Hindu Temple Approved – To be Built on 100 Acres in Robbinsville
This week the Robbinsville planning board unanimously approved plans to build a five building Hindu worship complex on 37 acres of a 102 acre tract of vacant farmland located on Route 130 and North Main Street. The buildings, to be built by BAPS, a nonprofit Hindu group, are a scaled-down version of a plan rejected by East Windsor two years ago. In response to traffic concerns during holidays and special events, BAPS has agreed to hire police to direct traffic during these times and also landscape the area so as not to be visible from Church Street. It’s estimated that the complex will take between five and seven years to complete.
Source: packetonline.com
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- Traffic Advisory – Washington Boulevard Detour
- Robbinsville Preserves 153 Acres for Nearly $9 Million
November 8th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
[...] Source: http://www.robbinsvilleweb.com/news/2008/10/31/hindu-temple-approved-to-be-built-on-100-acres-in-rob... [...]
November 9th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
It is gratifying to note that a beautiful Hindu Temple will come into existence in Robbinsville. In the end of the century USA can boast of as much Hindu Temples as in India. Let the tolerant faith capture the imagination of all. Hare Rama Hare Krishna. OM Namasivaya, Hail Sri Swami Narayan.
Lokas Samasthas sukino bhavatu.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:42 am
In the “Land of Hope and Glory” everything is possible. May its people of all races, creed and religions be endowed with compassion and the highest of consciousness so that the USA will be a beacon to all the other countries in the world. Obama is setting the pace. All other nations over the course of time will have no option but to follow. Die hard regimes like Burma will eventually fall. Evil cannot exist in the golrious LIGHT of truth and goodness.
November 10th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Our motto:
‘Love for All, hatred for none’
The Promised Messiah has come
November 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
[...] Source: http://www.robbinsvilleweb.com/news/2008/10/31/hindu-temple-approved-to-be-built-on-100-acres-in-rob... [...]
January 15th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
I don’t think our town needs a Hindu temple when we are trying to keep our tax rates down. Couldn’t we have used this as an opportunity to allow a business to occupy the land or put in something that would be appealing to ALL Robbinsville residents? I think the planning board was asleep at the wheel when they approved this.
April 28th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
[...] http://www.robbinsvilleweb.comHPI note: Yesterday’s editions of HPI had the first paragraphs of each item missing. This edition corrects it and presents the full version.]ROBBINSVILLE, NEW JERSEY, USA, October 28, 2008: The Robbinsville planning board has unanimously approved plans for a five-building Hindu worship complex to be built by BAPS Swaminarayan.The buildings will be erected on 37 acres of a 102-acre tract of vacant farmland located on Route 130 and North Main Street.In response to concerns about increased traffic during holidays and special events, BAPS has agreed to hire police to direct traffic during these times. They further agreed to landscape the area so as not to be visible from Church Street. It’s estimated that the complex will take between five and seven years to complete. [...]
October 19th, 2009 at 12:37 am
Tom As reply to your post….. Please visit http://www.mandir.org/photogallery/mandirarchitecture.htm you will see lot of architectural work once this temple complete It gone be same or more beautiful then London temple …. As I understand that Robbinsville township needs tourist attraction + It will stay in History for this wonderful landmark …………. I am glade that BAPS giving us grate owner to bringing this temple to Robbinsville township………… Thank you so much BAPS…………….
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:05 pm
It is time to stop this nonsense and focus on important issues . One of those issues is the safety of children in this twsp. How frightening it is the way the transportation dept handles inquiries and attempted abductions. WAKE UP WASHINGTON OR NOW ROBBINSVILLE- a rose by any other name still doesnt handle emergencies with the diligence it should.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:06 pm
It is time to stop this nonsense and focus on important issues . One of those issues is the safety of children in this twsp. How frightening it is the way the transportation dept handles inquiries and attempted abductions. WAKE UP WASHINGTON OR NOW ROBBINSVILLE- a rose by any other name still doesnt handle emergencies with the diligence it should.
December 2nd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
I am deeply concerned about the lack of interest this township shows to parents of children riding buses. Truly serious issues are dismissed and good parents are treatd with disdain-esp if their children are attending Catholic schools! You forget that we are paying as many tax dollars as the parents of children who utilize your school system. How about the the ASIAN child who was lured by a non-visible stranger to disboard a bus and was supported by the bus driver who did not even concern herself about asking for ID but rather encouraged the child to leave the bus? How about the transportation coordinator who blamed the unknowing innocent parents and the bus driver that refused to provide a description of the
person?How about the superintendent who was so inappropriate that he did not even care that a stranger approached a schoolbus, asked for a child by name demanded she get off the bus at a stop that wasnt her regular stop, then hid while the child frantically searched for her mother that
the stranger claimed was waiting for her? WHAT ARE WE PAYING FOR HERE? WHAT QUALITY OF LIFE REMAINS IN THIS TWSP. Hey how many more employees are e-mailing porn to our kids???? But no- lets worry about architecture, right???????????????????
