“Hindu Prayer Room” at Yale University

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Yale University, one of the top ranking universities of USA, has a “Hindu Prayer Room”.

This “Hindu Prayer Room” includes a traditional temple hanging bell; Nataraja statue; images of Swami Vivekananda, Hindu deity, etc.; and is open Sunday to Thursday 7-11pm in the basement of Bingham Hall.

 Applauding Yale for provision of “Hindu Prayer Room”, distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, described it as “a step in the right direction”. Zed commended Yale for recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education, which was important in Hinduism.

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged other USA universities and colleges, both public and private, to respond to the spiritual needs of diverse student body and provide dedicated Hindu prayer/meditation room for rituals, quiet reflection, festivals and spiritual exercise; which would help in their personal growth.

Yale University on a 342-acre campus in New Haven (Connecticut), founded in 1701, with an operating budget of $2.82 billion, has about 15 million volumes in its library and its acceptance rate is 7.1%. About 12,000 students attend Yale, whose undergraduate tuition, room and board cost $55,300. Joseph R. Crespo, Peter Salovey and Sharon M.K.Kugler are Trustees Chair, President and Chaplain respectively.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA.