Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in USA
Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago, Lemont, IL
- Rama Temple, which includes Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana, Lord Ganesha, Sri Hanuman, Lord Venkateshwara (Balaji), Mahalakshmi, Sri Krishna, and Radha and
- Ganesha-Shiva-Durga Temple, which includes, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Durga Devi, Lord Subrahmanya, Devi Parvathi, Nataraja, Ayappasamy and Navagraha.
Adjoining the Vivekananda Spiritual Center, on "Vivekananda Hill", a hillock in the temple campus, is a 10-foot tall bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda, modeled after his photograph taken in Chicago after his appearance at the World's Parliament of Religions in 1893. It is the first statue of Vivekananda to be installed in a public place in the United States of America.
Architecture
[2] Perched on a wooded hillside above the Des Plaines River valley in Lemont, Illinois, the temple represents one of the most impressive feats of devotion outside India. The temple complex consists of four buildings, the Rama temple, Ganesha-Shiva-Durga temple a community center connecting the two temples and Vivekananda Spiritual Center.The Rama temple is built to specifications in the authentic style of the Chola dynasty (a 10th century dynasty of Indian Kings). The temple’s architecture is a perfect blend of the ancient with the modern. Its magnificent 80-foot tower (Gopuram) is a potent symbol of Hindu spirit. A large hall in the lower level of the temple has facilities to stage cultural events.
A smaller temple north of the Rama temple is the Ganesha-Shiva-Durga temple. This temple is built in the architecture style of the Kalinga dynasty (1st century B.C.E.).
Major festivals and events
Many festivals are celebrated at the temple throughout the year. Some of the major festivals celebrated are:Sri Ramanavami occurs in April and celebrates the birthday of Sri Rama and his marriage to Sita Devi which was also took place on his birthday. Rama the seventh incarnation of Sri Vishnu, was born on the ninth (navami) day of Chaitra (March–April) maasa (month).
Shiva Ratri is celebrated on Krishna Chaturdashi day (14th day of a Lunar Month) in the month of Magha (Feb-March) to commemorate the day on which Shiva protected the world from total annihilation by drinking the Kalakanda poison which was held in his throat.
Janmastami celebrated the birthday of Sri Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Sri Vishnu. Rasa Lila is performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha. The image of Krishna is bathed at midnight, placed in a cradle and worshiped.
Deepavali or Diwali is a festival celebrated throughout India with different regional significances. Deepavali is known as the festival of lights. Deepavali celebrates the homecoming of Rama after defeating Ravana.
Dussera or Dasara festival lasts for ten days. During this festival, Ram Leela or the story of Sri Rama is enacted with the burning of the effigy of Ravana. The festival is also known as Navarathri and is celebrated over nine days. The tenth day is known as Vijaya Dasami.
Holi is celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalguna (February/March). The festival is celebrated with children and adults throwing colors at each other and concluding the festival with a bonfire. The bonfire, called Holika Dahan, signifies victory of good over evil and also the triumph of devotion to God.
Other major festivals celebrated at the temple include (but not limited to) Ganesha Chaturthi, Makara Sankranthi, Brahmotsavam, Summer Festival (Greeshma Mela) and New Year’s Day.
Special events
HTGC celebrates many special events like Kumbhabhishekam conducted once in 12 years (1986, 1998 and 2007). In 2010 Sri Sri Ravishankar of Art of Living inaugurated the Swami Vivekananda Spiritual Center. In the year 2011, during the month of June (June 8—12), HTGC celebrated 25 years of the construction of Sri Rama Temple in a grand manner with numerous religious and cultural programs.Facility
The temple also houses an Auditorium and a Dining hall (in the lower level). It also has a Library with a media center.Activities
The following activities are conducted at HTGC. They are open to all.- Lectures/Celebration of Spiritual leaders teachings-Hindu Dharma & Vivekananda Spiritual Center committees
- Yoga classes
- Cultural Activities during many major festivals
- Music and Dance performances (Fine Arts)
- Health Camps
- Sunday School - teaching languages, arts, religion etc. & preparation for standardized tests
- Summer Festival and Walkathons
- Meditation Sessions
Management
HTGC is managed by sixteen trustees who are elected for a four-year term. An executive committee comprising six trustees is created every year. There are many committees created every year as stipulated in the organization’s constitution. Special ad hoc committees are also created to attend to certain special tasks.The temple committees include Advisory, Akshaya, Archives, Audit, Auxiliary, Building, Bylaws & Constitution, Cultural & Fine Arts, Sunday School, Elections, Finance, Front Desk, Hindu Dharma & Philosophy, Humanitarian, Library, Maintenance & Volunteers, Membership, Prasadam, Publicity, Public Relations, Religious & Sanjeevani/Bilva/Ramsevak.
