CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, USA, JULY 1, 2007: (HPI note: Swami Varadananda sent the following press release.) Over 250 people attended the consecration ceremony to celebrate the completion of Phase 1 of the Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple on July 1. Perfect weather helped to make the event an outstanding success. Under the guidance of Chandrasekar Gurukul, a priest well-versed in Vedic rituals, homas (fire worship) to Ganapati, Navagraha and Sri Ramakrishna were performed. Four monks of the Ramakrishna Mission participated: Swami Chidananda (Head of Vivekananda Vedanta Society), Swami Bhaumananda (Head of Ramakrishna Mission in Pune, India), Swami Yogatmananda (Head of Vedanta Society of Providence, RI), and Swami Varadananda (Manager, Vivekananda Vedanta Society). 24 Homa kundas were set up and sponsors were able to make the offerings along with the priest. Following the worship, the worship site and new temple were consecrated. Phase 1 of the construction will provide all the facilities the Vivekananda Vedanta Society needs to begin operating from the new temple. Phase 2 will consist of a larger chapel and dining hall.
Swami Vivekananda, the disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, first introduced Hinduism to America in Chicago at the Parliament of Religions in 1893. He taught that the purpose of religion was to experience God within and to serve God in man. Swami Vivekananda recognized the harmony of all religions, and the Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple will fulfill his dream of building a “temple universal” devoted to the universal spiritual truth underlying all religions.
Under the leadership of Swami Chidananda, the Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple is being built by the Vivekananda Vedanta Society of Chicago, which was established in 1930. The Vivekananda Vedanta Society is a branch of the Ramakrishna Mission, which has over 150 centers throughout the world. The Sri Ramakrishna Universal Temple is located on 15 acres of land, surrounded by trees and a beautiful landscape that will provide a peaceful meditative atmosphere. Its address is 15516 W. 147th Street, Homer Glen, IL 60491.