Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in USA
Bharatiya
Temple, Inc, Montgomeryville, PA
Bharatiya Temple, Inc.
P.O.Box 463,
Montgomeryville, PA 18936
Ph: 215-997-1181
Email : 1. info@b-temple.org
2. shivling1@gmail.com
P.O.Box 463,
Montgomeryville, PA 18936
Ph: 215-997-1181
Email : 1. info@b-temple.org
2. shivling1@gmail.com
Bharatiya Temple and
Bharatiya Cultural Center is built on a pretty wooded lot of a little over six
acres. The expansive structure is a two-story building with each floor of 8500
square feet of constructed area. The lower floor offers facility for a cultural
center for the community where children can learn languages and their culture.
The cultural center includes a kitchen facility, several classrooms for
conducting classes on Indian languages, religion and spirituality, Yoga, music
and dance classes are also offered. The facility has a large auditorium with a
stage for weddings, cultural programs and other celebrations. The upper floor
is the Temple area that serves the needs of the community for their religious
purposes. This is a multi-deity temple, which has main deity of
Lakshmi-Narayana. In addition, other deities include Lord Venkateshwara
(Balaji), Sri Ram-Sita Pariwar, Sri Radha-Krishna, Sri Shiva-Parvathi, Sri
Durga Mata, Lord Ganesha, Sri Hanuman, Nava-Graha and Sri-Mahavir Swami.
About the Temple
Bharatiya Temple is built on very pretty wooded
lot of a little over six acres. The expansive structure is a two-story building
with each floor of 8500 square feet of constructed area. The lower floor offers
facility for a cultural center for the community where children of the area can
learn languages and their culture. Additional features of the Temple complex
include a library, kitchen facility, several classrooms for conducting classes
on Indian languages, religion and spirituality, Yoga, music and dance etc. Click here for Aerial view of the temple.The facility also has
a large auditorium for weddings, cultural programs and other celebrations. The
upper floor is the Temple area that serves the needs of the community for their
religious purposes. This is a multi-deity temple, which has main deity of
Lakshmi-Narayana. In addition, other deities include Lord Venkateshwara
(Balaji), Sri Ram-Sita Pariwar, Sri Radha-Krishna, Sri Shiva-Parvathi, Sri
Durga Mata, Lord Ganesha, Sri Hanuman, Nava-Graha and Sri-Mahavir Swami
History
From Concept to Reality
During late 1980’s and early 1990’s, community leaders and various groups in this area had several meetings to discuss the creation of a place to promote our religious and cultural heritage. In January 1992, a formal meeting was held at J. Henry Specht School in Kulpsville to gather ideas for constructing "a place of our own that we all can be proud of ".
In April 1998, Mr. Nand Todi formed a non-profit
organization under the name Bharatiya Temple Inc. for the specific purpose of
constructing a temple in this area. The Bharatiya Temple Inc (BTI) was granted
federal tax-exempt status in January 1999. With word of BTI spreading,
individuals with similar interests in strengthening the community through the
creation of a cultural and religious center joined BTI and the core group
finalized on a project, which included both temple and a cultural center.During late 1980’s and early 1990’s, community leaders and various groups in this area had several meetings to discuss the creation of a place to promote our religious and cultural heritage. In January 1992, a formal meeting was held at J. Henry Specht School in Kulpsville to gather ideas for constructing "a place of our own that we all can be proud of ".
On September 12, 1999, the first general body meeting for BTI was held to approve the project. On October 5, Montgomery Township’s Zoning Board conducted the first hearing on the project and unanimously approved the application for BTI. The first meeting of the BTI Board of Trustees was conducted on October 11, 1999 and the trustees elected a seven-member Board of Directors and approved the initial set of BTI bylaws. During the first year after the Board of Trustees was formed, the financial momentum for the project gained urgency, taking the assets from $400K to $900K.
