Vageesh Express
Temple Tour
Hindu Temples in the United
States
India is a land of artistic and wonderful temples. Hindu
Temples have not only been great abodes for worship but landmarks of
architecture of the Indian sub-continent.
Indians who have settled in the United States look for
the same peaceful abodes to pray and worship the many gods and
goddesses. The religious landscape of the southeastern United States is
becoming more diverse, as is the population. Along with the “church on
every corner,” Hindu temples, Buddhist centers, mosques, and other religious
centers contribute to the communities of this region.
We have to
applaud the work of the many Indians who have come together to build these
temples and places of worship for the Indian population. Some of the
architectural marvels that have sprung from this hard work will make one feel
as if visiting a temple in India.
Many
temples are open daily for worship (morning and/or evening), often with longer
hours on the weekends. Some have hired one or more full-time priests,
while volunteers lead the rituals in other temples. Hindu festivals and
holy days are celebrated at these temples with special rituals, food, cultural
events, and socializing. Most of the temples also have the infrastructure
for social and cultural events.
The
purpose of this segment is to focus and familiarize the significance of each
these temples.
This is
one of the most interesting temples to visit here in USA as the following
illustration will tell the details…..A farm and a temple!
The
naming of the temple - The New Talavan (Tal · ah · vahn) farm community was
begun as a project in June of 1974. This was done at the suggestion of His
Divine Grace, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of ISKCON
(International Society for Krishna Consciousness.) Talavan is one of the twelve
forests around Vrndavana, a city in India where Krishna incarnated 5,000 years
ago. Krishna and His cowherd friends would go there and play, rest, eat and
watch their cows as they grazed. At first it was just a few devotees from the
New Orleans temple who came out and slowly began planting gardens. They worked
as time permitted and then returned to the New Orleans temple at night, a round
trip of about 130 miles. Soon some devotees began staying on the farm full
time. The first cow was purchased from a stockyard and the devotees named her Kunti. She gave the farm its first fresh
milk as well as its first calf, named Subhadra.
Later more cows were purchased. New Talavan was chosen as a name by the founder
of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada while he was visiting the Honolulu temple on May
4th, 1976. The devotees also continued to purchased more over the next 10
years. Eventually the land reached a total of 1300 acres. This makes New
Talavan the second largest Hare Krishna farm community. Currently New Talavan
is producing wheat, fruit, and vegetables. The New Talavan Krishna's cows are
also producing fresh milk from which the devotees supply our presiding Deities
with delightful milk sweets. The devotees are privileged to worship in New
Talavan's beautiful Temple. The Temple was constructed in 1979 and renovated in
1987. Landscaping and pagodas were added in 2002.
For more
information please refer to the temple website: http://www.newtalavana.org/temple.htm
|| Hari OM ||
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