Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in USA
Washington Kali Temple,
Burtonsville, MD
Shiva Durga Shakti Mandir,
16126 New Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD20866
Phone : 301-476-8152
Temple Hours
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Weekdays:
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9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
and 4:00PM to 8:00PM |
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Weekends:
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9:00AM to 8:00PM
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Regular Puja Schedule
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Temple History
The Indian
community of the Washington metropolitan area has come together to fulfill
their long cherished dream of building a Kali Temple and a Center for Human
Development of their own in Maryland. Following the Vedic traditions, the
temple was consecrated on April 27, 2002 by Brahmachari Mural Bhai, Head of
Adyapeath, Brahmachari Subratabhai, Vice President of Adyapeath and Pundit
Dinanath Tripathy, a noted Sanskrit scholar and Head Priest
of Adyapeath, Calcutta.
Washington Kali Temple and Center for human Development seeks is
fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of the Indian community by providing
a temple of Goddess Kali, Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik,
Ganesh, Lord Shiva and twelve Jyotirlingas, Radha Krishna and
Nabagraha Temple . We have been performing regular puja and religious
discourses at the temple. We have also built in the temple premises an
interfaith center, where people of all faith are welcome to participate in
discussions on philosophy, religion and matters pertinent to living everyday
life peacefully.
For those of us living almost 10,000 miles away from our roots in India, the temple has given us and our children
a forum for interaction with the bearers of the Hindu religion to practice and
preserve our religion, culture, traditions, and beliefs in this land of
immigrants, the USA.
Temple was initiated by Dr.
Pradip K. Ghosh, a local distinguished educator, businessman and
philanthropist, when he purchased the eight acres of pristine land along with
buildings in an ashram like setting in Burtonsville Maryland,
just 16 miles from the heart of Washington
D.C.. The Temple
is incorporasted as a religious corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland, operated by a
board of trustees and a group of dedicated volunteers.. It is exempt from taxes
under the 501C 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
As we complete ELEVEN years, and step in to the TWELFTH YEAR
OF THE TEMPLE, on behalf of the temple, we are inviting you and your family to
join us for a spiritual journey for peace and happiness in this world.
Mission
Since the founding in March of 2002, The Washington Kali
Temple has made great
strides in its mission to build a facility for a complete spiritual and
religious experience, to worship Goddess Kali, Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva and
Ganesh, and Radha Krishna as well as Nabagrahas. This temple is a shining
example of what a community could accomplish collectively in order to sustain
its religious and cultural roots. The temple consists of several wings as
follows;
1. Ma Kali’s wing (housing Ma Kali, Goddess Jagadhatri and
Lord Shiva)
2. Ma Durga’s wing (housing Ma Durga, Ma Lakshmi, Ma
Saraswati, Lord Kartik and Ganesh).
3. Radha Krishna Wing (housing Radha Krishna
and Lord Hanuman)
4. Nabagraha wing (housing deities representing each
graha)
5. Shrine of Shiva (housing Mahadev and 12 jyotirlingas)
Thanks to the efforts of volunteers. We are cognizant of
the phenomenal growth in the number of devotees visiting the temple. We are
constantly exploring ways to serve you well. The number of religious functions
(special services) have increased to satisfy the needs of our divergent devotee
community. Thanks to all bhog sponsors, the temple is able to serve free food
to the devotees.
Please remember that this your temple and we all have a
stake in it. Please remember that it is our collective efforts that will make
this temple a great institution.
During this time of the year, on behalf of the Temple we wish you peace,
good health and happiness for years to come.
