Conversion of non-Hindu places of worship into temples

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The conversion of non-Hindu places of worship into temples occurred for centuries, ever since the advent of other Dharmic faiths in the Indian subcontinent. As a result, Muslim mosques, Christian churches, Zoroastrian fire temples, Jain and Buddhist temples were converted into Hindu places of worship. Since the dawn of the 20th century, there have been active movements to convert non-Hindu religious sites into temples, primarily in the West[1] and in India.

Conversation of Islamic mosques into Hindu temples[edit]

This table lists former mosques which were built by destroying Hindu temples on sites of religious significance that have now been reclaimed and converted back into Hindu Temples. It also includes those temples where the original structure of the mosque no longer survives and the temple was built at the site of a former mosque.

Current Name Mosque Name Images City Country Notes
Sita Ram Mandir-Gurdwara Jama Masjid of Farrukhnagar Farrukhnagar India The town of Farrukhnagar was founded by Mughal Governor Faujdar Khan in 1732 AD. It was named after the Mughal Emperor, Farrukhsiyar. He constructed the Jama Masjid as the principal mosque of this new town, which is now used as a Hindu temple and Sikh Gurdwara.[2][3]
Bharat Mata Mandir Khilij Jumma Masjid Chand Minar behind Bharat Mata temple Daulatabad (Aurangabad) India The Jumma Masjid is the earliest surviving Islamic monument in the Deccan region.[3][4]
Bhagwan Danasher Mandir Dana Shir Masjid [image] Hisar India The mosque is built to the west of the courtyard of the Tomb of Dana Shir Bahlul Shah. It is completely built of small bricks and is plastered with fine white stucco.[3][5]

Conversion of Christian churches into Hindu temples[edit]

This table lists former Churches with identified original buildings that have been converted into Hindu Temples. It only includes those Churches where the original structure was never a site of a temple.

A Hindu sect, known as Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, has been buying former churches and converting them into temples, in the US and the UK.[6] The sect is headquartered in Maninagar, Ahmedabad. In India, however, the conversion of Churches to temples is more violent.[7]

Current Name Church Name Images City Country Notes
Swaminarayan Hindu Temple unknown [image] Portsmouth, VA US A 30-year-old Church was converted to a temple to accommodate the Guajarati community of Chesapeake near Portsmouth, Virginia. It is the 6th Church to be converted into a temple in the US, and the 9th in the world.[8]
Swaminarayan Hindu Temple Highland Mennonite Church [image] Bear, Delaware US A 50-year-old Church was converted to a temple. It is the 3rd Church to be converted into a temple in the US, and the 5th in the world.[9]
Udupi Krishna Temple unknown [image] Edison, NJ US In 2017, a Protestant abandoned church covering 4.5 acres, in Edison, New Jersey, was acquired to be converted into an Udupi Krishna temple.[9][10]
Swaminarayan Hindu Temple St John's Baptist Church[11] [image] Islington, London UK (England) June 1970: The first BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in the UK was opened in a converted disused Anglican church in Islington, North London, by Yogiji Maharaj.[12] It was also called the Mission Hall of St. John's.[13]
Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Bolton Unity Church (Unitarian)[14] Bolton, Manchester[15] UK (England) A Unity Church of the Unitarian denomination, on Deane Road was a fine example of late 19th century religious gothic in red brick with terracotta detailing. It was converted to a temple on 1973 and rebuilt into a larger building after demolishing the old structure in 1993.[16]
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Toronto unknown [image] Toronto, ON Canada Gujarat-based Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan constructed a temple in Toronto, Canada, on a 125-year-old plot of land which had previously housed a church.[17]
Lord Swaminarayan abode unknown [image] Los Angeles, CA US In 2012, the Sansthan bought churches in Los Angeles, California, and turned it into Lord Swaminarayan abode.[6]
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Goshen Methodist Church Louisville, KY US The Sansthan has bought a defunct church, spread over four acre of land, at Louisville, Kentucky.[6]
Swaminarayan Hindu Temple Dunamis Christian Faith Church [image] Louisville, KY US The Sansthan has bought another defunct church, in the heart of Louisville, Kentucky.[6]
Shree Swaminarayan Temple St Ninian's Church Golders Green, London UK (England) In 1982, St Ninian's Church was bought for £200,000 and a temple built on its 2.5 acre compound.[18][19][20]
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Scarborough unknown [image] Scarborough, ON Canada A 100-year-old church in Scarborough was declared a heritage structure by the Canadian government. The church was built over 9,000 sq ft, included a community hall and house.[6]
Shiva temple Hall of the 7th-Day Adventist [image] Aligarh, UP India A church overnight turned into a temple adorned with a portrait of Shiva after what some Hindu groups in Asroi, near Aligarh, termed the "ghar wapasi" (reconversion) of 72 Valmikis who had become Christians in 1995.[21]
Hanuman temple Evangelical prayer hall [image] Baijnath, HP[22] India On 12 December 2005, the home of Pastor Ramesh Masih Bhatti, where the church was meeting, had been taken over by Hindus and converted into a Hindu temple. A Hindu god's idol had been placed at the doorway, and Bhatti was forced to leave his house with his family, where they had lived for 25 years. A militant leader in the area reportedly announced a campaign to move throughout the area's villages forcing Christians to reconvert to Hinduism.[23][24]
Ashtalakshmi temple unknown North Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA US Ashtalakshmi temple in North Hollywood, California, was once a church and was bought by Hindu community
Aberdeen Hindu Temple Old Stoneywood Church Aberdeen UK (Scotland) Plans have been unveiled to convert a former church into Aberdeen’s first Hindu temple. The Old Stoneywood Church on Bankhead Road, which dates back to the 1840s, has now been vacant for more than four years. Aberdeen Hindu Temple Trust said there are more than 3,500 Hindu religion followers in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, but the closest temple is 70 miles away in Dundee.[25][26]
Hindu Prarthana Samaj temple Fern Avenue Church of Christ Toronto, ON Canada Toronto's oldest Hindu temple, the Hindu Prarthana Samaj temple was established after the Prarthana Samaj congregation officially bought the Fern Avenue Church of Christ in 1979. The church was one of the earliest Presbyterian churches in the area, first named the Ruth Street Presbyterian Mission in 1886; later renamed the Fern Avenue Presbyterian Church in 1894 when Ruth Street was renamed Fern Avenue; and then from 1910/1913 to 1979, was known as the Fern Avenue Church of Christ.[27][28][29]

