Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in USA
Vraj, Schuylkill Haven, PA
Vraj
15 Manor Road
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
15 Manor Road
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
Vraj at
Glance
Founded in 1988 on the doctrine of
Love, Dedication, Devotion and Servitude, VRAJ is a place of pilgrimage for an
average of 100,000 Hindus a year.
Nootan Nandalaya (Temple), an abode for
God ShriNathji (a manifestation of God Krishna), is built on a 300 acres of
bountiful land of VRAJ surrounded by the grandeur of the hills and the
accentuated with the tranquility of the wooded valleys and the serenity of the
lush green meadows. This spellbinding natural ambience augments the
spellbinding beauty of the Haveli (Temple) that is situated on the bank of
Chandra Sarovar (lake), in the rich tradition of the royal Rajasthani
architectural mystique. Haveli is 60 feet tall, three stories high and has over
50,000 sq. feet of built-up area.
VRAJ, an Institute of Indian Heritage,
is a prominent Religious-Spiritual-Social-Cultural center for all Hindus in
addition to being the foremost bastion of PushtiBhaktiMarg (Hinduism’s Path of
‘Bliss through Love-Devotion’) in the Western World. Hindus of all faiths come
to experience not only the spiritual
serenity uniquely bestowed over VRAJ, but also to celebrate their cultural and social events.
serenity uniquely bestowed over VRAJ, but also to celebrate their cultural and social events.
Founding Members of VRAJ earnestly
believed that in today’s world it has become imperative for any temple to
transform itself into an establishment that facilitates an integration of
society’s Religious, Spiritual, Social and Cultural needs of the time. Keeping
up with the changing world, VRAJ has evolved into an institution bridging the
gap between the diverse needs of the Hindu community settled in North America.
To bring together the Hindu Youth, to
educate them about the Indian heritage and to pass on to them the traditional
value system of India, VRAJ organizes summer Youth Camps (www.vrajyouth.org)
year after year in addition to sustaining several youth oriented activities
round the year.
VRAJ’s willingness to actively support
humanitarian causes such as the Rescue-Rebuild-Rehabilitate efforts in the
event of natural disasters has benefited many communities. VRAJ provided timely
financial assistance to the earthquake victims of Latur (Maharastra, India) in
1996 and of Kutch (Gujarat, India) in 2001, to the Tsunami victims of
Tamilnadu, India and to the victims of hurricane Katrina (New Orleans, USA) in
2005.
Well maintained lodging, boarding,
cafeteria facilities in VRAJ Campus can accommodate over 200 devotees who may stay
at VRAJ for a day, a week or a month.
Several picnic areas on the grounds of
VRAJ Campus offer excellent opportunities to Hindu social groups for organizing
their gatherings in the natural environment away from the hustle-bustle of the
cities.
Not withstanding the popular belief by
many Hindus and almost all non-Hindus that Hinduism has many Gods and
Goddesses, “The Vedas” (the most ancient scriptures of the entire mankind)
declare that
‘There is only ONE GOD (The ParBrahm) who is perceived and worshipped in many forms by various sages and seers.’
“The Vedas” further declare that
Bhagvan ShriKrishna is The ParBrahm (Parmatma) Himself.
‘There is only ONE GOD (The ParBrahm) who is perceived and worshipped in many forms by various sages and seers.’
“The Vedas” further declare that
Bhagvan ShriKrishna is The ParBrahm (Parmatma) Himself.
Bhagvan ShriKrishna, known to all
Hindus as “Loving God” manifested, in His full form, as ShriGovardhanNathji
(ShriNathji) over 500 years ago.
Hinduism scriptures declare that
ParBrahm also manifested as
JaganNath, RangNath, DwarkaNath and BadriNath.
JaganNath, RangNath, DwarkaNath and BadriNath.
In the holy land of India, these four
Gods dwell in four directions and the Gods’ God Shri GovardhanNathji dwells in
the center at NathDwara (Rajasthan, India).
Bhagvan ShriKrishna in the form of
ShriNathji dwells in the Pennsylvania state of United State of America for the
benefit of His devotees of North America.
Darshan
The sanctum is thrown open Six times a day for
DARSHAN enabling devotees to have HIS JANKHI, an unparallel spiritual
experience herein devotees experience deep joy and love. These brief glimpses
may serve as momentary restorations of the sight of the lord. For devotees
Shrinathjee is not a mere image but a living deity. Each Darshan has a special
mood, a particular emotion, appropriate apparel, musical melodies tuned to the
time of the day and the season.
All Darshan times are subject to change
on Utsav/Festival and Manorath/Occasion.
If you are coming on Festival and Occasion, Please call at Vraj for Darshan time.
