Hindus welcome first LV temple

Stacy J. Willis

Friday, April 27, 2001 | 10:55 a.m.

The first Hindu temple in Las Vegas will open this weekend in Summerlin.

Opening ceremonies at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center at 1701 Sageberry Drive will begin tonight at 8.

"This is so exciting for the Indian-American community here -- We've been dreaming of this for years," Dr. Ranjit Jain, a Hindu community leader and local urologist, said.

There are about 2,000 Hindus in the valley, most of whom are from India, Jain said. Hinduism is the world's third-largest religion, behind Christianity and Islam.

Hindus believe in karma -- that individuals create their own destiny by his or her thoughts, deeds, and words. They also believe in reincarnation -- that a soul will be cyclically reborn until it has perfected its karma.

Hindus are encouraged to pray daily and believe in a number gods and goddesses. They also believe in the doctrine of "non-injury" to other living creatures and are encouraged to be vegetarians.

"We believe in doing your duty and leading a decent life," Jain said. "We believe in 'live and let live.' "

For more than a decade Las Vegas Hindus have met at one another's homes to pray and share their faith. Plans for the temple began in 1994. The community raised more than $1 million to begin financing the $2.2 million project.

Jain, along with a board of trustees and benefactor Drs. Dipak and Kusum Desai, searched for both a plot of land and a priest for several years. The 4-acre parcel is in The Arbors neighborhood in the Summerlin area. The priest, Shri Gopal Krishnamacharyulu, arrived two weeks ago from India.

"He will add a lot to our culture here. We wanted someone educated in Hinduism, and we found him," Jain said.

The temple is open to everyone and will eventually offer religious classes for children.

In ceremonies this weekend the building and its idols will be blessed to prepare for sacred ceremonies. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., are scheduled to attend the temple services on Sunday at 11 a.m.