Michigan Hindu temple installs deities after $10 million renovation

15 June, 2012

The newly renovated/expanded Bharatiya Temple of Metropolitan Detroit in Troy, Michigan, in the US, is holding a five-day elaborate 'deities installation' event, ending June 17.

IN ORDER to accommodate the growing number of devotees, the temple reportedly spent about $10 million during the last seven years on expansion from 28,000 to about 70,000 square feet and renovation. The sanctuary houses seven new temples created in India out of white Makarana marble with teakwood doors and assembled here in about a year working day and night.

This "Prana Pratishtha" event is described by the Temple as “the ceremony by which the sacred images of the Lord are infused with the breath of life”. “During this celebration, the murtis representing the Lord’s various forms are immersed in water, bathed with offerings of milk and honey, and decorated with fragrant flowers. These sacred rituals are complemented by a prescribed series of pujas and havans, in accordance with ancient traditions”, Temple website adds.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement, applauded efforts of Temple leaders and Troy-Detroit and surrounding community to realize this wonderful Hindu temple complex. Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this Temple would focus in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

The "Prana Pratishtha" celebrations include Ganesh, Udakashanti and other Pujas; Ganesh, Mulamantra, Navagraha, Sarva Devata, Pachasukta, Sudarshan, Chandi and Rudra Havans; Bhajan Sandhya; Gurubani Shabads; Adhivasams; Nritya Sandhya; Unmeelanam; Vishnu Sahasranama Parayana; Raas and Garba; Aruna Homam, Aahutis; Kalyanam; Kirtans; Abhishekams; Aaratis; Ropanam; Kalakarshanam Shobha Yatra; etc. Sthapana of Navaratna and Yantra, Lord Lakshminarayana, Lord Venkateshwara, Lord Shiva, Shri Radha Krishna, Shri Ram Parivar, Lord Ganesh, Goddess Durga Devi and Navagrahas is being held in the 10,000 square feet prayer hall.

This Temple regularly holds pujas, meditation, talks, aartis, discourses, pranayam, havans, archanas, abhishekam, Satyanaryananvrotam, etc. Besides these worship services, Temple and its various bodies are reportedly involved in community service, providing health care referral service for unemployed/uninsured, supporting families in difficult situations, visitations, offering prayers for patients, bereavement support, services for the seniors, music-dance-language-education activities, immigration clinics, multilingual library, health fair, interfaith activities, children and youth activities, Jagannatha Ratha Yatra, etc. It also reportedly runs a Gurukul Montessori Academy early-childhood education center; yoga center; and classes in yoga, Hindi, Sanskrit, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Dharma and Table Tennis. It also features a 7,500 square feet banquet hall and classrooms.

Starting with a first meeting on January 25, 1975 in an area motel, Temple was formally inaugurated on July 19, 1981, and now about 800 families worship here.

Tom Patel, Bhavani Garapati and Velji Kansara are Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary respectively of its Trustees Board; while S.Viswanathan, Ravi Khattree and Mahaveer Khetawat are President, President Elect and Secretary respectively of its Executive Committee. Janakirama Sastry Vithala and Ramachandra Bhat are the priests.