Hindu Temple opens in Abilene

ABILENE, TX — Recently launched Abilene Hindu Temple at 1033 N Mockingbird Ln. in Abilene, also known as Vishveshwara Swamy Temple, it was built according to ancient Hindu scriptures and architecture. Main objective of AHT is “to propagate Hindu religion and to perform Hindu rituals”. “Devotees must be on strict vegetarian on visit”, its website states.

AHT opens daily at 8 a.m., holds Arthi twice everyday, and organizes weekly Pujas to Hindu deities Vishnu, Rudra, Rama, Krishna, Durga, Ganapathi, and etc. It performs various worship services, including “Annadanam” for $1000 and “Vahana (vehicle) Pooja” for $50. AHT also provides home visit priest services for devotees who wish to have worship services at home.

Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, commended efforts of temple leaders and area community towards realizing this Hindu temple.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to upcoming "generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple would help in this direction." Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism, people should focus on the inner search and realization of "Self" and work towards achieving Moksh (liberation), which, he said, was the goal of Hinduism.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents. There are about 3 million Hindus in the United States.