Conversion of Buddhist sites into Hindu temples[edit]

See also Persecution of Buddhists and Decline of Buddhism in India

Current Name Buddhist Structure Images City Country Notes
Sri Sanni Siddheswara temple unknown [image] Krishna, AP India Up to 11 Hindu temples have been built on Buddhist sites in the villages of Machilipatnam and Nidumolu, in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. Buddhism flourished during 1st and 2nd Century CE, but was curbed by the Chalukyas, who occupied or converted into their religious buildings into Hindu temples[30]
Ram Temple Kushan-era stupas at the site of the Anathapindika Stupa or Sudatta Stupa (aka Kachchi Kuti) Sravasti, UP India The earliest structures of Kachchi Kuti, which were Buddhist, date to the Kushan period; over which a temple with terracotta panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana was constructed during the Gupta period.[31][32]
Bhuteshwar Temple unknown [image] Mathura, UP India Anti-caste scholars argue that this temple was built on a site of a Buddhist structure.[33][34]
Gokarneshwar Temple unknown [image] Jamubania, OR India Anti-caste scholars argue that this temple, in the village of Jamubania, was built on a site of a Buddhist structure.[33][34]

Conversion of Jain sites into Hindu temples[edit]

Many Jain temples were converted to Hindu temples by replacing the statues of Tirthankaras with Shiv lingams. Jainism started its decline due to the aggressive rise of Veerashaivism. [35][36]

Current Name Jain Structure Images City Country Notes
Padmakshi Temple Kadalalaya basadi Warangal, TS India The statues of Tirthankaras engraved on walls are now worshiped as local deities.[35]
Saraswati temple Saraswati Jain temple [image] Basar, TS India A temple dedicated to the Jain avatar of Saraswati in Basar, was converted into a Hindu temple.[35]
Sahasra Lingeshwarelayam Tribhuvanatilaka Jinalaya [image] Vemulawada, TS India A Jain shrine called Tribhuvanatilaka Jinalaya on the Bommalagutta hillock near Kurikyala village, was built during the Chalukya dynasty. It is now a Shiva temple.[37]
Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Lord Parshvanatha Jain temple [image] Padmakshi, TS India The oldest temple in the Hanamkonda a Jain site. It was converted into a hindu temple dedicated to Padmavathi.[38]
Mahalakshmi Temple Temple dedicated to Chandraprabha Kolhapur, MH India Paul Dundas in his book The Jains mentions that the Mahalaxmi temple in Kolhapur was a Jain temple.[39][40] Sheshashayee Vishnu which is an octagonal structure closer to the eastern gate has a panel of 60 Jain Tirthankaras carvings.[41][42]

Conversion of Zoroastrian sites into Hindu temples[edit]

