Coimbatore :

While communal tension flaring up in many parts of the country, believers in city came together to build a shrine where all faiths can coexist peacefully. An inter-faith shrine modeled as the famous LOTUS temple in USA was inaugurated in Chettipalayam on Monday. Opening of the shrine that spread in 2.5 acre was to mark the birth centenary of Swami Satchidananda Maharaj, the founder of integral yoga. This is the first such worshiping place to be opened in the city.

The first LOTUS temple, called the Light of Truth Universal Shrine, was inaugurated in Yogaville in USA 1986 under the leadership of Swami Satchidananda as a place for worship for believers from different faiths. “Swami Satchidananda was a visionary and he realised the need for interfaith movement more than 50 year ago,” said D R Karthikeyan, former CBI director and chairman of the Swami Satchidananda Centenary Celebrations Committee. “There is need for more such movements today than ever before as thousands have been killed in the name of religion and god in different parts of the world,” he said.

The altars for Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Jainism, Taoism, Buddhism and Sikhism were opened on the occasion by governor K Rossaiah. “The Jewish community in the country has dwindled to a handful,” said Keith Hallegua, a member of Jewish community in Jew Town in Kochi.

“This altar is a reflection of the story and existence of the synagogue in Fort Kochi which was built on a land donated by the Kochi Maharaja. It has a Hindu temple located right next to it,” said Hallegua.

A separate meditation hall for people of all faiths was inaugurated by Mataji Sharadendra Giri from Uttarkashi. AIADMK MLA S P Velumani, minister of municipal administration, rural development and law, mayor P Rajkumar also attended the function.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / December 23rd, 2014