Bharatiya Temple & Cultural Center of Greater Lafayette (BTCCGL) has purchased a Christian Church in West Lafayette, Indiana, which is being converted to a Hindu temple, according to reports. Until the conception of this first Hindu temple of the area, devotees were worshipping in houses or rented halls. Before BTCCGL bought the building for $415,000, it was Northview Christian Life Church, reports suggest. It will be renovated and refashioned to become a Hindu temple. Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded efforts of BTCCGL leaders and area community to realize this Hindu temple complex. Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, further said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple complex would focus in this direction. Zed stressed that instead of running after materialism; we should focus on inner search and realization of Self and work towards achieving moksh (liberation), which was the goal of Hinduism. Besides worship services, this temple would also hold community events and classes and would also serve as a cultural center. It hopes to organize at least one religious function each month. Umesh Patel and Jagdish Patel are President and Treasurer respectively of BTCCGL. Award-winning city West Lafayette, formed in 1888 and most densely populated in Indiana, has been named as “Sixth Most Educated Small Town" in USA and top 10 “Brainest Places to Retire”. Home to Purdue University, prominent people associated with it include baseball players Bob Friend and Erik Sabel, actress Anissa Jones, football player Chike Okeafor, bridge champion Eric Rodwell and songwriter Tom Kelly. John R. Dennis is the Mayor. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in USA.
