Murugan Temple of North America
Encyclopedia
The Murugan Temple of North America (MTNA) is the first temple dedicated to the Hindu deity Murugan
in the United States. The temple is located in Lanham, Maryland
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) from Washington, D.C.
. Conceived in the 1980s and opened in 1999, MTNA celebrates all Hindu and Tamil festivals, holidays and special occasions. In addition, the temple conducts bhajan
s, Tamil and religious classes. Devotees from Maryland, Washington, Virginia and throughout the country visit this traditional Saivite Hindu temple. The main sannidhi at MTNA is for Murugan (Karttikeya) with Valli
Devasena. There are four other sannidhis, for Vinayaka (Ganesha
), Siva
, Meenakshi
and Palani Aandavar.
The grand procession of Lord Murugan with Valli Devasena takes place during major festivals. On 7 August 2009, the Vellottam was conducted for the new Ratham. On 8 August 2009, Lord Murugan ascended in the new Ratham for the Nallur Kathirgamam Kanthan festival. It was drawn by the devotees around the Murugan Temple during an auspicious period. Every year, the Nallur festival is celebrated in Murugan Temple during August and Murugan ascends in the Ratham. The second Kumbabhishegam for all deities in the Murugan Temple was performed on 13 May 2011. The Sri Siva Vishnu Temple
is located less than 2 miles (3.2 km) from MTNA.
Murugan
Murugan also called Kartikeya, Skanda and Subrahmanya, is a popular Hindu deity especially among Tamil Hindus, worshipped primarily in areas with Tamil influences, especially South India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius and Reunion Island. His six most important shrines in India are the...
in the United States. The temple is located in Lanham, Maryland
Lanham, Maryland
Lanham is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County in the State of Maryland in the United States of America. Because it is not formally incorporated, it has no official boundaries, but the United States Census Bureau has defined a census-designated place consisting of Lanham and the...
, about 15 miles (24.1 km) from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Conceived in the 1980s and opened in 1999, MTNA celebrates all Hindu and Tamil festivals, holidays and special occasions. In addition, the temple conducts bhajan
Bhajan
A Bhajan is any type of Indian devotional song. It has no fixed form: it may be as simple as a mantra or kirtan or as sophisticated as the dhrupad or kriti with music based on classical ragas and talas. It is normally lyrical, expressing love for the Divine...
s, Tamil and religious classes. Devotees from Maryland, Washington, Virginia and throughout the country visit this traditional Saivite Hindu temple. The main sannidhi at MTNA is for Murugan (Karttikeya) with Valli
Valli
Valli is a Goddess and the divine consort of the prominent Hindu God Murugan, according to Hindu mythology. She represents the "Ichha Shakti" , and Goddess Deivayanai depicts "Kriya Shakthi" , and the Vel embodies "Gnana Shakthi" .Valli in Tamil language means a creeper and is also used as a title...
Devasena. There are four other sannidhis, for Vinayaka (Ganesha
Ganesha
Ganesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
), Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, Meenakshi
Meenakshi
Minakshi is an Avatar of the Hindu Goddess Parvati - and consort of Shiva - who is worshipped mainly by South Indians. She is also one of the few Hindu female deities to have a major temple devoted to her - the far famed Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu...
and Palani Aandavar.
Major festivals
The following major festivals are celebrated:- Thai Poosam
- Panguni Uthiram
- Vaikasi Visagam
- Aadi Karthigai
- Nallur Kathirgamam Kanthan Festival (Lord Murugan ascends in the Ratham)
- Kanda Shahsti Festival
- Thiruvathirai function for Lord Nataraja (Arudra Darisanam)
- Sivaratiri
- Navarathiri (10 days)
- Vinayakar Chaturthi
- Karthigai Deepam
- Six Annual Abishegams for Lord Nataraja (Thiruvonam Nakshatram in the month of Chithirai, Uttiram Nakshatram in the month of Aani, Thiruvathirai Nakshatram in the month of Marghazi, Purva Paksha Chaturdasi evening in the months of Aavani,Purattasi and Maasi)
The grand procession of Lord Murugan with Valli Devasena takes place during major festivals. On 7 August 2009, the Vellottam was conducted for the new Ratham. On 8 August 2009, Lord Murugan ascended in the new Ratham for the Nallur Kathirgamam Kanthan festival. It was drawn by the devotees around the Murugan Temple during an auspicious period. Every year, the Nallur festival is celebrated in Murugan Temple during August and Murugan ascends in the Ratham. The second Kumbabhishegam for all deities in the Murugan Temple was performed on 13 May 2011. The Sri Siva Vishnu Temple
Sri Siva Vishnu Temple
Sri Siva Vishnu Temple is located in Lanham, Maryland and is about 12 miles from Washington D.C. It is one of the largest temples in the USA. The actual temple construction began in 1988 and the last deity consecration took place in 2002.-Location:...
is located less than 2 miles (3.2 km) from MTNA.