Hindu Temple of Greater Springfield plans $2.7 million project for its expansion in Illinois, USA

Hindu Temple of Greater Springfield plans $2.7 million project for its expansion in Illinois, USA
  • HTGS is a non-profit organization established in 2007 which aims "to preserve and promote the Hindu Religion, culture, and philosophy", to open and conduct worship daily
  • The entire complex will be built based on the traditional Indian Vastu Shasta principles
  • A new prayer hall with a basement that could provide space for cultural events has been planned

The Hindu Temple of Greater Springfield (HTGS) in Chatham (Illinois, USA) has reportedly planned $2.7 million expansion project. The announcement has come during the four-day celebration of the eighth anniversary of HGTS, from August 4- 8 August, this year in 2016.

HTGS is a non-profit organization established in 2007 which aims "to preserve and promote the Hindu Religion, culture, and philosophy", to open and conduct worship daily. Various study circles, religious education classes, discourses, celebrations of festivals, religious activities, community service projects, and cultural events are also undertaken by this organization.

According to merinews.com, the northwest of the temple structure was earlier a Baptist Church, that will be rebuilt. A new prayer hall with a basement could provide space for cultural events. The entire complex will be built based on the traditional Indian Vastu Shasta principles. An architect from India will be brought in to assist the project. 17 murtis or idols of deities like Mahalakshmi, Venkateswara, Radha-Krishna, Rama-Pariwar and Shiva-lingam, each costing $100,000 will be brought from India.

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Hindu Temple of Greater Springfield Anniversary Celebrations. Image Source: HGTS

The salient features of the newly proposed plan are Raja Gopuram, individual deity gopurams with kalashas which will cost about $300,000, a Havan room, an immersion pond with the fountain which is expected to cost about $100,000), and an Utsav Pallaki.

The 60th/80th birthday, which is celebrated in a grand manner in India costs $251 at the temple. The child-naming ceremony costs $51, mundan (tonsure) ceremony costs $31 and vehicle pooja costs $25. The important dignitaries are Keshava Shastry, who is the Priest, Dr. Kartik

The important dignitaries are Keshava Shastry, who is the Priest, Dr. Kartik Mani and Gopal Reddy, who are the Trustees' Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively; Dr. Krishna Rao and Shipra Somani are Executive Committee President and Vice-President respectively.

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The eighth-anniversary celebrations will last for four full days and will be free and open to the public. The celebrations will conclude on August seven and will include performing various rituals like kalasha sthapana, archanas, bhajans, Srinivasa Kalyana Utsavam, arathis, abhishekams, discourse, homam/ havan, kanakabhishekam and many cultural programs and a vegetarian food mela, said merinews.com reports.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism and a distinguished Hindu statesman appreciated the temple leaders and the Hindu community for realizing this Hindu temple complex. In a statement in Nevada, he said that it was important to pass on spirituality, the ideals and traditions of Hinduism to the coming generations in a time when the community has become materialistic. He hopes that this temple would help in this direction.

Zed also stressed on the need to reflect upon one's actions and realize the true power of the Self and work towards achieving the ultimate goal of human life, that is Moksha (Liberation from the cycle of births and rebirths.)

– prepared by Ajay Krishna of NewsGram. Twitter: @ajkrish14

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