April 16th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
When this Hindu temple construction is completed, it will look like this: http://www.akshardham.com
Our property value will be double in 7 years from now. Go for it !! Yoohoo !
April 16th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Guys ! I agree with that Mr bhola. In this doomsday ecomony, the temple construction will actually help it by raising revenue for its locals. People whose house values have dwindled will actually realize the importance. I am for it.
May 30th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Tom
Here’s is an excerpt from town’s meeting recording register …
“A summary table of the fiscal impact detailing three different scenarios was shown to the Board as follows: existing parcel, proposed BAPS development, and a potential application for a warehouse and office use. The use is permitted. There will be no population, school children or employee impact.
The existing is farmland and the existing tax revenue is approximately $1,000.00. The conservative analysis proposed adjustment came in at $15,000.00. There would 15 to 20 residents (Sadhus, monks, and Sevaks, religious attendants) on site. These religious individuals never marry nor do they have children. In addition, there will be 10 to 20 employees to care for the facility on a full-time basis. Because it is a house of worship, it will be tax exempt. Mr. Lange omitted the County tax, which does not benefit or hurt the town, but can be addressed.
The house of worship and warehouse (proposed by a prior applicant) were compared. Mr. Lange indicated that the total warehouse revenues would be $470,000. In terms of revenue and the COAH obligations (53 units) the warehouse would generate $94,000 and service and school would be $439,000.00. In sum, there would be a $2,000 loss.
The BAPS application would not generate COAH obligations and saves the municipality and school tax shortfall in as much as $345,334 annually. The house of worship is a permitted use and has no fiscal impact.”
CHALLENGE # 1 FOR YOU: Show me a interested business that will generate this kind of revenue for the township.
And I’m not even talking about to the powerful message that this town will send to the rest of the country by having this magnificient center in its boundaries. Here are some of the things Bill Clinton said when he visited a similar one in Delhi, India …
“It is beautiful. You have made something more beautiful than one can imagine. Extraordinarily beautiful! More overwhelming than can be seen in photographs.”
“I know that Akshardham is not only a unique place in India but in the whole world. It is even more beautiful than what I had imagined. Taj Mahal is definitely beautiful, but this place, along with beauty, has a beautiful message!”
“Amazing, incredible idea… so powerful. If you make models of this, you can start an international business of inspiration… Individuals all over the world will be inspired!”
“The reason why your organisation is at the top is because you are lifting the smallest segment of society.”
CHALLENGE # 2 FOR YOU: Show me a business that can send out this kind of powerful message to the country & bring glory to the town.
October 30th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Hey, sorry for being offtopic but what theme do you have on your blog? or did you design it by yourself? I really love the theme here on this blog.
November 19th, 2010 at 10:30 pm
WOW , Muslims keep building centers of terror and nothing happen.
Hindus are peaceful by nature.
1. This is not built by taxpayer money but BAPS.
2. No new businesses (which could bring construction jobs and later tourist based trade and shopping) would have come to this tract of land. Certainly the NYC Mosque would have attracted businesses but not here.
3. All temples are open to everyone and they provide food and help to homeless all the time.
4. Religious freedom is a step-stone to democracy. India allowed Christian missionaries to build all kinds of schools, churches. Yes there is opposition sometime by fundamentalists, but there are small minded people everywhere.
November 27th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Swami Narayan BAPS religion promotes gender discrimination. It in unimaginable that such an orginazation is being followed and approved by people. If you think that this is a false propoganda, go to the edison swaminarayan temple and see for yourself. If there is so much opposition to the ny city mosque, why is there no opposition to this proposed structure?
November 27th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
From wikipedia below:
The Swaminarayan faith has been linked to patriarchal class structures that subjugate women.[84] Members of the faith are defensive of the fact that some practices seem to restrict women and make gender equality in leadership impossible.[85] However, while “many would assert that Swaminarayan Hinduism serves a patriarchal agenda, which attempts to keep women in certain roles”, Swaminarayan himself, despite considerable criticism from those in his own contemporary society who “loathed the uplift of lower caste women,” insisted that education was the inherent right of all people.[86] In case of widows, he directed those who could not follow the path of chastity to remarry. For those who could, he lay down strict rules which included them being under the control of male members of the family. This may seem regressive, however it gave them “a respected and secure place in the social order” of the time.[87] He also directed male devotees not to listen to religious discourses given by women. Swaminarayan restricted widows “to live always under the control of male members of their family and prohibited them from receiving instruction in any science from any man excepting their nearest relations.
