“high-tech.” Indian professionals were finding study opportunities in its
universities and jobs in its hospitals and technological industries. By the early
1970s their children were coming of age and a certain nostalgia was setting
in. Accordingly, an apartment in one part of town was set aside as a cultural
center and pu ̄ja ̄room. A desire for a pucca(authentic) temple increased,
especially on the part of the South Indians. These same southerners
established connections with the famed pilgrimage center at Tirupati, whose
officials promised help in the form of advice and provision of services. An
old Baptist church was purchased in a Pittsburgh suburb and served for a
while as a cultural center for all South Asians. At the same time, preparations
were made for building a temple dedicated to S ́rı ̄ Ven ̇kat.es ́wara, the
manifestation of Vis.n.u to be found in Tirupati. The North Indians, however,
were not comfortable with what they perceived to be a regional and narrowly
focused temple and wanted something more “catholic.” Accordingly, the
community split – South Indians purchased land in another suburb and
constructed the S ́rı ̄ Ven ̇kat.es ́vara Temple in Penn Hills. Its groundbreak-
ing, dedicatory ceremonies, and ongoing ritual practices were orthoprax,
following as closely as possible the Pa ̄ñcara ̄tra Vais.n.ava tradition. Its priests
were traditionally trained and represented the southern states of the
temple’s builders.^42 This temple has continued to offer classes in Bharata
Na ̄t.yam and Kuchipudi dance, styles which are part of the South Indian
India’s Global Reach 239Figure 12S ́rı ̄ Ven ̇kat.es ́vara Temple, Malibu, California. Photograph by Rob F. Phillips.