History, Timing, Interesting Facts and Travel Guide of Vraj Hindu Temple, Important for Pushtimargi Sampraday, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, America
The Vraj Hindu Temple, very special in Pushtimargi Vaishanv, is situated in eastern Pennsylvania (Schuylkill County) in the United States. The temple is a million-dollar property that covers almost 300 acres of ground. More than 1 lakh Hindu visitors come here to visit the temple. The temple engages young people in voluntary work and annual events. Vraj is a group of young people who are students or engaged in voluntary work. These group members come from all over the United States of America. The main purpose to create this group was to make people understand the Indian tradition broadly. The members mainly belong to the age group of 16 to 28 years.
The Vraj Hindu Temple was a Meditation and Yoga relaxation center before 1987. Govind Bhikhabhai Shah bought this temple in 1987 with the help of 29 other members. He was the founder and the thinker of this temple. In 1988, the temple became an official Hindu pilgrimage with the introductory Patotsav celebration. Shrinathji honored his presence for the first time at this temple during the inauguration. Shrinathji is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Krishna. The temple is an example of royal architecture with a Rajasthani flavor.
According to history, Vallabha (Acharya of the Hindu tradition) found a picture of Shrinathji. The picture was completely ruined with only one arm obtruding above the surface. Vallabha identified the image is associated with Krishna. He then enshrined the deity and started a usual prototype of worship.
The main motive of the temple was to gather the young Hindu residents of the United States. The founders of Vraj wanted to teach the young generation about Indian culture. They wanted the youth to learn the customary value system of India.
The architecture of the temple is not like the usual Hindu temples of India. The temple is made in the form of a royal palace. The temple covers an area of almost 300 acres of land. It is built in a Rajasthani style to maintain the Indian culture. There is a lake attached to the temple which adds some extra beauty to it.
The “Annakut” festival is celebrated in this temple. The word Annakut means mountain of food. This festival is a part of Diwali. The ritual is offered to Lord Krishna along with other gods and goddesses. More than a hundred types of food are offered to the deities. The devotees prepare all the food with great devotion and enthusiasm. The foods are served in thalis in front of the deities. By serving the food, the followers express their gratitude for the prosperity and blessing. Not only Indians but also foreign visitors participate in this festival with great zeal. The Annakut festival is a must-watch in this temple.
Daily darshan timings and Special rituals
Regular worship is followed by a few special rituals.
Mandala – it marks the starting of the day.
Shringar – the priest dresses up Shrinathji with new attire every day, and ornaments him with a floral garland neckpiece.
Raaj bhog – various types of sweet is served as the main spread of the day in front of him.
Utthapan – it is the time when the deity is believed to wake up from an afternoon nap.
Sandhya Arati – this is the evening prayer.
Shayan – the final prayer of the day celebrated with music and drumming.
The darshan timing for visitors starts at 7.30 am with the Mandala. There are different darshan timings for every different ritual. The Sandhya Arati starts at 5.30 pm and the final prayer at 7.30 pm.
The Annakut festival is the best option to explore the temple. Although, thousands of devotees visit the temple every day to participate in the daily events.
The Vraj temple is one of the most attractive tourist spots in the United States. The location and the architecture amaze the tourists coming from different parts of the world.
How to Vraj Hindu Temple, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, USA
You can take a flight from any major airport in India to Philadelphia. If you plan to visit Pennsylvania, the temple is a must-visit spot. Reaching the city airport, there are multiple options available to reach the temple. The distance of the Vraj temple from PHL airport is approx. 114 km.
Buses are available from the Philadelphia airport to the temple. The buses will take you to the temple via Harrisburg.
You can also hire a private cab from the PHL airport to reach the temple directly.