April 15th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
This monument will make the town look good , trust me .same thing happened to city of etobioke ,near toronto.I have always passed by this hindu temple and its so peacefull and beautifull. house prices will go up for the town. I dont know why some of this people on the blog dont realise the potential of this temple . and mr nydesi people like you are disease to the whole world you will only point out negative comments .The people in toronto temple run by same org are so humble and nice . cant wait to see the new temple.
June 13th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
I visited this temple 2 days ago in Houston. I was appalled to see that during Aarti, women were expected to stand behind the men. My daughter (3 yrs old) was doing what toddlers do best – running around another child and happened to go into the “male” area. She was “escorted” out and told she should not be there. This temple and their practices are disrespectful to women. I was quite angry and made my displeasure known there. Sad to say there were plenty of women there who stood in worship of this “human” in idol form and defended their practice. This place while architecturally beautiful is disgusting in practice & preachings. I know I will not step foot into this place again.
June 25th, 2011 at 12:43 am
@ lovelife: Look man, why are you not driving your car in left hand side? or why are you paying your tax to govt.? disgusting right! That human idol is like Jesus but in live form in that Houstan temple. And like bibal they are having SHIKSHAPATRI. In that there are many good things for simple human being. Swaminarayan devotes obeying this SHIKSHAPATRI. One thing is there for their priests that they have to make distance from females. So they are doing their job. There is no disrespect for any woman in swaminarayan temples. That is one part of their worship. So my request is don’t take it heavily and again visit any swaminarayan temple in our country.
July 20th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
I totally agree with Maddy. Lovelife don’t judge the whole book by one chapter. BAPS monks follow strict celibacy where they don’t look at FEMALE, touch them or even speak to them. Monks do aarti in the particular temple you went to so guys were in the front. There is time dedicated in a day for women to go near the idols for worship and guys have to stay back. Lord Swaminarayan did a lot for women and BAPS continues that tradition. BAPS have special celebrations in the temples done by Women for only women where no men are allowed. I would request to visit BAPS Swaminarayan temple once again.
July 27th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
I lived in NJ for over 30 years and never heard of Robinsville. Here you have a temple being built putting you on the world map. Not only are you going to wake up this sleeping town, you are going to make the resident’s life, much better. You are going to see an increase in tourism thus increasing business and creating more jobs in turn generating more tax dollars. You will probably see an increase in population growth again increasing tax revenue. Currently states and cities are jumping over hoops to retain their residents and lure more and here you are fighting against the tide. I don’t know about you, but I would welcome them to build this amazing piece of architecture in our town any day.
@NYDesi You are a FOOL !!!- If you researched a bit further into the religion, you would have found the truth to be far from your interpretations.
More women were uplifted from the lunacies of the norm during Lord Swaminarayan’s time on Earth. He helped usher in understanding and respect that women deserved. There were women in high places that joined his fold and renounced their worldly life just as did the monks. Not only that he had made separate temples for them to worship freely from the gawking eyes of the none believers. For you to be all feminist on the surface is just plain stupidity on your part.
@lovelife- First, I must say good that you visited the temple and got to see the faith in person. For your comment about practice and preaching is coming from your ignorance. Had you gone deeper into the preachings you would’ve learned a lot more and made you visit more valuable. Instead of getting angry you should have said” sorry I’m not aware of the this tradition male and female separation, can someone explain to me why there is this separation. You would have had an answer to all your questions.
July 27th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
MP you made a great point I never heard to robbinsville either until BAPS announced it now great things will happen with his blessings.
September 29th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
you FOOL @NYDesi….you are really desi. If you see the BAPS religion is PURE and Spot less in every aspect.
October 3rd, 2011 at 7:23 am
Jay Swaminarayan! Dear Brothers and Sisters, Mark my word this will be in 7 wonder of the world. Check this is a Delhi (India’s) Akshardham (already in 7 wonder) this will be in comparison with the Delhi Akshardham (http://www.akshardham.com). Again Jay Swaminarayan.
