Ganpati Mandir/Sri Maha Vallabha Ganapati Devasthanam/The Hindu Temple Society of North America New York,North America

Ganesh Temple History

The Hindu Temple Society of North America (“Society”), a non-profit religious institution was incorporated on January 26, 1970, under the laws of the State of New York. Soon thereafter, the Society acquired from a non-functioning Russian Orthodox Church, a site on which the present Temple is situated. It was in a small frame house that daily rituals were performed and weekend services conducted by volunteer priests, until the present structure, designed in accordance with the Agama Sastras (ancient scriptures relating to temple building), was completed early in 1977, and the Temple consecrated on July 4 of the same year – coinciding with the US Independence Day. His Holiness Sri La Sri Pandrimalai Swamigal, a great siddha from Madras, had prepared twenty-six yantras for the temple and done poojas for them for five years before these blessed yantras were installed on July 4, 1977.

From that humble beginning, the Temple has been surging ahead making its mark and getting recognition for its accomplishments and contributions to the Community. These changes were focused on meeting the needs of the ever-increasing number of devotees of Šri Ganeša, the presiding Deity of the Temple. The Temple, traditionally known as Šri Mahã Vallabha Ganapati Devasthãnam, has established a Hindu Religious and Cultural Center Complex on Bowne Street. This street was named after John Bowne, a distinguished American who strove for religious freedom and anti-slavery movement. This was the first authentic Hindu Temple in North America built with traditional granite stones imported from India; and so is one of the most historically and architecturally important Temples in the West. The Temple has recently expanded, more than doubling in size.

The temple is very beautiful and calm.There are dieties like Ganesha, Anjeneya, Ayyappa, Krishna, Rama, Shiva, Navagraha, Venkatesha.

This temple (mandir) has expanded greatly and has wonderful facilities to worship or even take in the Hindu religion and customs. The people are welcoming and helpful if you need and with the canteen on the premises, there is perhaps the best vegetarian food in the city right there as well. It can get busy but also has a serenity to it that makes it a great visit.