Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in USA -137



















































Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in USA  







Sri Lakshmi Temple ,  Ashland, MA


117 Waverly street, Ashland MA 01721
Phone: 508-881-5775
E-mail:FD@srilakshmi.org

History

The vision of a Hindu Temple in New England appeared in the minds of a few people in 1978. Driven by this divine inspiration, an ad hoc committee was established in March 1978 when every member seeded $ 101 to assiduously pursue the goal of building the temple. A formal constitution was drafted and an application for incorporation was duly filed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The early days of the organization were devoted to establishing its by-laws and on discussions on the scope and nature of the project of building the temple. Foremost in the minds of everyone was the desire that the temple should be a place of worship for all the Hindus living in and visiting this area. At a meeting on August 12, 1978, the committee decided to dedicate this temple to Goddess Sri Lakshmi as the presiding deity, since most of us have come to this country in search of the prosperity and happiness bestowed by the grace of Mahalakshmi.
The inaugural function of New England Hindu Temple, Inc. was conducted with Mahalakshmi Pooja and Diwali celebrations on October 28, 1978 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Melrose, Massachusetts. Exuberance and excitement filled the hearts and minds of everyone in the large congregation as they witnessed and experienced an authentic pooja service to Sri Lakshmi and it filled their spiritual need. This was easily seen as pledges and donations started coming in even before securing the non-profit status. Non-profit status from the Internal Revenue Service was secured on November 28, 1978 for tax-deductible contributions. The place of congregation was soon changed to Needham Village Club which was more centrally located.
In the summer of 1981, about twelve acres of land in the town of Ashland, Massachusetts were acquired for constructing the temple. services of Sri Ganapathy Sthapathy from the Institute of Architecture and Sculpture in Tamil Nadu were sought to design the temple according to the Agama Sastras. He visited in November 1982 and provided detailed plans for the temple. In early 1983, M/S MacNevin and Kerivan Engineering, Inc. of Wellesley was engaged to prepare the engineering design and drawings which were submitted to the Town of Ashland for approval. The land was cleared in the fall of 1983 and in the following spring the excavation work was carried out by Guigli & Sons. The contract for the foundation and structural work for the building was awarded to Kaikunte Engineering Corporation in Sharon in the summer of 1984. The ground breaking ceremony was observed on June 19, 1984 with a grand celebration of Ganesh Pooja.
In the fall of 1984 the temple applied to Thirumaial-Thirupathi Devasthanam in India for a loan to help hasten the construction of the temple. The application was duly approved and the first installment of Rs. 5 Lakhs was received in July 1985. The loan has now been repaid. When the initial contract with Kalkunte Engineering Corporation for the foundation and infra structure was completed, the first Ganapathy Homam in the temple was performed in September 1985. The contract to complete the building with all the utilities needed for occupancy was awarded to Parekh Construction Co. in Woburn, Massachusetts. The first floor had the mahdmandapam (60'x5O') with an Alankaramandapam for Lord Nataraja and His consort Sivakami.
A paved driveway to the temple from Waverly Street with parking spaces for 100 cars was also provided. The receipt of the occupancy permit for the temple in September 1986 was an important milestone on the road to the completion of the mammoth project. This was celebrated with a grand opening Ceremony on September 6, 1986. Sri Janakiram Sastrigal of Rajarajeswari Peetam in Stroudsburg, PA graciously performed the inaugural pooja along with our local part-time priests.
The temple has remained open during the week-ends ever since with all the major Hindu feswals being celebrated in a traditional manner. Cultural activities such as classical music and dance concerts, Thyagaraja Aradhana, Dikshitar Day, Surdas & Meera Bhajans and discourses have further transformed the temple into the focal point of the Hindu community.
Extending from the mahamandapam by another thirty feet, sanctums for the principal deities Ganesh, mahalakshmi and Venkateswara were constructed beginning in September 1987 with the contract assigned to Parekh Construction Co. As the time approached for Hindu architectural ornamentation of the sanctums with vimana gopuram (sikhara), the service of Sri Muthiah Sthapathy of Tamil Nadu was contracted in 1988. In the same year, Sri Shadrinarayana Bhattar was appointed as the first full-time priest of the Srilakshmi temple to provide regular services within the temple as well as services such as weddings, Grahapravesams, Namakaranam etc. as required by the Hindu community at their residences. When he returned to India, Sri Krishna Bhattar was appointed to fill in the vacancy.
The spring of 1989 saw the arrival of ten artisans (silpis) from India skilled in the architectural work of the temple. With their arrival, the exquisite magnificence of the sancta with their vimana gopurams began to take shape. Their patient and devoted work under adverse weather conditions has brought us to the celebration of Rajagopuram Kumbhabhishekam. Plans for the Kumbhabhishekam were initiated in the fall of 1989. Sri Sampathkumar Bhattacharlar of Bangalore and Sri Sambamoorthy Sivachariar of Madras were chosen as chief priests to perform the Kumbhabhishekam with a host of other priests assisting them in this consecration ceremony.