October 9th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Check out the community activities, charity events, walkathons, etc that BAPS does for the community in which it develops the facilities. Check out http://www.bapscharities.org
October 11th, 2011 at 12:54 am
@NYdesi:: I think many Hindu does not know what is really Hinduism.. and BAPS is awaking like you people.. shame on you that you are saying that they are neglecting the women.. there is rule and you should follow it.. why don’t you bring the petrol, and flammable substance in flight because after Laden program Gov has strict to allow those things … at that time no one is opposing why don’t you not allow these things to carry and here you are saying they are neglecting…. now tell me what you have done for the women in this world tell me many women are beaten, killed raped in US have you bother for anytime … i am sure NO.. then you don’t have rights to talk about that too.. so shut you muddy mouth and visit the temple…
October 17th, 2011 at 10:58 am
@ BAPS Yuvak: I agree with NYdesi and lovelife. This is the respect they teach at the mandir? Really where they even discriminate amongst the kids. you should see God in Kids and not whether they are boy or girl. They discriminated with my 18 months old daughter too who does not even know her gender type. Does Swaminarayan Bhagwan say take that liltle girl at the back of the temple just coz she is female? Its all bull*****.I was born and brought up in India, but never even thought that people at this end would be practicing this kind of religious belief. My Mother in Law is a big follower of BAPS and guess what she did when she invited some disiples from mandir…. “She removed all the other Gods that I had in my small mandir at home.” Now my question is I dont think that Swaminarayan Bhagwan teaches all this but is BAPS teaching all this dicrimination? I think BAPS are the sweet talkers when it comes to collect money. And about the muddy mouth…. we can see how much respect you are been taught by disrespecting other peoples thoughts and feelings. Everyone has right to express. And the example that you gave about petrol and flammables, the reason we are restricted is for our safety so that is commonsense and not questionable, but about this discrimination doesnot make sense to me coz its non-sense.
October 17th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Hello Ladies and Gentleman,
After reading the whole thread, I saw 2 major concerns and issues 1) is The Complex in Robbinsville 2) Discrimination Of Ladies in this sect.
I would like to put my opinion on both. First is some residents don’t want this Hindu Temple/complex in this town. One fact is, there is no point of discussing why did the city approve it? Because it’s done deal. So move on….
1) This is not getting build from ANY CITIZEN’s TAX MONEY.
2) This complex is not for business or by business firm but on the otherside of note this will bring more business opportunity and growth to this town. Just like any resident community is good opportunity to home depot, city tourist location, amc cinema etc.
3) It’s hindu worship complex just like any small or big church building you see across the country.
4) This complex will always give good message to community and tourist those who will visit in future. This social-spiritual organization has never ever done anything wrong for people, for community and for country, check it out by yourself by going on web, by visiting yourself or by any other way you can think of.
5) Who gets recognition in UN and Guinness World Records? Not you and me! Some how has done something special or something good. Right? They have got 3 Guinness World Records awards and got the recognition in UN.
6) If every citizen remembers the “Bill Of Rights”, they should know that this is free land for many things and just to mention couple one is to freedom of speech and second is freedom of worship any religion. This is what this country makes GREAT.
7) They don’t do these complex for any type competition or purpose but ONLY for one good reason, “In joy of others lies our own”.
Second issue discussed in this thread was “Discrimination Of Ladies”.
1) This is the result of “Not having complete knowledge” and try to prove our point right. If anyone has visited this type of complex or studied the roots of this separation would know the reason.
2) No one can check the depth of see from top, right? You have to have some tool to find out or dive in to see the depth of see. This is exactly same thing my friends.
3) There is a rule for safety, rule for relationship, rule for traffic, rule for prayer, rule for education, rule for sports etc…so just think this as the rule for this organization and it’s belief. The saints/monk/sadhus from this organization follow the rules 100% whatever their god has said and this is one of them. Not to keep any type(touch, see or talk) of relationship with women being a true saint. They don’t touch or keep money also, just because they have left the social life and accepted spiritual life. Otherwise you know what may happens….
4) Just look around the see yourself that how many well known famed people have ruin their character and life because of bad relationships with women, don’t want to mention the names here….
5) This organization does treat as similar as men to young, youth women and elder women besides the restriction all saints follows.
So both of the topics were discussed in this thread is the result of “something we don’t like or agree becomes automatically wrong besides we are wrong”. Let’s try to see with right vision…just like with red color film you will see everything red through that film.
Be happy, stay happy and appreciate what we have, what god has given to us and live good life with good moral values to help ourselves and community.
October 17th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
@ jaijaadu:
you could be owner or guest. Rule doesn’t change.