In November 1999, with the pledging of a 6.2-acre parcel of land at 1612 County Line Road to BTI by Todi family, the project entered its next phase of progress. The initial plans with Sri Laxmi-Narayan as the main deities of the temple also included Sri Ram parivar, Sri Ganesh, Sri Shiva parivar, Sri Radha-Krishna, Durga Mata, Sri Venkateshwara (Balaji) and Mahavir Swami.
Realizing the need for publicizing the project, in March 2000, the Board unanimously decided to renovate an existing farm house on the property to use it as a temporary place of worship. An attractive altar was created with pictures of all the popularly worshipped gods and goddesses. On June 18, 2000, a formal inaugural ceremony was performed with Vedic mantras ringing in the air. The inaugural function was attended by 700 people and the Bharatiya Temple had now been ritually sanctified. An initial program committee was formed which charted out Saturday and Sunday activities, through which more people came to know about the temple and the list of enthusiastic volunteers grew considerably.
Thereafter, weekend activities grew considerably in their diversity as well as in attendance. There were now regularly scheduled events like bhajans, Satyanarayana Puja, Suprabhatam and Vishnu Sahastranam chanting, Amritvani and pravachans, in addition to the observance of major festivals like Shivaratri, Janmashtami, Samvatsari-Pratikraman, Ram Navami, Deepavali etc. There were also unanticipated gatherings such as observances held for the tragic event of September 11, 2001. The small space could hardly accommodate the growing numbers of devotees at each program. Clearly, the need for a large, multi-deity temple was urgent.
This was evident in the quick succession of fundraisers held by and for BTI. On March 25, 2000, a fundraiser was held at the Church of St. Sophia in Jeffersonville. On March 25, 2001, a project presentation/fundraiser was held at the Palace of Asia restaurant when the architectural plans of BTI were presented for the first time. Another fundraising dinner followed at the Highpoint Club. On that evening, BTI’s newly appointed architect, Mr. Shashi Patel, who has provided architectural work for over 50 temples across the U.S. and Canada, presented the plans to the audience of nearly 300 people. On September 8, 2001, there was the first benefit performance for BTI, a grand dance program by Natya Academy of Indian Classical Dance; there was also an Events South Asia program which coordinated a benefit performance by Pandit Jasraj.
The construction committee worked assiduously in consultation with the architect to fine-tune the size and scope of BTI. Bid packages for building construction and site development work were mailed to contractors on April 6, 2002. On April 22, 2002, once again by unanimous consent of the Board of Supervisors of Montgomery Township, plans for BTI site development received final approval. Construction started in July of 2002, with the first phase completed by the end of September 2004.
Four years of activities and celebrations at the temple site, preceded by the efforts of many individuals to start a project such as this over the past decade, now culminated in a remarkable grand opening ceremony during the weekend of October 22-24, 2004. There was an overwhelming response from the general public in the tri-state area and approximately 3500 people visited the temple and the cultural center during its inaugural function in three days of celebrations. The special guest of the ceremonies, Swami Dayananda Ji Saraswati graced the occasion with his discourse on Indian temples and culture. In addition, County and Township officials also attended this auspicious ceremony. The celebrations featured elaborate Hindu and Jain rituals conducted by priests, religious discourse by special guests, Raas-Garba, cultural programs by the Indian community represented by different communities in the area followed by Maha Prasad.
To date, approximately $2.0 million dollars have been donated by the community. The project cost for phase I of construction came out to about $3.0 million dollars. A loan of 1.2 million dollars was acquired from the Commerce bank. The phase II of Indianization including Shikhars and Gopurams will require additional $750,000 dollars. The construction for phase II is planned to start as soon as possible with the availability of funds.
The Bharatiya Temple project needs your support in every way possible.
Deities:
Sri Lakshmi
Narayana, Sri Ganesh, Sri Mahavir Swami, Sri Venkteswara, Sri Rama Parivar, Sri
Radha Krishna, Sri Siva Pariva, Sri Durga and Sri Hanuman.
