|
The India
Cultural Foundation (ICF) which is also popularly called by the
members as the "Hindu Temple of Oklahoma" was incorporated and
established as a non profit organization in 1982 to cater to the
religious and spiritual needs of the Hindu community.
Five families
donated 10 acres of land in the year 1984 close to I-44/I-35 at
Wilshire Boulevard which is easily accessible for devotees living
within Oklahoma City metropolitan area and in surrounding states.
With generous contributions made by the devotees a 4000sq.ft
building was completed in August 1989 with the street address as
7200 N.Coltrane Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73121.
The devotees have
decided to have Lord Balaji (Sri Venkateswara Swamy) as the main
deity, brought the shilpies (Stone Carvers) from India in the year
1994 and built the five Temples (Sactum Sanctorums) for the deities
Balaji, Ganesha, Shiva, Ram Parivar and Radha Krishna.
During the year
1997, ICF acquired 5.11 acres of adjoining land to the north side of
the Temple. During the year 1998, a private 6” water line tapped to
Oklahoma City water line at the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard
and Coltrane Road was installed and brought the city water to ICF
site and a fire hydrant was installed in front of the then building.
Having fire protection at the site allowed for any new construction
without having to build a water storage tank at the site. |
Temple Expansion &
Renovation and The Rajagopuram (Tapered Dome at Main Entrance)
Temple renovation
and expansion project was completed in May 2004 and a grand
re-opening ceremony was celebrated on 2 May, 2004. Existing building
was completely renovated with new roof, new heating/cooling systems,
new lighting, new fire sprinkler systems, etc. and demolished
restrooms in order to comply with the Agama Sastra. An additional
space of 6500sq.ft of new construction consisting of the main
building expansion, kitchen, restrooms, class room including the
construction of the concrete structure for the Rajagopuram (tapered
dome at the main entrance), foundation for Sri Mahalakshmi and Sri
Hanuman temples, special exhaust system for performing homam and new
parking lot with 165 parking spaces.
The total cost of
this project was 1.6 million dollars with $650,000 borrowed from
bank. The generous contributions made by our members during years
2005, 2006 and also by using the funds set aside as rainy day fund
($100,000) to pay off the principle on the loan made it possible to
reduce the temple debt to $75,000 as of April 2007.
|
|
List of Gopurams
(Tapered domes), Temples (Sanctum Sanctorums) and other Artwork to
be Completed by Shilpies (Stone Carvers) from India
1.
Rajagopuram (tapered dome
at the main entrance)
2.
Vimana Gopuram (dome
above the main Sanctum Sanctorum of Lord Balaji)
3.
Two Temples (Sanctum
Sanctorums), one each for Sri Mahalakshmi and Sri Hanumanji
4.
Temple
for Navagraha
5.
Decoration with holy
figures and artwork of all pillars (steel columns) in the prayer hall
6.
Decoration with holy
figures and artwork of the partial wall between deity area hall and the newly
extended hall and also the main entrance
|