A dialogue with Mother Ganga

A dialogue with

MOTHER

GANGA An architect's vision

By Siddhartha Rajesh Verma

Presented proposal to Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji

“Yoga is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfillment; harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and well-being. Yoga is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with ourselves, the world and Nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us to deal with climate change.”

Speech of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji at 69th UN General Assembly

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BLESSINGS BY

GURUDEV SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR To the people of India, Ganga is not just a river; it is flowing divinity. It has been worshipped since time immemorial with utmost devotion. Symbolically, it represents knowledge which cleanses the garbage of ignorance from the mind, keeping it ever fresh. Unfortunately, we have allowed this symbol of purification to be drastically polluted itself. Numerous efforts through the years to clean it have borne little fruit. An initiative to clean the Ganga needs an awakening in people.

I am happy to know that Siddhartha Verma is working on such an initiative. I congratulate him on this effort and wish him the best for its success.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Founder The Art of Living

FOREWORD BY

PUJYA SWAMI CHIDANAND SARASWATI Dear Divine Soul, Each evening as the sun’s last rays reflect off the boundless waters of the River Ganga, people from all walks of life, from every corner of India and around the world, gather together for the divine Ganga Aarti ceremony all across the river banks.

The world-renowned ceremony, filled with song, prayer, ritual and a palpable sense of the Divine, illustrates the great faith, reverence and deep love that millions have for their sacred river, which they lovingly refer to as Maa Ganga (Mother Ganga).

Maa Ganga provides divine liberation, life and purity to everyone. She is also the very direct lifeline for some 500 million people, quenching their thirst, cleansing their bodies and irrigating their fields. Whilst, Mother Ganga, as the Mother Goddess, is un-taintable, un-pollutable and un-defilable, her physical form, these precious molecules of H2O, which are the very life and livelihood of approximately one-third of India’s population, are polluted every day with nearly 3 billion liters of waste, including carcinogenic chemicals and raw sewage. Added to this is solid waste, such as discarded poly bags, wrappers and plastic bottles, which choke the river, sully Her shores and sicken millions who live in Her basin.

As our nation’s most beloved Mother, the provider of our life, sustenance, security and serenity, it is time that Mother Ganga’s actual waters are treated with as much love, respect and care as Her divine essence. This is the clarion call that our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has given to the nation under the Namami Gange (National Mission for Clean Ganga) but it is critical for each one of us to be the change and live this change.

At the essence of the Ganga Aarti ceremony is that all day long Ganga offers us light– the light of life, the light of blessings and the light of purity. Aarti is a time when we say “thank you,” and we offer back the light of our thanks, the light of our love and the light of our devotion.

Today, we must expand this gratitude to be reflective in our actions and in the choices we make and the impact it has on the planet we live in, because whether its Mother Ganga or Mother Earth they are all in peril by our choices and our actions.

It is time for each one of us to live, think & act more consciously, with heightened awareness of our intimate, inherent and intrinsic connection with all of creation.

I am glad that Siddhartha Verma, a young Architect, has great enthusiasm and passion to raise this much-needed awareness through his Water Temple vision. We need more youth, like him, to come forward and pledge to serve the River Ganga so that she may again flow unpolluted and unobstructed for all.

With love and blessings, In Service of God and humanity,

Swami Chidanand Saraswati President Parmarth Niketan

FOREWORD BY

HONOURABLE MP MAHEISH GIRRI Ganga is the most sacred river of Hindus. It has great spiritual and religious significance for Indians. Millions take a dip in its holy water everday believeing to be washed off their sins. It is a lifeline for around 500 million people who live around its length and breadth. City of Varanasi, situated on its banks and being centre of learning and civilization for more than 3000 years, has the distinction of being the oldest living city in the world.

The growing density of population around the sacred river and unabated flow of untreated industrial waste into Ganga has created a challenge in cleaning our Holy River.

It is in this context that I was pleasantly surprised and pleased when a young architect Siddhartha Verma came to me about two years back and discussed his idea about cleaning the ghats and water of Ganga at Varanasi and restoring back a cleansed holy river back to its devotees. It was a fresh out of the box idea that impressed our Honourable Prime Minister also.

Siddhartha’s decision to utilize science of planning and architecture for creating a Water Temple originates from his love for Ganga. His idea explores not only to clean river water for usage but also to enhance the experience of devotees when they visit to have a dip in its holy waters. The idea tries to instil a sense a responsibility in the minds of devotees to use water sensibly and avoid polluting it.

It is providential that though he studied his architecture in Mumbai and lives in New Delhi, he stayed in Varanasi to appreciate the opportunity during earlier years of his professional life. He seems to have passion and natural inclination towards inventing a Unique Temple system which would clean water for visiting devotees in entire vicinity, create awareness and love for clean Ganga and attract tourists to its architectural brilliance. I am happy to see his Water Temple idea has been explained and compiled in a well laid out book.

Siddhartha has my blessings and affection for his energy, resolve and dedication. I am sure his idea would see light of the day in near future. I wish Siddhartha the best in all his future endeavours. ` Maheish Girri Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha East Delhi Parliamentary Constituency

FOREWORD BY

ARCHITECT REVATHI KAMATH The architectural construct in my universe is the expression of an event in an ecological continuum. Human patterns and forms in space can be characterized as harmonious, destructive, colonizing or evolutionary, in the context of nature and its dynamic repose as it continuously seeks equilibrium and sustains life purposefully. As we witness the evolution of human culture and civilization through time, we can trace a movement towards equity and natural justice, continuously surfacing and expressing itself in human consciousness.