Why is Kali temple also called Shiva Shakti Temple
Hinduism advocates the worship of God in a variety of ways, the motherhood of God being one of its most distinct features. The fact is that the Ultimate Truth (Brahman) is beyond the grasp of human mind or human intelligence, being nameless, formless, attributeless and unattached. From the highest standpoint of the Ultimate Truth, there is no creation, preservation or dissolution. The phenomenal world or relative existence is the outcome of Brahman's Shakti or Divine Power, the inscrutable creative power. This Power (Shakti) and the Ultimate Truth (Brahman) are as inseperable as fire and its power to burn, a gem and its lustre or a word and its meaning. All animate and inanimate objects are sprung out from one source - the Universal Energy (Shakti). In Sanatana Dharma, generally known as Hinduism, this Power is known as Divine Mother, a living self-luminous power. This Divine Mother has many divine forms and aspects. God incarnations (Avatars) are the special manifestations of this power.
This Shakti is manifest in the universe. The operation of the world phenomena is founded upon a set of natural laws and universal moral principles. Those laws and principles are the first manifestation of the divine power. It is in that sense that all created beings are the children of the Divine Mother. Yet as children we suffer because of many reasons by which disharmony befalls the world. The world has been anxiously waiting to find relief from pain, suffering, miseries, torture, tyranny, delusion, insecurity, worries, anxieties and the like. In the ancient Hindu texts known as the Puranas, such suffering and expectation is depicted as a constant battle between two forces - the evil and the good. The former is represented by demons that incarnate all forms of human weaknesses and the latter by gods that incarnate the higher virtues. Individuals, societies, nations and even the universal life are subject to and affected by the influence of these forces. In the Hindu texts it is only through the guidance of the Grea Spiritual Power (Maha-Shakti) that peace is re-established bringing joy, assurance and happiness in life to all people.
Deities
Kali, Durga, Shiva, Ganesha, Lakshmi, Saraswathi Vishnudev
Services:
The Temple provides individual Sankalp Puja at the
temple throughout the year. Various social services like Annaprasan,
Birthdays, Griha Pravesh, Weddings, Satyanarayana Puja, etc. can also be
provided on-site at the temple or off-site at the devotees' homes and other
places. In order to avail of any of these services, please fill the below
Services Form and hand it over to Brahmachari Ashim Bhai at the temple or mail
it to the temple address given on the form together with your check.
Please
contact our Resident Brahmachari & Administrator, Ashim Bhai, at our
temple phone 301-476-8152 or email him at ashimbhai@yahoo.com for further
details, arrangements, checking availability of purohit on specific
dates and confirmation of your event schedule. Donation for services (and deposit, if any) to book a specific date should be paid in advance by check made payable to "Washington Kali Temple". Please see the above Services Form for further details.
Our current donation schedule for the various types of services is given below:
Temple Library
Music by Mandira
The
temple library has many books on Spiritual and other topics of
interest to persons of all ages. You can read or borrow these
books. As of January 2011 we had the following quantity of books for each
of the languages:English - 208 books
Bengali - 66 books
Hindi - 34 books
Gujarati - 26 books
Other Indian languages (Tamil, Telugu, etc.) - 5 books
UNIVERSAL TEACHINGS OF SWAMI
VIVEKANANDA
SEE GOD IN
ALLThis is the gist of all worship - to be pure and to do good to others. He who sees Siva in the poor, in the weak, and in the diseased, really worships Siva, and if he sees Siva only in the image, his worship is but preliminary. He who has served and helped one poor man seeing Siva in him, without thinking of his cast, creed, or race, or anything, with him Siva is more pleased than with the man who sees Him only in temples.
GOD IS WITHIN YOU
It is impossible to find God outside of ourselves. Our own souls contribute all of the divinity that is outside of us. We are the greatest temple. The objectification is only a faint imitation of what we see within ourselves.
It is impossible to find God outside of ourselves. Our own souls contribute all of the divinity that is outside of us. We are the greatest temple. The objectification is only a faint imitation of what we see within ourselves.
PERSEVERE IN YOUR SEARCH FOR GOD
To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. "I will drink the ocean," says the persevering soul, "at my will mountains will crumble up." Have that sort of energy, that sort of will, work hard, and you will reach the goal.
