Church Converted to Hindu Temple in South Africa

published on January 18, 2009

Queensburgh gets its first Hindu temple
http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/News/Article.aspx?id=919861

An old house once owned by a church in the Durban suburb of Queensburgh is being converted into a Hindu temple.

The Sri Mayapur Dham, run by the Vaishnava Research Forum, will be the first permanent Hindu place of worship in the area.

It recently opened its doors to the Hindu community which
for four years has had to attend religious events at halls in the area.

While the exterior of the temple is still under
construction, weekly services, music and Hindi lessons and Hindu
scripture classes have already commenced at the site.

Forum member Jack Baboolal said the Battersea Avenue
house was bought from the Gereformeerde Kerk for R1.2-million and
transferred to the organ- isation last month.

“Funds for the purchase of this property as well as its
ongoing renovations have come from members of the community,
philanthropists, and fund-raising events,” said Baboolal.

Baboolal said that they had received no complaints and tried not to disturb their new neighbours.

The forum plans to:

  • Install a shrine to Mother Ganga;

  • Bring cows from the Shri
    Krishna Gowshala cow sanctuary in Thornville, Pietermaritzburg,
    periodically for cow protection lessons;

  • Import and consecrate the Hindu deities Krishna and Radha at an official opening later this year;

  • Maintain and upgrade a research library; and

  • “Adopting-a-spot” from the municipality adjacent to the property to conserve the indigenous vegetation in the area.
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