Ancient Goddesses in New York

An Online Guide to Discovering the Sacred Feminine in
Museums, Temples, and Public Places

Honoring the Hindu Goddesses that Are a Part of the Fabric of New York's Religious Communities

A Hindu temple is a place of worship for people of many different Hindu traditions. It is a place where priests perform pujas and other religious rites. They offer devotion and worship to gods and goddesses. It is also a place in which devotees seek the blessings (boons) of the divine. Some temples are devoted to a particular deity (such as Ganesh or Mother Durga) but most have statues and celebrations of multiple deities. While the divine is seen as one source, it manifests in many different gods and goddesses who are unique. It is also common for devotees to perform their religious rites at home and to have home altars to their household divinity.

Goddesses in Hindu Temples and Shrines

Hindu temples are sacred spaces that require devotees and visitors to respect the religious protocols but most welcome anyone who would like to visit. Make sure you leave your shoes outside before entering.

Goddess Durga Blesses Outside of Temple

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Goddess Durga outside of the ornate Hindu Dayaram Mandir in Jamaica, Queens. Her statue is huge.

Female Priest with Goddesses

Photo credit: Ira Berger / Alamy Stock Photo

A woman identified as a "Pandita" stands in her Mandir in Ozone Park. Lakshmi, holding yellow flowers, is right behind her. Also in the photo are goddesses Kali and Durga. It is rare to see a female Hindu priest but Queens has at least one or two.

Goddess Tulsi Has Her Own Temple

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Tulsi Mandir Temple in South Richmond Hill, Queens, New York. It features the Hindu Goddess Tulsi. She is a goddess of sacred basil and also known as a consort of Lord Krishna. These icons were all imported from India.

Lakshmi-Narayan Temple

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This is the altar at the Lakshmi Narayan Temple in South Richmond Hill, Queens, New York. While the temple is dedicate to the goddess Lakshmi and her husband Vishnu, it features large-size statues of many important gods and goddesses.

Goddesses at the Ganesha Temple

Photo: Laurie Sue Brockway/Goddess Communications

Photos of the deities are not permitted inside the Ganapati Temple in Flushing, New York. It is a sacred space. But it has many altars to gods and goddesses and is one of the busiest hubs of Hindu worship in New York. Anyone is welcome. They keep a packed worship schedule and open their doors every day. You can visit Lakshmi, Durga, Parvati, and Saraswati inside. On the walkways outside the temple is a beautiful and ancient-looking 16 collection of Ganesha wall sculptures on pillars. Some have him with goddesses, such as this pillar devoted to Ganesha and Lakshmi.

Goddesses at the Wedding

Photo: Laurie Sue Brockway/Goddess Communications

You will also find divine females and their counterparts at Hindu weddings. This one was held in the building adjacent to a temple. Everything is set up to be sacred and to give the couple a blessed beginning to married life.

The Lakshmi Shrine at Greets You

Photo: Laurie Sue Brockway/Goddess Communications

The Lakshmi Shrine at Annam Brahma Restaurant greets you when you enter the restaurant. This is a spiritual environment that serves yummy vegetarian food. You can as your a blessing when you arrive and as your leave.