"VISITING TEMPLES IN U.S."- An Odyssey

VISITING TEMPLES IN U.S.- An Odyssey

Dear Friends,

Every morning on a hill top in an eastern sub-urb of Pittsburgh, the God awakens. Devotees sing in chorus " Kausalya Supraja Rama ...." and call the God in tune by names ' Lord Sri Venkataramana, Govinda, Ezhumalaiyandavane...' as they worship in Sri Venkateswara itemple in Penn Hills in Pittsburg. We were fortunate to visit the temple on 25th of August, the day being Saturday, considered auspicious to visit a Vaishnava-Perumal Temple.

Sri Venkateswara Temple in Pittsburgh in the State of Pennsylvania is one of the earliest Hindu Temples in USA. The temple has a 7th century architechture and is built in accordance with Agama Sastras in the image of a human body. Two sides of the temple represent the hands and the top of the temple is the head. The deity( Vishnu) resides in the innermost recess called the garbhagraha . The Agamas state that Narayana , the eternal divine being should be worshipped in an iconic form (murthi) in temples and homes. Divine power is manifested in itself in the form of a murthi, the icon and gets empowered by devotional music, vedic chanting, archanas, deepa aarathi, abhishekam, homam and prayers by devotees.

We were taken very close tothe presiding deity Sri Balaji, when we performed archana and had dharsan to heart's content. We went round the temple premises by way of a 'pradakshina' before boarding the car.

Earlier in the morning we left around 7 AM by car and our son and his wife shared the driving up to Pittsburgh. Our stay was in a posh luxury apartment in downtown. It is heartening to make a mention here that our son's very close childhood friend, and neighbor in Bangalore is employed in one of the top four software companies and now stationed at Pittsburgh. What a coincidence and indeed a pleasure to lodge in his apartment, a known place in an unknown territory, during the week end. Besides he has been been visiting S.V.Temple and taking around his friends to other tourist attractions in Pittsburgh and West Virginia, by road.

It is true that best of friends can always meet along the way of memory sweet, but here what I want to express is that it proved 'sweeter'.

The temple view is presented at the top in line with the popular saying

gopura dharsanam sarva papa vimochanam

We also joined the celebrations of 'Kalyana Uthsavam' being organised by the devotees and were invited to a sumptuous feast in the temple, the 'puliyodharai', stands always 'high' in a "Vaishnava-perumal"temple.

Shiridi Sai Baba Temple:-

We moved to the next nearest spot. It was the famous Shiridi Sai Baba Temple in Monroeville in Pennsylvania. Shiridi Bai Baba Temples are in Aurora, Florida, Chocago, Minnissota, Dallas, New York , New Jersey and in Pennsylvania in U.S. The atmosphere is quiet and we inhaled the cool mountain air.

"If you look to me, I look to you" says Baba. We also read the ten celebrated quotes of Shiridi Sai Baba and for the benefit of every one, they are reproduced below:-

1. Whoever puts his feet on Shirdi soil, his sufferings would come to an end.
2. The wretched and miserable would rise into plenty of joy and happiness as soon as they climb
steps of my samadhi.
3. I shall be ever active and vigorous even after leaving this earthly body.
4. My tomb shall bless and speak to the needs of my devotees.
5. I shall be active and vigorous even from the tomb.
6. My mortal remains would speak from the tomb
7. I am ever living to help and guide all who come to me, who surrender to me and who seek
refuge in me.
8. If you look to me, I look to you.
9. If you cast your burden on me, I shall surely bear it.
10. If you seek my advice and help, it shall be given to you at once.
11. There shall be no want in the house of my devotees


The Shiridi Sai Baba's Temple is presented R.H.S.










Jain Temple

The Jain Temple is in a calm location in monroeville, PA. Inside the exotically sculptured red stone edifice, Mahavir Jain Swami is worshipped , all is peaceful,incense profound. Priest puts the conch shell in his lips and blows two long blasts in the middle which fades gradually and quietly into the thin air.
The idols of Parshwanath Mahavirswami, Radha Krishna, Lakshmi Narayan, Ram Parivar, Shiv parivar adorn the temple. That day being "Sani-Pradosham" and the time also was "Pradosha Kala", abhishekam was being performed to Lord Shiva.