Some of the Ad hoc committees include Communications & Security, Database, Devi Choki, Ekantha Seva, Social Services, Summer Festival/Bazaar, Tours, Vivekananda Spiritual Center, Website, Yoga & Meditation.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Atlanta, Lilbum, Georgia State
About The Temple
The 32,000-square-foot (3,000 m2) temple, officially called the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, sits on 30 acres (120,000 m2). With hand-carved stone spires that tower 75 feet (23 m), it is the tallest building in Lilburn, Georgia, dominating the intersection of Rockbridge Road and Lawrenceville Highway. More than 1,300 craftsmen and 900 volunteers dedicated their time in putting this 34,450-piece stone building together. More than 4,500 tons of Italian Carrara marble, 4,300 tons of Turkish limestone, and 3,500 tons of Indian pink sandstone was quarried and shipped to the craftsmen in India. Then, all of the nearly 35,000 pieces were shipped to the United States. It serves members of the Swaminarayan branch of Hinduism, which originated in India more than 200 years ago. The traditional design features custom-carved stonework, a wraparound veranda and five prominent pinnacles reminiscent of the Himalayan hills.The Lilburn location is the largest temple in North America for BAPS. Atlanta based architects Newport Design Group Newport Design Group served as lead design coordinators for the campus which was built at an estimated cost of $19 million, the temple complex is only the third of its kind in the country, surpassing BAPS temples in Houston and Chicago.
Mandir information
Mandir is the name for a Hindu place of worship and prayer. The word mandir is composed of two words, Man and Dir, whose meanings are mind and still, respectively. Therefore, a mandir is a place where the mind becomes still; a place where we experience peace from worldly problems. For centuries, the mandir has remained a spiritual, educational, social and physical cornerstone of Indian society. People from all walks of life spend time growing, interacting, and learning in the mandir. In addition to being a home for Hindu manifestations of God, a mandir is also an active community space where many social service activities are carried out. Some mandirs serve not only a community’s spiritual needs, but also their physical needs such as providing relief for victims of natural disasters, providing medical care to the sick, education to the poor, and numerous other services to help fellow mankind. It is with this to hope to further its philanthropy and spirituality that the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha constructs traditionally accurate mandirs in North America.In the early 1980’s a handful of Swaminarayan devotees in the Atlanta area began meeting at each other’s homes on a weekly basis to hold religious gatherings. As the number of devotees and the Indian community in the surrounding area steadily increased, a special place of worship was needed, and with the help of devotees from around the southeastern states, a skating rink was purchased in 1988. Even then, a large BAPS volunteer force completely transformed the old dilapidated rink into a mandir in Clarkston, GA.
Since 1988 the converted rink has served as a mandir and all that a mandir stands for. Over the years, however, it was evident that a traditional mandir was needed in Atlanta—one that would be able to help Hindus in America of all ages to strengthen their roots. With this desire, and through the inspiration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a decision to build a traditional shikharbaddh (spired) mandir in Atlanta was made.
With the blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, in February of 2000, a twenty-nine acre plot of land at the intersection of Rockbridge Road and Lawrenceville Highway was purchased in Lilburn, GA, a quiet suburban town of Atlanta. A puja was also performed this same year by Pramukh Swami Maharaj to sanctify the land so that construction may begin. BAPS broke ground on the mandir project in September 2005, with land being cleared and ready for the main foundation pouring just four months later in January of 2006.
In March 2006, a crane was assembled just in time to install the first of what will be a monument with over 106,000 cubic feet of Italian Carrara. Over 34,000 hand-carved pieces have been shipped from India in what, by completion, will be 346 containers to Atlanta.
The true spirit of seva, or selfless volunteering, continues to live on in this mandir just as it does in every BAPS project. Some two million man hours of labor have gone into building this special house of worship, with high school and college students foregoing their summer vacations to sweat in the Atlanta summer heat to make this project a success. Along with the young, many professionals and business people, including both men and women, had temporarily put their lives on hold to ensure that the approximately 30,000 square foot mandir would be completed by the end of August.
BAPS mandirs are a rare and valuable gift to society that aim to imbibe cultural, moral and spiritual values to thousands of people who visit it daily to pray, celebrate, and receive inspiration.
