New York: More than a Century after Swami Vivekananda expressed a desire to build a "Temple Universal", to promote harmony among religions in America, the 'Ramakrishna Math and Mission' has drawn up a $ 6.5 million plan to fulfill his dream.

"We are planning to build this historic temple, and monastery, as a sanctuary where people of all faiths can come together and worship, study, and pray," said Swami Chidananda, of the 'Vivekananda Vedanta Society' in Chicago, under whose direction the temple will be built. He added that the project would be completed by 2005.

Initially, an inter-faith shrine, a large prayer hall and an ashram would be built on a 15-acre site selected in a Chicago suburb. It will have an extensive garden and a lot of secluded spaces for meditation. A kitchen, a parking lot and other utilities are planned.

The entire project would be financed through donations. A concert by renowned singer Anup Jalota on November 9 will kick off the fund-raising drive.

"When I heard about the plan, I felt it was a noble endeavour and I wanted to help out," Jalota said.

The ashram would have guesthouses for visitors who would be given lessons in yoga, meditation and religion in an effort to provide serene surrounding for meditation and yoga.

"The purpose of fundraising is to bring Vivekananda's vision of universal religion to reality," said Shyam Bhatia, a professor of economics at Indiana University, and one of the temple supporters.

Girish Parikh, one of Chicago's best known Indian activists, said the temple, run by Swamis, "will be unique in Chicago, and will offer unparallel access to monks who will quicken the spiritual impulse of people. It is in the interest of Indians in this country to band together to support it."

Claiming that they were trying to follow Vivekananda's teachings as faithfully as possible, the Swamis said when the Swami introduced Hinduism to America he effectually voiced the mission statement for this "Temple Universal".

"If there were to be a universal religion, it must be infinite like the God it will preach. And whose sun will shine upon the followers of Krishna and of Christ, on saint and sinners alike, which will not be Brahminical or Buddhistic, Christian or Mohammedan, but the sum total of all these, and still have infinite space for development ... It will be a religion which will have no place for persecution or intolerance in its polity... Offer such a religion and all the nations will follow you."

Vivekananda had then said the object of the "Temple Universal" is to help spiritual growth of man by aid of all forms of religions, which are so many paths, leading to the same goal. He knew that he would not live to see his dream fulfilled and often said he would see his plans fulfilled "from above".

PTI