Hindu Temple of Oklahoma

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 in. 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 and 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 The Hindu Temple of Oklahoma serves the religious needs of about 1500 families in Oklahoma City and surrounding areas. These Hindu families are eagerly waiting for the shilpies (Stone Carvers) from India to come and complete the decorative artwork for the sanctum sanctorums and the tapered domes in accordance with ancient Hindu Shilpa and Agama Shastras (Science of Temple Construction) so that it can become a fully completed temple as per ancient scriptures. THE HINDU TEMPLE OF OKLAHOMA CITY continues to stand as a SYMBOL OF HINDU HERITAGE in NORTH AMERICA.