Another coincidence, we wish to share here. My son recognised a person who had come to the Jain Temple with his wife, parents, almost after 16 years and called him correctly by name to his profound astonishment. He was no other than his school mate and my wife was his class teacher. My wife referred to some funny incidents in the class, which he could easily remember. My son joyfully brought out unique nostalgia anecdotes involving him. Time, Place, Memory play a delightful role in a man's life.

We reached the apartment very late in the evening after an eventful and memorable day. Pizza delight, vegetable rolls were ordered in a mood of festive joy and everyone enjoyed the item and drank Pepsi which goes well with the Pizza .

Pittsburgh Aerial night view ( the breath taking picture is presented when the description gets over ) is world famous and can be considered as a must out of the ten important sights in US. Our son's friend took us to that zone just around midnight. The spot is well known as Monogahela Incline. The funicular transport used for ascending and descending steep hills is more common in Europe for example the dauntingly steep steps to Basiliquidu Sacrecoeur in Paris. We were transported to 635 feet high at a 30 degrees incline to the Grand View Avenue which is also called Mount Washington. At the top, the Monongahela Incline deposits the passengers amid Mount Washington's famed restaurant and scenic overlooks.

The heart of Pittsburgh is truly its downtown. It has the sky scrappers, Govt.buildings, subway, convention center, but it has its own unique personality too. Looming black stone building stands tallest on the horizon keeping watch over its lessor neighbors. Jetson building which is now known as Oxford cent re shows the first signs of renaissance headed for high technology. PPG's mystical gothic glass castle, an innovative architectural design, reflects Pittsburgh's changing culture.

COME NIGHT FALL - THE STRIP COMES ALIVE in the Grand View Avenue, with its night life as varied as its shops and markets.Great views of the river, the sky scrappers present a panoramic view to the visitor as he w alks along the Mount Washington slope avenue incline. We then moved towards the fountain where almost ten strips of fountain were seen in operation and jets of water was seen going high and high and were in a state of dance and in gyration in tune with a haunting music being played. A rainbow of co lours was being enacted by the jets of sweeping and dancing water was a pleasing sight in midnight. We have to say 'good morning' as it was almost
1.30 a.m. when we climbed the bed for rest.




Visit to Mounds Ville in West Virginia via Ohio State:-

West Virginia is about two hours drive on a incline slope upwards and my son's friend drove with confidence straight to ISKCON Temple there.
Prabhu Pada's cherished wish was to establish the New Vrindaban Community in America. In 1968, The New Vrindaban Community was founded in West Virginia to fulfill Prabhupada's dream of an ideal society based on Krishna Consciousness, or love of God. There was no electricity, no running water in their only building, a battered pioneer shack. But when Srila Prabhupada had a vision of "seven temples on the seven hills," suddenly all obstacles seemed insignificant to his followers. By 1972, the community had expanded from 100 acres to 500 acres.
The New Vrindaban Holy Dham is set in the beautiful and peaceful Appalachian Mountains in the rural West Virginia Panhandle. This spiritual community has been a place of pilgrimage for many thousands of visitors each year.
Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra Mandir, the main temple hall, is the main attraction of many wonderful attractions in the New Vrindaban Community and is usually the first stop for all visitors and pilgrims.
Apart from the wonderful gardens, other attractions include a gift shop, an organic vegetable garden, snack bar, health shop, and Prabhupada's Palace of Gold.
Deities:-