I believe that the purpose of human culture is to accord dignity to all forms of life and to recognize the holistic nature of the environment and value its regenerative and self-organizing capabilities.

Architecture perforce assumes the characteristics of enhancing the harmony of the human ecological niches in the overall natural dynamic of the total ecological universe. The equilibrium of resource base and resource consumption in human history from the times of the hunter-gatherer, shifting cultivator, nomadic pastoral and even the settled cultivator has been by and large sustained. At times, despite the phases of excessive destruction, the fluctuations in the balance have been within the self-healing capacities of the natural resource base. It is the phases of industry and fossil fuel based agriculture with a substantial intensification in the use and scale of the resource base, that have almost irreparably damaged the self-healing capacity of the natural systems that the human species is part of.

In short it is unsustainable as a paradigm for a living planet.

The human civilization is now reestablishing its links with natural systems in an evolutionary progression. It is this process that architectural consciousness is beginning to recognize and express. A few architects are actively working towards the evolution of an ecological architectural vocabulary to enable the human habitat to reestablish the quality of beauty and harmony. It is time for the eco-literate individuals to assert themselves and their skills in all walks of life. Some of the principles of ecology are interdependence, recycling, democracy, partnership, flexibility, diversity and as a consequence of all those- sustainability. During more than three billion years of evolution, the planet’s ecosystems have organized themselves in subtle and complex ways so as to maximize sustainability. This wisdom is the essence of eco-literacy. It is the eco-literate architect who can rebuild the human habitat sustainably.

Biomass based materials need to be the bulk of the built mass, laced with a minimum judicious use of non-renewable, non-biodegradable and fossil resources, such as metals, stone and plastics but ensuring that these are in a recyclable in a longer time frame. Materials that dissipate these resources into fragments, create wastes and toxins which pollute the air, earth and water during production, processing and disposing need to be discarded from an ecological space. Every building needs inevitably to absorb some energy but must produce energy as well. The architects and users need to take responsibility for streamlining energy consumptions and opting for a lifestyle that can regenerate clean water, create nutrients to replenish the soil and not produce waste that needs to be dumped. Dumped where?

How?? That is the question.

The human population is so vast and ever increasing and it is imperative that its habitat, whatever the scale, does not colonize the earth and the prime elements. There is no option but be synchronous with natural systems and cycles.

Siddhartha’s project on the Water Temple recognizes the need to commence cleaning of the Ganga river. I have been guiding him for the past three years and veering his mind and spirit towards an ecological consciousness and a holistic understanding of the relationship of the prime elements with human civilization. He has a dream and is moving heaven and earth to realize it. I hope he will.

Principal Architect Mrs. Revathi Kamath Kamath Design Studio

A Gift from Mother Ganga Conceptulised by Siddhartha Rajesh Verma Books Sponsored by Architect Subrato Mukherjee Book Designed by Nitin Kapoor www.dillidesign.com Edited by Nihal Malik, Bala Kishor & Palakh Chhabria Printed by Pacific Creative Solutions, New Delhi Copyright 2018 No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo copying, recording or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.

SPECIAL THANKS This book has been made possible thanks to support from my parents Rajesh Verma, Surekha Verma, my mentors Hari Arora and Neha Ahuja.

Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar MP Maheish Girri H.H. Swami Chidanand Mr. Subrato Mukherjee Mr. Ratnesh Verma Mrs. Seema Gaur Mr. Sushil Chandra Mrs. Aditi Singhal Mrs. Revathi Kamath Mr. Nitin Kapoor Mr. Khurshed Batliwala Mr. Dinesh Godke Ms. Megha Mehta Mr. Ratnesh Verma Mrs. Varsha Annadatte Mrs. Premlatha Mr. Vivek Revi Mr. Karthikeyan Mr. Gaurav Joshi Mr. Mahesh Naik Mr. K. Thomas Mr. Bala Kishor

Mr. Arvind Verma Mrs. Sheetal Verma Mr. Nihal Malik Mr. Palak Chhabria Mrs. Seema Kamal Mr. Sudhir Chopra Ms. Jasmine Dalal Mr. Prateek Mahagaonkar Mr. Bala Kishor Cpt. Rishabh Pandey Ms. Palakh Chabaria Mrs. Abha Jha Mr. Anmol Gupta Ms. Lohita Turlapati Mr. Naresh Sehgal Ms. Kritika Bhatia Ms. Sharwari Mate Ms. Ridhima Malhotra Ms. Arpita Ganti Mr. Siddharth Chanda Ms. Disha Chanda Mr. Steven Derrick Thomas

Ms. Bonita Roy Mr. Akash Vaishampayan Ms. Bushra Khan Mr. Ashuthosh Murulya Mr. Ashutosh Pannase Mr. Arjun Madhavan Mr. Yash Warde Ms. Trisha Mishra Mr. Tushar Ghei Mr. Siddhi Soi Mr. Yuvraj S Bagga Mr. Anoop Garg Mrs. Neetu Khatra Mr. Kapil Dabas Mr. Mihir Vaishnav Mr. Nihal Malik Mr. Suraj Rajendra Motiwala Ms. Dipti Shukla Mr. Rakesh ji Mr. Naresh ji Mr. Nitin Kapoor Ms. Clairi John

