intact, 7 lost…..64
Total………………………………………………….81
Two entrances [= 3 spaces]………………………3
Total…………………………………………………..84
Kent Davis March 5, 2010 Devata Research, Devata Temples, Woman's History
Share34
http://www.devata.org/chaunsat-yogini-temple-in-india-and-the-women-of-angkor-wat/
#.YePa__5BzIU

31
The Sengol is a gold-plated, silver sceptre that is currently installed in New Parliament
House in New Delhi, India.The sceptre was originally gifted to Jawaharlal Nehru, the
first Prime Minister of India, by a Tamil Adheenam in a private religious ceremony on the
evening before the Independence of India. The Sengol was housed at Allahabad Museum for
seventy years until 2023, when it was moved to its present location upon the building's
inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As the Independence of India drew near, Jawaharlal Nehru and other members of the Indian
National Congress (INC or Congress) took part in religious ceremonies and received gifts. On
such an occasion on 14 August 1947, emissaries from the Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam Matha,
a Hindu monastery in Tamil Nadu, presented Nehru with the Sengol at his home. According
to a report in Time:

32
PM Modi receiving the Sengol from Hindu (Adheenam) priests in 2023

From Tanjore in south India came two emissaries of Sri Amblavana Desigar, head of a
sannyasi order of Hindu ascetics. Sri Amblavana thought that Nehru, as first Indian head of a
really Indian Government ought, like ancient Hindu kings, to receive the symbol of power
and authority from Hindu holy men ... One sannyasi carried a sceptre of gold, five feet long,
two inches thick. He sprinkled Nehru with holy water from Tanjore and drew a streak in
sacred ash across Nehru's forehead. Then he wrapped Nehru in the pithambaram and handed
him the golden sceptre. He also gave Nehru some cooked rice which had been offered that
very morning to the dancing god Nataraja in south India, then flown by plane to Delhi.
The event had negligible impact on public discourse at the time; contemporaneous news clips
recorded the gift of the Sengol as a courtesy. Soon afterwards, the Sengol and other
belongings of Nehru were donated to Allahabad Museum, where the sceptre was labelled
"Golden Stick gifted to Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru".
The Sengol remained largely forgotten until it was used in the inauguration of New
Parliament House, New Delhi, in 2023. At the inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
who was accompanied by Hindu priests heading the 20 Adheenams in Tamil Nadu, installed
the Sengol near the chair of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.[7][8][9] Simultaneously,
the Government of India propagated a now-discredited narrative of the Sengol being a
symbol of the transfer of power from the United Kingdom to India.[2]
Government narrative
The narrative appears to have been derived from a year-old article by Swaminathan
Gurumurthy, a Hindu nationalist, published in Thuglak magazine; Gurumurthy attributed it to
the recollections of Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi, the 68th head of the Kanchi Kamakoti
Peetham, as told to a disciple in 1978
According to the Government, upon being asked by Lord Mountbatten about a symbol to
mark the transfer of power, Nehru discussed the issue with his fellow Congress leader C.
Rajagopalachari, who informed Nehru of the Chola tradition of the transfer of the sengol and
with his agreement, approached the seer of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam Matha to make
one. A delegation of monks flew to Delhi to present this sengol first to Mountbatten and then
to Nehru in an official ceremony.
These claims are dubious. There is no evidence either Mountbatten or Rajagopalachari was
involved in the process, that the ceremony had any official significance, that Nehru perceived

33
the event as a transfer of power, or that the delegation travelled by air. Facing criticism for
lacking in facts, the Government published a collection of sources, ranging from monographs
by academic historians to a blog that rejected its narrative, as evidence; they did not support
any of the claims.

According to analysts, the 2023 episode with the Sengol was part of the Bharatiya Janata
Party's (BJP) strategy to present itself as champions of Tamil culture. The party is aiming to
gain electoral significance in South India through its Look South campaign. Soon after
the Sengol's installation, Amit Shah, one of BJP's main strategists, asked Tamil voters to elect
25 BJP coalition legislators to Parliament as a show of gratitude.
Vummidi Bangaru Chetty, a jeweller from Chennai, crafted the Sengol. The Sengol is a
handcrafted, gold-plated sceptre about five feet (1.5 m) long, and has a diameter of about
three inches (76 mm) at the top and one inch (25 mm) at the bottom. It encases a wooden
staff and is surmounted by a sitting Nandi to symbolise justice and sturdiness.

Barely a fortnight after Nehru received the Sengol, C. N. Annadurai, a Dravidian nationalist
and the future first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, wrote a polemical tract on the subject
for Dravida Nadu, pondering the socio-political implications of his acceptance. He warned
the motive of the Adheenam was to convince the public later they had inaugurated the new
government.
Many political analysts have noted the increasing use of Hindu grammar in the domains of
the state. In 2023, The New York Times noted that this sceptre emerged as a key object
encapsulating the meaning of the new Parliament, that is, "to shed not just the remnants of
India's colonial past, but also increasingly to replace the secular governance that followed
it". Others found the use of a monarchical relic unsuitable for a parliamentary democracy.