Current Name Zoroastrian Structure Images City Country Notes
Ateshgah of Baku Ateshgah آتشگاه‎ Baku Azerbaijan The Fire temple at Baku was temporarily converted into a Hindu temple by Hindu and Sikh traders. During this time it was dedicated to the deities Ram, Krishna, Hanuman and Agni. Currently, it is a museum.[43][44]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Churches are turning into temples in UK and US!". The Times of India. 2012-06-29. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2021-07-19. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  2. ^ "Jama Masjid turned Mandir/ Gurudwara of Farrukhnagar". Rana Safvi. 2020-02-09. Archived from the original on 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  3. ^ a b c "Mosques turned into Temples, the other side of history". SabrangIndia. 2020-05-08. Archived from the original on 2020-05-13. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  4. ^ Haidar, Navina Najat; Sardar, Marika (2011). Sultans of the South: Arts of India's Deccan Courts, 1323-1687. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 178. ISBN 978-1-58839-438-5.
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  6. ^ a b c d e "Swaminarayan sect buys 2 US, Canada churches". The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  7. ^ Ali, Mohammad. "Church attacks not illegal: Hindu outfit". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2021-10-17. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
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  9. ^ a b "50-Year-Old Church Converted Into Temple In US". www.outlookindia.com/. Archived from the original on 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  10. ^ "Mangaluru: Udupi seer turns derelict US church into a temple". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  11. ^ "BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha - History of BAPS in the UK & Europe". Archived from the original on 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  12. ^ Book of the year 1971. Encyclopædia Britannica. 1971.
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  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2023-10-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ "Shree K. S. Swaminarayan Temple Bolton". Archived from the original on 2011-07-28.
  17. ^ Natrajkumar, Nandita. "Portsmouth Swaminarayan Mandir: Here's the 6th temple converted from a church in US". IBT Times. Archived from the original on 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  18. ^ "Churches are turning into temples in UK and US!". The Times of India. 2012-06-29. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2012-06-30. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  19. ^ Tomalin, Emma; Singh, Jasjit (2020). "A Survey of Hindu Buildings in England. Historic England Research Report 203/2020". Historic England. p. 131. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  20. ^ Wilson, Mark (2014-02-01). "Stained Glass Windows from St Ninian's Church, Finchley Road". The Architectural Forum. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  21. ^ "Church turned into 'temple' after 72 Valmikis reconvert to Hinduism". The Times of India. TNN.
  22. ^ "Church plan to grab Govt. land; convert Hindus thwarted in Himachal". Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. 2006-02-01. Archived from the original on 2024-03-30. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  23. ^ "Pastor Beaten and Accused of Forcible Conversion". VOM Canada. 16 November 2005. Archived from the original on 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  24. ^ "Church Building Converted to Hindu Temple". VOM Canada. 14 December 2005. Archived from the original on 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  25. ^ Merson, Adele (2019-09-14). "Hindu temple plan to bring Aberdeen kirk back to life". Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  26. ^ "Plans for only Aberdeen Hindu temple unveiled". BBC News. 2019-09-13. Archived from the original on 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  27. ^ "Toronto's oldest Hindu temple is finally going to look like one". CBC.ca. 15 March 2022. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022.
  28. ^ Longwell, Karen (2022-01-29). "Toronto's oldest Hindu temple is about to get a major facelift". www.blogto.com. Archived from the original on 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  29. ^ "ACO Toronto - 62 Fern Avenue". www.acotoronto.ca. 2022-03-15. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  30. ^ Naidu, T. Appala. "Buddhist remains worshipped in Siva temples in Krishna district". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  31. ^ Jha, DN (1 June 2018). "The destruction of ancient Buddhist sites". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  32. ^ M. Venkataramayya (1956). Sravasti (PDF). Department of Archaeology, India. pp. 26–27.
  33. ^ a b Sonpimple, Rahul. "Beyond Hindu-Muslim binary: The Buddhist Claim on Ayodhya". the Federal. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  34. ^ a b "Ancient Buddhist Sculptures Discovered in Odisha State, India". Archived from the original on 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  35. ^ a b c V., NILESH. "Andhra Pradesh, Telangana give short shrift to Jain sites". DECCAN CHRONICLE.
  36. ^ Jain, Mahima A. "Ayodhya verdict: Can Tamil Jains reclaim heritage destroyed by Hindus". The Federal.
  37. ^ Dhaky, Madhusudan A. Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture. American Institute of Indian Studies.
  38. ^ Chatterjee, Saurabh. "Perfect confluence of spiritual and devotional fervor at Padmakshi temple". Telangana Today. Archived from the original on 2018-06-28.
  39. ^ Dundas, Paul (2003-09-02). The Jains. Routledge. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-134-50165-6.
  40. ^ Kumara Choudhry. The Jains Library of Religious Beliefs And Practices Paul Dundas Routledge.
  41. ^ "Inside Temples". mahalaxmikolhapur.com. Archived from the original on 2020-06-06. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  42. ^ Goyal, Anuradha (2019-06-10). "Mahalakshmi Temple - Jewel Among Kolhapur Temples". Inditales. Archived from the original on 2020-04-22. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  43. ^ Kumar, Divya. "At this Azerbaijan fire temple, Sanskrit and Punjabi inscriptions find place". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29.
  44. ^ von Eichwald, Karl Eduard (1834), Reise in den Caucasus, Stuttgart.
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