FARMINGTON: A former Lutheran Church building in Farmington (Minnesota) is now Minnesota Hindu Milan Mandir (MHMM) after some repairs.
Launched few months back, this about 18,000 square feet Temple reportedly opens every day; and besides sanctuary for worship services, also serves as a community center. The principle goal of the Minnesota Hindu Milan Mandir is to promote the aims and objectives of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha and Swami Pranavanandaji Maharaj.
These include:
1) To create an environment favorable for moral and spiritual growth; 2) To establish educational and cultural facilities in the community; 3) To foster a greater awareness of the spiritual, and cultural heritage of India; 4) To promote sympathy, tolerance, love, respect and unity among the human race; 5) To help the distressed, nurse the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked; 6) To provide necessary financial/relief assistance in times of flood, famine, earthquake and other disastrous conditions; and 7) To promote sympathy, tolerance, love, respect and unity among the human race.
The Temple, whose history goes back to about 15 years, also offers classes in Indian music, meditation and Hindi language and plans to offer yoga, organize cultural and educational programs, open a soup-kitchen, and undertake multi-faith activities and humanitarian programs, etc.
Omkar “Bobby” Ghamandi, Satya Balroop, Tara Jeffrey and Swami Parameshananda are President, General Secretary, Executive Board member and Minister respectively of MHMM.
It is important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society, said Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism. He exuded confidence that this temple would help in this direction. Todd Larson is Mayor of Farmington, which touches Vermillion River and was incorporated in 1872.
Madhu Patel