Iowa’s only Hindu temple sits surrounded by corn fields. Seemingly out of place, intricate statues and figures sit atop a vimanam, a temple dome,keeping watch over the lone highway that passes in front of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Iowa in Madrid, about 10 miles southwest of Ames.

The construction of the temple and cultural center, completed in 2003, has met the “cultural needs of the community, which is growing,” said Suren Gupta, treasurer of the temple and cultural center.

“Building [a temple] close to a rural area is considered very highly [in the Hindu religion],” Gupta said.

Prior to the temple’s construction on 30-35 acres of land just outside Madrid, Gupta said, he and fellow Hindus would take turns gathering at each other’s houses for cultural and religious study.

“A group of people got together and formed this [temple construction] group in 1999,” Gupta said. “There were religious and cultural needs in this area. There was no formal temple to congregate and pray.”

An initial $25,000 donation from the Sahai family of Des Moines kick-started the donation drive among local Hindus to build a temple and cultural center. The ultimate tab of $1.2 million was raised from member donations, grants and non-profit organizations.

In 2005, the temple and cultural center was inaugurated with a series of formal ceremonies.

Gupta said the temple and cultural center, which focuses on dance, fine arts and music as well as children’s education, is open to visitors of all religions and welcomes tourist and church groups.

“[The temple is] open to everyone,” Gupta said. “We do not discriminate. Everyone is welcome there.”

At the Hindu temple, the priests and congregation focus on Vaishnava traditions, worshipping the god Vishnu.

“Vishna is the everything, a lover. So he is a supreme,” said Venkatesan Renganathan, one of the temple priests.

Vishnu presides over many other gods, including avatars of himself.

“Lord Vishnu has ten different reincarnations,” Renganathan said.

Smaller sculptures of Vishnu’s reincarnations and family members sit on small altars around the temple. Lining the outside walls are intricately carved and sculpted alcoves decorated with animal deities and idols representing greater gods’ family members.

Idols are adorned with elaborately draped gowns and robes and wield musical instruments and precious gems. Each alcove has a small step leading to a marble platform, restricted only to the priests, to place sacrifices in front of the figurines.

Nita Uprhey, of Waukee and, originally, Nepal, entered the temple with a grocery sack full of sacrifices. She laid her offerings of carnations, milk, bananas and yogurt in front of the main altar.

“Somebody bring some nuts, fruits, flowers, milk, yogurt; they are demanding something from the god [and they] tell me ‘can you offer this to this god?'” Renganathan said.

Uprhey rang a bell suspended from the temple’s ceiling by a gold chain. Traveling clockwise around the room, she paused briefly in front of each alcove for a short prayer. Uprhey bowed her head as she touched her fingertips to the marble platform before moving on to the next deity, each responsible for success and prosperity in different areas.

“[This particular god] is for good education, so everybody – all students – come to pray for good education,” Renganathan said.

Each day of the week is dedicated to at least one of the gods in the temple. Some visitors come only on particular days of the week to pray and make offerings to their chosen god.

“Everybody comes and prays. Give me good life, good money, a good job, whatever,” Renganathan said.

After praying to each god, Uprhey approached the main alter, where Renganathan gave her a splash of water in a part of a ceremony called prashad.

“This is my service,” Renganathan said.

Uprhey wiped her wet hands on the back of her head, then swallowed the rest of the blessed water. She received an offering of nuts from Renganathan, similar to a Christian communion, and knelt before the main shrine of the temple for a closing prayer. Uprhey said she visits the temple about once a month.

“[The temple] is really wonderful,” Uprhey said. “We pray every day at home, but it’s been really great to have it here.”

Renganathan has been a priest at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Iowa since July 2007. He is originally from southern India, but worked in New York before moving to Ames to preside over the temple.

Khimanand Upreti, originally from Delhi, India, serves as the other priest of the temple.

On weekdays, Renganathan says he sometimes only sees a handful of temple visitors since many are at work. A crowd of 200-300 is expected during the weekend days. During special events, like Diwali (the Festival of Lights), over 1,000 people usually attend the services and cultural activities.

“Any special event, they are coming [in large numbers],” Renganthan said.