Our mission is to serve the religious and cultural needs of all adherents of the Hindu religion, practices and philosophy. In the late 20th century, the United States of Amerca saw a large influx of Indian migrants, particularly in New Jersey. Their need to find a place to practice their religion and thereby connect to their home culminated into an idea to build a full-fledged Hindu Temple with e
asy accessibility to many living in the tri-state area. The Hindu Temple and Cultural Society of USA Inc. was thus incorporated in September 1989 to build a temple and cultural center to serve the religious, cultural, and educational needs of the Hindu community. In January, 1992, a building with about 9 acres of land in Bridgewater, New Jersey, was purchased by funds raised by the growing Hindu community. Following the Deity Sthapana on February 29, 1992, the building was opened as a Hindu Temple with one priest. As our community began to grow, it became clear that this facility could not continue to accommodate our needs, and the planning for a full-fledged traditional Hindu temple and cultural center had begun. Sri Ganapathi Sthapathi of Chennai, the renowned architect of many other well known Hindu Temples, was consulted as the architectural drawings were finalized to build a traditional temple with Lord Sri Venkateswara as the main deity, with other deities surrounding. The temple would be based on the ancient Dravidian style of architecture. The plans were approved by Bridgewater Township on April 11, 1995, and the groundbreaking ceremony was performed on June 9, 1995. After 2 years, on June 7, 1998, the Kumbhabhishekam, the consecration of all of the deities of the Vishnu Parivar, was celebrated under the auspices of His Holiness Sri Tridandi Chinna Srimannarayana Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamiji. Kumbhabhishekam and and Vigraha Pratishtapana for the Siva Parivar was done by Sri M***a Krishna Gurukka. Thousands witnesses this once in a lifetime event, as a helicopter showered flowers on our Temple and the gopurams. Today, the Bridgewater Temple is a true Hindu Temple where one can worship all of the main Hindu Gods and Goddesses that are manifestations of the one Supreme Being. Our mission is to serve the religious and cultural needs of all adherents of the Hindu religion, practices, and philosophy, alongside of fostering a space for interfaith dialogue and understanding as our community and facilities continue to grow.