1) Just to mention only one scenario – Do you follow the rule when you purchase a ticket to watch any game doesn’t allow an access to players lounge. You can’t sit and enjoy the game from players lounge. Can you? do you have any issue with that? This is exactly same scenario, it’s a rule in this mandir/temple that during JOINT session of ladies and men, ladies stays at back (even 18 months girl) just because saints are near by men doing their rituals. IT IS STILL ONE ROOF, ONE PLACE FOR LADIES AND GENTS. Just different area for JOINT SESSIONS.
2) Another way of looking it as, in our home if any guest comes they sleep in different room and not in owner’s bed room with owners
Here is small analogy to what I mentioned above- IT IS STILL ONE ROOF(house), ONE PLACE(house) FOR LADIES(guest) AND GENTS(owner). Just different area for JOINT SESSIONS(bed room of house). do we have issue with this? I bet, NO!
October 18th, 2011 at 8:36 am
@ jshop-
1)Your senario does not make sense, If i buy a ticket for the players lounge(which is my option to buy it or not) I’ll have previlage for it, but here I’m not given an option just because I am a female. Besides I am shocked with the rule that rule applies for liltle kids. Those Sadhus or monks should see God in those kids and not the sex of the kids. I guess that tells me that they are not ready to give up social life, coz if they really want to give up than nothing in the world should matter. Its like when you are fasting…. with your whole heart than it doesnot matter what other people are eating or there is food lying infront of you coz no one has forced you to fast.
2) I grew up in a city like Mumbai where there is scarcity of space, so when we had guest we were taught that they are like God, we always gave up our bedrooms to them whether they came for a day or for months. And we did it happily. And there were times we had to share room with them too, still we had them visiting us again and again coz we made them feel at home.
SO IF ITS ONE ROOF, ONE PLACE why is it here my friend you are refering GENTS AS OWNERS AND LADIES AS GUEST, THERE IS THE DISCRIMINATION. In your house is the female member treated like that as guest?
October 18th, 2011 at 9:13 am
I am Hindu and I am proud of it. I respect all Gods whether its Christians or Muslims or Sikhs or Persian, bcoz that is what hinduism is all about love and respect. What also bothered me is that does your Shikshapatri teach you to remove all the other Gods from your temple and just keep Swaminarayan God Pics? And the Gods in my temple were Ganpati, Krishna, Ram, all Matajis, Shivji. so why the discrimination amongst them? I understand that if the mandir is for particular God like Swaminarayan mandir has Swaminarayan Bhagwan and Ganesh Mandir has Ganesh, But a mandir at home who has all Gods are removed coz that monk is coming to bless the home. So what if they do Aarti in my mandir is it that they will do it just for it for Swaminaryan Bhagwan and not my Ganesh or Shivji, whereas at Swaminaryan temple itself has these Gods there. Why do you teach this differentiation to you followers?
November 8th, 2011 at 9:41 am
Great just great
This monstrosity will be in East Windsors back yard where I live. Most of the traffic congestion will most likely be in my town. Some of you say that our property will increase in value but that’s not a guarantee. I have seen the mess that was caused by the building of the temple on rt 1 in South Brunswick. What was once a lovely area is now congested and dirty. This will bring too many people to an infrastructure that will never be able to catch up. Hopefully my home will increase in value so I can sell it and move away before it gets too ugly.
November 8th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
Architecture Designs…
[...]RobbinsvilleWeb News » News Archive » Hindu Temple Approved – To be Built on 100 Acres in Robbinsville[...]…
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:19 am
hey guys
i’ve been a BAPS believer for many years now. Our traditions are old aswell as our organisation. i think many people are too ignorant of the Baps Swaminarayan faith and are quick to bring about discrimination of women. Swaminarayan Bhagawan tells us in the Shikshapatri that men and women should worship separatively. the reason for this is because whilst worshipping,the mind should be focussed on God. Now imagine if an attractive man or women comes and sits next to you. Naturally your mind shifts onto them and the whole point of worshipping God is nullified. This is why we separate ourselves in the mandir. The reason why men lead the prayers in the temples is because the Swamis have renounced mundane life and observe what we call 8 fold celebicy. For this reason they are expected to keep their focus on God and not on mundane life. this is why they don’t look or touch women. their are extreme situations where they are allowed to such as when the life of a women is in danger. So in order to keep their focus on God they don’t look at women, touch money, et cetera. For this reason men take over the leadership roles in the organisation so that there is proper communication between the swamis and the leaders. it’s interesting to know that there are more men devotees in the organisation then men. Women do conduct their own sabhas where men are restricted. I hope this clears up some issues that people have. if you are still not satisfied, please feel free to contact me via email(kavirharilal@gmail.com)…Jai Swaminarayan
December 2nd, 2011 at 9:22 am
*it’s interesting to know that there are more women devotees in the organisation then men