Temple Hours
Week Days
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9:00 am-12:00 pm and
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5:00 pm-9:00 pm
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MAHA Arati at 7:00 pm
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WEEKENDS
9:00 am-9:00 pm
MAHA Arati at 12:00 pm & 7:00 pm
Regular Puja
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Program
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Day
and Timings
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Comments
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Maha Arati
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Weekdays at 7pm
Weekends at Noon & 7pm |
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Lakshmi-Narayana
Abhishekam |
Every Sunday at 10am
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You may sponsor Abhishekam for $21
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Shiv Abhishekam
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Every Monday at 7:15pm
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You may sponsor Abhishekam for $21
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Hanuman Chalisa
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Every Tuesday at 7:15pm
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Lalitha Sahastranam
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Every Friday at 7:15pm
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Suprabhatam
Venketeshwara
Abhishekam |
Every Saturday at 9am
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You may sponsor Abhishekam for $21
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Upcoming Events
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Date
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Events
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July Monthly Calendar
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July 20, 2013
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July 27, 2013
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Bharatiya Vidyalaya Registration
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Yoga at BCC
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Music Classes
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Temple Library Collection!
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Help start the temple library collection! The temple library
needs new books, well-preserved old books, children's books, videotapes, CDs,
DVDs, and audiotapes.
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Private Pooja:
Below
you will find the charges and types of Pujas which Priests can perform at the
Temple or at your Home/Function.
To schedule a Puja TO BE PERFORMED AT YOUR HOME OR AT THE TEMPLE, please contact Ravi
Menon at 215-266-9625 Or send e-mail to priest@b-temple.org with details including a contact number.
Additionally, requests for specific priests will only be confirmed by Ravi
Menon and not by the priests themselves.
1.
All services (except Archana,
Abhishekam & Vehicle Pooja) must be scheduled in advance.
2.
All private pooja services are charged
on an individual pooja basis (Havan not included).
3.
Overnight Stay per day – additional
$201.
Bharatiya Temple
Hall & Multipurpose Room Rental Charges
If you have any
questions or want to make reservations, Please contact Sri Sagaram at
215-699-6367 or send e-mail to sagaram@verizon.net.
1. You applicant agrees to forfeit the entire deposit if you fail to vacate the premises after 3:01pm (if rental for the morning) or after 11:01pm (If renting for the evening) and or fail to clean the kitchen or the hall.
2. Please read the rules and regulations on the rental hall agreement and make sure you and your guests comply. You can access the rules from the website: Facility rental rules.
3. Please do not have any of your private function upstairs in the Temple Hall. The temple hall is not for private parties. Also, do not serve any Prasad or food in the upstairs temple area.
4. Left over food or Prasad is not be left in the kitchen refrigerator. Please either take it home or discard it. This applies to any food even if you have not used it at all or how fresh it is, etc.
5. There is a janitorial closet located next to the shoe rack. You can use the brooms and mops to clean-up after your event.
6. Please remember to bring all consumable items for your events such as trash bags, paper products, etc. All the products in the kitchen area belong to the temple and are not included in your rental fee.
7. After you have finished cleaning, please take the trash to the trash dumpster and put the trash inside the dumpster. The trash people will not take it if you leave it outside the dumpster.
8. Please manage the kids so they do not run around on the stage or upstairs in the temple hall.
9. Please fold all the tables and put them in one corner of the hall. Fold all the folding chairs and put them on the chair rack (4 chairs per two hooks). The pink and blue chairs should be stacked 3-4 high and put in one corner.
1. You applicant agrees to forfeit the entire deposit if you fail to vacate the premises after 3:01pm (if rental for the morning) or after 11:01pm (If renting for the evening) and or fail to clean the kitchen or the hall.
2. Please read the rules and regulations on the rental hall agreement and make sure you and your guests comply. You can access the rules from the website: Facility rental rules.
3. Please do not have any of your private function upstairs in the Temple Hall. The temple hall is not for private parties. Also, do not serve any Prasad or food in the upstairs temple area.
4. Left over food or Prasad is not be left in the kitchen refrigerator. Please either take it home or discard it. This applies to any food even if you have not used it at all or how fresh it is, etc.