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INDEX i) iii) ii)

Forewords Special Thanks Introduction

1

Water & Us 1

2

Temple & Us 13

3

19 Water Temple

4

Water Temple & You

iv) v)

About Author References

1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 2.1 2.3 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 4.1 4.2

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Ganga & Us 3 Ganga’s Water Crisis 5 Effect of Prayer on Water 7 Religion & Water 9 Yoga 11 Role of a Temple 15 Temple Architecture 17

23 Varuna Asi 28 Four Step Connection 30 Temple 37 Ashram 41 Connectors 42 Subah-e-Benaras 48 Samaychakra

51 Solution of Pollution 52 Greater Opportunity in Crisis 54 57 59

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INTRODUCTION Water is above us / beneath us, Inside us / outside us, In our past, present and future.

Like a flowing constant.

Basically, We are in Water.

Ganga river starts its journey from Himalayas, the tallest mountain range in the world and ends in Sundarbans, world’s largest delta. Revered as a mother in India, she sustains the largest human population in the world and the largest human congregation happens by her banks during Kumbh Melas. Ironically, She is also the most polluted river in the world. My association with Maa Ganga goes back to my childhood when I first visited Haridwar with my parents at the age of three. We share an ancient connection with the river so much so that all our ancestors have visited the river after birth for Mundan (first hair cutting ritual) or after death (ritual of submerging ashes).

In early 2014, I had the opportunity of staying in Varanasi, located about halfway across the stretch of the Ganga where the contradiction is most evident. While enjoying a boat ride after the enchanting evening arti, I noticed the miserable state of the river and this motivated me to look for a solution.

Interestingly, I was in my penultimate year of pursuing my Degree in Architecture, and decided to pursue this as my subject for thesis. The proposed thesis was to tackle problems at the ghats from its two ends; a temple to understand and evolve our relation with Ganga to tackle pollution at large. This took me to Assi Ghat, next to Assi river which marks one end of heritage riverfront. I researched, began my work with guidance from Maa Ganga.

Soon, our honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji kick-started the Swachh Bharat Mission from Assi Ghat, and after successful clean-up efforts a cultural program was launched called “Subah-e-Benaras” with Ganga Arti, yagya, classical music and yoga in the morning. After my thesis, I had come to visit my father, a banker in Varanasi, when he met with an accident and I ended up staying with him for 3 months. Every morning I would go to the ghats early for the “Subah-e-Benaras” program, drew inspiration from sunrise, yoga and music, spent time on the ghats and the idea began to develop.

This book is a part of my Tapasya to realize the ‘Vision’ of a ‘Pollution-free’ Ganga. You are Most Welcome to join this Noblest of Yagyas with your own individual ‘offering’.

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CHAPTER I

WATER & US It is a fact that all life has evolved from water, which flows in and out of us, keeping us clean from inside and outside. Energy in the form of food also comes from water. A relation that best describes ours with Water is that of a mother, without whom life cannot come into existence, that’s why we call her Ma (mother) Ganga for the gift of life she has brought to the region.

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GANGA & US The Ganga, revered as mother, is called the River of Heavens. Long ago, she agreed to flow upon the earth as well. As the legend goes, she came to the aid of king Bhagiratha, who appealed to Lord Brahma to let the Ganges flow down from heaven. Bhagiratha’s ancestors, sixty thousand of them, had been burned to ashes by the fierce glance of an angry ascetic, and only the funerary water of the Ganges would raise them up again to dwell in peace of heaven. Having won from Brahma the boon of her descent, Bhagiratha persuaded Lord Shiva to hold the Ganga in his hair as she fell, so that the earth would not be shattered by her torrential force. And so, she plummeted down from heaven to the Himalayas, where she meandered in the tangled locks of Shiva before flowing out upon the plains of India. The Ganges followed Bhagiratha from the Himalayas to the sea where, at the place called Ganga Sagar, she entered the netherworld and restored the dead ancestors of Bhagiratha. Thus she is called the Triple Pathed River, flowing in the three worlds – in heaven, on earth, and in the netherworld.

The river is not just a legend, it is also a life-support system for the people of India. It is important because the densely populated Ganga basin is inhabited by 37 per cent of India’s population. About 47 per cent of the total irrigated area in India is also located in this basin alone. It is a vital water source to 5 populous states; about 50 crore people rely on Ganga.

NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga)

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Bhagirathi

GANGA’S WATER CRISIS Story of Ganga is the story of Great Indian Civilization, which has thrived on her banks for thousands of years. But today both the river and the Indian people are suffering due to terrible pollution. Ironically, Ganga is the most revered river in India, yet the most polluted. To get to the root of this contradiction I followed her to various cities across her course, Gangotri (source), Delhi (capital of India on the banks of tributary Yamuna), Varanasi (where this entire idea originated), Haridwar, Allahabad (sites of Kumbh Mela), Kolkata (last major city) and Ganga Sagar (merges into Ocean). Here I found an architectural disconnection between the ancient vedic practices of praying to the river and the modern lifestyle of the people. People carry her sacred water home in brass or plastic vessels for use in many religious rituals. On the other hand, the same water is diverted for agricultural, domestic and industrial purposes, and thrown back without any sense of sacredness or love, turning her into the most polluted river in India. Clearly our rituals have not evolved with technological and industrial advancements; we learnt to pump and store the waters out of rivers but forgot to extend due respect.

