New Vedanta Temple to be consecrated in Houston

September 14, 2011

Bhadrapad Krushna trutiya, Kaliyug varsha 5113

Four senior most swamis of Ramakrishna Order in USA will attend, while Swami Kripamayananda of Vedanta Society of Toronto (Canada) will preside over the dedication ceremony of the Temple built on a 1.5 acres plot purchased in December 2007. It will include worship, homa, tabla ensemble, dance performance and Vandana vocal presentation. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and City of Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker are expected to attend and Swami Sarvadevananda of Vedanta Society of Southern California will perform Sri Durga Puja.

 Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded efforts of Society management and area community for realizing this wonderful 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.

 Founded in 2002, VSGH is a spiritual non-profit organization and conducts classes, retreats, and special events to “bring a better understanding of the vedantic concepts”. It is spiritually guided by Swami Chidananda (Chicago) and Swami Brahmarupananda (Washington DC).

 Society states that Vedanta, based on sacred scriptures Vedas, “affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions." In USA, besides Houston, there are Vedanta centers in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Berkeley, Hollywood, Santa Barbara, Trabuco Canyon, San Diego, South Pasadena, St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Ridgely, Boston, Providence, New York, Washington DC, and St. Petersburg.

 Hinduism is oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents.

 Multi-cultural Houston founded in 1836, fourth-largest city in USA, is home to NASA Space Center, Port of Houston, Houston International Festival, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Art Car Parade, and world-class paintings. Prominent people associated with it include journalists Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather; singers Hilary Duff, Clint Black, Beyoncé Knowles, Kenny Rogers; model Anna Nicole Smith; actor Patrick Swayze; actress Renée Zellweger; business magnate Howard Hughes; etc.