Veramayana

My first visit to the Hindu temple, Vishwa Dharma Mandalam, was an interesting experience. My expectations were predominantly based on what we have discussed in class, as well as excerpts from other blogs. What I had imagined was vaguely similar to the way the temple was in reality.

I left for the temple with my friend who is of Indian decent and has been to many Hindu temples in India as well as London and Spain. I thought he could give me some insight into how other temples are normally set up and why this one might be different.

The window of this temple is set up almost like a shop for Hindu nicknacks. There were posters, candles, incense, and miniature deities. As we entered into the tiny space that is the temple there was a computer set up to the left with a shelf of items to purchase. There was a single man doing yoga on a blue mat and asked my friend and I what we were doing there. I had explained I called earlier and if he would mind if I looked around the temple. He said that would be fine, but to please remove our shoes.

The first room of the temple (the one with the computer and incense for sale) was dedicated to the god Ganesha. There was a large statue of him sitting amongst baskets of fake flowers. There were all sorts of smaller statues of Ganesh in the room as well as candles, incense, pictures, etc.

The second, larger room was where most of the ceremonies and daily yoga practices take place. This room was also dedicated to many deities. It began hard to tell them apart there were so many, however I did notice a large high relief sculpture of Hanuman. The walls were lined with wooden square sculptures that looked as if they were torn off of an ancient temple in India. There were glass cases with small sculptures of deities as well as a large chair with a giant picture of the founder of this temple, Gurudev.

The final back room was full of even more statues, lanterns, and various pictures. There was little floor space but one woman was meditating and repeating the same phrase over and over.

Although there were only two people there, they were not very helpful or friendly. I had assumed they would enjoy giving me a tour and sharing some of the information about their temple with me, however it seemed like I was interrupting them. My friend had told me this temple was very different from ones he had previously seen and perhaps it was because they are Harikrishna’s. Whatever the case, they seemed as though they wanted me to leave as soon as I had gotten there.

No pictures were allowed to be taken, however  I have uploaded two from the website.