What does everyone think about this I took from another forum
Swaminarayan Trust Invited to Build Akshardham in China
It is one of the grandest Hindu temples in the capital and has been built with a lot of thought and precision. An architectural marvel, the Akshardham temple is the cynosure of all eyes.
Soon a replica of it will be constructed, thousands of miles away in China. The first Hindu temple in communist China.
The Chinese government has invited the Swaminarayan Trust that runs the Akshardham temples in Noida and in Gandhinagar, to build a similar temple.
A huge piece of land has been earmarked in Fohsan state, which will not only house the temple but also an Indian cultural centre.
''Initial thoughts are to have a cultural centre also along with the
temple, a traditional Indian music learning centre and also various Indian language teaching centres including Hindi, on this temple premises,'' said Jagat Shah, Joint Secretary-General, Indo-China Trade Council.
The Swaminarayan Trust has welcomed the decision, saying there's much more to it than the religious angle.
''This decision taken by Chinese government, letting the Hindus build a temple in China is to be appreciated highly. Its not only question of spirituality but also in many other ways both the countries will benefit.
''There will also be cultural exchange between people living in these two countries and that outcome will help in spiritual and physical growth of citizens of India and China,'' said Jasraj Maharaj, religious guru, Swaminarayan Sect.
A core team of the trust is busy preparing the final design plan.
Members of the team and the Indo-China Trade Council are expected to visit the proposed temple site soon.
A team of officials from one of China's prestigious construction
companies that will execute the project is now in India to study the architecture of Swaminarayan temple.
''China is also very good at construction and specially our c0mpany actually focuses on various types of construction designs. I think this being a joint venture with Indian partner, design from India and construction from China, this temple will be the masterpiece,'' said Xiaojun Lee, Secretary of Board, Panzhihua Guanghua Group, PR China.
The first Hindu temple in the land of dragons will not just be a
temple but the hub of cultural exchange between India and China.
Fabulous!
Being that both China and India are growing tremendously in the industrial end of things, I think a Hindu temple is just exactly what is needed! Looking at my own home land, we long ago lost sight of spiritual values in favor of economic development, and I worry that could easily happen in any developing nation on the planet, and especially in China and India. To have a common site where anyone from that part of the world can stop to visit, to pay their respects to the Vedic values, to learn from and about one another ... that's wonderful! I wish more places on earth would do the same!
Fascinating!
Hi Antony,
Well, personally I think it's incredible and fascinating! It also makes me think of something similar (though from the perspective of the acceptance of Hindu's in China, not nearly as important).
Recently, there was a very large, beautiful and amazing temple opened near Atlanta, GA, USA.
It is the most amazing temple! I have not yet been to see it personally, but it is one of the (or the) largest Hindu temples in all of North America.
There are hand carved marble figures of all the great sages, and also Lord Rama, Hanuman, Krishna, Gopis, Draupadi, Sita, Narada Muni, and on and on and on...
They have been working on it for years, with the carvings done by artists in India, then brought here.
I have honestly never seen such an astounding work of art as this temple! There are teak wood carved peacock doors, a domed central ceiling with tiny carved marble sages, that lights up in different colors, and they change the colors to suit the moods.
The grounds themselves are gorgeous! They have flags flying from America and India outside. The whole thing is just astounding!
Anyway, I could go on and on about the description, but it's astounding. It's only about an hour away from where I live and I want to go see it, but, I'm not sure I should.
It's not a temple of Srila Prabhupad's... I wonder if it would be alright to just go there to see it ????
Of course, I would only go respectfully because it is a temple of Krishna, I could not or would not go "like a tourist" , but would it be wrong to go respectfully to a Temple of Krishna when they are following some other Indian Swami??? I really don't know, because to go there respectfully would mean I must respect their Swami, of course. It may even be necessary for me to pay obeisances to his alter, which I feel sure they would have one.
This is getting off the topic I know, of the Cultural and Spiritual aspects of a Hindu temple in China...
But, if you wouldn't mind giving me some feedback about this I would certainly appreciate it!
Navasi
Visiting Other Temples
Hi Sara! I think my earlier reply to this disappeared during an elecronic hiccup. Anyway, I think you would enjoy visiting the temple in Atlanta, and I'm sure it would be well worth your time! I once visited a Hindu temple that's a tiny bit too far for me to attend. It was wonderful -- there was a devotee who helped me with questions I had at the time. I was a little bit amused when he told me that "Hare Krishna's" make you leave your home -- I'm guessing he might have mistook ISKCON for a cult. But over all it was great to talk to a real person in an area where there are so few Krishna devotees of any kind!
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
As described in the Sri Caitanya Caritarmrta seems to go to many temples on his tours.
I you are firm in your practice I think it is OK. The devotees at my local temple set up stalls at other temples festival days and sell Srila Prabhupada's books. I have offered obeisances to the Lord lying on the milk ocean at another temple whilst visiting.
Maybe I am broad in my inclusiveness.
Any comments from others.
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Visit the Food Channel @ Krishna.com
Lord Chaitanya
Well, Antony :) :) :)
Seeing as how I'm NOT Lord Chaitanya, I could hardly think to do what He did.....
Also, I wasn't planning on doing any book distribution either...
:) :) :)
But, I really like that you are broad and inclusive...
That's a good thing to me...
(Lord Vishnu and milk oceans) :)
Navasi
It's awesome that China is
It's awesome that China is opening its doors to other cultures and religious traditions. Who knows, it may not even be long before an official ISKCON centre opens up there. Perhaps our wonderful Gopi Gita will be in the thick of things when that day comes.
Sara: I don't see the problem in visiting another temple or offering respect to the swami/deity there. Krishna is Krishna no matter where you go to see Him. Whether He comes in the form of a miniature photo in a foreigner's home, or as an extravagantly decorated deity in someone else's temple - He is still Krishna, and therefore should be respected in any form He shows Himself.
But another point is that other acaryas and Vaisnava teachers may not be teaching the exact same message as Srila Prabhupada, but we don't know exactly how much they have done for Krishna. They deserve our respect even if they've done a little. We are taught to respect even those who live sinfully and who have no concept of Krishna or spiritual life, so how can we neglect to offer respect to those who have, in all likelihood, served Krishna to the best of their ability according to their circumstances.
Even if you do offer obeisances to another swami or acarya, this should not change your feeling for Srila Prabhupada. You can visit a hundred different temples, each with a different swami, and still hold firm belief in your spiritual master. As long as your commitment to Krishna and Prabhupada is there, you can visit any place.
Thank you!
Thank you J,
I really appreciate what you said here, and thank you for personally addressing my particular issue.
I really agree with you and what you said. I was thinking about it after I posted the question.
I would go into any place and be respectful, provided it was not a degraded place with no redeeming value,
So, what to speak of going to a temple of Krishna and another Swami from India?
What you wrote here really confirms my understanding of this and my fears of somehow offending my Spiritual Master, Srila Prabhupad, by offering respects to another Indian Swami.
I personally think it's an incredibly auspicious thing they are doing and how could they not be blessed by The Goddess of Fortune that they have been able to create this fantasic, attractive, incredible Temple of Krishna, the largest in all of North America??? (not to say that smaller temples are NOT blessed by Laxmi Devi ) :)
So, thank you for what you said. I'm going to make plans now to go as soon as possible!!!!
Love,
Navasi Devi Dasi