SPECIAL ISSUE

March 27, 2004: Make ‘Temple Universal’ a reality

By J.V. Lakshmana Rao

The ambitious plan initiated by the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago to build “Temple Universal” to realize the vision of Swami Vivekananda is languishing for want of funds, though land was acquired and fully paid for about a year ago.
The idea of raising the temple in the US was conceived by Swami Vivekananda to spread the message of Vedanta as enunciated by his master Sri Rama Krishna Paramhansa. In a letter written from New York on May 6, 1895, to Alasinga Perumal, a famous educationist of Madras, Swami Vivekananda expressed his desire for raising the temple. The name, “Temple Universal,” itself was coined by Swami Vivekananda.
Chicago carries the landmark to commemorate Vivekananda’s historic visit and soul-awakening speech delivered at the Parliament of World Religions. A plaque has been erected at the Art Institute of Chicago. A portion of Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago has been named after Vivekananda. A larger-than-life-size statue has been installed in the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago.
Therefore, where else, except in Chicago, can the temple be raised to fulfill the wish of Swami Vivekananda, who, for the first time, brought awareness of the Vedanta philosophy to Western world some 110 years ago?
Swami Chidananda and other monks, who are relentlessly working to raise the temple, have successfully acquired a 15-acre picturesque land in Homer Glen Town near Lemont temple for $887,000 in June last year. This was met by the reserve fund of $500,000 plus donations amounting to $387,000. The location is serene and it is wooded with hundreds of oak trees. “It looks like tapobhoomi - hermitage,” says Swami Chidananda. The temple complex will consist of a shrine, a chapel, residential quarters for monks, a guest facility and a library, occupying a total floor area of 32,000 squre feet in two floors is estimated to cost about $5 million. The six fundraisers in Chicago and some other places held during past one year could raise $650,000 of which $387,000 was spent towards the land cost. Therefore, an amount of $4.75 million has yet to be raised to make the temple a reality. Some leaders of the Indian community suggested that besides holding fundraisers, the temple should be raised with bank loans. Swami Chidananda and other monks have apprehensions about their ability to repay the loans with interest. Their apprehensions are backed by genuine reasons.
Unlike other temples, Temple Universal would not perform religious rituals and ceremonies. It is basically a place where Vedanta philosophy would be taught free of cost. It will be for spiritual education. It would be a place where yoga and meditation are taught without any fee. It would be a place where retreats will be held at a nominal cost to defray the expenses. A bookstore will sell the books of Vedanta and Sanatana Dharma on a non-profit basis. The Temple Universal does not generate funds and monks cannot raise funds through their services.
Thus the responsibility for raising the funds for constructing such a noble temple of high ideals rests with the members of the community. This temple is not just for Chicagoans. It’s just not for the Indian community only. It is for everybody. Its doors are open for everybody. It’s a universal temple of Vedanta philosophy. Vedanta philosophy emphasizes respect for all religions in the realization god. It realizes that god is one and various religions have various paths to realize that goal.
Swami Chidananda says: “We are struggling for funds. We approach devotees and supporters for funds.”
The Indian community in the US has ability and resources to raise this amount. It has raised millions of dollars and built several temples. Every Indian abroad owes it as a responsibility to Swami Vivekananda for the path he laid for them outside India. The Indians in the US are the direct beneficiaries of his legacy.
This is not a big task, if leaders of Indian community and their various associations take it to their hearts. Indian community leaders Niranjan Shah, Amrish Mahajan, Dr. Bharat Barai, Dr. Kiran Patel, H.R. Shah, Dr. Sudhir Parikh and many more are known for their leadership and philanthropy.
The community leaders, members of the associations all over the US must come together, donate liberally, hold fundraisers in their cities and towns and motivate people to make the “Temple Universal” and the vision of Swami Vivekananda a reality.