HTA Set to Celebrate Silver Jubilee
By Ravi R Ponangi

Atlanta, GA: Hindu temple of Atlanta management, trustees and volunteers are fully engaged in extensive preparations to celebrate 25 grand years of service since the installation of idols of Sri Balaji, Lakshmi, Bhudevi and Durga in May 1992. The temple is celebrating its 25 years of service in a grand scale by organizing a 11 day (May 19-29) Vishwa Shanti Venkateshwara Ashtakshari Mahamantra Yagam & Nava Chandi Yagam for universal peace, happiness and to benefit the community in the temple complex, an iconic resplendent landmark in Riverdale, Georgia. It’s a great, emotional moment for its founders, trustees and devotees.

The Hindu temple of Atlanta, Riverdale is one of the oldest temple in USA and well known for its religious, spiritual, cultural, educational and service activities to the community. The Temple has played a sterling role in enriching the religious diversity and enhancing the multi-cultural image of Georgia. The Hindu Temple of Atlanta received kudos from various institutions, government agencies and elected officials. Temple is on the forefront in helping the local communities. All these years community responded overwhelmingly to the temple plans and projects.

The Hindu Temple of Atlanta is a focal point for Hindus who congregate at weekends to celebrate Hindu festivals, cultural and social activities. Classes are held in Yoga, instrumental music, dancing, Indian scriptures and languages. The Temple also hosts field trips from Atlanta Schools and Universities. It also attracts tourists and visitors who come to marvel at this ornate, architectural gem of a temple.

The idea of Hindu temple of Atlanta took shape during 1980-82. With installation of Lord Ganapathi on December1, 1990, the religious functions at the temple have been conducted on an ongoing basis. The architecture of the temple- a beacon of unparalleled architectural grandeur designed on the styles prevalent in Pallava and Chola and reminiscent of famed Thirupathi temple in South India. The temple has been constructed in accordance with agama shastra and it is suitable for the performance of all authentic Hindu rituals. A visit to the Hindu temple of Atlanta in Riverdale will certainly reveal how the temple was recreated resembling a holy abode of God in India.

 

Hindu temple of Atlanta in Riverdale is the most popular Hindu temple which was built decades ago in the Atlanta region. It has two separate temples - one for Lord Balaji and the other for Lord Siva. The both complexes have shrines for colorfully decorated deities of Sri Ganesa, Bhudevi, Sridevi, Durga, Lakshmi, Hanuman, Parvati, Muruga, Saraswati, Nava grahas etc., For several years now, sitting atop a hill just off Ga. 85 in Riverdale, the towering pristine white Raja gopurams of the Hindu Temple of Atlanta (HTA) has beckoned devotees from all over Georgia and the South East. 
The HTA complex has evolved over the years, to fulfill the spiritual needs of an ever-growing Hindu community. Temple priests apart from performing daily rituals, periodic celebrations and festivities in the temple, they also go out to individual homes and community gatherings to perform samskaaras like naming ceremonies, birth ceremonies, marriages, last rites and many more rituals. 

Over the years, the role of the HTA has evolved to a more than religious one. Since 1993, the temple has been organizing classes to impart religious teachings and cultural values to children as well as adults. What started off as weekend classes in the living rooms of priests has become an institution in itself, thanks to the community’s growing needs. The numerous classes are now held in HTA’s modern education complex that houses 17 rooms, a seminar hall and an expansive auditorium.
HTA conducts Bal Vihar classes for kids between the ages 4 and 16. HTA education program also has programs for adults, including a Sanskrit class, an Upanishad class, a Bhagvad Gita class, Bhagavatam and also yoga and meditation classes. Private dance and music classes are held at a nominal charge. Local Danseuses impart dance lessons to various groups, while other prominent local maestros conduct violin and vocal music classes. The temple also hosts periodic discourses and performances by visiting saints, scholars and artistes. Besides its role in meeting the growing religious and cultural needs of the community, the HTA also undertakes charity work with zeal and involved in various service activities. Hindu temple of Atlanta fund projects that help local communities of Metro Atlanta regardless of race, religion or ethnic origin. HTA is committed to supporting high potential students from the community who are in need of monetary support to supplement their education. Temple grant scholarships to meritorious students every year. The temple raises funds during national and international disasters. The funds are sent to the affected areas through local organizations.
The Hindu temple of Atlanta is not just a religious place, it has many dimensions. It has cultural, educational and social components that have already taken firm roots enlarging the scope of the activities of the temple. For young and old, adults and children, the temple has already become a spiritual place and a cultural cum educational center. Thus, truly reflecting the Hindu concept of an integrated society. Hindu temple of Atlanta has become a landmark in Atlanta. Students of philosophy and religion from different universities come to see and study the temple as part of their course curriculum adding to their knowledge of Hindu Religion.
 

