Saiva Siddhanta Church
Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami | |
Staff | Approx. 20 monks, plus volunteers |
---|---|
Website | Śaiva Siddhanta Church |
Saiva Siddhanta Church is an organization that identifies itself with the
History
The Church was founded in 1949 by
Purpose
Saiva Siddhanta Church supports all major projects supervised by Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, including:
- Construction of the Iraivan Temple on Kauai, a white granite stone Siva temple sculpted in India.
- Publication of the magazine Hinduism Today. The magazine is widely read among Hindus in India and in the worldwide diaspora. Thus, it provides an important means for worldwide networking, which is widely acknowledged.[4]
- Publication and distribution of books, booklets, and online material aimed at educating Hindus and non-Hindus about the Saivite Hindu religion.
- Teaching through lessons, literature, study courses, travel-study programs and youth retreats those actively pursuing the spiritual path under his guidance.
- Establishment and administration of charity organizations for Hindus worldwide, under the umbrella of Hindu Heritage Endowment.[5]
Theology
Saiva Siddhanta Church belongs to a
explains:The primary goal of monistic Saivism is realizing one's identity with God Siva, in perfect union and nondifferentiation. This is termed nirvikalpa samadhi, Self Realization, and may be attained in this life, granting moksha, permanent liberation from the cycles of birth and death. A secondary goal is savikalpa samadhi, the realization of
Parasiva and the manifest Satchidananda. These are not aspects of the evolving soul, but the nucleus of the soul, which does not change or evolve. They are eternally perfect and one with God Siva. We are That. We do not become That.[6]
Church
The decision to create the organization as a church in U.S. law was explained thoroughly by the monks in the July 2006 edition of
"When they hear the word church, many people do not realize that under American law and tax codes the term includes the institutions of all types of religious faiths, not just Christian. In fact, the designation of a Hindu temple as a 'church' declares the truth of our existence as religious institutions on equal par with all others. We enthusiastically acknowledge our status as members of the rich diversity of the American religious life. ... The language made it easier for the local people, mostly church-going Christians, to understand the significance of the temple for the Hindus. After incorporating, most temples in America obtain tax exempt status as a '501(c)(3) organization' ... To be considered a church, the organization must have characteristics such as 'recognized creed and form of worship, & distinct religious history; ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed courses of study; literature of its own; [and] established places of worship' Although the Sanatana Dharma does not track these features as closely as some other religious traditions, it is well within the definition, and Hindu places of worship easily qualify as churches."[7]
In Saiva Siddhanta Church's own website, the organization is explicitly described as a church, and never as a temple.[8]
Kauai Hindu Monastery
Kauai Hindu Monastery is situated in Kauai, Hawaii and is home to two temples: Kadavul Temple and Iraivan Temple.[9] The Kadavul Temple was established in 1973 by Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.[10][11] The construction of Iraivan Temple began in 1990. It is the first all-stone, white granite temple to be built in the western hemisphere.[12][13]
In the press
Referring to the Iraivan Temple,
This looks like India, but it is the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where members of the Saiva Siddhanta Church are erecting a white granite temple to the Hindu God Siva that fulfills the vision of their guru and is intended to last 1,000 years. For this act of devotion, every single piece of stone—3.2 million pounds in all—is being pulled from the earth by hand in India and carved into intricately detailed blocks using nothing but hammer and iron chisel.[14]
Gallery
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Iraivan Temple
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Iraivan Temple
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Iraivan Temple view from afar with flag
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Interior of Iraivan Temple
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Inside Iraivan Temple
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Vimana over the garbhagriha or inner sanctum of Iraivan Temple
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Iraivan Temple under construction
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Inside wall of Kadavul temple
Notes
- ISBN 978-0-7748-1662-5. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ "Global Fellowship & Initiation". www.himalayanacademy.com.
- ^ "Our Temples".
- ^ Frank Neubert (2010). "Western Hindus and 'Global Hinduism': Discourses on Conversion to 'Hindu Religions', Acceptance of Converts, and Social Engagement". Finnish Journal of Ethnicity and Migration. Vol. 5. p. 61.
- ^ "Home". hheonline.org.
- ISBN 0-945497-97-0
- ^ https://www.hinduismtoday.com/magazine/july-august-september-2006/2006-07-managing-a-hindu-temple/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20the%20designation%20of,of%20the%20American%20religious%20life.
- ^ "Global Fellowship & Initiation". www.himalayanacademy.com. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
- ^ "Welcome to Kauai's Hindu Monastery and Himalayan Academy". www.himalayanacademy.com.
- ^ "Kauai's Hindu Monastery: Kadavul Temple". www.himalayanacademy.com.
- ^ "All About Kauai's Hindu Monastery". www.himalayanacademy.com.
- ^ "Iraivan temple in the news". THE GARDEN ISLAND.
- ^ "Iraivan Temple In the News". THE NEW YORK TIMES & The Navhind Times, India.
- ^ Kayal, Michele (7 February 2004). "Religion Journal; For Temple, 1,600 Tons, 8,000 Miles and 1,000 Years". The New York Times. p. 5.