VISHWA DHARMA MANDALAM - AN ORTHODOX HINDU CHURCH

This is the official and authorized website of the Vishwa Dharma Mandalam which is a religious mission dedicated to the teaching and preaching of the Sanatana-dharma religion. It is an orthodox Hindu church and a recognized nonprofit religious organization, founded by Swami Ramakrishnananda under the inspiration of His Divine Grace Bhagavan Mastarama Babaji Maharaja, and the blessings of His Divine Grace Baba Brahmananda Maharaja of Rishikesa and His Divine Grace Narahari dasa Babaji Maharaja of Vrindavana. The purpose of the mission is to preserve and spread the message of the ancient Sanatana-dharma religion, or Hinduism according to the innovative vision of Swami Ramakrishnananda, the Vishwa Dharma, and his teachings about yoga, Hinduism, meditation, and enlightenment. The institution has the respect, affection, recognition and broad support from the Hindu community in the United States. Under the direction and with the blessing of our spiritual master, the members of the mission are dedicated to establishing yoga centers, hindu temples, monasteries, yoga retreats, and ashrams around the world.

Swami Ramakrishnananda undertook the construction of the Radhe-Shyam Temple to be a center for the religious functions and a home for the community of devotees. The Radhe-Shyam temple is a fully functioning Hindu temple in Manhattan, located in the East Village, in the heart of New York City. The mandir holds the altars for Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman, Mother Durga, Mother Lakshmi, Mother Saraswati and Mother Kali, and a separate temple for Sri Sri Radhe-Shyam, the temple's main deities. With an authoritative installation ceremony led by several brahmanas, the temple was officially inaugurated. Ever since, puja ceremonies have been conducted every day for all the devas, or aspects of the Divine. The ceremonies are conducted by personal disciples of Swami Ramakrishnananda, and other qualified brahmanas. The temple hosts a program for each of the important Hindu holidays, such as Diwali, Shivaratri, Holi, Janmastami, and Radhastami, in which an abhisheka ceremony is performed, followed by kirtan, a lecture or a Vedic arts performance