Hinduism is the world’s oldest religion and is the only surviving classical religion in the world. The people who have an unshakable belief in Hinduism have spread it wide and across the globe. The migrations and cross-migrations have resulted in unique new cultures. The early immigrants to the US felt the need to be somehow connected to their roots and one way they devised to do this was by erecting temples dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses across the US.
The US is the land of the brave and free where heterogeneous cultures mingle together and give rise to tolerance and mutual respect among many things. The US has a significant population of Hindu communities which accounts for nearly 0.4 percent of the total population. Though the population has reduced compared to the last decade but the fact didn’t stop the Hindus from proudly showcasing their culture and way of life through the various Hindu temples in the US.
Also, The country comprises many Hindu temples spread across the region. Here we take a look at some of the magnificent and most famous temples in the US that you should definitely pay a visit.
The Shiva Vishnu temple in Florida
It is one of the grandest Hindu temples in the USA. the temple is stylized in typical Dravidian style architecture. It was designed and constructed under the management of 12 renowned architects. The temple covers a total area of 6200 sq, feet. The aesthetical aspect of the temple was the prime focus during construction. During the construction, it was kept in mind that the temples should be the same in style as the temples of south India.
Ganpati Sthapti, who is a Chennai-based architect was the chief architect of the temple. The temple is dedicated to lord Shiva and lord Vishnu. It is the most visited temple in the US. The temple every year attracts a huge footfall of devotees from across the US. During the peak season, long queues are seen in the temple. The large and finely crafted sculptures of gods and goddesses in the temples are the iconic and trademark of this temple. There are meditation halls also where you can pause and reflect back on life and ponder the fundamental questions of life.
Sri Maha Vallabh Ganapati Devasthanam, New york
The construction of this temple took seven long years to complete. Together with Ganesha, the temple has sculptures of many Hindu gods and goddesses.
The address of the temple is 45-57 Bowne street, St queens, new york, 11355, United States.
The timings of the temple are, Monday to Friday-10.00 AM to 8.30 PM, Sat and Sun- 7.00 AM to 8.30 PM.
Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, Illinois
It is one of the abodes of lord Vishnu. The first-generation American Hindu families donated 20 crores for the construction of this temple. It is one of the earliest and most ancient temples in the United States. It truly reflects the core Dravidian style of architecture. Throngs of devotees flock to this temple to seek the blessings of Lord Venkateshwara.
The temple is located at 1145 west Sullivan Road, Aurora. Subhash Nadkarni guided the building of the temple.
The timings of the temple are from 9.00 AM to 9.00 PM.
Sri Lakshmi temple, Ashland
They built the temple in 1980s and it took two years to complete it. Muthiah Stapathi, a renowned Indian sculpture architect, directed and guided the construction of the temple. The top of the temple is fifty feet high from the base which makes the temple visible from far-off places as well.
And apart from Goddess Lakshmi, the temple is also home to deities such as Maha Ganpati, Sri Mahalakshmi, Sri Nataraja, Sri Venkateswara, Sri Subramanya, Garuda, Navagraha, and Sri Hariharaputra.
The temple has dedicated meditation rooms and the priests of the temple follow the daily spiritual schedule which includes various pujas, festivals, shloka classes, cultural classes etc.
It is located at 117 Waverly Street, Ashland, MA, o1721, United States. The temple remains open from 10.00 AM to 12.30 PM and then 6.00 PM to 9.00 PM.
Hindu temple, Atlanta
It is one of the most beautiful temples in the united states. Someone has adorned the temple in white color, a symbol of peace, to showcase traditional Indian architectural style. The aesthetics of the temple are breathtaking.
People come here to seek the blessings of Lord Ganesha, Hanumana, Durga, Nagendra, and Bhairava. The main two deities of the temple are lord Shiva and lord Balaji.
The address of the temple is 5851, GA-85, Riverdale, GA-30274, United States. The timings of the temple are 9.00 AM to 9.00 PM.
Malibu Hindu Temple, California
The temple is the focal point of the meeting of Hindus. The temple serves the purpose of uniting a community for a common cause. The Hindu temple society of Southern California is maintaining and managing the temple.
The south Indian Dravidian style of temple architecture inspires the design and aesthetics of the temple.
The address of the temple is 1600 Los Virgenes canyon road, Calabasas, CA 91302, united states. The timings of the temple are 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM and the temple is open to the public only on Saturdays and Sundays.
Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey
Also, It is the largest and biggest Hindu temple in the USA. the temple exhibits the unique culture and historical traditions of India.
It is the prime center for the religious congregation of the Hindus to discuss wide matters of concern. Devotees from around the globe have dedicated the temple to Lord Swaminarayan as a testimony to their huge presence. the address of the temple is 112, N main street, Windsor, New Jersey, 08561, United States. The timings of the temple are from 9.00 AM to 7.30 PM.
So this was the list of some very famous and grandeur-filled temples situated in India that Indians living in America should pay a visit to.
FAQs
How many total number of temples are there in USA?
Also, The total number of Hindu temples in the USA are around 450 and the majority of them are located on the eastern coast of the country.
Which one is the largest Hindu temple in the USA?
Swaminarayan Akshardham temple is the largest temple in the USA. it is located in Robbinsville, New Jersey. It is not only the biggest temple in the USA but is also the second-largest temple in the world.
Which temple is the oldest and the first Hindu temple in the USA?
The public elected members built the Siva Murugan temple in 1957 in Concord, California, which is the earliest traditional temple built in the United States.