Hindu Educational & Cultural Society of America in Hillsboro (Oregon) is reportedly planning to break ground in Washington county for a Hindu temple in the next few months.
It currently runs Portland Balaji Temple in Hillsboro in a rental space and has bought about 11.5 acres of land costing around $1.3 million. Temple construction will be completed in various phases and might include a 15,000 square-feet temple, reports suggest.
Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, applauded efforts of temple management and area community for realizing this 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 would help 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.
One of the Society’s goals is to “strive for spiritual richness”. Current Temple, open seven days a week, runs a library; classes of Sanskrit/Slokas, Kannada and Carnatic Vocal; and organizes cultural events. It conducts various pujas, including Car Puja (prayers for the car) for $51. Wedding ceremony costs $500.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in USA.