Guest guest Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Washington, DC (August 2, 2006): There are 53 Hindu temples in 33 American states, says a just-published coffee table book that details the history, architecture, deities and other salient features reflecting the growing spread of Hinduism in this country. Titled Bharat Rekha in America, the book by former Indian management consultant K Panchapakesan, was released by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, a member of the House of Representatives' committee on international relations at the Capitol Hill. Recalling his close personal ties with India and the role he played in the establishment of a Hindu Temple in South Carolina, Wilson lauded the efforts of the author to meet a long felt need of the Indian American Community. Published by Kansas Medical Publishing headed by Shekhar Challa, a noted Indian American doctor, the book brings out several interesting facets of Hindu temples in America. These include: * At a Ganesh temple in Anchorage, Alaska devotees take turn to work as priests. * Generally Shiva and Vishnu temples are constructed separately, but quite a few temples in the US house both deities together. * The Ganesh temple in Nashville has a Shiva Lingam (an icon of lord Shiva), which is said to have self-grown on the Narmada riverbed. * GK Kumar has contributed over $2.5 million for the construction of the Parashakthi Temple in Michigan. * The first form of Vishnu as Anantha Padmanabha outside India is in the Shiva-Vishnu Temple, Lanham * Las Vegas has two temples, including a rare one for Brahma donated by the Thais. * A Shiva temple being built in Hawaii with donations from 55 countries will house the world's largest self-grown crystal Shiva lingam weighing 320 kg and 99 cm in height. ***** The temple is the focus for all aspects of everyday life in the Hindu community - religious, cultural, educational and social. Hindus believe that their lives are merely stages in the progression to ultimate enlightenment. The temple is a place where God may be approached and where divine knowledge can be discovered. Whether in India or abroad staunch Hindus do make a point to visit a temple. As a result of which many Hindu temples have come up in USA, but, no Indian has ever made any attempt to write a book on the same so far. Few books available in the market are authored by foreigners. In a first ever attempt by an Indian, Mr. Panchapakeshan -- whose pride was hurt -- authored a book "Bharat Rekha in America", a ready beckoner of Hindu temples in USA. The same is being released today on the eve of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2006 by Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Mr. Oscar Fernandez in a function organized for the purpose here in city at Hotel Viceroy. "The book is a tribute to the two-million-strong Indian communities in the USA," said Mr. Panchapakesan, 65. "The USA has more temples than we can imagine. But very few know about them as we never had a single source of ready beckoner. There were few books but they were all written by foreigners. Hurt by the national pride that no Indian ever made an attempt to write the book I embarked on this initiative." The temples featured are from 33 states, which include Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. As regards to the other states, no temples are featured as there either are no temples or not many know them. Or even if there are some temples they are not yet significant enough to report about. The author and his team have -- over the past three years -- spent not less than 15,000 man hours, collecting information. Priced at US$ 49.95 and INR 2500/-, it has the initial print run of 1,500 copies and expected to go on to 10,000. However, it will be sold at a special discounted price (at US $ 35 or INR Rs 1200/-) during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The publishers are targeting to sell about 10,000 copies in its very first year of publication. In over 110 countries about 250 million NRIs reside. Many of them would definitely be interested in buying the book. Thus it has huge potential. If it is well received, in future the author hopes to publish a directory of Hindu temples all over the world. Those who want to obtain a copy of the book may get in touch with the author on tel: 040-27154060 email: info_on_temples SOURCES: *Hindustan Times, Indo-Asian News Service. Bharat Rekha In America IANS STORIES || Arun Kumar Washington, August 2, 2006 URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1758876,00110004.htm * Andhra Cafe, "Bharat Rekha in America", a book on Hindu Temples in USA Updated: 01-07-2006 URL: http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=3041 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 5, 2006 Report Share Posted August 5, 2006 Dear Group Memebers - Namaskar This in not exactly true. In 2002, the Hindu University of America (Orlando, Florida) issued a coffee-table size book of over 300 pages entitied, "Hindu Temples of North America: A Celebration of Life.", by Mahalingum Kolapen, with photographs by Sanjay Kolapen. Therefore the statement that to date no such book had been done by an Indian is incorrect. The book retails for $75, but is also available through Amazon.com at $51. To visit the University's web site: http://www.hindu-university.edu/ As to the merits of this book, I admit, I have not seen it, and as I have not seen the new one, I am in no position to say one is better than another. Philip Miller Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta > wrote: Washington, DC (August 2, 2006): There are 53 Hindu temples in 33 American states, says a just-published coffee table book that details the history, architecture, deities and other salient features reflecting the growing spread of Hinduism in this country. Titled Bharat Rekha in America, the book by former Indian management consultant K Panchapakesan, was released by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, a member of the House of Representatives' committee on international relations at the Capitol Hill. Recalling his close personal ties with India and the role he played in the establishment of a Hindu Temple in South Carolina, Wilson lauded the efforts of the author to meet a long felt need of the Indian American Community. Published by Kansas Medical Publishing headed by Shekhar Challa, a noted Indian American doctor, the book brings out several interesting facets of Hindu temples in America. These include: * At a Ganesh temple in Anchorage, Alaska devotees take turn to work as priests. * Generally Shiva and Vishnu temples are constructed separately, but quite a few temples in the US house both deities together. * The Ganesh temple in Nashville has a Shiva Lingam (an icon of lord Shiva), which is said to have self-grown on the Narmada riverbed. * GK Kumar has contributed over $2.5 million for the construction of the Parashakthi Temple in Michigan. * The first form of Vishnu as Anantha Padmanabha outside India is in the Shiva-Vishnu Temple, Lanham * Las Vegas has two temples, including a rare one for Brahma donated by the Thais. * A Shiva temple being built in Hawaii with donations from 55 countries will house the world's largest self-grown crystal Shiva lingam weighing 320 kg and 99 cm in height. ***** The temple is the focus for all aspects of everyday life in the Hindu community - religious, cultural, educational and social. Hindus believe that their lives are merely stages in the progression to ultimate enlightenment. The temple is a place where God may be approached and where divine knowledge can be discovered. Whether in India or abroad staunch Hindus do make a point to visit a temple. As a result of which many Hindu temples have come up in USA, but, no Indian has ever made any attempt to write a book on the same so far. Few books available in the market are authored by foreigners. In a first ever attempt by an Indian, Mr. Panchapakeshan -- whose pride was hurt -- authored a book "Bharat Rekha in America", a ready beckoner of Hindu temples in USA. The same is being released today on the eve of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2006 by Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Mr. Oscar Fernandez in a function organized for the purpose here in city at Hotel Viceroy. "The book is a tribute to the two-million-strong Indian communities in the USA," said Mr. Panchapakesan, 65. "The USA has more temples than we can imagine. But very few know about them as we never had a single source of ready beckoner. There were few books but they were all written by foreigners. Hurt by the national pride that no Indian ever made an attempt to write the book I embarked on this initiative." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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