More than half of the polluting sewage comes from 6 cities with Kanpur, Kolkata and Varanasi being the major contaminators. Over 3 billion litres of sewage is released into the Ganga per day, against a treatment capacity of just 1 billion litres per day created till date, as per the data released by NMCG. Other factors include pesticides from farm land, unchecked industrial waste and over 450 dams, killing her natural flow.

The effects of this stem out into the larger water cycle and fragile ecosystem. Many are forced to consume it directly, while indirectly the same water is used for raising crops that we eventually consume as about half the total irrigated area of India lies in Ganga basin.

Does she cease to exist when her water is pumped out of the river and used for consumption? In order to tackle pollution and the water crisis, we must re-establish the sacred relationship to Ganga in all her forms by acknowledging her presence in the entire food cycle and water cycle, and then inspiring action.

As a new dawn rises over the river, it is this sacred connection that can save the river and the entire nation from a major water crisis. In the attempt to bridge this gap between practices of our past and present, I see a greater opportunity to tackle all pollution (by-product of Industrial Revolution) with a Spiritual Revolution, developing a healthy sustainable relationship with our planet. Yes, there is hope for a better tomorrow.

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Ganga arti Rishikesh

EFFECT OF PRAYER ON WATER What intrigued me most was that people seemed to converse with the Ganga. Conveying gratitude through arti, calling her “Mother”, praying and making wishes.

To understand the effect of this on water, I did the famous Rice Water Experiment myself, first done by Dr. Massuro Emoto. This test which spanned over three months was conducted in the same room using boiled rice kept soaked in water in two similar glass jars. While one jar was greeted everyday with positive spoken words like “thank you” and “love you”, the other jar was condemned with negative spoken words like “hate you” and “damn you” etc. One could clearly observe the change in the quality of rice. Both jars fermented but “I hate you” jar rotted soon emitting a foul smell whereas “I Love you” jar remained clean, giving out a sweet smelling odor.

Hence, it proves that water responds to emotion & sound energy.

Before

After

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Ritual Images Cloclwise: Amritsanskar (Sikh), Ablution(Islam), Ganga Dip (Hindu) & Baptism (Christian)

RELIGION & WATER “Of all the forces that have worked and are still working to mould the destinies of the human race, none, certainly, is more potent than that, the manifestation of which we call religion.”

- Swami Vivekananda

Water is part of rituals of all major religions of India namely, Hindu, Islam, Christianity and Sikhism. It is used during ablution or initiation ceremonies. Water binds all life on Earth and all religions too. Essentially, water is the first step that facilitates our relation with the Supreme divinity, may that be inside or outside our bodies.

Religion has also been used in the past to incorporate healthy practices into the daily lives of people in the form of rituals. It has united them and has instilled a sense of faith to accomplish bigger tasks. Ganga forms an integral part of ritualistic practices in Hindu faith, but we need collective efforts at all levels and from all faiths. It’s not a war, rather people need to fall in love and act out of love. The change has to be engineered from inside out, an explosion which I call a “Spiritual Revolution”.

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Food cycle

Water cycle

Images Top to bottom: Man with immediate universe, Man in larger water cycle

YOGA “When we see the Earth from space, we see ourselves as a whole. We see the unity and not the divisions, we are here to live together. We are all time travelers, journeying together into the future.

But let us work together to make that future a place we want to visit.”

-Steven Hawkings

The meaning of the word “Yoga” is “union”, derived from the Sanskrit root “yuj,” meaning “to join” or “to unite”. According to Yogic scriptures, the practice of Yoga leads to the union of Individual consciousness with Universal consciousness. According to modern scientists, everything in the universe is just a manifestation of the same quantum firmament. One who experiences this oneness of existence is said to be “in Yoga”, people need to be “in Yoga” with Water.

Yoga works on many levels - the mind, body, emotion and energy. This has given rise to four broad classifications - Jnana Yoga where we utilize the mind; Bhakti Yoga where we utilize the emotion; Kriya Yoga where we utilise the energy and Karma Yoga where we utilise the body. The practice of these 4 principles of Yoga helped me formulate a 4 step process, translated to architecture, that can help us realize the vision of a brighter future through a new understanding and collective efforts.

1) Jnana Yoga 2) Bhakti Yoga 3) Kriya Yoga 4) Karma Yoga

Realize the need Dream a better world Channelize spiritual energy Act & adopt sustainable lifestyle (rituals)

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Images Cloclwise: Lotus Temple (Bahai), Delhi, Matri Mandir (New Age), Pondicherry, Akshardham Mandir (Hindu), Delhi, Unity Temple (Church), USA, Golden Temple (Sikh), Amritsar, Water Temple (Buddhist), Japan

CHAPTER II

TEMPLE & US “People who speak different languages call water by different names, what they drink is the same substance.

Similarly, people who follow different religions call God by many names, though He remains the same.”

- Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

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Water Temple Images Anti-Cloclwise: Ganga Arti, Prayer, Cremation, Bathing Ghat & Sunrise (centre)

ROLE OF A TEMPLE A conventional Hindu temple is built and perceived in the image of a sacred mountain and climbing it symbolizes attaining self-realization. It facilitates the spiritual journey of man, from being an individual to realizing his oneness with the Supreme Consciousness, basically experiencing Yoga. The temple is an agent in this spiritual journey, providing a sensory way of connecting with God or Brahman or universe, such that one can “see” the deity and “touch” their feet, “listen” to devotional hymns, “taste” the prasad, “smell” the flowers & burning incense sticks.

