It is the oldest Hindu temple in the United States built by Indian immigrants.

It has been described as "the trend-setting South Indian temple in its celebration of expensive, time-consuming, and intricate rituals.

"[1] During a Pongal celebration in 1972, a group of Pittsburgh-area Hindus established a shrine with images of Hindu deities in a store basement.

Since Ganesha is worshipped before beginning an auspicious endeavor, the group saw the gift as "a good omen to invoke blessings to a larger project.

The temple is designed with two sides and a tower in the middle symbolizing two hands and a head.