hinduism in pittsburgh. 247
several dominant motifs have emerged in their self-understanding. With enough
repetition, these ideas may be ratified.
NOTES
This essay was originally written in 1983, updated in 1991, and published in 1992. The
temple it describes was one of only a few major Hindu temples existing in the United
States at that time. Since then hundreds of American Hindu temples have been built—
perhaps the largest number to be erected in any country outside of India after the burst
of construction that occurred in Southeast Asia almost a thousand years ago.
- Sri Venkateswara Temple (1977): 2–3. This pamphlet was published sometime
after April 14, 1977, when the sculptors arrived from India, and just before the ma-
hakumbhabisekaceremonies on June 8. The pamphlet contains photographs of the early
stages of temple construction. - “Annual Progress Report,” Saptagiri Vani15 (November 1990): 2.
- Along with this familiar derivation, a lesser-known etymology is also given by
Sri K. V. Santhanagopalachari in his discourse entitled “Shri Shreenivasa Kalyanam.”
He says that vemis sometimes interpreted as “the ambrosia that gives salvation,” and
katais aifvarya,“earthly good fortune.” Thus vejkata suggests that the hill gives
earthly and otherworldly auspiciousness. - Saptagiri Vani 6, no. 3 (Third quarter, 1981): 14.
- The Tirupati Devasthanam at Tiru Venkatam has also helped the temple at Au-
rora, Illinois (outside Chicago). It loaned the Aurora temple one million rupees (Rs. 10
lakhs) in 1985, which was used for the making of the deities and transportation. In 1987 it
gave another million rupees to be used toward the salaries of the traditional Indian sculp-
tors. - The pamphlet issued by Sri Venkateswara temple during the dedication cere-
monies on October 22, 1978, mentioned the “granite statue.” It is interesting to note in
this context that one of the principal points made by the thirteenth-century Srivaisnava
theologian Pillai Lokacarya is that one should not think of the material with which the
lord ’s form is composed. I have discussed this in “Arcavatara: On Earth as He is in
Heaven,” in Gods of Flesh, Gods of Stone, ed. J. P. Waghorne and N. Cutler (Cham-
bersburg, PA: Anima, 1985). However, it may be argued that prior to the consecration,
it is permissible to talk of Ganesha as a “granite statue.” - Saptagiri Vani13, nos. 2 and 3 (Second quarter and third quarter, 1988): 2–3.
- Saptagiri Vani13, no. 4 (Fourth quarter 1987 and first quarter 1988): 3. On p. 2
we learn that a special “kalasa” puja was performed for the Labor Day weekend. - On January 1, 1990, alone, the income of the Tiru Venkatam temple was reported
to be Rs. 3,155,000 (“The Gold Haul,” The Week,March 25, 1990, p. 19).