Only a few minutes walk from Hermannplatz, he shines golden through the leafless trees against the U-train station-output: the tower of the Sri Ganesha temple in the Hasenheide. When you come Closer you can see the fence that surrounds the lower area. Because it is built here and have been for more than ten years.
in Front of the fence is Vilwanathan Krishnamurthy, and the two passers-by. “When I told them that we want to be by the end of 2019, with the construction finished, they said that we should not be stressed, finally, that it is more important, good things-time,” he says a little later, while he the door to the site unlocks. A short way across the barren lawn and is located directly in front of the first part of the Ganesha temple. “This is the entrance hall with a high tower, the actual prayer hall closes,” explains Krishnamurthy – when he is ready, it should be according to the planning of the second largest Hindu temple in Europe. More than 180 of the faithful to find a place to Pray.
he Actually wanted to stay only two years
Vilwanathan Krishnamurthy does not occur, construction materials lying on the floor, also doors there is, as yet, only the recesses provided. He goes further in the exposed Central section of the building. This part has not even a roof. “In Hinduism, you believe in a middle, in which all energies flow together, therefore, the Altar here,” says the Mittsechziger and shows an outlined Rectangle on the floor.
43 years Ago, the Hindu came as guest workers for the electric company AEG from India to Berlin. For two years he wanted to stay. His company offered him an extension, which he accepted. He married. His children grew up in Berlin. At AEG, he has been working for a long time. In the meantime, he is social, educational, families and youth counsellors – and by the way, just a Builder.
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order “When it was clear that we stay in Berlin, we wanted to build a permanent place for our Faith,” says Krishnamurthy. In 2004, he founded, together with other Hindus, the Initiative of “Sri Ganesha Hindu temple”, since the registration of the homonymous Association, a year later, he is one of the chair and accompanied the construction of the temple. That everything would go on for so long, that he had not expected. “We are financing our temple also via donations from India. Due to the economic crisis in 2010, many Indian companies are in financial Distress were, so we got less money,“ he explains. More than 250,000 Euro cost of the project so far, at least the Double to be used to completion.
A “cross-cultural religious meeting place” is planned
Also from the structural side, not everything ran smoothly, so the construction workers for the Foundation had to be planned twice as deep drill, because the ground was too soft. In addition, the part of India and the coming of professionals work only in the summer months. “The Indian colleagues have more experience in the building of the temple as a German and make the fine, delicate Work. However, it is in the Winter, too cold to work in 17 metres in height for hours and hours,“ explains Vilwanathan Krishnamurthy and shows at the countless figures of gods, which adorn the Golden tower of the temple – Ganesha is also, of course, shown with a round belly, an elephant head. “In Germany, he is one of the most popular of the Indian deities, he looks funny and stands for happiness, that is why we have decided us for him,” says Krishnamurthy.
A place for Hindus to be the temple. “We want to be the site of a cross-cultural religious encounter, which helps people to find your peace of mind. Anyone can come, no matter what Religion he or she has, you can also have none at all,“ explains Krishnamurthy. Therefore, dance and meditation classes are planned. Already now, the Association organised a small cultural programme like dance in the old people’s home.
happiness, God Ganesha is to the side
As the small group of Vilwanathan Krishnamurthy began to design the temple, lived around 3000 Hindus in Berlin, now there are more than twice as many. “More and more software developers and engineers from India to come to Germany and especially to Berlin, as a result, our community is growing,” says Krishnamurthy.
As part of the Hasenheide, the Hindu community in illustrious company: A mini-Golf course and a small Zoo are in the immediate vicinity, also the pub “the hare tavern” is far away. If you like it quiet, can walk in the Park lakes and meadows. The name of the hasenheide owes the Great elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg, the him in the 17. Century as the Bunny made the enclosure build. Under the influence of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, better known as the “father of gymnastics Jahn” – was from the Hasenheide at the beginning of the 19th century. Century the first gym of Prussia.
has A nice story to the environment in which the temple is built. However, the area is also always negative – for example, as a drug transshipment point. Swayed Vilwanathan Krishnamurthy not to be. “Ten years ago it was worse,” he says. “In the meantime, so many young, creative people living in Neukölln, that the atmosphere has changed, the Park has become a safer place.”
Whether the temple is still in this year, can’t tell Krishnamurthy. After all, you have with Ganesha, a God of good Fortune at your side who is also for patience and a long construction period also shows how well the house of prayer fits to Berlin.
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