06-26-2006, 06:13 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->American devotee builds temple
Jajati Karan
CNN-IBN
Posted Sunday , June 25, 2006 at 12:20
Updated Sunday , June 25, 2006 at 13:13
Â
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/american-devot...le/13818-3.html
Bhadrak (Orissa): As the Jagannath rath yatra draws near, there are thousands of devotees waiting to participate. But in the Jagannath temple in Puri, non-Hindus are not allowed to enter.
So, an American devotee has now built another Jagannath temple in the Bhadrak district of Orissa, which allows entry to all.
Thirty-year-old Julian Parker is the son of a doctor in Los Angeles. Since childhood, Parker has been a devotee of Lord Jagannath and that is what led him to come to India in 1993 and embrace Sanatan Dharma.
Parker then changed his name to Nitai Das. He was disheartened when he wasn't allowed entry into the Jagannath temple in Puri.
After more than 10 years of perseverance, the 35-feet-high temple is ready in the Kuansh village.
The total expenses amounted to around Rs 26 lakh and half of this amount was donated by Parker himself. The rest came through donations.
"There are so many Jagannath bhakts (devotees) across the world. When they are not allowed inside the temple, they feel bad like I did. So I have built this temple," says Parker.
In the quest to realise his dream , Parker has been staying in Bhadrak since 1994. Here he married a Hindu girl, Tapaswini Sahoo.
Tapaswini is more than glad to have Parker in her life and says his American descent has in no way affected his religious sentiments.
"He is highly religious and follows all Hindu traditions. I am very happy with him and I never felt he is a foreigner. After marrying him, I feel I am a lucky woman," says Tapaswini.
Next year, Parker is planning to conduct the traditional rath yatra from this temple. And his plans do not end here.
If this temple gains popularity among foreigners and non-Hindus, Parker has even bigger plans. In a few years' time, he plans to build another massive Jagannath temple. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Jajati Karan
CNN-IBN
Posted Sunday , June 25, 2006 at 12:20
Updated Sunday , June 25, 2006 at 13:13
Â
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/american-devot...le/13818-3.html
Bhadrak (Orissa): As the Jagannath rath yatra draws near, there are thousands of devotees waiting to participate. But in the Jagannath temple in Puri, non-Hindus are not allowed to enter.
So, an American devotee has now built another Jagannath temple in the Bhadrak district of Orissa, which allows entry to all.
Thirty-year-old Julian Parker is the son of a doctor in Los Angeles. Since childhood, Parker has been a devotee of Lord Jagannath and that is what led him to come to India in 1993 and embrace Sanatan Dharma.
Parker then changed his name to Nitai Das. He was disheartened when he wasn't allowed entry into the Jagannath temple in Puri.
After more than 10 years of perseverance, the 35-feet-high temple is ready in the Kuansh village.
The total expenses amounted to around Rs 26 lakh and half of this amount was donated by Parker himself. The rest came through donations.
"There are so many Jagannath bhakts (devotees) across the world. When they are not allowed inside the temple, they feel bad like I did. So I have built this temple," says Parker.
In the quest to realise his dream , Parker has been staying in Bhadrak since 1994. Here he married a Hindu girl, Tapaswini Sahoo.
Tapaswini is more than glad to have Parker in her life and says his American descent has in no way affected his religious sentiments.
"He is highly religious and follows all Hindu traditions. I am very happy with him and I never felt he is a foreigner. After marrying him, I feel I am a lucky woman," says Tapaswini.
Next year, Parker is planning to conduct the traditional rath yatra from this temple. And his plans do not end here.
If this temple gains popularity among foreigners and non-Hindus, Parker has even bigger plans. In a few years' time, he plans to build another massive Jagannath temple. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->