User:NatFee/Hindu Temple of Central Illinois

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Hindu Temple of Central Illinois
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
Location
Location4224 W. Prairie Lane, Peoria
StateIllinois
CountryUnited States
NatFee/Hindu Temple of Central Illinois is located in Illinois
NatFee/Hindu Temple of Central Illinois
Shown within Illinois
Geographic coordinates40°41′45.92″N 89°39′33.72″W / 40.6960889°N 89.6593667°W / 40.6960889; -89.6593667
Architecture
Date establishedMarch 15, 1994 (1994-03-15)
Groundbreaking1998
Completed2017
Direction of façadeEast
Website
hinduheritage.wildapricot.org

Hindu Temple of Central Illinois (HTCI), (formerly known as Hindu Heritage Center, HHC) is a non-denominational Hindu temple in Peoria, Illinois and was one of the first temples in downstate Illinois.[1] The temple offers a variety of Hindu deities and traditions.[2][3] It serves approximately 1,000 families in the greater Peoria metro.[2]

History[edit]

Before the temple[edit]

In the late 1980s, a group of approximately 30 Hindu families in the area began to meet to pray in each other's homes.[1][2] Although most Hindu temples in the United States are located in larger metropolitan areas, the group pledged money to try to build a temple in the smaller city of Peoria.[1] Before the temple was constructed, the nearest temple was in Chicago or St. Louis.[4] The group filed for nonprofit status and continued to meet, observing major festivals in rented school auditoriums or church halls.[1] The Ramnavami festival was held at the Grandview Hotel in Peoria.[4] The Sankranti-Pongal festival was held at the Dunlap High School in Dunlap, Illinois.[4] The Maha-Shivaratri festival was held at the Lakeview YWCA in Peoria.[4]

Non-profit status[edit]

Hindu Heritage Center was established as a non-profit religious organization on March 15, 1994.[1][4] This name was originally chosen because the group was unsure what facility they would be able to obtain.

According to Pam Adams for the Journal Star, "Devotees searched a long time for the right location to build a temple according to Hindu principles. It needed to be on a hill, in a serene setting, with a river nearby and water running east to west."[5]

The community raised $200,000 to build a facility and made an offer on a 25 acres (10 ha) tract of land in Limestone Township, on a bluff overlooking Kickapoo Creek.[1][6] They filed for a special use permit on September 9, 1996.[1][4] The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval, but the request was initially denied by the Zoning Board based on neighborhood concerns of an increase in traffic.[1] The Peoria County Board voted 11 to 7 to approve the special use permit.[1] The title policy was issued on April 18, 1997.[1]

The community had grown over the years, with as many as 400 people participating in festivals.[1] They decided to build a modern temple with facilities for a Community Center as well.[1] A traditional temple was ruled out due to factors of cost, time, and climate.[1] However, the modern temple would include a copper roofed tower (Gopuram) atop the Sanctum.[1]

Opening[edit]

Groundbreaking on the new temple began on August 27, 1998, coinciding with the Ganesha festival.[1][4] The site was cleared and the northeast corner marked to conduct the Groundbreaking Homa.[1] Construction began on November 11, 1998.[1] The facility was dedicated on November 6, 1999.[1]

The inauguration on April 29, 2000 coincided with the Ramanavami celebrations.[1] Dignitaries, performing artists, Swamijis, and Illinois Senator attended.

A new 30-foot wide, half-mile long road was constructed called Temple Hill Road.[7][8][9][10] According to the Journal Star, the project entailed: 40,000 cubic yards of excavation, clearing 11.25 wooded acres, 1,540 tons of asphalt for the road, and 1,269 tons of asphalt for the parking lot.[9]

Future plans[edit]

One of the temple's founders, Prakash Babu, purchased an adjacent parcel of 25 acres with plans to build a 129-unit condominium for older adults.[8][9][11] Other plans include a new meditation center, priests' quarters, and lakes for worship ceremonies.[8][5]

Description[edit]

The temple has two multilingual priests who speak Hindi and English.[2] It has a banquet hall, auditorium, and classrooms.[2] There are also hiking trails in the wooded area around the temple.[12]

Deities[edit]