Sri Sri Radha Vrndavana Candra

Sri Jaganath


Sri Gopal Nathaji

Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai

Sri Nrsimhadeva

Prabhupada's Palace of Gold
In 1973, the devotees decided to build a home for Srila Prabhupada, where he could write all his books and enjoy the clean country air.
Devotees built Prabhupada's Palace as the first of the seven temples here; a project that took seven hard years. It immediately became the most famous Hare Krishna temple in North America.
The Palace attracts millions of visitors and is an incredible place of pilgrimage in North America. Tours include ten elaborate marble rooms, gardens, man-made lakes with swans, sculpture, museum, gift shop and restaurant.
New Vrindavan's Organic Garden
There are no artificial chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides used in the gardens. Srila Prabhupada wanted to have a community based on self-sufficiency, and being able to grow one's own food is paramount in becoming self-sufficient. Food will be available to our community year-round. One goal is to educate people on the medicinal use of foods and of plants and the benefits of a natural diet and lifestyle. Youth in the area is taught about organic farming and hard work.
Vrindavan Dham GiftShop
Located in Sri Sri Radha Vrndavana Candra's temple, carries a large variety of traditional Indian clothing. Many devotional items such as Deities and associated paraphernalia, including framed photographs, incense, japa beads and bead bags, artik items, books, Krishna Conscious tapes and CDs, and New Vrindaban souvenirs also available
Krishna's Attic
Krishna's Attic is located on the lower floor of the Guest Lodge right next to Yamuna's Health Food Store.

We returned to Pittsburgh late in ht evening and went to THAI PLACE which provides an enjoyable Thai Food, it was a change from the routine and we enjoyed the food items which I am not able to name now.The food court is of course expensive,

The long night drive from Pittsburgh to Canton, Michigan:-

We decided to return home same day and my son had no hesitation to drive from Pittsburgh to Michigan. The distance of 281 miles - we estimated 5 hours to cover . There were large transport vehicles moving in tandem and which we overtook smoothly. We stopped at only one place namely, the Plazas service zone for ten minutes and carried on driving. Touch wood, we reached safe home and when we looked up the watch, we realized we had covered the distance by 30 minutes less than our estimate of 5 hours.

-The essay pictures the odyssey of visiting temples in U.S.in fag end of August 2007. Most part of the journey was via Ohio State. We felt when we reached home at the v -hours that we have visited more States during this trip which include Colorado, Denver, Michigan,Canada, Toronto, Pennsylvania, Ohio,and West Virginia.

Bye of now and I shall be glad to know whether you have pursued this blog along with the details as well as the pictures.

Detroit: the hub center for lakes, picnics, and travel

PICNIC @ KENSINGTON METRO PARK


Detroit is a 'Strait of Lake Erie' and links Lake Huron and Lake Erie.Strategically located along the Great Lakes Water Way, Detroit emerged as a transportation hub. Detroit is a "metonym" for the United States automobile industry - world's traditional automobile center. Metonym, a figure of speech refers to association between two concepts. 'White House' refers to the official residence of the President of United States, the metonym use of the word is the President and his staff like Hollywood which is in the neighborhood of Los Angeles is a metonym for Film Industry. Detroit is a Home for the Big Three automobiles namely General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.

The introduction, though may not have a direct reference to our picnicking at @ Kensington, has some say as the picnic spot is a 'lake area' as outlined in the beginning sentence. Good means of transportation enriches the quality of life in a city and as already explained Detroit City is a leader in the world and a metonym for automobile industry.

I wrote about our Canada visit and to the world's most famous address in my previous mail and had mentioned that we had availed a luxury minivan on rent for the journey. Distances are covered in a 'click a mouse away' manner in this rich country.

The van which we had hired for a week was with a motive to cater to our transportation needs/sight seeing trips in Detroit and around. We retained the same van for our Kensington visit. Since all the members of the family were available as a unit, we chalked out a plan to spend time joyfully. The picnic programme to Kensington Park was thus got evolved. We made the move leisurely on the morning of Aug10,2007 to the Park.

Kensington Metro Park falls on East of Milford Road and the drive takes about an hour's time from Canton.It is a unit of the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority. The Park is a scenic 4481- acre recreational facility that provides year round fun for all ages.

The weather proved to be very ideal for an outdoor activity like picnicking. We reached the lake sight and parked the Van at a convenient location. The children wore the swim suits and jumped into the water along with parents and uncle. Those who didn't get into the water rejoiced sitting on the offshore and watching them splashing the water gay fully. The kids enjoyed playing and spending time in the pool of water, though there was a sudden alarm raised that some child was missing, which just within minutes was turned about as 'false', as no one was missing.

