Introduction
The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) is the culmination of deeply felt spiritual aspirations of the Hindus in the Greater Chicago area. The HTGC is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1977. It became a full-fledged functional house of worship in 1986. Besides providing a congenial atmosphere for spiritual advancement, it also serves as a focal point for celebrating the cultural diversity of the Hindus. Daily worships (pooja), grand festivals, exquisite cultural programs, children’s education programs, energetic youth activities, and humanitarian projects radiate the power (shakti) of this spiritual sanctuary.

Architecture
Perched on a wooded hillside above the Des Plaines River valley in Lemont, Illinois, the temple represents one of the most impressive feats of devotion outside India. The temple complex consists of two buildings, the Rama temple and Ganesha-Shiva-Durga temple, built by master artisans and sculptors from India.

The Rama temple is built to specifications in the authentic style of the Chola dynasty (a 10th century dynasty of Indian Kings). The temple’s architecture is a perfect blend of the ancient with the modern. Its magnificent 80-foot tower (Gopuram) is a potent symbol of Hindu spirit. A large hall in the lower level of the temple has facilities to stage cultural events.

A smaller temple north of the Rama temple is the Ganesha-Shiva-Durga temple. This temple is built in the architecture style of the Kalinga dynasty (1st century B.C.).

Hinduism
Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world. It is also known as Sanatana Dharma (eternal righteousness). Predating recorded history, it originated among the sages of ancient India around 6000 B.C.