Temples help condition our thoughts, since here we embrace the truth and feel grateful for all we have and pray for what we truly want. We need to provide a modern sensory experience around water, which forms 2/3rd of our Immediate Universe, and develop a relationship grounded in the principles of Yoga to derive action.

Dealing with the most densely populated region in the world in itself is a big challenge. A great number of people can be seen as either a problem, or a nation’s biggest resource. With a large number of people migrating to metropolitan cities everyday, we need to know how to utilize them. In cities, water from the rivers comes to homes, hidden through pipes, stored in overhead tanks with no human activity around and it is discreetly taken away and disposed back into the rivers in the form of sewage. In order for us to realize the corrupted water cycle, we need to come to the riverfronts, connect and act.

The riverfronts of Ganga functions like a temple in itself - here pilgrims can feel Her, taste Her, show their gratitude through Ganga Aarti and various other rituals. They can see that they are part of a larger water cycle through cremation and immersion of ashes in Ganga. These riverfronts can accommodate a great many people at once and provide them a divine sensory connection. At first it is difficult to understand the conversation people have with mother Ganga because it seems like a practice of a different time. People from modern cities or other countries are unable to connect with Her since the water quality is tainted and unsuitable for bathing or consumption. There is a pressing need to enhance and then evolve the existing experience.

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Images: Sun Temple, Konark google Earth view; Wheel of chariot, Konark Designed as a chariot for Sun God

TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE As a devotee enters a Hindu temple, he proceeds through the various parts of the temple, from kund to mukh mandapam, to mahamandapam, and then finally to garbha-griha. He symbolically climbs the sacred mountain, leaving the world, its multiplicity and ignorance behind and proceeds towards the pinnacle of knowledge, that is self-realization; he proceeds to have darshan of the deity in the garbha-griha, where he realizes his oneness with the deity or the Supreme consciousness. The outermost walls of the mandapam and the adhisthana is where the scenes from the world are described in which the devotee sees every kind of activity that takes places in this world; from war to love. As he proceeds inwards he witnesses scenes that are less worldly and have a sacred flavor to it and finally in the garbha-griha there is the principal deity.

The garbha-griha is so named because it is literally the womb of the temple. It is so because under the deity, the ‘seed’ of the temple is inseminated in a kalasha (pitcher) and buried. It is directly above this that the image of the deity is installed.

Kalash- The seed of Life The water in a Kalash symbolizes the primordial water from which the entire creation emerged. The idea of the holy vessel for storage of Ganga water evolves from a “Kalash” used by Hindus during auspicious occasions such as Grihapravesh or wedding ceremonies or in temples. A Kalash is placed near the entrance as a sign of welcome. It is also used in a traditional manner while receiving holy personages. A copper pot filled with water, mango leaves placed on the mouth of the pot and coconut placed over it. A red-yellow sanctified thread called Mauli is tied around the neck of the pot. The thread represents universal love that binds all in creation. Copper is used as it has anti-microbial, antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties.

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Images: Water Temple roof plan

CHAPTER III

WATER TEMPLE & US A modern teerth where people of all faiths can come with a common wish, to see clean rivers flow through a clean India, pray and learn how they can contribute to this “Indian Dream”.

People donate generously in temples and this could become the CSR arm of NMCG, raising money for execution of projects through Public Private Participation.

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Overview of the Water Temple

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VARUNA ASI “Tat Tvam Asi” (Thou Art That) -Veda Mahavakya Land between Varuna river and Asi river is known as Varanasi. In Sanskrit, Varuna means the “Divinity in all water“ including rivers, oceans, rain, etc while Asi means “You are”. Varanasi therefore means “Land where you come to realize “Oneness with all Water”. It is also one of world’s oldest continuously habituated city which has been central to the development of Hindu faith, important for Buddhist and Jains as well. Famous for its temples, ghats & sunrise, Varanasi attracts millions of tourists and pilgrims each year. It is believed that a dip in Ganga here absolves one of all bad karma (sins) and anyone who dies here attains Moksha (liberation).

The holy Ganga river forms a distinct one edge of the city and is an essential part of all the sacred ritual practices along the ghat area. The riverfront comprises of a series of 84 ghats as a special chain of sacred places with flight of steps leading down to Ganga. However, many are unable to connect because of the problems identified at ghats and the pollution level makes the water unfit for bathing and consumption.

Varanasi is also the constituency of our honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who envisions it to be the Spiritual Capital of the World. About 6 million tourists visited Varanasi in 2016 but it’s considered a sister city to Kyoto (Japan) which receives over 50 million tourists every year, therefore a huge potential for growth exists.

Hence, it forms the perfect location for the proposed pilot Water Temple.

