Measuring Distances and Showing the way!

While I was in downtown Denton recently I chanced upon this nice signage in front of the first United Methodist Church. Interesting subject to discuss about I thought... the distance from earth to heaven... billions of people across the world are in the quest of reaching heaven and they would all benefit from knowing the distance they have to travel to reach there.

After seeing the signage I wonder if there is a short cut to heaven. The distance may be greately shortened if you are a believer and you work towards getting other lost souls to convert and become believers themselves. Anyway going by the size and majesty of the church building I can imagine that there are many people out there trying to go to heaven. This lecture is sure to help them know the distance to heaven and the tools they need to get there asap.

The Majestic church building just off of Courthouse square in Denton, TX.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Galveston, TX

In America's bible belt that comprises of the southern states including Texas whether there is a grocery store, hospital or a police station in a city doesn't matter so long as there is one or more churches in the community. This is the extent of faith in this part of the world. These churches are not some rundown buildings that also serve as a house of worship but fancy building, mostly better than the ones in the community.



Pictured below is the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, located across the street from the Bishop's Palace. This church seems to be the renovated version of an older house of worship. I guess in the olden days the Bishop would simply walk across the street to deliver sermons on Sundays. Now the palace is a museum and I wonder where the Bishop lives?

Seeking Divine Intervention!!!

Last set of Pictures of the Buddhist Temple in Houston

I have been posting the pictures of the spectacular Viet Namese Buddhist temple in Sugarland, Houston, Tx over the past two days. The temple is so vast and has so many interesting sights that it is difficult to post all the pictures at one go. Anyway here is the last set of pictures shot in the sprawling temple complex which features rolling green lawns, vast artistic buildings, water bodies and expansive parking lots.

Another Bell Tower

A large building in the temple, the library or discourse room I suppose

Rear view of the temple with fountain and sculptures

Sculpture of Buddha under the Bodhi tree in the shrine's Bonsai garden

More Pictures of the Viet Namese Buddhist Temple, Houston

Yesterday I blogged about our last week's visit to Houston and the accidental discovery of the grand Viet Namese Buddhist temple. Due to paucity of time I couldn't upload all the pictures I wanted to in the blot post. This grand Buddhist shrine evokes awe and intrigue at the same time. There are several areas of the temple which would make any Hindu/ Buddhist feel proud. For instance the presence of the Ashoka Pillars crowned by Lions right at the entrance, a massive building known as "Dharma Hall", the verdant green acres around the shrines, the numerous images of Buddha installed amidst gardens and lawns, et al. I hope I could visit this temple again when I visit Houston and take in the beauty and spiritual vibrations. Here are more views of the temple.

The Bell Tower in the center of the shrine compound

Buddha idol in the garden contiguous to the shrine

Bridge across a water body to view the Buddha idol

Water body and the idols inside and outside it

Another religious symbol in the water body

Long shot of the Buddha statue

NB: More pictures to come shortly.

Viet Namese Buddhist Temple, Houston

Ashoka Chakra right at the entrance of the temple

Last weekend we had been to Houston to participate in the wonderful Krishna Janmashtami celebrations organized by the Hindus of Greater Houston. The day after the event we hung around in Houston to visit couple of friends and take in the Hindu sights of the city. We have seen everything there is to see in this city last year the museum of modern art, Downtown Aquarium, zoo, water wall, NASA space center, George Ranch and others. That is why this time we decided to take in only the spiritual sights of Hindus. It seems like there are millions of churches in every city in the US so I don't bother with them unless they are really spectacular or historically relevant.

Anyway coming back to our exploration we had planned on visiting the Swami Narayan temple. Unfortunately for us we found the wrong address on google and landed up in the wrong place. This was a misfortune in disguise because right next door to the address we found was this magnificent Viet Namese Buddhist temple. This shrine with its towering milky white statue of Buddha, artificial lakes, rolling grassy lawns and gardens, held me spellbound even as I enjoyed myself capturing photographs of the location.

I was heartened to see the Ashoka Pillar right at the entrance of the temple and also the Dharma Ghanta (Bell of Justice) installed in a tower adjacent to the sanctum. This is one temple which is resplendent of the glory of Eastern religions and non-violent philosophy. I wish some of our Hindu temples would be as imposing. The temple was choc-a-bloc with pious Viet Namese listening to a discourse.

