CARROLLWOOD, FLORIDA, September 9, 2005: It has been over ten years since the Hindu community in Florida starting building their temple in Carrollwood. Now the community boasts a 14,573-square-foot temple and embellishments to traditionalize the structure have begun. The news release explains, “Construction of the rajagopuram began just over a year ago. It is a tower that begins deep below the earth and stretches 70 feet into the sky. Called a rajagopuram (raja meaning king, gopuram meaning gateway in Sanskrit), the edifice will serve as the entrance to the Hindu Temple of Florida upon its completion next March.” Indira Sastry, chairwoman of the religious committee at the temple, says, “This is a reminder when I see it from the road that I seek his blessing and then turn inward. God has created so much in abundance, so building this beautiful temple, the rajagopuram, these are little ways of paying back and giving thanks for all of the blessings he has given to us.” Under the auspices of internationally renowned artist Padmasri Sri Muthiah Sthapathi (who has overseen the construction of more than 200 other Hindu temples), artists from Chennai, India have been sculpting both the main structure and the gopuram with traditional Hindu figures, flowers, and elephants. The article adds, “To date, worshipers have spent almost US$3 million to build the temple and the Rajagopuram; another $300,000 to $400,000 will be required to complete the complex. Of the more than 4,000 people who attend services at the temple weekly, only one-tenth are members, so fundraising is critical to meet building deadlines.”
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