 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD 1 Session 4 Legacy of Hinduism The Temples Landscape in NA: All Should Prosper Siva Subramanian Sri Siva Vishnu Temple United Hindu-Jain Temples Association September 11-13, 2009

 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD 2 Early Hindu Concepts & Temples In North America Ralph Waldo Emerson – Henry David Thoreau –Transcendentalist movement influenced by Bhagavad-Gita Parliament of Religions – 1893 Swami Vivekananda For the next 70 years – Many Swamis came Vedanta Society – First Hindu Temple 1906 Hollywood Temple Santa Barbara Temple

 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD 3 Legacy of Hinduism in NA Post 1965 Immigration Act –Large influx of Hindu Americans Architecture of Hindu Temples – 1970s –Dravida & Nagara styles All Dharmic Tradition including Sikh, Jain and Buddhist Temples were also built Sri Venkateswara Temple – Pittsburgh 1976 Sri Ganesha Temple – Queens, New York 1977 Over 500+ Temples in USA and Canada

 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD 4 Legacy of Hinduism: Architecture Dravida and Nagara Styles

 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD Legacy of Hinduism in NA: Statistics ZoneMandirsStates East220 CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, MA, MD, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, WV Mid- West 47 IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, OH, OK, WI South38AL, KY, LA, MS, OK, TN, TX West132CA, & all other states Canada99 67 in Ontario, 10 in British Columbia StateMandirs NY128 CA83 NJ38 FL33 TX27 IL26 OH23 MA21 PA21 GA20 MD17

 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD Legacy of Hinduism in NA: Evolution Growth Phase-I (Establishing/ Protecting) Helping primarily Generation-I Focus laid on rituals & asset building Phase-II (Strengthening) Helping Generation-II & Generation-I Focus - Meeting needs of Gen-II while continuing to perform existing services Phase-III (Growing/Maturing) Helping Generation-II & non-Hindus Focus – Meeting needs of larger American society & offering solutions rooted in Dharma

 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD 7 Legacy of Hindu Temples in NA: Challenges that Face Hindu Temples of NA Early on Challenges by Local community Challenges from within - Unity Active involvement by the Next Generation Need for Large Endowments Learn from Others – e.g. Jewish groups Getting involved in other activities such as: –Community Services – Homeless feeding –Inter Faith activities –Education – Public school/college –Curriculum - Starting Hindu schools

 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD 8 Legacy of Hindu Temples in NA: All Should Prosper if –Each Temple Cooperates with each other –Establish a National Networking of Dharmic Temples –Establish a National Networking of Hindu Temples e.g. United Hindu-Jain Temples of Washington DC –Involve Women in Administration & Leadership levels –Involve Second Gen Hindu Youths and Young adults –Use Technology in Administration –Share Best Practices & Pool resources –Support Hindu/Dharmic Chairs/Depts. in Universities

 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD 9 Legacy of Hindu Temples in NA: Conclusion Tremendous progress made by 1 st generation of immigrants in building temples Many challenges have to be overcome to sustain this legacy –Cooperation and Networking: essential for prosperity of Hindu temples, no need to compete –Learn from others / be active in local community –Focus on Younger generation –Inter Faith collaboration

 Hindu Mandir Executive Conference September 11-13, 2009, Linthicum, MD Legacy of Hindu Temples in NA: THANK YOU ALL! References 1.Hindu Temples of North America: A celebration of Life by Mahalingum Kolapen 2.Padma Bhushan Ganapati Sthapati – Sirpa Nool 3.Umesh Shukla – HMEC presentation to the Temples 10