Interview

I decided to divide the interview process between both my visits.  During which I ask Priest Vishnu Sukul, how do temples differ in India?  Did you and the community change things to conform to American society?  What are things that never change?  How does one become a Priest?  Why did you decide to build the Mandir?  Well, the Priest said he built the Mandir due to communal needs.  The community assisted in building it.  He said that the temples differed in size and appearance.  The temples are bigger in India.  His statements were made obvious by the videos shown in class.  He said that the community did not change to conform to the American society, but rather, changes were made in the celebration of festivals.  The manner in which Holi is celebrated is a good example.  He said that darshan, bhakti, arti, prasad, and dharma are concepts that remain the same.  The rituals performed to bring a new deity into the Mandir are also the same.  The breath and the stare of the deity are invited into the object representing the deity.  The way these are believed does not change.  To become a Priest, once most go through training.  After which, the status of Priest is inherited by sons.  His son will be the next Priest at the Vishnu Mandir.  No photos were allowed within the Mandir.