We then moved towards the large park adjacent to the lake. The park provided a picturesque landscape in its length and breath. We carried the lunch with items like variety rice, chips, curd bath etc. We sat in a shady place and did full justice to the lunch which had been prepared with a lot of interest by the womenfolk early in the morning.

We carried the games with us. We took turns in playing the shuttle in a competition like manner in order to create interest in the sport.

We then shifted our activity to the Maple Beach area. Boat rentals are available. Paddle Boats, kayaks and rowboats were the choices and we availed one rowboat and two pedal boats. Though the vast sight of the beach gave some feeble shivers for taking the boats ourselves , it turned out to be more daring and enjoyable. Pedaling the boat is just a child's play and in fact, my grand son was pedaling throughout the time. He also took pleasure in steering the boat. Rowing the boat of course needs some practice which was achieved in due course. The large mass of water provided a scenic view which was soothing to the mind. We all sang in chorus " Ale.. lo ; all elo..", you may recall that the old and award winning Malayalam movie Shammeen, begins with a boat song.

While steering the boat back, retracing the path, we had to do it against the current of water but no less difficult. We enjoyed the time staying in the boat and in rowing it.

The visit to Kensington Park was very pleasant and proved to be a big family get together.

" One Wonder After Another " - Niagara Falls - " the world's most famous address "

1)NIAGARA FALLS

We stood within a vision's spell
We saw, We heard The Liquid Thunder
The Niagara Falls Was A Splendor
Canadian Horse Shoe Falls A Natural Wonder.

We were like captive bound
Around A Universe of Sound
The Falls Roars As Water Pours
One can't find words to explore
The Spectacle is infinity and beyond - a wonder galore !!

Legend has it that the shape of the Falls became horseshoe shaped from the body of the snake. It is said that it remains to this day, showing that the Gods are still protecting the Indians against evil spirits.

In the previous mail I wrote how it became tantalizing to get the Canadian Visa. But when we saw the fabulous sight with awe and embraced the cool breeze refreshingly flowing from " The Maid of the Mist " the agony of obtaining the Canadian Visa was worth as it had enabled us to see the world's wonder.

We, earlier, discussed and decided to hire a minivan for a week for our travel to Canada and also for local sight seeing trips in Michigan.

We all left for Canada on Monday, the Aug 6th. My son-in-law took the wheels for most of the time ably assisted by my daughter for about 90 minutes of the last stretch. Travel between the USA and Canada is quick and convenient, the border crossing process after crossing the connecting bridge is simple and friendly. We produced the Passports, informed them about our destination and expected length of visit. While returning we had to declare that we didn't transport any agricultural product from Canada. Thus we jumped the International border both ways with ease. The journey to Niagara took about five and a half hrs from Michigan.

We went straight first to our hotel room, located minutes from the brink of the Falls. The hotel features a beautifully landscaped indoor court yard with lush trees and garden. Two adjacent suites with independent king sized beds in each, coffee makers,Iron with table,etc. made the stay comfortable. Besides there was a swimming pool in the court yard where the grand kids rejoiced swimming later in the evening.

As soon as we reached the hotel, we left our luggage in the safe room and took the car up to the falls parking. Then we took the raid in the boat "Maid of the Mist" and went very close to the Falls. We stood at the bow of the boat and swathed in the rain gear, and felt the mist spray on our faces and sensed the vast power as the boat made its way to the base of the horseshoe falls. The full splendor cannot be appreciated from the top. A ride on a boat level is the only way to know the true beauty of the one of the world's natural wonder.

We had food as late as 3pm in one restaurant called "Rain Forest Cafe" which has been designed to look like a dense and real forest inside with life size models of trees, flowers, pools, animals, creatures and what not. The contour, air conditioning and ambient lights enriched the forest view very much. They serve the ice-cream delight order with its top burning with tiny flower-sparklers to give the effect of a volcano which occurs in dense forest at frequent intervals.

After a sound sleep overnight, we left the next day the hotel after break fast for Toronto. The journey by road was comfortable as we enjoyed the road side scenario. Lake Ontario offered a grand sight, the fifth of the great lakes.

