Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

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Adopt an Altar


The Bay Area Siva Nataraj Temple (non-Agaamic) located at 2807 Telegraph Ave. in Berkeley, CA has been in operation since August of 2005. There is currently an early morning puja done every day at 7am by volunteers from the local community.

In addition to the main installed deity, Siva Nataraj, there are 11 other altars which also require regular attention. To date, these altars are given the minimum amount of offerings daily and some level of non-regular cleanings and care.

What we are searching for are any community members interested in adopting one of these additional altars (or more). Adopting an altar can manifest in a variety of ways. The minimum involvement we are requesting is that either you personally come in, once a month, and:

  • clean the altar
  • change the altar cloths
  • wash the implements (oil lamp, incense holder, water dish)
  • sweep and dust the altar tables/surfaces/floors
  • freshen up the deity (by removing/changing the clothing, cleaning with damp cloth, etc.)

or that you donate $18 a month to pay for someone else to do this for you. Once the routine is memorized, it takes anywhere from one to one and a half hours only. Should you decide that you wish to perform more services in maintaining your altar, you are free to so upon receiving permission from our resident pujari and Puja Committee head.

The 11 altars and their locations are:

-Large Ganesa (entrance)

-Laksmi (entrance) [this altar has already been adopted]

-Sivananda (entrance)

-Hanuman (back hallway)

-Small Ganesa (temple)

-Guru (temple)

-Kali (temple)

-Sarasvati (temple)

-Large black Ganesa (back studio)

-Hanuman (back studio)

-Gurus (back studio)

-Durga (back studio) [this altar has already been adopted]

If you are interested in adopting any one of these altars, please contact us at bahomapuja@trikainstitute.org – first come first serve, we will keep a waiting list. Please note that there will be some form of time commitment required (probably anywhere from 3 to 6 months) as well as substitution of yourself should you be out of town during your commitment time period.

Thank you so much for considering helping our temple and illustrating your devotion in this way!

Jaya Ma! Om Namah Sivaya! Jaya Guru Dev!