Hindu temple opens in a former Church building in North Carolina

A new Hindu temple, Shree Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir, has reportedly opened after various rituals in a building in Cary (North Carolina, USA), which used to house Hispanic Ministry of a United Methodist Church.

Launched by International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization (ISSO), a \"global interdependent network\" under Shree NarNarayan Dev Gadi of Shree Swaminarayan Sampraday headquartered in Ahmedabad (India); it plans to organize daily aarti, bi-weekly Satsang Sabha followed by mahaprasad, festivals, community gatherings, religious/cultural classes, etc., in this new temple; reports suggest.

According to reports, the opening ceremonies of this temple, held during July 28-31 and lead by a priest from India, included various pujas, etc. The group of devotees, which has been meeting at each others? houses and community halls since 1999, plans to further renovate the building. Congregants include Niraj Joshi, Sujal Patel, Nirmala Patel, Parthavi Joshi, Tej Joshi, etc., reports suggest.

Meanwhile, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, commended efforts of temple leaders and area community for realizing this Hindu temple.

Rajan 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 help 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.

ISSO, under His Holiness 1008 Acharya Shree Koshalendraprasadji Maharajshree, besides India, has temples in USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Sweden. With prime objective ?to advance the Sanatan Dharma...?, it also runs Nar Narayan Dev Yuvak Mandal for youth, a humanitarian organization ISSO Seva, Shree Swaminarayan Museum in Ahmedabad, etc. Shikshapatri, written by Swaminarayan Bhagwan, is one of the scriptures of the group.

Company :-Universal Society of Hinduism

User :- Rajan Zed

Email :-rajanz@aol.com