About Us
Our Journey
Our mission is to provide a place for spiritual, social and educational development at all phases of one’s life, from early childhood education, youth guidance, spiritual nurturing of families to seniors care. We will be a key voice of Sanatan Dharma to propagate a proper understanding of our religious scriptures and culture norms, along with the teaching of Hinduism in educational institutions.
Voice of the Vedas Cultural Sabha Inc.was founded in 1977 and incorporated in 1979. The Vishnu Mandir started as a little house in 1981 by a few supporters from Guyana and Trinidad. By March of 1984, the small version of the Vishnu Temple was completed. At the Temple site, we used to have our Diwali Melas where over 15 thousand people attended.
When we came to Canada, there were no Temples and we used to worship in school auditoriums. We then decided that we must preserve our dignity, heritage and Dharma and as such, we embarked on the building of the first architecturally structured Hindu Temple in Canada.
Now
Standing tall at the North entrance of the Metropolitan Toronto in Richmond Hill is the spectacular VISHNU MANDIR radiating spiritual power and aesthetic gracefulness. Thousands came forward in the early eighties giving generously and Vishnu Mandir became a physical reality in 1984.
The ideal location, the architectural beauty of this temple mixed with intense religious ferver and the spiritual vibration created by several Saints and Sages has attracted many devotees from all over North America and other continents.
The 27,000 square feet facility has a main puja hall, gift shop and office on the main floor, Montessori school & Hindu Museum on the first floor, an elegant multipurpose hall downstairs serves as the auditorium for cultural performances and a Kalyan Mandapam for weddings and other functions.
Preeti-bhoj (meal) is served to over 500 devotees every Sunday after the main service.
This temple enjoys a distinguished status in the hearts of thousands of Hindus, Saints, Sages and Scholars all over the world. For all Hindus in Canada the temple stands as a beacon of Hindu faith and perseverance.
The Mandir has a vibrant Bal-Vihaar Sunday school for children of all ages. Youth group participates in fund raising activities.Women’s Organization has taken a lead in arranging seminars for the betterment of women and families, have arranged summer camps for kids, local and US trips for seniors of this community.
Temple celebrates all major functions such as, Mahashivratri, Holi, Navratras, Raas-Garba, Dandiya, Janmashtmi, Ganesh Visarjan, Hanuman Jayanti, Dassehra and Diwali. In addition to all this we also hold major melas and Holi, Diwali dinners at the leading halls of GTA.
The campus includes a Senior home (Anand Bhavan), Montessori School with Toddlers full program & Canadian Museum of Indian Civilization (CMIC) first of its kind in North America. Vishnu Mandir also now has a 50 ft. tall statue of Hanumanji, the tallest in North America.
Today, we have expanded our Temple to over 30,000 square feet and on our grounds, we have: A 50′ Hanuman Ji Statue, a 20-foot Bronze Mahatma Gandhi statue in our Peace Park situated in front of the temple.
This park grew with the involvement of Ret. Hon. Col. Gerry Nudds to a most beautiful park with a Monument to the fallen Soldiers of Canada, A tribute to Nelson Mandela, an Inukshuk – a structure of rough stones stacked in the form of a human figure, traditionally used by Inuit people as a landmark or a commemorative sign, a fountain honouring the Holy River Ganges – this fountain is a representation of Gomukh, which is the terminus or snout of the Gangotri Glacier and the source of the Bhagirathi River, one of the primary headstreams of the Holy Ganges.
Recent addition to add Yoga & Wellness Centre, Expand Bal-Vihaar & more space for Montessori School.