Culture: The cultural roles that mandirs have played throughout history are still visible in today’s mandirs. Mandirs are the haven of cultural education and progress. BAPS mandirs preserve language, music and art by equally serving as teaching centers.
Morality: Through engaging discourses, exhibitions, classes and activities, individuals at a mandir learn of values that will lead to a pious life. Bad habits, faults and addictions wane in the positive environment of the mandir. Children, youths and adults can freely build a balanced and morally sound life through specialized weekly assemblies which are regularly conducted at all BAPS Mandirs.
Spirituality: Through its teachings and activities of prayer and worship, the mandir generates devout faith in God and alleviates mental and physical stress. Moreover, it is the home to Sadhus (ascetics), whose presence is crucial to the transmission of knowledge of Hinduism to the children, youths and adults.
“This mandir will truly serve individuals, families and communities. We welcome everyone to experience this unique monument. It will be a valuable addition to the great city of Atlanta and the surrounding communities,” said spokesperson Mitesh Patel.
Today, BAPS has over 700 mandirs worldwide. Inspired by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual successor of Lord Swaminarayan and present leader of BAPS, all of the mandirs are built with the gift of time and labor of hundreds of volunteers. At the age of eighty-seven, paying no attention to his health or schedule, Swamishri dedicates much of his time, planning, organizing, and overseeing every aspect of the mandir’s construction. He has a unique ability to mentally collate construction updates and make prompt suggestions and changes.
Pramukh Swami stresses why mandirs are essential to humanity:
“A mandir increases moral values. Mandir is such a place where everyone can have equal benefit. Peace of mind will be experienced here. Come to the mandir. Pray. Read. Chant. Sing. That is what it is for; to give peace. The mandir is our true home. The mandir is built for us to make our lives ideal!”
sunday activities
From weekly sabhas and thrilling summer shibirs, to festive Diwali celebrations and traditional dances, BAPS mandirs offer a wide spectrum of activities for youths of all ages. Weekly sabhas and Gujarati classes educate children about their Hindu heritage and help them to keep in touch with their culture. Leadership seminars over the summer unite youths from various parts of the country and encourage them to build lasting friendships and work as a team to accomplish common goals. Samaiyos, celebrated on auspicious occasions, give youths the opportunity to express their various talents through singing devotional bhajans, performing traditional dances, participating in lively skits and dramas, and giving enlightening speeches.music class
Indian music is an essential foundation for hinduism and the Indian culture. Therefore, BAPS Atlanta holds weekly music classes every Sunday for individuals who are intested in learning the art of traditional Indian music.gujarati class
Every Sunday from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, children hurry to their assigned classrooms for their weekly Gujarati classes. During this hour, BAPS youths have the opportunity to learn their native language, Gujarati, a language originating in the state of Gujarat in western India. Learning their native tongue not only aids children in understanding traditional bhajans and discourses, but helps them to stay in touch with their culture. Thus, Gujarati classes are an essential component of the BAPS youth activities, for they are building strong foundations for future generations and are helping them to preserve their Hindu heritage.The Guru And Visitors
The organization’s current spiritual Guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj, came to Lilburn in 2004 and blessed the first foundation stones. Upon completion, a keystone weighing more than 2 tons was twisted into place on the ceiling of the central dome inside.Hindu Temple of Atlanta, Riverdale, Atlanta, GA
Temple complex
The Hindu temple has two complexes - one complex with Lord Venkateswara as the presiding deity and the other with Lord Shiva as the presiding deity. In addition to the presiding deity, both complexes have shrines for other deities.- Balaji Temple Timings
|
TEMPLE
HOURS
|
|
|
|
DAILY
SERVICES
|
||||||||
|
|
ARCHANA
TIMINGS
|
|||
|
|
WEEKLY
ABHISHEKAMS
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
MONTHLY
SPECIAL SERVICES
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shiva Temple Timings
|
TEMPLE
HOURS
|
|
|
|
DAILY
SERVICES
|
||||||||
|
|
ARCHANA
TIMINGS
|
|||
|
|
WEEKLY
ABHISHEKAMS
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
MONTHLY
SPECIAL SERVICES
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
WEEKLY SERVICE
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Monthly Services
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sponsored Poojas can be performed from 7:00 AM to 8:45 AM and 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Weekend
Activites
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Iraivan Temple, Hawaiian Island of Kauai, USA
Sri Trichy Mahaswamigal of Kailash Ashram, Bangalore, describes the temple's importance: "The Iraivan Temple is going to be to America what the temples of Chidambaram, Madurai, Rameshwaram, and other great Siva temples are to India."