The Sengol was crafted by Vummidi Ethiraju of the Vummidi Bangaru Chetty family. It is
made of over 100 sovereigns of gold and is engraved with intricate designs and details. The
Sengol represents the rich Tamil culture and is said to have been used by the Chola kings. It
symbolises the king's dharma or duty to rule his kingdom well. It reminds the king that he is
responsible for the welfare of his subjects and that he must rule with justice and fairness.
Recently, the Sengol has become a talk of political discussion. On May 28, 2023, the Indian
government installed the Sengol in Naya Sansad Bhavan, the new Parliament building.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed a puja and installed the Sengol in the Lok Sabha
chamber next to the Speaker's chair. The incident, which revolves around Sengol, was
commissioned by Thiruvavaduthurai Adheenam in Tamil Nadu. This was made at the
request of Shri C Rajagopalachari to mark the transfer of power in 1947. The task of
crafting the golden Sengol was entrusted to the family of Vummidi Bangaru Chetty.

34
On the 14th of August 1947 at 11:45 pm, Viceroy Lord Mountbatten presented Sengol to
India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, signifying the formal transfer of
power from the British to the Indian government. It was then kept in the Nehru Gallery of
the Allahabad Museum in Prayagraj, India. The Sengol was last seen in public in 1947, and
it is now restored and installed in the new Parliament building as the result of Dr Padma
Subrahmanyam's letter to PM Modi. She wrote a letter referencing an article in a Tamil
magazine, which sparked a chain of events that brought the Sengol back to prominence.
Sengol Featuers

The design of the Sengol is based on the traditional Tamil sceptre, which is a symbol of
power and authority. The Sengol is made of gold and silver, which are considered to be
precious metals in Hindu tradition.
Nandi: The top of the Sengol is adorned with a statue of a Nandi, which is a sacred animal
in Hinduism. The Nandi represents dharma, which is the Hindu concept of Justice.
Goddess Lakshmi: The second layer is engraved with the image of the goddess Lakshmi,
the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. Her presence is meant to bring financial
success and good luck
Kodimaram: The stem is engraved with the image of kodimaram, a sacred tree that is
associated with the Hindu god Vishnu. Kodimaram is a symbol of growth and fertility.
Together, the three layers of the Sengol represent the three pillars of a successful life:
justice, wealth, and growth.
Time Line

1.
British Relinquishment of Control:
In a pivotal moment in history, Lord Mountbatten sought guidance from Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru for the symbolic action of the transfer of power to India in 1947. Pandit Jawaharlal
Nehru, in turn, consulted Shri C. Rajagopalachari, who delved into the history and
civilisation of the land, drawing inspiration from the Chola kings and finding an answer.

2.
The Adheenams’ Blessings:
The Adheenams, a non-brahmin Saivite order, have a long history of over 500 years. They
were called upon by Shri Rajagolachari in 1947 to bless and oversee the transfer of power
to Indian hands, leading to their visit to Delhi.
3.
Significance of the verse:
Tamil poet St Thirugnanasambandar’s Kolaru Padhigam was recited during the transfer of
power in 1947, symbolising blessings. The verse is believed to have significance in
overcoming difficulties.

35
4.
Enduring Dynasty and Influential Symbol:
The transfer of power from one Chola king to their successor was symbolised by the
Sengol, a potent emblem that later became associated with India's independence in August
1947. The Cholas were a prominent dynasty in the Indian subcontinent and held power for
an extensive period. Their rule extended across different regions until the 13th century CE.
5.
A Symbol of Justice and Power Transfer:
Adorned with a magnificent Nandi and hand-crafted by the trusted jeweller Vummidi
Bangaru Chetty, the Sengol was ordered by the Adheenam as a symbol of just rule. It was
entrusted to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947, representing the transfer of power.

6.
Global Spotlight on Historic Power Transfer:
Media reports captured the historic transfer of power, garnering widespread attention both
locally and globally, emphasising the significance of the moment.
7.
Momentous Recollection of The Sengol:
The Sengol, once concealed, emerged again and was brought to light on August 15, 1978,
by the profound recollections of the revered Maha Periava. The nation showed gratitude for
his cherished remembrance of that historic occasion.

36
8.The Timeless Power of Symbols:
Symbols hold great significance, as they carry deep meanings and remain relevant over
time. They provide a sense of something special to cherish, like the Sengol symbol,
representing the transfer of power to Indian hands.

About Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers

We are a renowned jewellery store based in Chennai, India. Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers
was established in 1900 and has since we have gained a reputation for our elegant and
magnificent jewellery. Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers takes pride in preserving India's
cultural heritage and is known for its focus on South Indian culture

As a family-owned business, Vummidi Bangaru Jewellers has been passed down for
generations, contributing to its long-standing presence in the jewellery industry. We are one
of the most trusted jewellery, known for our commitment to quality and craftsmanship.
With our rich heritage and unwavering commitment to quality, we now take immense pride
in extending our legacy to the esteemed Naya Sansad Bhavan, the new parliament. The
meticulously crafted Sengol stands as a symbol of our exquisite craftsmanship and
unwavering dedication to preserving India's cultural heritage.

37
1. What is a Sengol?
Sengol is a special sceptre that carries great meaning as a representation of justice, the
passing of authority, and the promotion of fair and effective leadership. It represents the
transfer of power.
2. Who crafted the Sengol?
3. Where was the Sengol kept for these many years?
4. When and where was the Sengol kept recently?
5. Whom did Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru consult regarding the symbolic action of
the transfer of power?

38