There are multiple deities, which is unusual for a Hindu temple.[3][13][14] Eight Murthis were commissioned from India, all 4 feet high standing and 39 inch high seated: Ganesha, Shiva Parivar, Ram Parivar, Balaji, Radha Krishna, Durga, Swaminarayan, and Mahavir.[1] The Shivaparivar Murthi was approximately 1800 pounds and had to be hand-carried to the Sanctum platform by devotees.[1] Other brass and bronze statues were procured from Mahabhalipuram.[1] The Pranaprathista ceremony took place in May 2005, installing energy into the idols in the Sanctum.[3]

Notable special events[edit]

The temple has also hosted events to raise awareness of Hindu culture and traditions.[15] Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati presented on the concepts of Vedanta and Iswara in 2008.[16] On October 17 2010, Shree Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind in India performed traditional Indian music such as Bharatanatyam.[17][18] In 2011, a "Jerusalem to Mumbai" event brought members of the Jewish Federation of Peoria to the temple to celebrate common interests.[19] In 2015, volunteers participated in a Peoria-area "Good Deeds" Day with volunteers from other faiths.[20][21] In 2017, the temple served as a site to educate the community about the Hindu religion as part of an interfaith tour.[22] The temple has hosted other events, such as a guest speaker for Diwali and a special presentation at the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum.[23][24] In May 2022, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh held a Darshana event at the temple.[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Babu, Prakash. "History". Hindu Temple of Central Illinois. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  2. ^ a b c d e Renken, Leslie (2014-06-25). "Extra: Indian immigrants find slice of home at Hindu Temple of Central Illinois". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  3. ^ a b c Buedel, Matt (2017-12-30). "Hindu temple in central Illinois draws growing numbers". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Nafziger, George H. (2000-05-03). "HINDU HERITAGE CENTER (applicant) v. THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. A.H. Docket #99-PT-0008. Docket #98-72-37. Parcel Index #17-01-351-007. RECOMMENDATION FOR DISPOSITION" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  5. ^ a b Adams, Pam (2009-10-24). "Faith&Values: Road to karma". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  6. ^ Batmanathan, Manjula (2007-05-09). "Keeping the faith". Illinois Times. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  7. ^ Hilyard, Scott (2017-10-06). "Road to Hindu Temple of Central Illinois nearing completion". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  8. ^ a b c Adams, Pam (2009-10-27). "Hindu Temple keeps dodging obstacles on road to karma". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  9. ^ a b c Hilyard, Scott (2018-07-12). "Climb to the top: Temple Hill Road opens with a celebration". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  10. ^ Zalaznik, David (2017-10-06). "Hindu Temple Road". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  11. ^ Hilyard, Scott (2012-11-28). "Plans move forward for condominium project next to Hindu temple". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  12. ^ Sewell, Jade (2019-06-01). "10 hidden gems in Peoria – The Bradley Scout". Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  13. ^ "Hindu Temple Devoted to Multiple Gods". Press Enterprise. 2017-12-29. pp. A22.
  14. ^ "Hindu in the Heartland". The Index-Journal. 2017-12-30. p. 6.
  15. ^ "A glimpse into Hindu Civilization". CIProud.com. 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  16. ^ Miller, Michael (2008-07-05). "Understanding Vedanta". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  17. ^ "Visually impressive". Peoria Journal Star. 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  18. ^ "Indian dancers at Hindu Temple of Central Illinois". Peoria Journal Star. 2013-10-16. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  19. ^ Maritote, Tyler (2011-02-20). "Ancient traditions of Hinduism, Judaism 'celebrate similarities'". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  20. ^ B'rith, B'nai (2015-03-19). "Peoria: B'nai B'rith Senior Housing Takes Part In 'Good Deeds Day'". B’nai B’rith International. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  21. ^ Berkow, Victoria (2015-03-15). "Peorians give back to the community on first Good Deeds Day". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  22. ^ Renken, Leslie (2017-02-23). "Interfaith discussion group kicks off Feb. 26". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  23. ^ "Details - Peoria Area World Affairs Council". www.pawac.org. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  24. ^ "The Week Ahead". Peoria Journal Star. 2017-10-28. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
  25. ^ "A glimpse into Hindu Civilization". CIProud.com. 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2023-11-11.

External links[edit]

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