Anti-Hindu graffiti spray-painted on BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple in Melville

A major Hindu temple in Melville was spray-painted with messages that Suffolk County police said they are investigating as a hate crime.

A sign and a driveway at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir temple were defaced sometime between 7 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 a.m. Monday with anti-Hindu messages, including some attacking the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, police and leaders of the temple said.

Modi is scheduled to visit Long Island this weekend.

Suffolk police described the graffiti as “threatening and derogatory anti-Hindu messages” and said its Hate Crimes Unit is investigating.

Girish Patel, a leader of the temple — the largest Hindu house of worship on Long Island — said members were shocked by the graffiti.

“Our place is a place of worship,” he said. “We strongly believe in peace, harmony and working together.”

The temple hosted a prayer service Monday afternoon to denounce the attack. It was attended by public officials and representatives of faiths including Christianity, Judaism and Islam, Patel said.

“It’s a good message that came out,” he said of the prayer service.

Assemb. Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills), who represents the area, said, “Hate has no place in our community. Vandalism against BAPS is absolutely unacceptable. An attack on their community is an attack on all of us.”

The Indian Consulate in New York condemned the vandalism, labeling it “heinous” in a statement and calling on authorities to quickly investigate it.

Police  ask anyone with information to call Suffolk County Crime Stoppers at 800-220-8477 or the Hate Crimes Unit at 631-852-4283.

The 49,000-square-foot temple, on a five-acre plot on Deshon Drive, opened in 2016. It was the first building constructed specifically as a Hindu temple on Long Island. Other Hindu temples were previously set up inside existing buildings such as a restaurant or YMCA.

BAPS, which stands for Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, is one of the largest Hindu groups in the United States and the world, with more than 1,300 temples and 5,000 centers, according to the group.

The temple in Melville features intricately carved Hindu idols made in India, an auditorium that seats 600, two multipurpose rooms, an expansive kitchen and a gym. It was constructed, in part, to be a focal point for the Hindu community on Long Island, leaders said.