Hindu Temples in the Rest of the World

      Hindu temples are now in all corners of the world. Whenever there is sizeable population of Hindus, the temple activity becomes imperative. The local community takes up the project under the leadership of one or more enthusiastic leaders, and usually the response is encouraging. Undoubtedly, the Hindu community needs these sacred premises, not only so they may be spiritually uplifted but also so that they may maintain their identity and social structure. The temples have become the most important cultural centers around which all other activities are organized. The need to take the temple projects with utmost care and attention is obvious. Any mismanagement or wrong functioning would significantly affect the community as a whole.

       In many Hindu temples, the multi-deity worship has become a common practice to accommodate the sentiments of different sections of the community. The temples, however, which are organized under the umbrella of the parent institutes, such as ISKCON, the Swaminarayan sect, etc., maintain their individual form and style. In the recently opened Swminayarayan temples, the multi-deity worship has been adopted. Fortunately, in none of the Hindu temples is there a total polarization, nor is the Hindu community rigidly divided on the basis of their temple affiliation. Hindus often visit temples of separate sects and organizations, although they usually have a preference for one of their choice. They normally sponsor their own family functions in the temple of their allegiance.

       Hindu temples are established on all five continents. In Africa, these are present in Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. In Asia, apart from India, Hindu temples are present in Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, China, and Cambodia. Hindu temples are established in many cities of Australia.

       Hindu temples are present in many countries of the Caribbean islands—Barbados, Fiji, Guyana, and Jamaica. In Europe, Hindu temples are established in the UK, Denmark, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands. In North America, there are Hindu temples all across the United States and Canada. In South America, Hindu temples are in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Chile.

 
       Swaminarayan temples have been established in Africa, the UK, and in many cities in America, such as Boston, Los Angeles, Houston, and Chicago. ISKCON temples are in many places, such as Nigeria, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, North America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, and Japan.

       The Chinmaya Mission has set up temples, apart from India, in the United States, the UK, Australia, Sri Lanka, and France. The most important contribution of the Chinmaya centers is the organization of the children’s classes, or Bal Vihar, where a well-planned religious curriculum is taught to young boys and girls. These centers have become very popular in foreign countries, where the Hindus have become highly conscious of this need.

       In the UK, there are many Hindu temples of different organizations. Swaminarayan Temple in London occupies a place of pride, as it attracts not only the Hindus but also many persons of other faiths because of its artistic architecture and extensive marble and wooden craftsmanship. The ISKCON temple and Balaji Venkateshwara temples are other important Hindu shrines.

       In Australia, the ISKCON and Swaminarayan temples are there along with temples of South Indian origin, such as the Venkateshwar Balaji, Murgan, Balasubramaniam, and Siva temples. In Malayasia, Singapore, and other Southeast Asian countries, temples of South Indian origin abound, as more persons from that region of India have migrated there. Malaysia’s population includes 20 percent Hindus of Dravidian origin. Sri Maha Mariammman temple, founded in 1873, is the Shakta temple, dedicated to goddess Parvati. It is the most famous Hindu temple. Sri Subramaniaswamy Temple, or the Batu Caves Temple, as it is commonly known, is equally popular. Many devotees and tourists visit this temple, situated high up in the mountain, with elegant steps leading upwards.

      Indonesia, too, has witnessed enormous temple activity, especially in the province of Java. Shiva and Shakti temples in the South Indian style abound in all corners there. The famous temples of Angkor in Cambodia, which have now been recognized as a world heritage, are very similar to the ancient Hindu temples of India. The grand stone structures house Hindu deities and reflect the zenith of Hindu culture in the first millennium CE. In Nepal, which is an overwhelmingly Hindu country, there are many diverse Hindu temples. Pashupatinath Temple in Khatmandu is the most famous Shiva temple in Nepal. Gushmeshwari Shrine is one of the eighteen Sakti Peethas, dedicated to goddess Sati.

     Pakistan, which had a sizeable Hindu population before the partition in 1947, has a number of diverse Hindu temples. There are many important Sikh Gurudwaras in Punjab, especially, which the Sikhs from India visit as a holy pilgrimage every year. Bangladesh has many Hindu temples of different types. Sri Lanka has a large Hindu population and has many temples of the South Indian style all across the country, especially in the northern region.

NOTE: This chapter is adapted from www.Mandir.com.

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