To succeed, you must have tremendous perseverance, tremendous will. "I will drink the ocean," says the persevering soul, "at my will mountains will crumble up." Have that sort of energy, that sort of will, work hard, and you will reach the goal.
TRUST COMPLETELY IN GOD
Stand up for God; let the world go.
Stand up for God; let the world go.
LOVE OF GOD IS ESSENTIAL
Giving up all other thoughts, with the whole mind day and night worship God. Thus being worshipped day and night, He reveals himself and makes His worshippers feel His presence.
Giving up all other thoughts, with the whole mind day and night worship God. Thus being worshipped day and night, He reveals himself and makes His worshippers feel His presence.
Name of the Trustees
CHAIR: Pradip K. GhoshVICE CHAIR: Asok Motayed
TREASURER: Kumkum Ghosh
Calendar of Events
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July 6, 2013
SAT - Special Kali Puja |
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July 7, 2013
SUN - Amavasya tithi Kali Puja |
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July 10, 2013
WED - Ratha Yatra and Jagannath Puja |
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July 13, 2013
SAT - Vipadtarini Brata Puja |
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July 14, 2013
SUN - Special Shiva Durga Puja |
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July 16, 2013
TUE - Dakshinayana Sankranti |
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July 20, 2013
SAT - Special Kali Puja |
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July 21, 2013
SUN - Special Radha Krishna Puja |
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July 22, 2013
MON - Purnima tithi Satyanarayan Puja (Guru Purnima) |
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July 27, 2013
SAT - Veda Paranayam and Special Kali Puja |
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July 28, 2013
SUN - Special Shiva Durga Puja |
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August 3, 2013
SAT - Special Kali Puja |
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August 4, 2013
SUN - Special Radha Krishna Puja |
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August 6, 2013
TUE - Amavasya tithi Kali Puja |
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August 10, 2013
SAT - Celebration of Amavasya tithi Kali Puja (Hariyali Teej) |
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August 11, 2013
SUN - Special Shiva Durga Puja (Naag Panchami) |
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August 16, 2013
FRI - Varalakshmi Vrat |
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August 17, 2013
SAT - Special Radha Krishna Jhulan Puja (start) |
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August 18, 2013
SUN - Special Kali Puja |
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August 20, 2013
TUE - Rakhi Purnima tithi Satyanarayan Puja (Raksha Bandhan) |
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August 24, 2013
SAT - Special Kali Puja |
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August 25, 2013
SUN - Special Shiva Durga Puja |
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August 28, 2013
WED - Sri Krishna Janmashtami Brata Puja |
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August 31, 2013
SAT - Special Kali Puja |
The Internal Revenue Service, Department of Treasury, has determined that the Washington Kali Temple is a Public Charity exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
It has also determined that ALL CONTRIBUTIONS to the temple are deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. Please note that our Tax Id number is 03-0413129.
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU RECOGNIZES WKT
The U.S. Census Bureau has recognized the Washington Kali Temple as a valued partner in raising awareness of and inspiring participation in the 2010 Census. Please see attached Certificate issued by the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau and Letter issued by the Regional Director.
The temple has 3 types of parking facilities - Paved Parking, Additional Grass Parking and Additinal Off-Site Parking. There are 78 parking spots inside the temple, including 4 reserved handicapped spots. During important events the temple can accommodate an additional about 250 cars on the grass at the sides and behind the temple. During such events devotees are required to follow the directions of the Parking Volunteers who will endeavor to have the parking organized in a manner that will allow an easy flow of traffic while ensuring that any car can exit at any time while enabling maximum parking space.
During major events the temple runs a Park and Ride bus service. This operates on a circular route every 10 to 15 minutes from the "Park and Ride" lot behind the Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Centre on Columbia Pike (about 0.5 mile from the temple). Exact timings during which this facility is available are notified during each festival.
Om Tat Sat
(Continued...)
(My
humble salutations to the great devotees
, wikisources and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the
collection )
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