About Hindu Temple of Minnesota

A Hindu Temple is an integrative institution which contributes to the development of the creative arts such as architecture, sculpture, painting, music & dance. A Hindu Temple classically has the main entrance which is usually the tallest and is decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures. This main gateway or the entrance is called “Raja-Gopura”. Multiple carvings of deities human beings, birds and animals are depicted on the front and around this tall structure. It signifies that the universe has a place for all these forms of life and we revere each of them.

Once simple and sacred places of worship, the Hindu Temples have evolved into artistic monuments to reflect the reverence accorded by the devotees through very elaborate rituals and glorious festivals. Our Hindu Temple has been constructed strictly according to the principles of Vedic Vastushastra, which is several several thousands of years old and has successfully survived the test of time. Shastra means “enlightened literature”. Vastu means the Manifest which originates from “vustu”, which denotes the Unmanifest. Such temples evoke a profound sacredness in the minds and hearts of the devotees as they enter through a Raja Gopura.

The Temple represents a Human body. The head is considered as the main sanctum, the large temple hall (Maha Mandapa) is the central portion of the body, and the Raja Gopura symbolizes the feet. The Raja Gopura can also be considered as the gross body of the temple with the consecrated temple deities representing its spiritual entity. Devotees, unable to visit the temple offer their obeisance to God from far away with the sight of the Raja Gopura Kalashas.

The Raja Gopura consists of an odd number of stories and Kalashas. They represent three states of waking, dream, and deep sleep in which we experience the outer world. Seven signifies the mind (Manas) and the intellect (Buddhi), in addition to the five senses. Nine represents the above seven, plus the addition of ego (Ahamkara) and bliss (Chitta). The significance of entering through the Raja Gopura is that, as we enter the Temple, we must turn our entire inner equipment of these nine entities (Antahkarana) towards the God, establish total communion and experience our inner divinity.

The Vastu Shastra describes the Temple as a grand Mandala, a sacred shape consisting of the intersection of a circle and a square. The square shape is symbolic of Earth, signifying four directions and 4 dimensions. The circle is an ideal metaphor for divinity, as it is a perfect shape without a beginning or end. The inner sanctum and the main tower are structurally conceived in human proportions based upon the mystical number eight. Every shrine of worship has been constructed in the Temple Hall. Such constructed temples become the meeting ground for Heaven & Earth, Infinite & Finite, and God & Humanity.

In our Hindu Temple, every Shrine of worship has been constructed by the skilled Shilpis under the guidance of one of the greatest Hindu temple Architects, Padmashree Muthiah Sthapathi. Each shrine starts at the base with Apapita & Charana-basement & Foot, and moves upwards towards the Ushnisha & Shikha, the head & skull, step by step. On top is the shiny golden Kalasha, which is pointed upwards to meet the cosmic consciousness in the heavens.

As this Shrine of Worship represents the Human Body, the heart and soul is represented by the ceremonially consecrated central icon. Just as the powerful energy becomes evident when focused properly with help from a convex lens so to the divinity present all around in this divine creation has been harnessed through the uniquely powerful Vedic Mantras and established firmly in the centrally placed icons in each shrine of worship.