Sri Venkateswara Temple

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that the issue of religion and tolerance, like racism, has always been a contentious one in the United States. This is particularly true of the non-Western, non-mainstream religions, such as Hinduism and other Indian religious directions. The writer then looks at the Sri Venkateswara Temple, that is also known as the Balaji Mandir and which functions as both a Hindu Temple and a Cultural Society serving the Hindu people in the area. The writer concludes that the temple has provided a focus not only for the Hindu community in the area, but also for the education of Westerners in the area.

From the Paper:

"The Sri Venkateswara Temple is also known as the Balaji Mandir and functions as both a Hindu Temple and a Cultural Society serving the Hindu people in the area. There arose a need for such a temple in the Bridgewater area during the 1980s. One reason is that this period saw a significant increase in the Hindu Indian population in the area. In addition to the fact that this community experienced the need for worship services and cultural connections, was also the fact that many of these people were employed by the professional sector. They therefore had significant funds to contribute toward a project of establishing a worship community and building a temple. As mentioned above, the parental concern for retaining their children's awareness of their cultural roots also played a role in the need for establishing a temple. The first step towards attaining this goal was to buy land on which a temple could be built."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hindu American Temple and Cultural Center. 2005-2006. http://www.venkateswara.org/
• India News. Temples in the United States. Sept. 13, 2006. http://indiaenews.com/2006-08/17026-53-hindu-temples-united-states.htm
• Linderman, Michael. Profile, Sri Venkateswara Temple. 2002. http://www.pluralism.org/research/profiles/display.php?profile=68064
• Nirmalani, Rashmi. Religious Movements: Hinduism. 2001. http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/hinduism.html
• Prentiss, Karen Pechilis. The Pattern of Hinduism and Hindu Temple Building in the U.S. Committee on the Study of Religion, 2006. http://www.pluralism.org/research/articles/pp_hinduism_article.php?from=affil_pechilis-prentiss

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