Minnesota Hindu Milan Mandir

The Minnesota Hindu Milan Mandir occupies a former Christian church and has chosen to keep the large cross-shaped window that faces the street.  It may seem strange for a Hindu community to preserve a Christian symbol in their space of worship, but for the devotees of the Farmington temple, this decision made perfect sense. For them, the mandir's Hindu identity does not conflict with welcoming people of differing faiths, and keeping the cross on the front of the temple is a clear way to express their inclusive understanding of spirituality. Another reason the cross is not an issue for the devotees is that the mandir is centered around Guru Maharaj, rather than the particular space their worship takes place in.      

Before being purchased by the community of Minnesota Hindu Milan Mandir, this Lutheran church building had not been used for several years. Devotees of the mandir went to great lengths to make the space suitable for worship. For example, the Milan Mandir community raised $40,000 to repair the building's leaking roof. Through their care of the building, the mandir's devotees have created a new religious space of their own, while maintaining and acknowledging the building's Christian past.

Learn more from our fuller profile of Hindu Milan Mandir.