Sanctum of the temple

The Dharma Ghanta inside its tower

I will be posting more pictures of this wonderful shrine, once I get them sorted out. And then there are several pictures of last week's trip to Katrina-devastated and government neglected New Orleans. Do keep visiting the blog and check out the updates. Last and most important do leave your comments and feedback.

Houston Temples

During last week's visit to Houston we took a little time off to visit some local Hindu temples. Since the temples were all closed on Sunday afternoon I could get pictures only from the outside. Most temples are located in a run-down part of the city and one of them is even occupying an old industrial warehouse. Here are the pictures....

Swami Narayan Temple, Houston

Ashta Lakshmi Temple, Houston - housed in an industrial warehouse

Ashta Lakshmi Temple, Houston - with its typical South Indian trappings

Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations in Houston

Lord Krishna, the god of love with his consort Radha

Over the weekend we had been to Houston to participate in the well organized, colorful, and wonderfully scintillating Krishna Janmashtami Celebrations. The festival was organized by Hindus of Greater Houston, a non-profit organization formed to promote Hinduism and remove the popular misconceptions about the oldest religion in the world. The beauty of the event was that there was no fees charged either for visitors or for vendors who kept booths. The only condition however was that only Hindu non-profit organizations were permitted to have booths.

This was the first time I felt a Hindu presence in the United States. Temples and other spiritual locations apart this was the only ceremony which had a pure Hindu feel to it. The ceremonies were quite similar to those festivities organized in ashrams of modern Hindu Swamis like the Prasanna Trust or Art of Living Foundation. The highlight of the evening was live performance by Ghazal Maestro Anup Jalota who held the audience spellbound by his rendition of devotional songs dedicated to Lord Rama and Krishna.

There were numerous other performances by children, Krishna costume competition and the event was capped up by a Dandia or community dance which went on for about an hour and half. The devotional evening started off at 5.30 pm and continued until 1.00 am. As I came out of the auditorium I was heady in the spirituality and felt really happy that at last I have participated in a proper Hindu festival celebration. Here are some pictures... more to come..

Ceremonial welcome to guests on a carpet flanked by traditional figures

The center of attraction a mega rangoli with Radha-Krishna idol in the center

Ghazal Maestro Anup Jalota rendering soul soothing devotional songs

Packed auditorium during Anup Jalota's performance

The band of Guruvaurappan temple getting ready for performance

The imposing performance graduates with my highlight.

Ganesha Chathurthi Celebrations

Today Hindus living in America celebrated the festival of Ganesha Chathurthi. We performed simple worship at home with offerings of Modaks, fruits, and flowers. Then we proceeded to the Plano Ganesha temple where hundreds of Hindus were participating in the ceremonial worship of Lord.
Later in the afternoon we visited Taj Mahal Imports which in my opinion is the largest Indian store in the metroplex. The store had an array of Ganesha idols for sale which were being eagerly bought by devotees of the Lord of Wisdom.
Evening we participated in the exuberant celebrations at the University of Texas at Dallas. A group of Hindu students from India had got together and staged the festival in a simple but very devout fashion. I particularly liked the initiative of few students who had compiled a collection of songs in Marathi, Sanskrit and Hindu in praise of Lord Ganesha. Hymns in praise of Ganesha rent the air around the apartments and it was great to be part of this celebrations. This is a small saving grace for my life in the US.
Of course it is not necessary to mention that during these occasions the pain of separation from India, parents and family and the community with which I would celebrate the occasion, gets heightened. I guess it will continue to be there as long as I am here.

Happy Ganesha Chathurthi

Image by rosemanios via Flickr

The Hindu Festival of Ganesha Chathurthi during which we worship Lord Ganesha the elephant god who is the deity of knowledge, wisdom, and remover of obstacles is on August 23, 2009. Like every other festival I used to celebrate in India, Ganesha Chathurthi is also the second time in the US. Last year my parents were here and hence the occasion was celebrated much similar like in India. This year it will not be possible. The closest thing to do would be to visit the Ganesha temple in Plano or any other Hindu temple where this occasion is being observed and participate in the festivities.
I hope Lord Ganesha will give me the gift of wisdom, knowledge, and remove obstacles that stand between me and my goals. My prayer to god on this occasion is to give me the strength, courage, presence of mind, and humility to reach my goals.