U.S. Temple Directory

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Alaska's Ganesha shrine and more

in US temple directory

Hyderabad

December 12, 2005 1:15:11 AM IST

 

http://news.webindia123.com/news/showdetails.asp?id=187939&cat=India

or

http://tinyurl.com/dcyjx

>From a Ganesha temple in Alaska to a shrine in

Hawaii featuring arguably the largest crystal Shiva

lingam, a new book offers glimpses of Hindu

temples and maps the spread of the faith in the US.

K. Panchapakesan, a non-resident Indian (NRI), has

presented a detailed survey of several temples in the

US in his book "Bharat Rekha in America",

probably the first full-length work on the subject.

 

There are some 400 temples in the US, taking care

of the devotional needs of an estimated two million

strong Indian community, according to the 65-year-

old materials management and software consultant.

 

"I selected only popular temples as well as those

which have an interesting tale to tell,"

Panchapakesan, who divides his time between India

and the US, told IANS here.

 

Likely to be released during the fourth Pravasi

Bharatiya Divas or the Diaspora Day to be held here

next month, the 200-page book contains details of

locations, e-mails and web addresses, architectural

styles, brief history and salient features of 53

temples from 33 states.

 

"Apart from tracking the entry of Hinduism into the

US and its steady growth through the years, a major

objective of the book is to serve as a directory of

Hindu temples in the US.

 

"Another objective is to strengthen the socio-

cultural ties between India and the people of Indian

origin in the US," the author said.

 

"There is a growing awareness among Indian

Americans about their religion. Feeling homesick,

they are taking more interest in religion," he said.

 

Panchapakesan, who visited most of the temples

mentioned in the book, presents many interesting

facts that reflect the spread of Indian Americans.

 

"Take the case of the Ganesha temple in Alaska. No

one would have expected a temple in the Arctic

climatic conditions, but the destroyer of obstacles is

very much worshiped there," he said. There are no

paid priests and devotees take turn to act as priests

at the temple.

 

The Ganesha temple in Nashville, Tennessee, has a

Shiva lingam or icon that is said to have appeared

on its own on the bed of the holy river Narmada in

central India.

 

G.K. Kumar, principal founder of Parashakti temple

in Michigan, told the author that Goddess

Parashakti appeared to him in a vision during a

Kundalini meditation. The event changed his life

and made him construct the temple wherein he has

contributed over $2.3 million.

 

According to the author, Hawaii will soon have a

Sanmarga Iraivan temple, being built by a group of

Westerners who had converted to Hinduism.

 

It is arguably among the world's most expensive

temples at the cost of $16 million and the figure

may rise by the time the construction is completed,

which is on for the past 15 years.

 

The temple has the world's largest crystal Shiva

lingam: it is 39 inches high and weighs 700 pounds.

 

Sri Venkateswara Temple in Penn Hills, an eastern

suburb of Pittsburgh, is modelled after the famous

Venkateswara temple of Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh.

The S.V. temple, as it is popularly known, was built

in 1976 at an approximate cost of $925,000.

 

While many Indian Americans worship their deities

at home, temples provide a platform for interaction

for the Indian community during weekends.

Marriages are solemnised and religious functions on

festivals and cultural programmes are also held at

temples.

 

 

US Congressman Joe Wilson, co-chair of the India

Caucus; A.K. Bacho, a minister from Mauritius; and

R. Venkataraman, former Indian president have

penned forewords and messages for the book.

 

The book has been sponsored by Shekhar Challa, a

physician of Indian origin, who heads the Kansas

Medical Publishing, Topeka, Kansas. "When I

learnt about the book concept through a publisher, I

immediately agreed to support the project," he said.

 

More on the directory:

http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/05/stories/2005120511230400.htm

or

http://tinyurl.com/avg7d