Hindu Society of Minnesota
State Minneapolis
Website: https://www.hindutemplemn.org
The Hindu Society of Minnesota (HSMN) is a prominent organization in the Minneapolis Metropolitan Area, serving the local Hindu community. It is known for having one of the largest Hindu temples in North America, located in Maple Grove.
The temple belonging to the Hindu Society of Minnesota was established in 1979 making it one of the older temples in USA. Its mission is to promote Hindu culture and religious practices around Minneapolis and Minnesota. It also encourages volunteerism and charity and teaches its members philosophy and history of Hinduism.
More Information
- Size and Capacity: The temple has a floor space exceeding 43,000 square feet and can accommodate up to 5,000 people simultaneously.
- Architecture: It is built according to the traditional Hindu architectural system, Vastushastra, and features 21 mini temples replicating famous temples in India.
- Deities: The main deity is Lord Vishnu, and it represents 19 of the 3 million Hindu deities.
- Purpose: It serves as a place of worship, a spiritual and cultural hub, and a tourist attraction.
- Activities: The temple offers guided tours on weekend mornings, Indian language and Hindu religion classes on Sundays, and hosts various functions and festivals.
- Opening Hours:
- Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM–11:30 AM and 5:30 PM–8 PM
- Weekends and holidays: 9 AM–8 PM
Events and community engagement
- The temple is dedicated to preserving Hmong culture through initiatives like the Hmong Clothes & Accessories Donation Drive.
- HSMN has been involved in celebrating the cultural richness of Minnesota and promoting unity among diverse communities, including events like
1MN History Makers: Disability Pride
at the
Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts
History
The Hindu Society of Minnesota (HSMN) was established in 1978 as a non-profit organization serving the Hindu community in the Twin Cities. The organization acquired a former church building in Minneapolis in 1979 for worship. A large temple complex in Maple Grove was completed in 2006. This temple is a significant center for the community, reflecting the growth of the Indian population in the Twin Cities and efforts to preserve Hindu traditions.
Deities
The Hindu Society of Minnesota’s temple in Maple Grove, Minnesota, houses 21 shrines dedicated to various deities.
While all are revered, the temple was consecrated with shrines for several deities initially considered central to the new temple, including:
- Sri Ganesha
- Sri Jagannatha
- Sri Varadaraja (an aspect of Vishnu)
- Sri Devi & Sri Bhu Devi (goddesses)
These were the first shrines to be consecrated at the Maple Grove temple. Subsequent ceremonies consecrated shrines for additional deities, demonstrating a broader representation of Hindu traditions:
- Sri Ram, Sri Laxman & Sri Sita and Sri Hanuman
- Sri Radha-Krishna
- Sri Meenakshi (Sri Parvati) & Sri Shivji
- Sri Subramanya
- Sri Balaji
- Sri Ayyapa
- Sri Satyanarayana
- Navagrahas (the nine celestial bodies)
- Sri Adi Nath, Sri Parshwa Nath and Sri Mahavir (Jain deities)
- Sri Dattatreya, Sri Durga and Sri Saraswati
- Sri Bhairava & Sri Vishwakarma
Therefore, while several deities are prominent, Sri Ganesha, Sri Jagannatha, Sri Varadaraja, Sri Devi, and Sri Bhu Devi were among the initial deities for which shrines were consecrated.
Contact Info
- Website: Temple Info
- Email: visitourtemple@hsmn.org
- Phone: 833-469-4766
The Hindu Society of Minnesota plays a significant role in fostering religious, cultural, and community connections within the region