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Sri Venkateswara Temple is the anchor of the Indian community in the greater Pittsburgh area.Located in the eastern suburb of Penn Hills, Sri Venkateswara Temple is one of the earliest Hindu temples to be built in the U.S.

The main deity in the temple is Venkateswara, a representation of Lord Vishnu.The temple is modeled after the world famous Venkateswara temple in Tirupati in South India.Deities at the Sri Venkateswara temple include Lord Balaji, Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiv & Godess Parvathi.

Sri Venkateswara Temple organization was established on Aug 7, 1975. Assistance from Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) for construction of the temple was requested on Sept 11, 1975 and granted on the same day. On June 30, 1976 ground breaking was performed and was followed by pratisthapana on Nov 17, 1976. Daily worship is being performed continuously ever since.

Sri Venkateswara Temple Penn Hills was constructed at a cost of several millions of dollars with donations raised from devotees in U.S.A and several countries. Most donors were first generation Indian immigrants seeking to maintain ties with their mother culture.

The Sri Venkateswara Temple (SVT) Organization was incorporated on Aug 7, 1975. The incorporators are Rajashri Gopal, Nagabhushanam G. Nunna and Nancy Srinivasagam.

Temple Timings

Summer Hours
Mon-Thurs, Sat & Sun: 9:00 am - 8:30 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 9:30 pm

Winter Hours
Mon-Thurs, Sat & Sun: 9:00 am - 7:30 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 8:30 pm

Plans for Sri Venkateswara Temple were designed and planned by Sthapathy Ganapathi worked at engineering cell of endowments department, Andhra Pradesh, India.

A Hindu Temple is constructed according to the Agama Sastras (Temple manuals) in the image of the human body. The two sides of the temple represent the hands, and the top of the Temple represents the head. The deity Venkateswara (Lord of Venkata, and a representation of Vishnu) rests in the innermost recess called the Garbhagraha (sanctum sanctorum).

The Sri Venkateswara Temple at Pittsburgh follows the temple texts known as Pancharatra Agama which consists of 108 samhitas The Agama state that Narayana, the eternal Divine Being, should be worshipped in the Archa Roopam (iconic form) in temples and homes. Hindu devotee believes that divine power has manifested itself in the murti (icon/idol).

Major religious events like Kumbhabhishekam are performed to re-energize the Murti with Divine Power, which can either be diluted or lost due to transgressions committed unknowingly by the priests or the worshippers.

Several types of religious services performed at the Temple: Archana, Abhishekam, Sathyanarayana Puja, Kalyana Utsavam, Homa and many others.

Do's:

Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.
Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for Pooja details etc.
Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
Do concentrate on God and Goddess inside the temple.
Do maintain silence and recite Om Namahsivaya or your Istamantram to yourself inside the temple.
Do observe ancient custom and traditions while in Temple.
Do respect religious sentiments at Temple.
Do deposit your offerings in the hundi only.

Don't s:

Do not come to Temple for any purpose other than worshipping of God and Goddess.
Do not smoke at Temple.
Do not consume alcoholic drinks at Temple.
Do not eat non-vegetarian food in the Kshetram.
Do not approach mediators for quick Darshanam. It may cause inconvenient to others.
Do not carry any weapon inside the temple.
Do not wear any head guards like helmets, caps, turbans and hats inside the temple premises.
Do not perform Sastanga Pranama inside the Sanctum Sanctorum.
Do not take much time while performing Sparsa Darshanam to God in Garbhagriha.
Do not buy spurious prasadams from street vendors.Do not encourage beggars at Temple.
Do not spit or create nuisance in the premises of the temple.