History
Iraivan Temple was inspired by a vision of Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in which he saw Lord Shiva walking on the land where the temple is now located. It is intended as a place of pilgrimage for Hindus worldwide. Subramuniyaswami set three parameters for its design and construction:- that it follow traditional design according to the Saiva Agamas
- that it be designed to last 1,000 years
- that it be entirely carved by hand, without the use of any machinery.
Architecture
The temple possesses a number of rare architectural features. The first is that it is being carved entirely by hand. Craftsmen follow and preserve traditional methods, shaping the stone with small hammers and utilizing over 70 types of chisels. The second feature is the 4-foot-thick (1.2 m) foundation is made of a crack-free, 7,000-psi formula using "fly ash," a by-product of coal burning. Fly ash consists of inorganic, incombustible matter present in the coal that has been fused during combustion into a glassy structure. The foundation was designed by Dr. Kumar Mehta, a materials scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, and was the first project to demonstrate his theories on the use of fly ash in concrete. The third set of features are exhibitions of the stone carver's craft. The foremost of these are two sets of "musical pillars" whose tall rods are designed to resonate precise musical tones when struck with a mallet. Others include six stone lions carved into the pillars each of which contains a stone ball freely rotatable in its mouth but not removable, a large stone bell, and 10-foot-long (3.0 m) stone chains with loose links.The temple is facing south and built according to vastu science. Vastu architecture aims at creating a space that will elevate the vibration of the individual to resonate with the vibration of the built space, which in turn is in tune with universal space. The whole space of the temple is defined in multiples and fractions of one unit, 11 feet (3.4 m) and 71/4 inches. Pillars through the temple are spaced and structured to serve as energy points for the building. Iraivan Temple will be completely free of electricity for mystical reasons, as decreed by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.
The main murti, or worshipful icon, is a rare spathika sivalinga, a pointed, six-faced 700-pound clear quartz crystal brought to Kauai following a vision. In the early 1980s, Subramuniyaswami had been seeing the crystal in his dreams. A local crystal shop owner, Almitra Zion, had similar visions of the same crystal. She traveled from Kauai to Arkansas, with no instructions other than to "find the crystal," located it and had it acquired for the monastery and shipped to Kauai. The stone, estimated to be 50 million years old, was not cut out of rock by the miner. Instead, it was found in a perfect state encased in mud, probably harvested from its original outcropping by an earthquake. In 1987, when it was brought to Kauai, it was celebrated as an "Earthkeeper" crystal with properties that benefit and protect the planet.
The quartz crystal (sphatika) of the sivalinga is considered specially sacred because it represents the element akasha.
Current status
The construction of the main pavilion is complete, and a few other ancillary structures are being worked on. The temple is expected to be inaugurated with a maha kumbha abhishekam in 2017.The current head of the project is Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, leader of the monastery and successor to the founder.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Chicago, IL
The Mandir was designed according to ancient Hindu texts on temple design known as the Shilpa Shastras. It is constructed of Turkish limestone and Italian marble that was shipped to India and hand carved. The stone was then shipped to Chicago and assembled like a giant three dimensional jigsaw puzzle. From the day its first stone was laid, it took 16 months to construct, and was inaugurated on August 8, 2004 by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, an international Hindu organisation belonging to the Swaminarayan sect of Hinduism
As a
masterpiece of ancient design and workmanship, the Mandir is replete with
luminescent white pinnacles and glittering marble pillars.
Using
premium Italian Carrara marble, Indian Makrana marble, and the finest Turkish
limestone, it was hand-carved into 40,000 pieces by skilled craftsmen in India.
Ancient Indian heritage and traditions have been encompassed in this place of
worship that has revived India’s culture through its beautiful architecture
Deities and
motifs spring from the walls, ceilings, and windows, representing the sacred
faith and beliefs of a culture that stretches back for thousands of years
Mandir Concept
he Mandir
is a place of worship and prayer for followers of Hinduism. The structure
itself is built according to the Shilpa-Shastras, a collection of architectural
treatises that has been employed in Indian architecture and engineering for
thousands of years. The sacred images and rituals of worship in the
Mandir form the very core in elevating the soul to the pinnacle of God-realization
according to Hindu philosophy. Swaminarayan Mandirs, worldwide, fulfill the
ancient and lofty concept of the Hindu tradition of Mandirs
Haveli
Awards
On May 18, 2005, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chicago was awarded the "Best Building Suburb" award by the Chicago Building Congress (CBC) for displaying 'distinctive design, outstanding construction, and a positive impact on the surrounding community'.
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
0 comments:
Post a Comment