About the Temple
Sri Venkateswara Temple (S. V. Temple) is located in Penn Hills, an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. It is one of the earliest traditional Hindu Temples built in the United States.
Sri Venkateswara Temple (S. V. Temple) is located in Penn Hills, an eastern suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, USA. It is one of the earliest traditional Hindu Temples built in the United States.
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| Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, Pittsburgh, US |
History
Sri Venkateswara Temple organization was established on Aug 7, 1975. Assistance from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) for construction of the temple was requested on Sept 11, 1975 and granted on the same day. On June 30, 1976 ground breaking was performed and was followed by pratisthapana on Nov 17, 1976. Daily worship is being performed continuously ever since.
Other significant events are:
| June 8, 1977 | Kumbhabhishekam |
| October 22, 1978 | Dedication of Rajagopuram |
| May 28, 1979 | Dedication of Pushkarini |
| August 31, 1986 | Sahasrakalasabishekam |
| November 17, 1986 | 10th Anniversary Celebration |
| March 22, 1989 to May 21, 1989 | Jirnodharanam |
| May 25, 1989 | Kumbhabhishekam |
| August 25, 1989 to September 3, 1989 | Ashtalakshmi Pooja and Sudarsana Homam |
| November 23, 1990 | Srinivasa and Padmavati Mahakalyanotsavam |
| November 23, 1990 | Inauguration of the Auditorium and Kalyanamandapam |
| May 25, 1991 to May 27, 1991 | Maha Satyanarayana Pooja |
| October 26, 2001 to October 25, 2002 | 25th Anniversary celebrations: Year long Tulasidala Archana, Koti Tulasidala Archana, Ashtakshari Mahamantra Yagna Sri MahaVishnu Viswashanti Yagna and Maha Yagna, Sahasra Rajata Kalashabhisekham |
| August 26th to 30th, 2009 | Kumbhabhisekham |
S. V. Temple was constructed at a cost of several millions of dollars with donations raised from devotees in U.S.A and several countries. Most donors were first generation Indian immigrants seeking to maintain ties with their mother culture.
Structure
Plans for Sri Venkateswara Temple were designed and planned by Sthapathy Ganapathi working at engineering cell of endowments department, Andhra Pradesh, India, on Aug 2, 1973. Sri Venkateswara Temple, Sri Tayar (Lakshmi) Temple, Sri Andal temple are their design, which is different from Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Click here for floor plan
Plans for Sri Venkateswara Temple were designed and planned by Sthapathy Ganapathi working at engineering cell of endowments department, Andhra Pradesh, India, on Aug 2, 1973. Sri Venkateswara Temple, Sri Tayar (Lakshmi) Temple, Sri Andal temple are their design, which is different from Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. Click here for floor plan
Agama
A Hindu Temple is constructed according to the Agama Sastras (Temple manuals) in the image of the human body. The two sides of the temple represent the hands, and the top of the Temple represents the head. The deity Venkateswara (Lord of Venkata, and a representation of Vishnu) rests in the innermost recess called the Garbhagraha (sanctum sanctorum). The S. V. Temple at Pittsburgh follows the temple texts known as Pancharatra Agama which consists of 108 samhitas (collection).
A Hindu Temple is constructed according to the Agama Sastras (Temple manuals) in the image of the human body. The two sides of the temple represent the hands, and the top of the Temple represents the head. The deity Venkateswara (Lord of Venkata, and a representation of Vishnu) rests in the innermost recess called the Garbhagraha (sanctum sanctorum). The S. V. Temple at Pittsburgh follows the temple texts known as Pancharatra Agama which consists of 108 samhitas (collection).
Archa Roopam
The Agama state that Narayana, the eternal Divine Being, should be worshipped in the Archa Roopam (iconic form) in temples and homes. Hindu devotee believes that divine power has manifested itself in the murti (icon/idol). Major religious events like Kumbhabhishekam are performed to re-energize the Murti with Divine Power, which can either be diluted or lost due to transgressions committed unknowingly by the priests or the worshippers. Worshipping the Archai Avatara as Hari gives the devotees access to God and His Power.
The Agama state that Narayana, the eternal Divine Being, should be worshipped in the Archa Roopam (iconic form) in temples and homes. Hindu devotee believes that divine power has manifested itself in the murti (icon/idol). Major religious events like Kumbhabhishekam are performed to re-energize the Murti with Divine Power, which can either be diluted or lost due to transgressions committed unknowingly by the priests or the worshippers. Worshipping the Archai Avatara as Hari gives the devotees access to God and His Power.
Priests
Rules of Agama require a temple priest to serve and act as an intermediary between the worshipper and God. The Vaishnava Temple priests are referred to as Bhaktacharya, Bhattacharya or simply Bhattar. They come from families with Temple priesthood as their traditional occupation, and learn their skills from a young age. All the daily and weekly rituals are performed by the priests. Special occasions such as Kumbhabhishekam require additional priests, who are then invited from other Temples in the United States and India.
Rules of Agama require a temple priest to serve and act as an intermediary between the worshipper and God. The Vaishnava Temple priests are referred to as Bhaktacharya, Bhattacharya or simply Bhattar. They come from families with Temple priesthood as their traditional occupation, and learn their skills from a young age. All the daily and weekly rituals are performed by the priests. Special occasions such as Kumbhabhishekam require additional priests, who are then invited from other Temples in the United States and India.
Worship
Several types of religious services performed at the Temple: Archana, Abhishekam, Sathyanarayana Puja, Kalyana Utsavam, Homa and many others which are published under "Services", "Programs & News" menu items in this website.
Courtesy: http://www.svtemple.org
Several types of religious services performed at the Temple: Archana, Abhishekam, Sathyanarayana Puja, Kalyana Utsavam, Homa and many others which are published under "Services", "Programs & News" menu items in this website.
Courtesy: http://www.svtemple.org
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