Hindu temple of Atlanta at Riverdale sprawled across a 12-acre land. Temple has a big auditorium, an office area with bookstore, kitchen and a dining hall separated from temple in down stairs. Book store sells Archana material, devotional books, audio, video cassettes and CDs etc., the temple opens at 9 AM with Suprabhatham and closes at 9 PM. after Sayana arati. The auditorium is well equipped with lighting and sound system. The auditorium is used for cultural, social and literary events. Spiritual discourses and cultural programs are being organized with the visiting saints, scholars and artists regularly. It would be hard to meet these famous personalities if we were in India. Hindu temple of Atlanta runs weekend classes for adults and children in the temple complex. The temple priests have been doing commendable work fulfilling various religious needs of devotees in and outside temple. Devotees are receiving the services of priests in pujas, samskaaras, homams, house warming ceremonies, last rites etc., All priests were provided residential quarters in the temple complex.
The main celebrations of the temple include Navodaya (A New Year’s Day), Maha Siva Ratri, Hindu new year, Sri Rama Navami, Dussera and Diwali. On every first Saturday of a month Srinivasa Kalyanam and on every full moon day Sri Satyanarayana Vratam will be performed for the benefit of devotees. The Brahmotsavam will be held during memorial week end in a grand scale in the month of May every year.

The Hindu temple of Atlanta has become a powerful force over decades in promoting the spiritual growth of Indian community. The temple has been identified as natural sojourn to the visitors as it charges the community with educational. Cultural and spiritual zeal. Education is another main activity of the temple. People are keen to learn what is good for them. Temple captures the quintessence of Indian culture in all its entirety. The spirit is alive. The Hindu temple of Atlanta facilitates children to expose to our culture and to our eternal heritage. Weekends have become more important to many devotees to visit temple. Sunday is the time for adult classes, Gita, yoga, dance and music classes, Indian language classes and Bala Vihar classes. These weekend classes are highly successful and attracting the attention of many.
The temple is vibrant and in good standing. The temple is highly rated for Hindus as evidenced by visits of people of different faiths. The scope of temple activities have been increased tremendously.
Temple trustees are putting their concerted efforts to take the temple activities to new heights in fulfilling community needs. There is no doubt to say that Hindu temple of Atlanta made a mark in the south-eastern region by its magnificent service to the community by bringing the Indian culture and heritage to the generations.
 

The Hindu Temple of Atlanta, since 1990 has been a commendable religious, cultural and social center, serving Atlanta’s burgeoning Indian community. The temple is more like a community center. Not only deities, to come and worship. Children come here to learn about Hinduism and culture of India. School to teach dance, schools to teach music and school to learn yoga are here. So, in a sense this is a focal point to a large number of Indian community living in Atlanta. It has a double purpose while it is a religious and spiritual focus. It has cultural focus for generations growing up here.
Devotees are truly blessed to have not one but two temples side by side in which they worship Lord Vishnu and by his side Lord Siva, the two popular Gods in Hindu tradition. First generation Indian Americans say that when they came first from India, they missed having a place where they could have religious worship and a place where they could see their culture. When devotees step into Hindu temple of Atlanta they believe it almost like a place of heaven on earth on one hand and on the other hand it’s like a piece of India out here. In its smell, context in its sounds, visual context, taste down stairs in the food and above all in its spirituality which bonds all.
A visit to the Hindu Temple of Atlanta is an experience of relearning what we learned when we were kids.