Maha Prssad is prvoided Daily after RejBhog Darshan
If you are coming on Festival and Occasion, Please call at Vraj for Darshan time.
Maha Prssad is prvoided Daily after RejBhog Darshan
Contact
Vraj
15 Manor Road Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972 |
for:
|
PH: (570) 754-7067
Fax (570) 754-3161
|
for:
|
for:
|
Alternate VRAJ Numbers are 570-754-9962 and
570-754-3510
Vraj Facilities
Mahaprasad
Darshanarthis are always welcome. However, as we
provide Mahaprashad (Samooh Priti Bhojan) after Rajbhog Darshan (around 1:00
p.m.), it would be appreciated if the number of devotees is communicated by
calling (570) 754-7067 atleast a day prior to arrival.
Overnight Stay
There are a limited number of Overnight
accommodations for members of VRAJ. Others are also extended this privilege on
an availability basis. In order to accommodate maximum number of devotees, our
current facilities are retreat style. PLEASE BOOK IN ADVANCE. Visitors are
requested to report before 9:30PM.
Motels
(IN ORDER OF PROXIMITY)
Dis
|
Name
|
Direction
|
Town
|
Telephone
|
8
|
Shipskin Shop Motel
|
Exit # 19 off I-78
|
Strausstown
|
610-488-1782
|
9
|
Comfort Inn
|
Exit # 16 off I-78
|
Midway
|
717-933-8888
|
9
|
Days Inn
|
Rte 61 Near Mall
|
Cressona
|
570-385-3853
|
11
|
Colony Lodge Motel
|
Exit # 31 off I-81
|
PineGrove
|
570-345-8095
|
11
|
Fort Motel
|
Rt 61N
|
orwigsburgh
|
570-366-2091
|
11
|
Econo Lodge
|
Exit # 31 off I-81
|
PineGrove
|
570-345-4099
|
13
|
Ramada Inn
|
Rte 61 N. - Pottsville
|
Pottsville
|
570-622-4600
|
13
|
Scottish Inn
|
Exit # 19 off I-78
|
Shartelsville
|
610-488-1578
|
14
|
Pottsville Motor Inn
|
Rte 61 N. after Pottsville
|
Pottsville
|
570-622-4917
|
16
|
Holiday Inn Express
|
Rt. 61N @Schuylkill Mall
|
Frackville
|
570-874-1700
|
18
|
Microtel
|
Rte 61 N. @exit 29 rt 78
|
Hamburg
|
610-562-4234
|
Directions to Vraj
Vraj is located 25 miles north of
Reading, PA on Route 183 N. It is halfway between Harrisburg & Allentown on
Interstate I-78
From
NY & NJ:
- I-78 West to PA exit #19 'Straustown',
- Rt. on 183N,
- Lt. on 895W @ Blinking light.
From
DC & Baltimore:
- I-95N to 695 to I-83N to I-81N to I-78E to Exit #17 'Rherersburg',
- left on 419N,
- left on to 183N,
- left on to 895W @ Blinking light
From
N. VA/NW DC:
- I-270N to US 15N to Pa 581W to I-81N to I-78E to Exit #17 'Rherersburg',
- left on 419N,
- left on to 183N,
- left on to 895W @ Blinking light
From
West: I-70/I-76E:
- Pa Tpk to Carlysle Exit#226 for I-81N, to I-78E to Exit #17 'Rherersburg',
- left on 419N,
- left on to 183N,
- left on to 895W @ Blinking light
From
South : I-81N:
- I-78E. 'Allentown to Exit #17 'Rherersburg',
- left on 419N,
- left on to 183N,
- left on to 895W @ Blinking light
From
S Jersey/Philadelphia:
- I-476N to 'Lehigh Valley' Exit #56 to I78W. to Exit #19 'Straustown',
- Rt. on 183N,
- Lt. on 895W @ Blinking light.
From
West: I-80E:
- To Exit for I-81S 'Hazelton'
From
North: I-81S:
- To Exit #124. 'St. Claire' on 61S. to Cressona Mall,
- Right on to 183S,
- Right on 895W @ Blinking light
COMMON
FOR ALL From Blinking
Light to 895W. to the STOP sign. Straight in to VRAJ. Airports
- Allentown - http://www.lvia.org
- Harrisburg - http://www.flyhia.com
- Taxi from Harrisburg Airport http://www.flyhia.com/home/parking/limos
Train
- Amtrak has a stop in Harrisburg
- For accessibility information call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).
Contact
Vraj
15 Manor Road
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
15 Manor Road
Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My humble salutations to the great devotees , wikisources
and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the collection )
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