We visited CN Tower - which visit proved to be a wonder after another.



CN Tower,1816 feet tall, completed in 1976, and according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is the tallest free standing structure on land. The Tower is the signature icon of the city and attracts more than 2 million international visitors annually. CN stands for Canada's National Tower. The main portion of the Tower is a hollow hexagonal pillar which houses the elevators, stairwells. On top of this is the 335 feet metal broad cast antenna carrying TV and Radio signals.The Sky pod, formerly known as Space deck, is located at 1465 feet just below the antenna. Sky pod is the highest public observation deck in the world. On a clear day, we can see the mist rising from the Niagara Falls from the Sky pod.

Petronius Platform Oil Rig in the Gulf of Mexico is taller yet most of the rig is under water.

The other highlights of CN Tower include:-
**- Tallest tower in the world and almost twice as tall as Eiffel Tower
**- has a wind tolerance of 420k.m/hr.
**- Struck by lightning 40 to 50 times in a year where as other places in Toronto are struck only twice on an average.
**- the Tower sways 3.50 feet from the cent re at the antenna against high velocity wind.
**- the Tower has Glass Floor from where we can admire the sight deep down, the whole view of the city. The Glass Floor can withstand 600psi.
**- The Tower is designed to withstand earth quake measuring 8.5 on Richter scale.
**- The elevator in the Tower ascends and descends in 58 seconds to and from look-out level.

For those looking for thrills the CN Tower measures up! Located at the base guests will find our arcade, motion theater ride and The Height of Excellence.

It is the near future and in this motion ride film mankind faces environmental disaster through years of over- harvesting the forests. But scientists have developed a “Super-Tree” that quickly generates desperately needed wood and life-giving oxygen. Super-Trees are grown in a simulated "super world" called "Himalamazon", where a uniquely developed combination of the attributes of the Himalayas and the Amazon has been created. Experience the thrill of this motion theater ride, complete with special effects – feel the wind and water as you join one of these Super-Trees on it's journey from seed to harvest ... it is a spectacular ride as a Super-Tree careens down ravines and through caves to the harvesting plant.

We needed some rest? Why not enjoy "The Height of Excellence" a 20 minute documentary of the building of the engineering marvel that is the CN Tower. We saw this movie as well as the the thrill " Himalamazon" movie described in para just above.

We then took out the van from the parking and went round and round and finally located " Udupi Hotel" in Toronto. Each one ordered their favorite firsts and shared later. We took our return journey from Toronto and reached our temporary place of stay at Niagara Falls around 8p.m. We then went to see the excitement of Niagara Falls view in the night.

Niagara Falls when Lights On:- The magical light show begins when dusk sets in. Year around the American and the Horseshoe falls are enchantingly transformed by twenty one Xenon gas spot lights that produce a rainbow of co lours- red, amber, green and blue. It is a captivating magnificent light show, spot lighting the Falls,over the years, which has the brilliance of 250 million candle power in equivalent terms.

Niagara Falls attracts 15 million international tourists annually.

We called it a day, returned to the hotel and had a sound sleep.

The next day, we vacated the hotel to another interesting and adventurous spot which falls in the midway between Toronto and Niagara Falls.

The place I have referred above is the entry to an environment that is home to over 1000 birds and animals, many of which is classified as endangered or threatened species.

African Lion Safari We saw the Lions drinking water as we journeyed in the Van. There was an exhibition of five elephants performing feats sharp at 5p.m. which we luckily did not miss. African Lion Safari is Canada's original Safari Adventure from 1969 onwards. We drove through the large Game Reserves in our own vehicle and saw the cheetah, giraffe, rhino, baboons, and more.

We returned back to Michigan half past 10 p.m. and had Roti/Nan to eat.

The journey in the van was comfortable and uneventful, thanks to the well planned route and good driving on excellent road conditions

The adventure will continue in the next issue or bulletin.

