Southern Illinois to have Hindu temple - Hindu Janajagruti Samiti

Chaitra Shukla Trutiya, Kaliyug Varsha 5113

From Our Correspondent

A Hindu Temple and Community Center has been planned for Carbondale in southern Illinois (USA).

Reports suggest that groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 17 amidst chanting of Sanskrit shlokas, burning incense sticks, etc., over three acres of donated land. Currently, area Hindus travel to St. Louis or Nashville for worship services. It will also be very convenient for about 300 students from India enrolled at Southern Illinois University.

Dr. Pradeep Reddy, Naresh Patel and Padma Chandrasekar are President, Vice President, and Secretary respectively of non-profit Hindu Temple & Cultural Society of Southern Illinois launched in 2009 which is undertaking this temple project behind Carbondale Mall. It is asking for donations for the construction, which is reportedly expected to start as soon as city approves the blueprints.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded efforts of temple-project leaders and southern Illinois community to realize this wonderful Hindu temple complex.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this new temple complex would focus in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism.

Carbondale in Jackson County, founded in 1852 and known as “Capital of Southern Illinois”, has won All American City Award and Governor’s Home Town Award. Singer Shawn Colvin, saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer, football player Ron Acks, and actor Dennis Franz are associated with Carbondale which is home of Cedar Lake. Brad Cole and Allen D. Gill are Mayor and City Manager respectively.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents.

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