Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of South Carolina

Columbia, SC

Interior of the temple, with images of Krishna and Radha at the center.

Side "stage" of the temple, where special presentations are held. This area is also used as the center of activities during festivals on Hindu holidays. In the current temple set-up, one faces this direction as one enters the temple, but after the current construction is finished, one will enter from another side so that one will face the altar when one enters.

Current entrance of the temple (through the central double doors).

Central niche of the altar, including Krishna and Radha at the center, who are both around three feet tall, and smaller figures of the Rama family (Hanuman, Lakshmana, Rama and Sita) to the left and Ganesha and Durga to the right.

Shiva figure with lingum (a nonanthropomorphic representation of Shiva) in front of the figure.

Nandi (the bull), Shiva's vehicle, is placed in front of the Shiva figure in the temple. Note the sign and rope telling the devotees, "Do Not Enter Beyond This Point." Since the temple has performed ceremonies installing the living presence of God into the figures and images, only the priests are allowed to serve the deities in the altar area.

Smaller Shiva lingum brought to the front of the altar area on Mondays, the night of the Shiva puja, so devotees can stop by the temple anytime during the day and make their own offerings of milk or water to Shiva.

Saraswati, goddess of learning and the arts (inside the glass case).

Lord Mahavir, the founder of the Jain religion

Lord Venkatesvara, in the niche immediately to the left of the central niche.

Vishnu with the goddesses Shri and Bhu.

Guatam Buddha, the historical Buddha, in the far left niche.

Small silver head of Ganesha, remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings, that hangs over the stage area of the temple.

Larger Ganesha figure sitting on a speaker on the left side of the stage.

The shape of Ganesha and his vehicle, the mouse, made out of Sanskrit texts. This hangs on the wall next to the stage.

One of many verses from the Bhagavad Gita carved in Sanskrit and English on wooden plaques and hanging high on the walls of the temple.

The kitchen area. After the temple expansion, this will be the area where devotees will enter the temple. The kitchen will be moved to the new "multipurpose building" behind the existing temple structure.

A framed motion from the South Carolina Senate, signed by Senator Joe Wilson, recognizing the 52nd anniversary of India's independence in 1999.

A flyer calling for members of the temple to support a campaign for a Diwali postal stamp.

Map of India, pained on a wooden board and surrounded with lights. Various other wood and light pictures of various Hindu symbols are placed at the back of the temple and change regularly.

In front of the map of India, a symbol of interfaith peace.

Another Bhagavad Gita verse on one of the temple walls.

One of the most often posted verses from the Gita, seen in many American temples.

Each Gita verse is surrounded on each end by one of these carved wooden "aum" symbols.

Framed poster depicting Krishna with the gopi at the center.

Verse from the Bhagavad Gita that greets devotees upon their entrance into the foyer area of the temple.

Framed letters acknowledging the opening of the Hindu temple in the 1980s, from Ronald Reagan in the White House all the way down to the state and local government officials, including Senator Strom Thurmond and Governor Carroll Campbell.

Letter from Ronald Reagan.

Letters from the US Senators from South Carolina, Strom Thurmond and Fritz Hollings.

Yet another Bhagavad Gita verse on the wall of the temple.

The outside entrance to the temple.

Metal "aum" at the top of the temple stairs, with American flag in the distance.

Temple sign, with American flag in the distance. (This sign has currently been removed and will be replaced by a new one when the temple renovations are complete.)

View of the entire temple complex, circa July 2003. Notice the outdoor altar to the left and the basketball court in front.

Close-up of the temple.

Steps to the entrance of the temple (which were removed in August of 2003 to prepare for the temple expansion).

Another view of the temple entrance, facing south. After renovations, entrance will be from the east side of the temple.

Outdoor altar area, with basketball goal in the front. All this has been torn down as of August 2003. The outdoor altar will be rebuilt on the side of the temple closest to Kiawah Road (it used to be closer to Bush River Road, as this picture depicts).

Car in the temple parking lot–note the "aum" sticker on the rear window.