Bharat Rekha In America

A newly-published coffee-table book comes loaded with information on Hindu temples in the USA.

There are 53 Hindu temples in 33 American states, says a just published coffee table book that details the history, architecture, deities and other salient features reflecting the growing spread of Hinduism in this country.

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Titled Bharat Rekha In America, the book by former Indian management consultant K. Panchapakesan, was released by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, a member of the House of Representatives' committee on international relations at the Capitol Hill.

Recalling his close personal ties with India and the role he played in the establishment of a Hindu Temple in South Carolina, Wilson lauded the efforts of the author to meet a long felt need of the Indian American Community.

Published by Kansas Medical Publishing headed by Shekhar Challa, a noted Indian American doctor, the book brings out several interesting facets of Hindu temples in America.

K. Panchapakesan holds his new book Bharat Rekha in America

These include:

- At a Ganesh temple in Anchorage, Alaska, devotees take turn to work as priests.

- Generally Shiva and Vishnu temples are constructed separately, but quite a few temples in the US house both deities together.

- The Ganesh temple in Nashville has a Shiva Lingam, which is said to have self-grown on the Narmada riverbed.

- G.K. Kumar has contributed over $2.5 million for the construction of the Parashakthi Temple in Michigan.

- The first form of Vishnu as Anantha Padmanabha outside India is in the Shiva-Vishnu Temple, Lanham

- Las Vegas has two temples, including a rare one for Brahma donated by the Thais.

- A Shiva temple being built in Hawaii with donations from 55 countries will house the world's largest self-grown crystal Shiva lingam weighing 320 kg and 99 cm in height.