Temple artist/sculptor Ganga is one of a group of highly skilled Indian craftsmen who work, just as their fathers did before them, to create by hand beautiful depictions of the many forms of God in the Hindu faith. Since beginning work as a teenager, Ganga has worked on nearly 80 temples, from Malaysia to Singapore to Memphis, though this upper Midwest temple (see index) is the most ambitious project. The structure, which contains within it mini versions of the great Indian temples, is the dream of a few Indians who came to the U.S. some 30 years ago.
Building on tradition Photographed by Tom Wallace
The group of Indians who came to Minnesota 30 years ago wanted to build a temple that merged their homeland's 10,000-year civilization, with its 28 states, over a dozen languages, and great variation in people, geography, and climate. This merging of Indian cultures, in turn, welcomes people of all faiths and colors. To satisfy everyone, 18 of the biggest temples in India appear in miniature within this larger temple. It is felt that greatness lies within the temple, and so names of the many artists who create the images of God in various forms do not appear anywhere. The artists work in concrete, which dries quickly. They hold the drawings of the Gods in their minds, but they don't follow drawings and rather allow Spirit to help them do their work.
Nature and human nature come together in one place in this temple, blending traditions of both the best American architects and Indian calculations of ideal placement based on direction and elements. The spirit of Hinduism flows through the structure. All are welcome at the temple's school and at prayers.
You can read more about the Hindu Temple of Minnesota at hindumandirmn.org.
