Bharatiya Temple

The Bharatiya Temple also known as the Bharatiya Temple of Metropolitan Detroit is one of the first few Hindu or Indian temples constructed in the North America.Fact|date=May 2008 However, it stands apart from many other Temples in the continent as being more liberal and more inclusive in its interpretation of Hinduism.Fact|date=May 2008 That was one of the key reasons to name it as "Bharatiya Temple" as opposed to a simpler choice "Hindu Temple". However, it is a common belief that the Temple is mostly dominated by physicians - a claim supported by the fact that more often than not the Board of the Trustees has been chaired by Physicians. Thus, a case is often made that the Temple is not as inclusive. Currently, the Bharatiya temple, is the largest Hindu temple in Michigan and one of the largest in the continent of North America. The presiding deity at the Temple is Sri Laxmi-Narayana (or Lakshminarayan). The Temple wedsite is [http://www.bharatiya-temple.org]

Temple is currently undergoing its second expansion, which when completed (in 2009), will more than double its size. Apparently, the local Hindu community is divided over this proposed expansion as the Temple will incur a very large loan due to this expansion.

Resident Priests of the Temple

*V. Janakirama Sastry (Head Priest)
*Ramachandra Bhat
*Gopal Krishna Bhat

Past and Present Presidents of the Temple

*Sukla Doshi, 2000
*Raman Patel, 2001
*Dinesh Billore, 2002
*Balu Patel, 2003
*Ravindra Khattree, 2003, 2004
*Chithra Chakrapani, 2005
*Nancy Bhatt, 2006
*Vijaya Mohan Rai Parvataneni, 2007
*Rajinder Kapoor, 2008
*Shyam Maheshwari, 2009 (President Elect)