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USA July 1, 2000 VNN6065 Comment on this story Taking Shape BY CARRIE MOORE SPANISH FORK, Jul 1 (VNN) — Taking Shape - Ornate Krishna temple to be finished in fall by Carrie Moore Deseret news religion editor 6/15/2000 The first Indian style Krishna temple to be built in the United States is taking shape in what many would consider to be a most unlikely place, smack dab in the middle of the most LDS of all LDS enclaves; Utah Valley. From the second story veranda surrounding the new temple, a panoramic view rolls out uninterrupted to the base of the Wasatch Mountains on the east and the far distant shore of Utah Lake to the west.
Caru Das has long known this is the place-high on a Spanish Fork hill-that will draw Krishna faithful to a new apex of worship and celebration come fall, when their new, ornate, multi-domed temple is finished. We're going to have one of the biggest celebrations Utah County has ever seen,' said Das, who with his wife, Vaibhavi, envisioned construction of Utah's first Krishna temple when they came to Utah 17 years ago. And there's no doubt they'll have reason to celebrate. The fact that the 15,000 sq. foot edifice is even half finished is a miracle in itself, considering only about 50-60 Krishnas worship weekly at the current location-housed in a log cabin just down the hill from where the temple is taking shape. Even when the crowds swell to 2,000 or 3,000 people during regularly held festivals here, Krishnas represent a tiny fraction of a percent of the population in a state that is overwhelmingly composed of Latter-day Saints. With Utah's Hindu population numbering only a few thousand-and many of them non-Krishna-the ambitious nature of the project and the continuous stream of money and volunteer labor have divine origin, Das says. Begun on a shoestring with only $20,000 in the bank, construction of the north India-style temple has progressed steadily-if not rapidly-since ground was broken in 1996. Excavation on a road onto the hilltop site began in February 1998. Now in the drywall stage, with intricately carved arches,pillars and domes beginning to take shape on every side, the project should be open to the public in four to six months, Das says. This weekend, a 200,000 gallon pond will be dug down the hill from the temple. It will eventually provide a park like setting for visitors, with waterfalls and fish to enhance the Indian feel of the architecture. Some 45 llamas that now roam the grounds unhindered will add another unique feel to the place. Inside, adornments for the new building are taking shape. Earlier this week, four 40 inch high marble deities, which were hand carved in India by Krishna artisans, arrived from Long Beach, California, where Roshan Khandpur, a member of the temple's board of directors and a Krishna businessman, had them shipped after paying to have them carved especially for the temple. Two of them-the black Krishna and Radha-literally embody the divine couple representing the ultimate in Krishna sacred worship, and will occupy a premier alcove in the worship hall on the second floor. They'll be placed atop an intricately carved teakwood throne now being produced in Jaipur, India. Once they are formally installed in the temple, they are considered no different from God. Das explained. Worshippers will then use the temple as a branch office, much like the postal service where you put letters in the postal box and they are delivered to the right address. We make our deepest offerings of service and love there (in the temple) and it will ultimately get where it is supposed to go.. The Krishnas also plan to open the building as a community center for art classes, lectures and interfaith events. They say it's a small way they can repay the kindness they've been shown in their quest for a temple of their own. They say a spiritual presence that exists in Utah has not only helped undergird their efforts to establish a thriving community of devotees, but has also drawn Hindus to the Beehive State. That presence has encouraged construction of what will become the only Krishna temple in the country built from the ground up in traditional Indian style architecture. There are probably 50 temples-one in every major city-but in all cases, they have had to purchase an existing building and renovate it as a temple. One of Das' first experiences with actually operating a temple involved such a purchase. After five years as a devotee, he was asked to lead the newly acquired Berkley, California temple, which happened to be an older Mormon stake house that we purchased. It was his first taste of what Mormonism was all about. Since then, he's been almost immersed in the culture that surrounds it, and he couldn't be happier about it. Though the theologies are worlds apart, a core of beliefs that include love and service give the two traditions something in common, in addition to temple-building. In fact the LDS Church has been so impressed with the Krishna's efforts to construct their temple that they donated $25,000 toward the project. But the contact doesn't stop there. This week, Das and his wife were to be the guests of BYU president Merrill Bateman for an annual interfaith barbecue. We go every year and we enjoy it. The first time it was hard to find any vegetarian food that we could eat, but they learned what we believe, and now it's mostly vegetarian. Hundreds of BYU students come to the Krishna complex each year to volunteer at several large festivals the group sponsors to raise money for the building. The kids at the Y just love it. They come, some work double or triple shifts, and don't even want to let us give them the commemorative t shirt when they are finished. I just got a call today from one of the LDS stakes at BYU-they want to come and bring 75 people down on a Saturday. And every stake has offered. Mostly they want to lay sod, but we're not at that stage yet. When they are, God will provide the volunteers, and possibly the sod, too, Das says. It just keeps happening that way. graphics ( A young llama checks out construction on the Hindu temple in Spanish Fork.) (Akhila Dhara looks round inside of the krishna's Hindu temple under construction in Spanish Fork. Construction has progress steadily since ground was broken in 1996) (Krishnas surround 40 inch high marble deities, hand carved in India by Krishna artisans) (Greg Peterson of Raptor Drywall works on the Krishna temple in Spanish Fork) Boxed announcement: Llama fest to offer food, fun, and races The public is invited to the sixth annual Utah Valley Llama Fest at 4 pm, Saturday, July 15th, at the Krishna temple, 8628 S Main, Spanish Fork. It will feature shows, competitions, pack races, South American food, wool demonstrations, handicrafts, live music and 100 llamas. Admission is $2.00 per person or $6.00 per family. Volunteers are also needed. Call 798-3559. Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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