NRI temples - Boosting 'Unity in Diversity'

[JR]

Share:

Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Email Share Link

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,

 

[krish44]

It is good to see temples catering to different sections of hindu society

at least in temples people can come together and have a common identity .

are there dress codes or any restrictions discriminating on caste or language.

are archanas in sanskrit alone or other indian languages also

to what extent integration takes place in hindu communities abroad as far as religion is concerned is an interesting issue.

 

[tbs]

It is good to see temples catering to different sections of hindu society

at least in temples people can come together and have a common identity .

are there dress codes or any restrictions discriminating on caste or language.

are archanas in sanskrit alone or other indian languages also

to what extent integration takes place in hindu communities abroad as far as religion is concerned is an interesting issue.

hi

in USA....there is no particular dress code...due to north /south indian tradions....but prefer modesty.....archanas are in sanskrit only..

no cast/language discrimination...in fact many whites/blacks visit our temple regularly...many whites/blacks are devotees of lord

hanuman...an african american recites hanuman chaalisa with hanuman archana in sanskrit...like ponoma temple are very rare

in USA....we have shiva vishnu temple...comprising shaiva/vaishnava /maadhva/namboothiri priests....INDEED UNITY IN DIVERSITY...

ABHEDA BHAAVA....

 

[renuka]

There is a temple in Msia a North Indian style Gopuram called Lakshmi Narayan temple and the priests are Northern Indian Brahmins.

The temple has Vigraham of Lord Shiva too and Maha Shivararti is celebrated there and bhajans on Lord Shiva are sung.

But there are some south Indian Vaishnava temples here that are strictly Vaishnava Vigrahmans only.

 

[vgane]

In Jakarta the Siva temple is a glowing example of diversity..We have separtae sannidhis for Shiva, Ganesha and also Perumal & Hanuman..Also there is place of worship for Guru Gobind Singh and also Shirdi Sai Baba...Real unity in diversity

 

[krish44]

indian army has built a temple in a baroda park catering to all hindu religions near their contonment

 

[sarang]

Diversity means different sects follow and allowed to follow their sampardayam without interference. Unity is the mind set to allow this kind of life and environment.

Having a separate vaishnava temple and a separate shiva tmple is diversity. In fact all villages in tamilnadu had separate perumal and iswaran temples without exception, each following its agama, utsavams, pujas and rituals. Each temple celebrated all activities, religious and social (silly to call it secular), without treading on each other's toes or creating friction. This is diversity and unity in diversity.

There are composite shiva-vishnu temples of the modern kind and old shiva-vishnu-brahma temples (uttamar koil near tiruchy). What is important is to what extent their old practices are still followed.

Pomona temple has the blessings of Ari Ahobila Mutt, and so, I beleive, follows the traditions and customs laid down by the mutt, as many temples of the mutt in india do.

All talk of unity, diversity, secularism is meaningless without a proper understanding of our dharma and way of life.

 

[krish44]

Hmm Secularists be warned. there are people waiting to make you all understand what is our Dharma and way of life

 

[prasad1]

Hmm Secularists be warned. there are people waiting to make you all understand what is our Dharma and way of life

Krishji,
You just do not understand the warning given. LOL
Where in our Dharma it says that you can not worship various Gods in one Temple? People who look at Dharma though a pin hole camera, think they are the only one who know dharma. Unfortunately pin hole camera reverses the picture, and you see inverted dharma.

Anyway the NRI temples are not built by kings, rajas or Gurus. Most of the temples are built by individual contributions. So to cater to wider public these temples have various Gods.
We have discussed similar points in the past.

http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/genera...urage-our-kids-go-temple-more.html#post105941

Pomona temple is an exception. The people who have migrated out of TN have relaxed their rigid attitude, and are willing to share their practice with others. The south Indian temples in the North India also have various Gods.

 

[biswa]

Separate but equal, huh? This was also the policy in the US before the advent of Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement.