A Hindu temple has reportedly been planned for Fort Wayne (Indiana, USA), which is said to be expectedly complete in 2012. Claimed to be the first Hindu temple in North America named after “Om”, Omkaar Temple is said to be in the early stages of development and would reportedly be constructed by the family of Dr. Jyothirmai Reddy under the guidance of Kumaraswamy Dixitar.
Pancha Mukha Shiva Linga would be its “primary deity”. Other deities proposed to be installed include Parvathy (Ambaal), Ganapathi, Murugan, Balaji (Perumal), Padmavathi, Lakshmi, Sriram Parivar, Hanuman, Krishna, Radha, and the Nava Grahas.
Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded efforts of temple leaders and Fort Wayne area community to realize this Hindu temple.
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 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.
Currently the non-profit Omkaar Temple organizes abhishekams, poojas, sahasranamams, and bhajans of various Hindu deities. Its mission includes pursuing “Hindu tradition and culture”, while the purpose is stated as: “To promote inter-religious, social and cultural understanding and to support humanitarian causes”. Karthik Natarajan is the priest.
“Om” is the mystical syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism is used to introduce and conclude religious work. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents.
Founded in 1794, Fort Wayne has been All-America City Award recipient three times. Prominent people associated with it include: Olympic gold medalists Matt Vogel, Sharon Wichman and Lloy Ball; actresses Jenna Fischer, Carole Lombard, Julia Barr and Shelley Long; author Stephen King; Wendy’s International founder Dave Thomas; television inventor Philo T. Farnsworth; and singer Heather Headley. Tom Henry is the Mayor while Sandra E. Kennedy is the City Clerk.
For more details — Log on to official website of Omkar Temple, Fort Wayne, Indiana… http://www.omkaartemple.org/index.php
Email:
omkaar@omkaartemple.org (Official Contact and General Inquiry) admin@omkaartemple.org (Tech Team)
Phone:
260-623-0001 (Administration)
260-442-9073 (Priest Karthik Natarajan, “By Request” Service Scheduling)
US Postal Address:
Omkaar Temple
Yellow River Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46814
Please be aware Google Maps and some GPS units list us as in “Columbia City.”
These are the same physical locations.
Directions to Temple from I-69:
1. On I-69 take Exit 109B
2. Continue on US-30 W for 7.5 mi
3. Turn left onto W County Line Road, sign reads CO LINE RD. (look for Marathon Gas Station on Left) – 0.6 mi
4. Turn left onto Yellow River Rd – 0.2 mi
5. Temple is on the right, follow gravel drive.