JR
Hare Krishna
Namaste,
Overall in my observation, temples in USA boost the concept of Unity in Diversity. Many temples (actually predominant ones) have Shiva family and Vishnu deities together in 1 temple complex. The devotees who visit the temples, regardless of whether they are Shaiva or Vaishnava, bow down before all devatas and do pradakshinam around all shrines.
The closest temple for me is the Ashland Sri Lakshmi Temple in MA, USA. Although the chief presiding deity is Sri Lakshmi, other shrines include Sri Venkateswara, and Shri Hanuman for Vaishanava, and Lord Ganesha, Sri Murugan, Parvati/Parameshwara (Nataraja) for Shaivism and there is a separate Swami Iyyappa shrine. There are about 3 - 4 'Bhattachariyars' (Gurukals) attending all worship procedures and serving the deities and devotees doing archana and observing all important functions. These Gurukals also practice 'Unity in Diversity', I frequently find our Vaishnava punditji in Ganapathi shrine doing archana to Ganeshji. And doing festival times, none of these vaadiyars hesitate in giving helping hand and observing/watching prayers and aradhanas to deities belonging to the 'other sect'.
There is only 1 temple somewhat closer to me that I am aware of being a purely Vaishnava temple - this would be Pomona Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in New York. This temple for Ranganathaswamy does not hold a shrine for any Shaiva devatas, including Ganapathi. But Pittsburgh Sri Venkateswara Temple, another beautiful and famous temple also holds a shrine for Shri Ganapathi.
I have added relevant links to get a feel for the above temples.
Hail to Unity in Diversity!
Regards,
Overall in my observation, temples in USA boost the concept of Unity in Diversity. Many temples (actually predominant ones) have Shiva family and Vishnu deities together in 1 temple complex. The devotees who visit the temples, regardless of whether they are Shaiva or Vaishnava, bow down before all devatas and do pradakshinam around all shrines.
The closest temple for me is the Ashland Sri Lakshmi Temple in MA, USA. Although the chief presiding deity is Sri Lakshmi, other shrines include Sri Venkateswara, and Shri Hanuman for Vaishanava, and Lord Ganesha, Sri Murugan, Parvati/Parameshwara (Nataraja) for Shaivism and there is a separate Swami Iyyappa shrine. There are about 3 - 4 'Bhattachariyars' (Gurukals) attending all worship procedures and serving the deities and devotees doing archana and observing all important functions. These Gurukals also practice 'Unity in Diversity', I frequently find our Vaishnava punditji in Ganapathi shrine doing archana to Ganeshji. And doing festival times, none of these vaadiyars hesitate in giving helping hand and observing/watching prayers and aradhanas to deities belonging to the 'other sect'.
There is only 1 temple somewhat closer to me that I am aware of being a purely Vaishnava temple - this would be Pomona Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple in New York. This temple for Ranganathaswamy does not hold a shrine for any Shaiva devatas, including Ganapathi. But Pittsburgh Sri Venkateswara Temple, another beautiful and famous temple also holds a shrine for Shri Ganapathi.
I have added relevant links to get a feel for the above temples.
Hail to Unity in Diversity!
Regards,