Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City
State Kansas
Website: https://www.htccofkc.org/index.php
The Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Kansas City, located in Shawnee, Kansas was conceived in early 1980s and the construction was completed in late 1980s. The temple’s vision is to promote Hinduism’s spiritual and cultural legacy of inspiration and optimism for the larger Kansas City community.
Key Milestones
Key milestones in the temple’s history include:
- April 9, 1984: Purchase of a five-acre tract of land.
- October 27, 1985: Groundbreaking and bhumi puja (a ritual to sanctify the ground before construction).
- May 22, 1988: The temple officially opened.
The success of the temple is largely attributed to the dedication and efforts of the community, which included financial contributions, pledges, fundraising events, and volunteer work. The temple’s design was envisioned to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, serving as a place of worship and spiritual enlightenment.
Here’s some information about the temple:
- Location: 6330 Lackman Road, Shawnee, KS 66217.
- Phone Number: +1 913-631-7519.
- Email: managers@htccofkc.org
- Website: http://www.htccofkc.org/.
- Hours:
- Monday – Friday: 10 AM – 12 PM, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
- Saturday – Sunday: 9 AM – 8:30 PM.
Events
The temple hosts various events throughout the year and all the major hindu religious festivals including Diwali, Ganesh puja etc.
Offerings
The temple offers a serene and spiritually enriching environment for prayer and reflection. Visitors have praised the warm hospitality and sense of community. The priests are described as knowledgeable and helpful. Some services offered by the temple include:
- Atma Shanti Puja: Requires flowers, fruits, milk, mud lamps, ghee, cotton thread, and optionally, cooking items for daan dakshina and priest dakshina.
- Annaprasana: The temple provides kalasam, mandapam, oil lamps, matchboxes, incense sticks, and photos of deities for pooja performed within the temple.
Deities
This temple, honors a multitude of deities, reflecting the diversity of Hindu traditions. Some of the prominent deities revered at the temple include:
- Ganesha (also known as Shree Ganesh): The son of Shiva and Parvati, Ganesha is the first deity worshipped before any rituals or endeavors. He is revered as the remover of obstacles and the granter of intellect and prosperity.
- Lakshmi-Narayana: This refers to the divine couple Goddess Lakshmi and God Narayana (Vishnu). Lakshmi symbolizes wealth, beauty, and fortune, while Vishnu represents the all-pervading aspect of God, the preserver and protector of the universe.
- Shiva: The spiritual master of the world, Shiva represents the cycles of creation, preservation, and destruction. The Shiva Linga, a symbolic representation, embodies the duality of nature’s forces.
- Radhe Shyam: This embodies the eternal love and union of the divine. Radha and Krishna represent the path to understanding and dissolving into God.
- Navagraha: These are the nine celestial bodies or gravitational forces that are believed to influence life on Earth.
- Naga Parivar: This includes serpent deities like Naageshwara, Naagaraanee, and Naagakanyaa. They symbolize the overcoming of destructive influences and are worshipped for health, wealth, happiness, and progeny.
- Sarasvati: The goddess of creativity, knowledge, harmony, and mastery of sound. She is invoked for artistic and intellectual pursuits.
- Durga: The ultimate divine mother, Durga embodies the combined energy of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. She is worshipped for the fulfillment of desires, wisdom, and protection from various difficulties.
- Subramanya (also known as Skanda, Kartikeya, Murugan, Shanmukha): The son of Shiva and Parvati, he is considered the God of War and the supreme general. He symbolizes perfection, bravery, and valor.
- Dharma Shasta (Hariharaputra or Lord Ayyappaa): The son of Shiva and Vishnu (in his Mohini form). He is associated with upholding Dharma and overcoming evil.
Accessibility
The temple is wheelchair accessible, including the entrance, parking lot, and restroom.