Site

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Ground Floor Plan

First Floor Plan

Roof Plan

PLAN & PURPOSE The Water Temple uses filtered Ganga water to provide a modern experience rooted in the concepts of a Hindu Temple. The shape of the “holy vessel” has been designed such that it doesn’t resemble a worship place of any one faith so that people from all religions feel comfortable inside, though the concepts are rooted in Hinduism. The structure will come to life with the rising Sun as solar pumps bring in water, after eco friendly process of river bank filtration, into the symbolic kalash where people can meditate around the stored water, feel grateful and charge it positively. Located at the top most level, gratitude-filled water from the vessel will be distributed in the entire structure sustaining the needs of the entire temple complex where an experience is perceived to make a visitor realize the importance of water in everyday life and feel grateful. A ramp connects the entire experience, just like “mauli” in a “kalash”.

The 4 step yoga-connection in sync with the 4 steps connection of a Temple from the previous chapters are translated architecturally to enhance and evolve the existing relationship with Ma Ganga.

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WAT 4 STEP CONNECTION Ultimately, the aim is to get our human resource to act. One paid and one free 4 step experience has been created to inspire people. All revenue will be used for maintaince and river rejuvination.

Paid experience includes 1. Rain room to Realize 2. Circumambulation ramp with Water screens to Dream 3. Prasad from Solar Kitchen to get Energised 4. Solution Centre (Idea Garden) to learn to Act Free experience includes 1. Steps cum ramps leading to Ganga to Realize 2. Past Present Future columns to Dream 3. Filtered Ganga Jal to get Energised 4. Solution Centre (Idea Garden) to learn to Act

Riv

ATER

TEMPLE

verbank filtrated Ganga water is used

Section BB’

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CONNECTING RAMPS Each ghat in Varanasi has a specific relevance for Hindus, some for cremation to attain moksha, some rid one of sins by taking a dip, while some are inauspicious for bathing. Each ghat has its own story and facilitates a different conversation with Ma Ganga.

Ramps integrated with steps here provide convenience to differently abled and elderly. Bathing at this ghat would be a promise of respecting Ganga in the entire water cycle and never polluting again.

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RAIN ROOM Modern Kund: In older days, Temples had washing tanks for ritual bath at the entrance. Similarly, in Mosques ritual ablution is required and in Gurudwara feet are washed. Nowadays, such tanks lie useless as our relationship has evolved and we bathe at home. Even Ganga water is unsafe for bathing as high BOD level makes it extremely contaminated, so tourists or pilgrims prefer to take a shower in their rooms after a dip in the Ganga.

Here artificial rain would follow a person with the help of 3D trackers which will be a novel magical experience that would make people look at natural rain in a new avatar. This would serve the purpose of making the visitors “Realize” the first step of connection by feeling, seeing and hearing rain water pouring down. Facilities of cloak room and changing room will also be available here.

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CIRCUMAMBULATION Circumambulation ramp is like the mandapam around a conventional temple having many stories about the deities and world engraved in stone. Here people would pass through 3 Water Screen rooms taking them around the temple, from ground floor to the first floor. They will be made aware of our eternal relationship with water and the importance of respecting water will be projected onto Water Screens to educate and inspire people. They can grasp the greater significance of Ganga Arti and dream of a world in harmony with water.

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MEDITATION KALASH “As above, so below. As within, so without.”

-Hermes Trismegistus

River bank filtrated Ganga water is stored in a huge circular copper vessel, size of an Olympic size swimming pool, but average depth only 3 feet tapering towards center. People reach the meditation area (inside the symbolic kalash) where they can introspect on the deeper relation with Water. There are 108 seating stones around the “holy copper vessel”, where sitting people can see the reflection of the sky, clouds (water vapour), ourselves (70% water) to realize the oneness of everything, oneness of water and pray in their own individual ways for harmony at all levels in the world. Green roof is provided to accommodate more people outside.

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Biogas plant

Cloud ashram

Idea garden

Solar kitchen

Returning organic waste back to the larger water cycle.

For residential meditation programs and clean up mission teams.

Here people learn of innovative ways to contribute.

Food grown in Ganga basin cooked with Solar Energy will be served at Prasad Hall

Bamboo urinals

PRASAD HALL

Using diluted urine to feed bamboos.

The prasad hall will serve food grown in the Ganga basin, cooked with solar energy, for a nominal price to everyone (inspired from free kitchens at Shirdi temple and Golden Temple). However, it will be served free to1) Sevaks of Maa Ganga (Volunteeers) 2) Visitors who take the complete experience 3) People who contribute in some way to the Solution center Here they can realize the flow of energy in the form of food provided by mother Ganga and channelize the same for her betterment.

IDEA GARDEN Finally, people will reach the solution center where they will be made aware of innovative ways through which they can contribute (by choosing the right karma) while harmonizing their role in the water cycle. This will serve as a platform for Namami Ganga and Swacch Bharat Mission as well. People can contribute by truly feeling grateful and reflecting the love in our actions through choosing a way to contribute that suits them best-– 1) 2) 3)

Time (Volunteering) Donation Adopting rituals

The progress of Namami Ganga & Swatcch Bharat, money spent & steps taken are exhibited here.

Image: Exploded view of Idea garden

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3

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PAST PRESENT FUTURE COLUMNS COLUMN 1- Gangotri Water (constant forever), COLUMN 2-Varanasi Water (constant forever) COLUMN 3- Refilled with Varanasi water everyday.

Moving forward, people would come down a 50m ramp with a good view of Ma Ganga to realize what our thoughtless actions have done to her through a view of the three water columns.

This ramp connects the whole experience like a “mauli” around a kalash.

People reach these 3 - 12m tall glass columns filled with Ganga water for people to observe the change in quality of river water.

