Sri Venkateswara Temple, Bridgewater

About Sri Venkateswara Temple, Bridgewater

The Sri Venkateswara Temple in Bridgewater, New Jersey, is a traditional South Indian temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Balaji), the form of Vishnu worshipped at Tirumala. It is run by the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society of USA and is one of the best-known Hindu temples on the US East Coast, serving families from across central New Jersey and the New York area.

The stone temple covers about 11,000 square feet and holds sixteen shrines. Lord Venkateswara stands in the main sanctum with his consorts Sridevi and Bhudevi, and Garuda faces him. Around them are shrines to Ganesha, Ambika, the Shiva linga, Ayyappa, Subrahmanya, Satyanarayana, Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Lakshmi Narayan, Radha Krishna, Rama, Anjaneya (Hanuman) and the Navagraha, so families of many traditions find their own deity here.

Daily worship follows South Indian Agamic practice, with abhishekam, archana and special pujas through the week. The temple is especially busy on Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Brahmotsavam days, Navratri and Diwali, and on weekends, when families come for darshan, life-cycle samskaras and the temple canteen. If you are visiting for a festival, check the temple's own schedule first, as timings change on special days.

History

The Hindu Temple and Cultural Society of USA was formed in 1989 to build a temple for the growing South Indian community in New Jersey. Land in Bridgewater was bought in 1992, groundbreaking took place in 1995, and the foundation stone was laid in May 1996 in the presence of Sri Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swami. The temple was consecrated and inaugurated in 1998.