SHSK Temple Project Summary:

Sanatan Hindu Sanskar Kendra (SHSK) is a 501 (C) (3) organization formed in 2013 to build and operate a Hindu Temple in Lafayette, Louisiana. SHSK bought a 5.67 acre land for $200,000 on 110, Hapsburg Lane, Lafayette, Louisiana in 2014. Bhoomi Puja on Temple land was performed on September 6th, 2014. The land was prepared by clearing the unwanted trees and bushes in 2016 and it costed $26,745.

Foundation Stone Ceremony was performed on the auspicious day of Makara Sankranti on January 14th, 2017. SHSK paid $43,433 for Architectural and Civil Engineering services and obtained Building Permit on April 7th, 2017.

On the Auspicious Day of Akshaya Tritiya (April 18th, 2018) the Temple was named as “Sri Krushna Balaji Mandir”

SHSK hired Priest Santosh Acharya Samudrala and he started working for the temple from November 18th, 2018. The priest is highly qualified and best suited for our temple and the community. The priest will also manage day to day activities of temple and organize the puja ceremonies with the support of temple committee members. All the deities statues are shipped from India and delivered. And the deities statues were installed in their respective places during Maha Shivratri (March 4th, 2019).

The Grand Opening of the temple is planned for April 13th, 2019 on Auspicious day of Sri Rama Navami. The Grand event “PranPratishta” and “Kumbabhishekam” (Shikar Pooja) is planned for the Spring of 2020.

The project includes

2520 sqft Temple Building
Shikars (Gopuram)
3250 sqft Annex Building (which includes Priest Quarters)
60 space concrete Parking lot
Fence around the entire lot
Lighting and Security
Water well
Sewage Plant
Retention Pond

The presiding deities of the temple are

Balaji
Shiva
Durga
Radha Krishna
Ganesha
Karthikeya Parivar
Ram Parivar
Hanuman
Lakshmi
Saraswati

Also includes

Garuda
Nandi & Turtle
Navagrahas

The 3d model of the temple building is shown above and 2d drawings of 3 Main Shikars (Gopurams), Central dome and the entrance Samaran is shown below.

Temple floor plan is shown below which includes a small kitchen to make Puja Prasad and a small office room on either side of the Foyer at the entrance.

The floor plan for Annex Building is shown below, which includes restrooms and bigger kitchen. Annex building will be utilized to serve Mahaprasad during Temple major activities. Annex building will be also used to conduct classes for children and satsangs. Annex Building will be available to SHSK members to perform religious ceremonies for a nominal fee. Annex building also includes Priest’s Quarters.

The total value of the land & Buildings are forecasted to be $1,168,678. SHSK estimated budget for Temple and Annex building construction is about $898,500, out of which $93,500 was already paid towards the project. SHSK current cash balance is $368,000 and there is additional $60,000 of funds committed for 2017. SHSK is seeking to raise the remaining funds in the order of $377,000 by end of 2017. From SHSK initiation till now, SHSK successfully raised funds to the amount of $736,349 with the support of SHSK members and friends. – Remarks – The cost will be updated soon (April 29th, 2018)

SHSK Levels of Donation

Diamond Sponsor – $50,000 and above

Platinum Sponsor – $25,000 to $49,999

Gold Sponsor – $10,000 to $24,999

Silver Sponsor – $5,000 to $9,999

Bronze Sponsor – $360 to $4,999

SHSK Annual membership dues are $100 per member and $5000 for Lifetime Membership.

Sponsorship opportunities are available towards specific cause for the temple. Some of the opportunities are given below:

Deity Sponsorship – $500 and above
Deity Pedestal – $1000
Temple Kitchen – $5000
Temple Office – $2500
Temple Main Door – $5000
Main Shikar (middle) – $50,000
Side Shikar (2) – $25,000 each
Central Dome – $25,000
Entrance Samaran – $20,000

Pooja/Utsav Moorthy Sponsorship
1. Ganesh, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Durga, Bal-Krishna – $501 each
2. Lakshmi-Narayan, Radha-Krishna – $1001 each pair
3. Panchaloha Ram-Lakshman-Sita-Hanuman – $1001 all together
4. Panchaloha Kartikeya-Valli-Devyani – $1001 all together
5. Panchaloha Balaji-Sridevi-Bhudevi – $2001 all together
6. Sphatik Shiv Linga on a Silver Stand with Naag – $1111
7. Main Shiva Linga’s Naaga, Jala-Drip hanging water Pot, Trishul & Damaru – $501
8. Large Hanging Temple Bell (Ghanta), 2 small Ghanti Bells, 2 Aaraties for – $401
9. Full set of Copper Puja Utensils to include – 11 Copper Thalis, Copper Pyalas, Aachmanies (Spoons), Tarabhanas – $401
10. Set of 2 Designer Bajaths (Small Puja Tables) – $401
11. Set of 11 Diya Stands, Agarbathi Stand, Perfume Sprayer & Enclosed Akhand Diya – $401
12. Set of 11 Designer Copper Kalashas – $401

SHSK is supported by dedicated volunteers who steer the operations of year round activities. SHSK is managed by group of 11 Trustees and working committees. The working committees are formed to manage specific job duties to implement the goals set by Trustees. The committees are:

Executive Committee
Building Committee
Pooja Committee
Fundraising Committee
Event Committee
Food Committee

SHSK is actively seeking for capital funds for Temple construction and request all the SHSK supporters to contribute to their best of their ability. We also request SHSK members to forward this request to like minded friends and family. To send a Donation by check, please make checks payable to “SHSK” and mail it to

Sanatan Hindu Sanskar Kendra,

PO Box 80362, Lafayette, LA – 70598

Donations are also accepted online through the following link: https://sanatanlft.org/support-us/

To become an Annual Member of SHSK please use the following link: https://sanatanlft.org

To become a “Dollar-a-Day” Sponsor please use the following link: https://sanatanlft.org

SHSK frequently post updates on the Temple Project on its website as well as on SHSK Facebook Page. We are grateful for your generous contribution and support towards SHSK Temple Project and our thanks to all the supporters to make this project successful.

Sincerely

SHSK Board Members