In the first column, pure water from Gangotri, and in the second, polluted river water from Varanasi will be stored, constant forever.

To see what our thoughtless actions have done to her. In the third column we will store river water from Varanasi everyday. So that people can observe change in water quality everyday. The progress of Namami Ganga & Swacch Bharat mission, money spent & steps taken will also be exhibited here.

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Solar panels

WATERING BAMBOOS

Bamboos can use human urine as a fertilizer, so the urinals are designed such that water used for washing hands would dilute the urine which will then be used to feed bamboo plant via drip irrigation.

Since bamboos grow quickly, they would be further used to make dustbins or Yoga mats.

These urinals will be another experience to highlight the fact that water flows in and out of us, reminding people we are part of a larger water cycle. Respectfully returning the water in body to water cycle (ecosystem).

BIO ENERGY Waste collected by the Samaychakra and the entire riverfront of Varanasi will be brought to this electro-mechanic trolley by Biogas powered boats. This waste will be taken to segregation area where organic waste will be used for biogas generation and non biodegradable waste will be used for recycling. Nisargruna type biogas plant is used for efficient biogas generation.

Respectfully returning the water from food to the ecosystem.

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Subah e Banaras images clockwise: Cultural classical music program, Yoga program

SUBAH-E-BENARAS In 2014, honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji kick-started Swacch Bharat Abhiyan from Assi ghat in Varanasi. Taking the cue from him, tons of mud has been removed from in front of Assi ghat to reclaim the steps on the river bank. The ghat is now the venue of a unique cultural & spiritual event “Subah-e-Banaras” that draws a large number of visitors every morning. The day at Assi ghat begins at 5:30 a.m. with an aarti to the Ganga, followed by ‘yagna’, recitation of the Vedas & morning ‘ragas’, and ends with a yoga session at 7:30 a.m. This event has given a platform to classical artists from across India who have performed every morning for over 1200 days, and not a single artist has been repeated yet.

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YOGA STEPS Steps are so designed that one person can sit on each step, 5000 in total. People sit here in solitude and meditate, contemplate overlooking Ganga and connect with Her. This area will otherwise be a silent zone where boats will not be allowed. People can meditate here or just sit and contemplate.

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Images description: Floating stage amphi-theatre, Stage with curtain open & closed

WORLD STAGE Varanasi is also a UNESCO Musical City of the world. Subah-eBenaras could be the cultural arm of the program and complete the experience with classical music & Ganga Aarti. A world class stage here could give our musicians a bigger platform to showcase their talent. The existing steps will be used as an amphitheatre and the artists will perform on a floating stage, with water curtains that can be turned on between performances.

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SAMAYCHAKRA The solid waste flowing in the river will be filtered out before it enters Varanasi. The wheel will revolve slowly completing 2 revolutions/minute on an average. With 24 spokes inspired from the Ashoka Chakra, it will symbolize changing times in India and will be seen from a distance which would act as a reminder to people of their connection with water.

Waste will be collected with a floating boom connected to the other end, which will be removed with the help of a conveyor belt rotated by the water wheel. (Capable of removing over 25,000 kg waste/day) Hinged support is provided for the wheel to move up and down with rising and falling of the water level.

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CHAPTER IV

WATER TEMPLE & YOU Water Temple is not just a one man’s dream. It’s an opportunity for us Indians to pay our tribute to Mother Ganga for centuries of ‘nurturing’ she has been providing us. It’s a reflection of typical ‘Indic-way’ of solving problems with a holistic view including and involving all stake-holders as a ‘family’. Water Temple would work like a bridge between government policies, NGO volunteers, public participation and implementation. It will be an active platform to involve people by enlightening them about the real issues, available solutions and inspiring action.

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SOLUTION OF POLLUTION “National River Ganga and her basin have been degrading rapidly due to proliferation and diversification of human activities that have harmful environmental effects. The five main causes of degradations are – (i) overuse of natural resources of the basin; (ii) discharge of pollutants into terrestrial and aquatic environments; (iii) reduction in water-holding capacities and replenishment of water bodies; (iv) mutilation of rivers by piecemeal engineering operations (v) threats to geological processes in the basin.”

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Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) by consortium of 7 IITs

One important thing that the GRBMP points out is that the basin waters come under three major types of water resource viz surface water courses (rivers and rivulets), surface water bodies (lakes, marshlands, and icecaps), and groundwater (water table and deep groundwater). Among these, the use of groundwater has been rapidly increasing for the last six decades (since the advent of economic tube-well technologies). The various water bodies are not independent but are hydraulically connected in most of the alluvial basin by groundwater flow.

Based on my experience, observations and study of literature on river rejuvenation, following are some of the ways a Water temple can help realize our dream of Clean Ganga 4.1.1 Cultivating Rituals Water harvesting systems - The government already provides a subsidy for water harvesting systems but the challenge lies in maintaining these systems. They need to be cleaned before every monsoon, so it could become a modern ritual to do the yearly maintenance.

Design Solutions - For city people to keep a check on their lifestyle through innovative design solutions, that nudge them to feel grateful in their daily lives towards water in all its forms. For example, bamboo bins (made out of grown at the bamboo urinals) will be given free to segregate the organic waste from non biodegradable waste at homes. Residents of cities or villages without adequate arrangement for waste disposal can lodge a complaint in the Water Temple which will be solved by its volunteers, or taken up with the concerned authorities.

