Located in the heart of Concord, California, Shiva Murugan Temple is an important site for Hindus. The site was initially dedicated to Lord Shiva but has since been augmented to include Lord Ganesha, Durga, and Lakshmi Devi. In addition to its main sanctum, the site includes a separate building for office use, classrooms, and a social hall.
The remarkable temple we have discussed was initially established in 1957 by Sivaya Subramuniya Swami, an American-born Hindu guru located in San Francisco. After thirty-seven years of service, the revered guru sold the Temple to its local Hindu community in 1995. In 1988, it moved to a more spacious site in Concord, California - thus continuing its long legacy and invaluable work for another three decades! This temple is still operated by the non-profit organisation Saiva Siddhanta Ashram. It was the first traditional Hindu temple to be built in the United States. This temple has since become a popular pilgrimage site for many Californians. The temple has also been designated as a landmark by the state of California.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Temple is the number of volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that the devotees are treated to a top-notch experience. The devotees who attend the temple are treated to a hot meal provided by the Las Lomas high school. In addition, the temple offers prasadams to the faithful following the Aradhana Pooja. The temple has also been a recipient of the prestigious California Historical Landmarks Commission's 'Golden State Award'.
The temple's most famous resident, Guru Sivaya Subramuniya, has long been considered as the sexiest of all Hindu gurus. In fact, in 1994, the temple was named the best Hindu temple in the country by the National Hindu Council. This temple has a lot to offer its devotees, including a private residence for priests. In addition to the above-mentioned facilities, the Temple also has a library, a gift shop, and a dedicated social hall. There are many interesting events and activities planned for the coming year. For example, the temple is planning to host a mail Bradham festival on the occasion of Mahashivratri. In addition, there is also a Vaikasi Vishakam festival in June. There is also an Indian American Heritage Walk organized by the aforementioned non-profit organization. This event promotes volunteerism in the South Bay. In the next few years, the Temple will also be a part of the state's MAPS program.
While the primary purpose of the temple may not be to provide the best Hindu experience possible, the aforementioned temple has made the effort to be a cultural center of sorts for the Concord community. This is evident in the number of cultural and religious events that are held every month, in addition to the many pools that are performed by the devotees. In addition, the temple also has a social hall in its basement, a dedicated office for the temple's priests, and a classroom building. The Temple is also an excellent place to conduct religious studies, and the temple's librarian is a veritable wealth of information on all things related to Indian religion.