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Devotees celebrate 40 years of the Pittsburgh Hindu Jain Temple
Established in 1984, this temple was among the earliest Hindu temples in the United States.
Swamiji and Sadhvi Bhagwati cutting the ribbon / Rajeev Bhambri
The Hindu-Jain Temple of Monroeville, Pittsburgh, today celebrated its historic 40th anniversary with a grand event.
Established in 1984, this temple was among the earliest Hindu temples in the United States. It stands unparalleled worldwide as the first temple where Hindus and Jains worship together.
The construction of this temple started in 1980 and the official inauguration took place in 1984. It sits on ten acres of beautiful lush wooded land in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, a suburb of the bustling city of Pittsburgh.
The celebration was marked by a profound sense of history and reverence as the entire Greater Pittsburgh community gathered to honor the temple’s enduring legacy.
The event commenced with the auspicious "Shikhar Puja," a sacred ritual in which Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati, elevated to the height of the five domes by cranes, offered consecrated water on the temple’s shikhars. They were joined by the temple’s executive committee, the board of trustees, and the longstanding pillars of support. This ceremony symbolized the temple’s renewal and its continued dedication to its spiritual mission.
Following this, a sacred havan/yagna ceremony was conducted, led by Swami, Sadhvi, and the temple priests, invoking blessings for peace, prosperity, and spiritual upliftment for all.
The ceremony was followed by inspirational speeches from Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati who recounted the temple's storied past and highlighted its critical role as a bastion of faith, unity, and cultural preservation in the diaspora.
Saraswati delivered a stirring and poetic message, capturing the essence of the temple's mission: “This temple is not merely a place of worship; it is a historic beacon of unity and oneness,” he proclaimed. “We are called to thrive together, hand in hand, heart in heart, and to extend the power of our united community to the world.”
Reflecting on the tragic violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, Saraswati urged the gathered community to offer their prayers for their suffering sisters and brothers. “In a world fractured by division, the messages of unity that emanate from this sacred space are more critically needed than ever. Let us be the light that shines through the darkness.”
In his closing remarks, he appealed to the successful professionals within the community to remember their roots and give back to their motherland, “Your karma bhumi, your land of action, is here in America. But never forget your matri bhumi—Bharat, your motherland. You owe it to your village, your town, your school, your college—the very foundation that has enabled your success today. Use your resources to uplift your village, to build schools, hospitals, and colleges. Support the institutions that shaped you, and in doing so, give the same opportunities to the youth of today.”
Sadhvi Bhagawati recounted the story of the temple’s founding during a time when Indian immigrants were not only few but also gravely misunderstood and severely discriminated against. It was an era marked by the rise of hostile “dot-buster” groups in areas where Indian communities were beginning to settle.
The priest said the nearest Indian grocery store was hundreds of miles away, and the closest Hindu temple was two states distant. Yet, despite these challenges, the community succeeded in erecting this magnificent, five-domed masterpiece on a serene hillside in Monroeville.
“You today are the inheritors,” Sadhvi Bhagawati emphasized. “You have inherited this great gift. But a mandir should not become a museum. It is a ‘maadhyam,’ an instrument, a tool, a channel —not a museum. It’s a ‘maadhyam’ to get more deeply connected with the Divine, and you must use it as such!”
She underscored the critical importance of this connection, especially in today’s world, where rising rates of loneliness, depression, and mental health challenges are prevalent.
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