Rituals/Laws for Industries - It should be made mandatory to reveal the total carbon footprint and the water footprint of each product that we find in the market. More often than not, it is the items in malls that cause most of the damage, whether it is electronic, clothing or food items. People should know the price not just in terms of money but also the ecological cost of the product, paid by our rivers, forests and air. We should let the people decide by revealing the true cost of everything.

Schematic of Hydraulic Connectivity through Groundwater in National River Ganga Basin

Spit cum waste bin PROMOTING:

Biogas

Solar Energy

Water Wheel

Water Harvesting

Flood Relief

Natural Ventillation 53

4.1.2 Volunteers and Task Force The study of entire Ganga basin has been distributed amongst 7 IITs for the consortium report with each IIT having a specific area of the basin under their purview. People from the entire Ganga basin will be invited to the Water Temple and based on their location and preference, will be assigned to a team directed by the IITs along with local NGOs. People will be trained, who can help their neighbours do the yearly maintenance of water harvesting tools and similar activities.

Ganga Vahini - The government has already proposed a task force to keep vigil on the Ganga. People can enroll and contribute by taking a few days in a year to serve mother Ganga.

4.1.3 Portable Water Temples • “Water Temples on Wheels” could go from city to city and villages alike, educating children and elders, raising awareness.

• Mini Water Temples could be deployed at ghats to provide filtered Ganga water to drink as it is ironical for people to buy plastic water bottles and not be able to connect with the river, instead contribute to pollution.

• Water Connectors - These will be replicable and scalable prototype solutions. It could become a part of villages, cultivating daily rituals for the people around to convert biodegradable waste into biogas. In return people could get back clean water, functioning toilets and biogas to cook meals. I call these “Water Connectors” as they connect people with the larger water and food cycle).

GREATER OPPORTUNITY IN CRISIS A successful intervention in Varanasi could pave the way for a global unity of spiritual energies of different religions in their own unique way. It will lead to substantial action of the people towards harmonizing relation with the water cycle and planet in the face of unabated pollution levels and climate change. This project could potentially help us realize our dream of Vasudaiv Kutumbakam (One World Family) with Water as our eternal mother. Water Temple will be a symbol of unity of religious forces to tackle global threats of global warming, climate change and a looming water crisis. People will be encouraged to incorporate sustainable daily lifestyle choices (modern rituals) to minimize their carbon and water footprint.

This whole endeavor is like a “Yagya” and our individual “Tapasya” can generate something really universal and beautiful. Here our polluted tendencies and pollution itself are given as “Ahuti” (sacrificial offering). Just like fossil fuels powered Industrial Revolution, we can use Water to power a Spiritual Revolution.

IMPACT Map of Ganga basin under different IITs for research

SCOPE Government NGOs & Govt. Organisations

Local & Pilgrims Tourists

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Rick McNees

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ABOUT AUTHOR Siddhartha Rajesh Verma is an architect based out of New Delhi, graduated from Mumbai University in 2015. Son of Mr. Rajesh Verma and Mrs. Surekha Verma, he was lucky to experience the rich architectural heritage of India since a very young age because of regular transfers of his father due to a bank job and his love for travelling. He learnt the skill to sketch and design from his mother who is a qualified interior designer and has taught as art teacher in schools.

In future, he plans to set up an international and inter planetary architecture practice but his first project he wished to offer to the divine as it has been an age old practice in India to offer whatever we receive to God first and then use it for ourselves.

For the purpose of conceptualizing this idea he has done extensive research, personally visited• Lotus Temple, New Delhi : To understand a modern house of worship.

• Golden temple, Amritsar : To see the working of the largest free community kitchen & to understand Sikh faith.

• Auroville, Pondicherry : To experience a modern house of worship.

• Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad: To see the benchmark set by the government..

• Ganga Temple, Gangotri : See the beginning of the mighty Ganga.

• Jama Masjid, Old Delhi : To understand Islam & their way of worship.

• Akshardham Temple, New Delhi: To experience a modern Hindu temple.

• Water Atm, New Delhi : To see the alternative to purchasing bottled water.

• Sulabh International museum, New Delhi : To understand conversion of excreta to energy.

• Effluent treatment System, New Delhi : To understand waste water treatment • Nisargruna Biogas plant, Mumbai : To understand working of odourless biogas plant.

• Shirdi Temple, Nasik : Working of the largest solar kitchen in the country.

• IIT Delhi : To understand the working of biogas powered vehicles • Adalaj stepwells, Gujrat : To experience traditional architectural heritage related to water body.

• Virasat-e-Khalsa, Punjab : To study biggest Sikh faith museum, an architectural master piece.

• Public buildings,Chandigarh : To see modern architecture of Le Corbusier.

• Paramarth, Rishikesh : Largest ashram on the banks of Ganga • Ramakrishna Mandir, Belur Math : Temple of amalgamation of different religious styles.

• Ganga Sagar, West Bengal : To see the river merge into the ocean • Art of Living Ashram, Banglore : To discuss the idea with H.H. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

• Bramhakumaris International headquarters, Mount Abu : Speaker at 11th Spirituality in Research conference.

For more information contact siddhartha.architect@gmail.com www.thewatertemple.org

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For more information Log on to www.thewatertemple.org Contact at Siddhartha.architect@gmail.com