A $14 million mandir will be built in honour of Mother Laskhmi, the Hindu Goddess of Wealth, and in whose honour one of the reasons, Divali is observed annually. Mother Laskhmi is always seen with Her consort, Lord Narayan (Lord Vishnu). Construction work on the structure will commence early in 2011, and it is to be sited at Lakshmi/Narayan Mt, at Sewdass Road, Freeport, Central Trinidad.
A temporary structure now exists and it is settled amidst four peaks. Spiritual leader, Jyoti Shacaharya Sri Sri Gajendra Kumar, formerly of Uttar Pradesh, India, said one of the main purposes of the Lakshmi Narayan Temple was to continuously pay homage and spiritual obeisance to Mother Lakshmi. "We must not only pay reverence to Her at Divali time, but She must be adored during each of us lives." Sri Kumar said the temple would be constructed with specially-carved marble from India.
"The Lakshmi Narayan Temple will reflect the ancient Vedic tradition dating back to over 10,000 years, and it will be patterned along the Vashti Shastr tradition reminiscient of the spirituality, moral and ethical values of that period," he said. D Raja Sekhar, chairman of the Lakshmi Narayan Executive Committee, said the temple, when completed would serve as, "a mecca for Hinduism on this side of the Atlantic," as it would reveal architecture, innovation and skill, never seen here before.
"Our committee is profusely at work to meet our deadline, but in the meantime preparation and design of of the marble to fit without any adhesive is in full steam. We want to plant something unusual in Trinidad and Tobago. This country, is internationally recognised as Ramayana country, and we have to maintain that stature," Raja Shekar noted.