Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple Flint

Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple Flint
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
Deity	Shiva
Location
Location	Flint
State	Michigan
Country	United States
Location in Michigan
Geographic coordinates	43°00′43″N83°48′37″W / 43.011962°N 83.810379°W / 43.011962; -83.810379
Website
www.kasitempleflint.org

The Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple is a Hindu temple located in Flint, Michigan. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, who is revered as Kasi Vishwanatha. ^{[1] [2]} The temple serves as a religious and cultural center for the Hindu community in Flint and the surrounding areas, providing a space for worship, cultural events, and religious education. ^{[3] [4]}

Architecture

The Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple was constructed in a traditional South Indian temple design. The temple includes a gopuram (tower), intricate carvings throughout the temple, and a sanctum sanctorum (garbhagriha) where the main deity, Shiva, is enshrined. ^{[5] [6]} The temple's design features various Hindu deities and incorporates elements from Dravidian architecture and includes depictions of scenes from Hinduism. ^{[7] [8]}

The temple is named after the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, India, a temple dedicated to Shiva. The temple's name was taken to provide spiritual harmony with one of Hinduism's most revered sites. ^{[9] [10]}

Deities

The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva. ^[11] In addition, the temple also has the images of deities, including Parvati, Ganesha, Murugan. ^{[12] [13]}

Design

The temple is 65 feet tall at its peak with more than 126 deities sculpted into the facade of the temple, several of which are also represented by mutris inside. It has carvings on every single pillar of various Hindu deities and is made almost entirely out of white limestone. ^[14] The interior boasts a prayer hall and a Cafeteria. ^[15]

References

1. "History of the Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple". Flint Hindu Community Journal. 12 March 2019.
2. "The Founding of the Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple in Flint". Michigan Hindu News. 25 July 2020.
3. "The Significance of Kasi Vishwanatha: Connecting to the Sacred in Flint". Hinduism Today. 10 August 2021.
4. "Architectural Marvels of Hindu Temples in America". American Hindu Architecture Quarterly. 5 September 2018.
5. "History of the Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple". Flint Hindu Community Journal. 2 March 2019.
6. "Architectural Marvels of Hindu Temples in America". American Hindu Architecture Quarterly. 5 September 2018.
7. "Temple Layout and Deities: Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple, Flint". Hindu Temple Review. 20 November 2020.
8. "The Significance of Kasi Vishwanatha: Connecting to the Sacred in Flint". Hinduism Today. 10 August 2021.
9. "Interfaith Engagement at Flint's Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple". Flint Interfaith News. 14 December 2020.
10. "The Founding of the Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple in Flint". Michigan Hindu News. 25 July 2020.
11. "Celebrating Maha Shivaratri at Flint's Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple". Flint Cultural Events. 28 February 2021.
12. "Cultural Programs at Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple". Flint Arts & Culture Magazine. 22 June 2020.
13. "Community Service Initiatives of the Sri Kasi Vishwanatha Temple". Michigan Community News. pp. 3 May 2019.
14. "Ex-director charged with stealing $400K from Hindu temple". freep. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
15. "Kasi Vishawanatha Temple Flint". MichiganIndia. Retrieved 24 January 2020.