5. There is a janitorial closet located next to the shoe rack. You can use the brooms and mops to clean-up after your event.
6. Please remember to bring all consumable items for your events such as trash bags, paper products, etc. All the products in the kitchen area belong to the temple and are not included in your rental fee.
7. After you have finished cleaning, please take the trash to the trash dumpster and put the trash inside the dumpster. The trash people will not take it if you leave it outside the dumpster.
8. Please manage the kids so they do not run around on the stage or upstairs in the temple hall.
9. Please fold all the tables and put them in one corner of the hall. Fold all the folding chairs and put them on the chair rack (4 chairs per two hooks). The pink and blue chairs should be stacked 3-4 high and put in one corner.
Temple Etiquette
The Prayer Hall is a
place for worship and ritual. Should you want to chat with your friends, kindly
go downstairs or outside. Please be sensitive to those around you wishing to
pray quietly.
Please keep your
children from running around and playing inside the building. It is
understandable that children cannot sit quietly for a long period of time. When
they get restless, parents should take turns to take them outside. This way at
least one parent can benefit from the ritual while the other is supervising the
children. The same is true during performances at the cultural hall. It is very
distracting to the performers and the audience to see young children running
around in front of the stage or on the side of the auditorium. Also, children
must not ride the elevator up and down or play with the water fountains.
Inside the building, cell phones/beepers must be on vibratory mode. If
you receive a call, please go outside the temple or cultural hall.
Shoe racks are provided on both floors, please use them. Do not place
shoes near doors or elevator
Chewing gum, eating and drinking
is strictly prohibited in the temple hall. You may eat dry food Prasad given to
you by the priest (this includes: almonds, raisons, cashews, etc). Any other
type of Prasad (fruits, ladoo, sweets, etc) is to be eaten outside the hall or
taken home.
Please keep the
premises clean. If you see trash anywhere, please pick it up – even if it is
not yours.
Restrooms: The more
we keep this area clean the better for everyone as we all would like to use
clean restrooms. Please flush and wipe the toilet. Also, wipe the sinks area
after use
Bharatiya Temple and
Bharatiya Cultural Center offers these suggestions in the hope of making the
experience of worship and learning in our facility as comfortable and
meaningful as possible.
We thank our
devotees for their cooperation and understanding
Executive Officers
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President
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Nand Todi
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215-699-0406
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Vice President
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Vipul Rathod
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215-641-8091
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Treasurer
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Eswaran Balasubramanian
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215-565-5122
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Secretary
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Praful Patel
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215-616-0782
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President
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Vice President and Treasurer
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Secretary
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Special Needs Group
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Bharatiya Vidyalaya
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Hall Rental
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Priest Services
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Bharatiya Temple and
Cultural Center needs your valuable time to make it an organization that we can
all be proud of. If you have 30 minutes or an hour to spare every now and then,
we would greatly appreciate it. Please click on list of activities where we
routinely need help. If you want to provide general help or have specific
talent or hobby from which we can benefit from then please indicate. You may
contact the committee chairperson directly (contact information provided in
"Contact Us" menu) or send an e-mail to info@b-temple.org.
Bharatiya Temple, Inc.
P.O.Box 463,
Montgomeryville, PA 18936
Ph: 215-997-1181
Email : 1. info@b-temple.org
2. shivling1@gmail.com
P.O.Box 463,
Montgomeryville, PA 18936
Ph: 215-997-1181
Email : 1. info@b-temple.org
2. shivling1@gmail.com
DIRECTIONS TO THE
BHARATIYA TEMPLE
To get the driving direction to the temple,
please enter starting address under the section "From Address" below,
Even though the
Bharatiya Temple and Cultural Center is located on 1612 County Line Rd,
Montgomeryville, PA 18936, directions in yahoo and mapquest don’t come up
unless you change the name of the city
For Mapquest or
Yahoo, use this address: 1612 County Line Rd, Chalfont, PA 18914-1201.
Om
Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
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