" The Lady of the Lake "

Dear Friends,

" The Lady of the Lake " - the lady is " Michigan " and the four lakes around Michigan make the lady proud. Michigan has more shore line than any other State in the world, let alone U.S. " The Great Lake state " - this legend appears on the Michigan licensed plates. Out of the five great lakes in the world, four lakes namely Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron and Lake Erie embraces the Lady, encompassing about 40,000 sq. miles of fresh surface water and run through Michigan State. Many big cities like Detroit, Ann Arbor, Mackinaw reap the benefit of economies of scale arising from great rivers.

A very old song of a river flows in my mind which also depicts human life in its essence, I can't help writing a few lines of the song :-

" Life, we feel, is born on the lofty heights and flows in a laughing Stream
As Snow melts on the mountain and Water runs down the Spring
And the Spring in a Turbulent Fountain to run down again to the riotous river
The River flows and joins the Sea which resemble a human cycle
So why prize Life or why fear Death or wonder about Mysteries
The moral the River Song depicts is Men may come and Men may go
The Rivers and the 'Lady of the Lake goes on for ever ...................:"

Michigan takes the name from an Indian word ' majigan ' which means ' clearing '.with abundance of fresh and copious surface water flow. Michigan is broadly of two peninsulas Upper and Lower and the Bridge which connects them (1957) is 5 miles long, 600 ft. tall and is categorised as the 8th wonder of the world. Mackinac Bridge guarantees to take your breath away.

The introduction or which rather runs as a preface is to inform you that we have now moved to Michigan from Denver. We arrived Detroit airport in the afternoon of 27th Saturday, July 2007. Ajay, my son and Ritu, my daughter in law were eagerly awaiting as it is now two years since he came to Bangalore last. My daughter Aparna, Sekhar and two children also have accompanied us to Michigan. all of us were accommodated in their two cars and reached Canton within 30 minutes. Canton is like Cantonment in Bangalore where they rent an apartment.

Their Apt. is nice to look at which gives us a feeling of an English Villa in an island like scenario without the water part but with plenty of greenery and a lot of ground space. We were hungry as we got up @ 4a.m. at Denver to leave home at 7 and reach Denver Airport at 8. By the time we got the boarding ticket it became almost 9 and the FLT. took off at 10 a.m. United Air Lines don't serve except some refreshments, you can well imagine that we were really hungry when we were transported to Ajay's place by about 2.30p.m. A sumptuous and delicious lunch appeased.our appetite. My son took us to the Heritage Park by 7.15 p.m. on the same day of arrival to enable Vignesh, and little Karthik to play in the park and to have fresh air. The elders took to walking and I went for a long walk as the Park is so vast and I am wondering where it begins or ends. There was a fountain site where buckets of water mounted in a circular fashion get filled up and automatically shower the water on persons who intend taking bath and standing below.

During the five days of stay in Michigan, we visited first a Rail Museum Exhibition where the history of Train Transportation was depicted in a lucid way up to the latest signalling marvels. The next agenda was trying some experiments with our hands in the " hands-on-scientific museum " which we visited the next day. Light, Sound, Magnetism, Electricity and Communication systems were in show with models performing activities in a simple way and we saw them as if we were in a class room.

We also worshipped at the Hindu Temple in Canton which looks quite big for a Hindu Temple in U.S. with deities of Ganesa, Siva, Parvathy, Seetha, Rama and Lakshmana, Anjaneya and Radha and Krishna.We performed Archana as it was Aparna's birth day. We also participated in the Bhajan and Aarti.

We had been to Canadian Consulate to get our Visa. It is housed in the building of General Motors in east front of Detroit International River. The consulate closes at 11a.m. and we were told at 10 a.m. that our documents needed some supporting papers to establish our strong link at the native place in India. We were literally foxed called Krittika that late hour. But in a miracle like manner, she scanned the maintenance Receipts, copies of Electricity and Telephone bills and faxed them c/o Ajay's office ID. We are very thankful to her for her timely help and initiatives taken." The lady at the counter wondered how it became possible and we left her at a state of surprise and proceeded further to remit the processing fees. in an hour's time, the Canada Visa was affixed in our respective Pass Ports.

We have plans to visit Canada by the week end.

So, this is the diary since our arrival in Michigan.