Hyderabad: The temple is the focus for all aspects of everyday life in the Hindu community - religious, cultural, educational and social.

Hindus believe that their lives are merely stages in the progression to ultimate enlightenment. The temple is a place where God may be approached and where divine knowledge can be discovered. Whether in India or abroad staunch Hindus do make a point to visit a temple.

       Result of which many Hindu temples have come up in USA, but, no Indian has ever made any attempt to write a book on the same so far. Few books available in the market are authored by foreigners. In a first ever attempt an Indian Mr. Panchapakeshan whose pride was hurt authored a book “Bharat Rekha in America”, a ready beckoner of Hindu temples in USA. The same is being released today on the eve of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2006 by Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Mr. Oscar Fernandez in a function organized for the purpose here in city at Hotel Viceroy.

      The book is a tribute to the two million strong Indian communities in USA, informed Mr. Panchapakesan, 65, Author of the book. USA has more temples than we can imagine. But very few know about them as we never had a single source of ready beckoner. There were few books but they were all written by foreigners. Hurt by the national pride that no Indian ever made an attempt to write the book I embarked on this initiative.
 
     The book is published by Kansas Medical Publishing, Topeka, Kansas, USA headed by an eminent American Doctor of Indian Origin Dr. Shekhar Challa. Right from the beginning the project, the book has evinced keen interest with endorsements (in terms of forewords and messages) coming from people like His Excellency Mr. Joe Wilson, US Congressman on behalf of US Congress and Co Chair of India Caucus; Mr. A.K. Bacho, a Mauritian Minister; Dr. K. K Sinha, Chairman Emeritus, Hindu Temple South Carolina and CEO of Encyclopedia of Hinduism; Mr. R. Venkatraman, former President of India; His Excellency Mr. V. Rama Rao, Governor of Skim; Mr. Bodhinatha Veylan Swami, President of Himalayan Academy, Hawaii and lot of others.

    The book features extensively about Siva temple in Kauuai, Hawaii. Hawaii is associated with beaches and holidays. But, has one of the best temples in the world with a number of firsts as below
1. It is planned by a Westerner, a devout Hindu, Sri Sivaaya Subramanian Swami who became a sanyasi
2. Himalayan Academy which was founded by him is run by a group of Westerners who are ardent Hindus
3. It has the world’s largest Swayambu Crystal Siva Lingam
4. Being built for 15 years from donations from 55 countries
5. When completed it will be one of the largest Siva Temples in the world
6. Only temple outside India is to be built with red, black and white granite
7. It is the fully hand carved temple.
8. It is the only temple facing the South in the region
9. It is the only temple outside India to have a Capstone (Pandigai) made out of one single stone of six tonnes weight.

   The temples are featured from 33 states which include Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, , Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

  As regards to the states like Wyoming, Arizona, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont no temples are featured as there are no temples or not many know them. Even if there are some temples they are not very significant to report about.
  Author and his team over the past three years have spent not less than 15000 man hours, collecting information. Priced at US$ 49.95 and INR 2500/-, it has the initial print run of 1500 copies and expected to go unto 10,000. However, it will be sold at a discounted price especially at US $ 35 or INR Rs 1200/- during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The publishers are targeting to sell about 10,000 copies in its very first year of publication. In over 110 countries about 250 million NRIs reside. Many of them would definitely be interested in buying the book. Thus it has huge potential. If it is well received, in future the author hopes to publish a directory of Hindu temples all over the world.
   Those who want to obtain a copy of the book may get in touch with the author on tel: 040-27154060 email: info_on_temples@yahoo.com

   Issued for and on behalf of the author by: D.Ramchandram, Solus Media, and Mobile: 98480-42020