Sri Maha Kaleshwar Mandir is the first Jyotirlingam Shiva temple in the United States. Its two ton sahasralingam was inaugurated on August 28, 2010.
The temple houses solid Shivalingam with 1008 individual shivalingams inscribed upon it. This is known as a “sahasralingam,” and multiplies Lord Shiva’s power by 1000 times. In addition the lingam is consecrated as Sri Maha Kaleshwar, who is one of the 12 Jyotirlingams, especially sacred manifestations of Lord Shiva in India. This is the first of an eventual twelve Jyotirlingam temples to be established in the United States.
Sri Maha Kaleshwar, whose original temple is in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India, is known as the Lord of Time. Unlike other Shivalingams, Sri Maha Kaleshwar faces South, the traditional direction of death in Hindu culture. As such he is the Lord who does not turn his face away from suffering, illness, or death, and who is capable of conquering the most difficult of circumstances. Prayers to him for relief of mental and physical suffering are particularly effective. He grants wisdom, peace, and well-being.
Our temple is open to all, without regard to religion, race, caste, or gender, and is dedicated to the service, enlightenment, and upliftment of humanity. Our temple is unique in that devotees are invited to participate fully in worship, including performing abhishekam (bath with sacred substances) of Sri Maha Kaleshwar (see Calendar to the right for dates). Devotees may request and/or sponsor pujas or perform worship themselves, as they prefer.
In the summer of 2010, Swamiji undertook a three month vow to complete 1008 Chandi homams, in support of his vision to establish the jyotirlingam temples in the United States. By performing ten Chandi homas every day for three months Swamiji was able to complete this vow in August of 2010 in Ashland, MA, near Boston. Shortly afterwards Sri Maha Kaleshwar jyotirlingam arrived in La Honda, and the first of the envisioned twelve jyotirlingam temples was established.
The temple began conducting public programs August 28, 2010 in the mountains of La Honda, CA, with regular abhishekams, festivals, and other programs. In February 2012 Sri Maha Kaleshwar sahasra jyotirlingam moved to its current location in Santa Clara, CA, in order to serve more people. Our organization, Sri Sambha Sathashiva Vidya Peetham, a religious and educational nonprofit institute, shares the new space.
If you would like to assist in the planning or sponsorship of our exciting events, please contact us. You may also make a donation in support of these plans at our donate page.
Swamiji first received the inspiration to establish Shiva temples in the United States in 1989. In 2007 he began the construction of the first four of an eventual 12 sahasra jyotirlingams to come to the United States. In 2010 Swamiji undertook a three month vow to complete 1008 Chandi homams, in support of his vision to establish the jyotirlingam temples in the United States. By performing ten Chandi homas every day for three months Swamiji was able to complete this vow in August of 2010 in Ashland, MA, near Boston. Shortly afterwards Sri Maha Kaleshwar jyotirlingam arrived in La Honda, and the first of the envisioned twelve jyotirlingam temples was established.
The twelve Jyotirlingams, or “lingams of light,” are special manifestations of Lord Shiva that appear to the higher mind as infinite columns of light penetrating through the earth and into the cosmos. These consecrated murtis of Lord Shiva concentrate and radiate his enormous power with great force. By sculpting the Jyotirlingams for the United States as “sahasralingams,” with 1008 individual Shivalingams inscribed into the surface of the overall lingam, this enormous power is multiplied a thousand fold.
Sri Maha Kaleshwar is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingams to be consecrated in the United States. Temples dedicated to the remaining 11 Jyotirlingams are being planned for areas all around the United States, with the next temples to be opened in Boston and Texas. The Boston Jyotirlingam will be Sri Aumkareshwar.
This project is the culmination of the life’s work of of Swamiji. If you would like to support the mission of the Jyotiringam Project, please write to info@srimahakalmandir.org. Your donation at our Donate page
will directly support the work of the Foundation (please indicate that you are donating in support of the Jyotirlingam Project when donating).