living Hindu abroad
Is it permissible for a Hindu to pray in a non-Hindu place of worship when no temple is available?
What the tradition says
A very old idea in Hindu thought is that the divine is one reality, known by many names. This is not a modern idea. It runs through some of the oldest layers of the tradition. Because of this, many Hindus have understood that sincere prayer reaches the same source, wherever it is offered. The form of the building or the name above the door is seen as less important than the intention of the heart. This view makes it hard to say that a church, a mosque, a gurdwara, or any other sacred space is simply off-limits for a Hindu in need of a quiet place to pray.
How teachers have spoken about it
Teachers in the modern period who worked closely with diaspora communities have generally been relaxed about this. The broad message from several well-known movements and teachers has been that God is present everywhere, and that a sincere mind can turn inward anywhere. Some have gone further and said that visiting other sacred spaces with respect is itself in keeping with Hindu values. There is no single governing body for Hinduism, so no one authority can issue a ruling that applies to all Hindus everywhere.
The difference between prayer and participation
Many Hindus draw a quiet line between personal prayer and joining in another faith's ritual. Sitting in a church to pray privately is seen differently from taking communion. Visiting a mosque in a spirit of respect is seen differently from reciting the shahada as a declaration of faith. Most Hindu thought is comfortable with the first and sees the second as a different matter entirely. Where exactly that line sits is something each person and family tends to work out for themselves.
For Hindus living far from a temple
For diaspora Hindus, this question comes up often. A temple may be hours away, or may not exist nearby at all. In practice, many Hindus in this situation pray at home, in nature, or quietly in whatever sacred space is available. Some communities have shared spaces with other faiths. The tradition's flexibility here is seen by many as a strength, not a gap. What matters, in the view most Hindus hold, is that the practice of prayer continues, not that the building matches.