Vishwa Bhavan Mandir Press Release HINDU TEMPLE OF GEORGIA VANDALIZED MONROE, Georgia Early Saturday morning, August 2nd, it was discovered that the Vishwa Bhavan Mandir, a Hindu temple in Georgia, had been vandalized. The building was defaced with black spray paint, consisting of profanity and other damaging graffiti. The statue of, the Hindu God, Lord Shiva was desecrated with black spray paint. So far, it is unknown who committed this act of vandalism, but any information is welcomed at the Walton County Sheriffs Department, for their continuing investigation. The desecration of the Lord Shiva statue was significantly heartbreaking for the Hindu community in Georgia, because their biggest function of the year, a weeklong celebration of Lord Shiva, includes mass worship of the statue. They worship Lord Shiva by offering flowers, gifts, and food to the statue of Shiva. They also bathe him in milk, honey, and water. To see him like this, many members describe it as an “attack on a family member.” Lord Shiva is the Hindu God of destruction and regeneration. The Vishwa Bhavan Mandir was built in 2008 and has been conducting service every Sunday morning for Hindu worship and for Hindu holidays throughout the year. It is one of the few locations for Hindus, in Georgia, to celebrate and practice their religion. The Mandir had just concluded a weeklong youth camp, last Sunday, July 27th, before the hate crime occurred. The Vishwa Bhavan Mandir is very active in performing community service. After each Hindu holiday, the Mandir gathers its members to feed and clothe the homeless in the city of Atlanta. The members of the Vishwa Bhavan Mandir want to make it known that acts of vandalism should never be tolerated at any place of worship. Hindu Mandirs have been vandalized for centuries, but many Mandirs decide not to pursue any further action, after filing a police report. Additionally, members of the Vishwa Bhavan Mandir want other places of worship, around the country, to be aware of what has happened, follow suit with the necessary precautions, and not wait for an act of vandalism to catalyze strict security. The Vishwa Bhavan Mandir urges any and everyone to join them in Sunday service, as a “tribute to religious tolerance, in the USA, and, like a lotus flower, that blooms after rising from a muddy pond, we will rise from this atrocity to become as magnificent as that lotus flower.” The Vishwa Bhavan Mandir is working with state and federal government to seek assistance in preventing such actions from happening again. Please contact Pt Nar Chowbey for more information.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 02:56:03 +0000