The granite idols of Ganesh with Mooshikam and Balipeetam, Mahalakshmi, Venkateswara, Garuda and Dwarapalakas along with the bronze Utsavamurthis of Ganesh, Mahalakshmi, Venkateswara, Sridevi, Bhudevi and Sivakami were designed by Sri Ganapathy Sthapathy of the Institute of Architecture and Sculpture, Tamil Nadu and fabricated by the artisans at the institute. The bronze Utsavamurthis of Nataraja, Subrahmanya, Valli and Devasena were designed by Sri Muthiah Sthapathy. The ornamental designs of the sanctum and the vimana gopuram were skillfully executed according to the Hindu Agama-sastras by the Indian artisans. Coordination of the shipping of the idols from India was carried out through the considerable help rendered by Sri Meenakshisundaram and Sri Ramanujam of Madras. Sri N V Raghavan, also of Madras, has attended to the procurement of multifarious items required for the Kumbhabhishekam.
These are only a few of the many who have helped the temple in immeasurable ways to reach the present status of success in this ever growing project. Undoubtedly, the names of many people have not been mentioned due to lack of space. What was envisioned as a concept in 1978 took twelve years to blossom. Measured steps were taken all the way mostly due to the newness of the project. Through the grace and guidance of Goddess Srilakshmi, an important phase of the temple construction has been completed. Sri Lakshmi Temple now joins the ranks of other Hindu temples built in different cities across the country. In some sense, building the temple has been the easy and fun part.
It will be left to the future generations to foster the growth of the Srilakshmi temple and other temples,
It will be left to the future generations to foster the growth of the Srilakshmi temple and other temples, to uphold the ethical and moral values taught by our religion and to promote the Hindu culture. The temple hopes that this small step goes a long way in instilling the responsibility in our future generations to prepare them for the task of continuing our tradition and upholding the principles of our religion.
ARCHITECTURE AND SYMBOLISM OF THE TEMPLE
Religion has always played a prominent part in ancient cultures, and this is all the more so in India. The temples have played a central role in the fostering of the Hindu religion. They are the most glorious institutions of our culture. They are the true abodes of the Divine. More than any other institutions it is the temples that have brought about the unity in religion in the whole of India. They are also the symbols of cultural unity as they have nurtured the fine arts over millennia. Even now, we can always observe in our temples religious or philosophical discourses, chanting of Vedas, Puranas and Tevaram, and performance of bhajan, music and dance activities. These activities are supplementary to the primary activities of the prescribed rituals for the consecrated Gods.
The outstanding quality of the Hindu Temple architecture is its spiritual content. The fundamental purpose of the building art was to represent in concrete form the prevailing religious consciousness of the people. It Is mind materialized in terms of rock, brick or stone. This characteristic of Hindu architecture is emphasized by the treatment of Its wall surfaces. The scheme of sculpture which often covers the whole of the exterior of the temple is notable not only for the richness of its decorative effect, but also for the deep significance of its subject matter. Carved in high or low relief are all the glorious Gods of the age-old mythology of the country, engaged in their well known ceremonials, an unending array of imagery steeped in symbolism, thus producing a never ending story of absorbing interest.
The Hindu temple is not just a congregational structure or prayer hall. It is the House of God and the image inside is the soul. Agamas and Upanishads make several references to the correspondence of the structure of the temple to the human body and soul. One of our saints says as follows: "Regard your ff9966 as the temple, your mind as the worshipper, truth as purity needed for worship, and perform worship to God." These and similar expressions of human ff9966 and soul have influenced the Hindu architecture and sculpture of the temple.
The central structure of the temple is the sanctuary known as the vimana, of which the upper and pyramidal or tapering portion is called the sikhara or gopuram, meaning tower or spire. Inside the vimana is a small chamber known as garba griha (womb-house) for the reception of the Deity and it is entered by a doorway on its inner, and usually, eastern side from a second room called the Mukhamandapa or Ardhamandapa. The presiding Deity in the garba-griha represents the supreme power that directs and controls the whole universe.
The shrine symbolically represents the "tree of life." The deity usually faces the east side to receive the rising sun's visible source of energy which is the sustainer of life on earth. The Mukhamandapa is again extended by a larger hall called Mahamandapa. These three structures are invariably aligned along the central axis in a temple complex of medium size. Most of the temples have a processional passage or pradakshina patha (prakara) consisting of an enclosed corridor around the garbagriha and mukhamandapa. The prakaras remind the devotee entering the temple that the attachments born out of the identification with the various personality layers have to be left outside the temple, at least temporarily, and that the Lord should be approached with humility and total surrender so as to gain His grace. Outside the mahamandapa are the Dhvajasthambha and Balipitha. Enclosing these structures runs a peripheral wall called Thirumadhil or Bhitti. On the eastern side of this wall is built a towering structure called Rajagopuram.
Sri Lakshmi temple at Ashland has the following principal sancta; these include the deities of Sri Maha Ganapati, Sri Mahalakshmi, Sri Venkateswara, Sri Nataraja with His consort Sri Sivakami, Sri Subrahmanya with His consort Sri Valli and Sri Devasena, Sri Hariharaputra, Garuda and Navagraha. A short description of these deities is given below.

Sri Lakshmi Temple - Rajagopuram Details

Significance of Rajagopuram, Dwajasthambam and Bali Peetam:

Rajagopuram: The very name implies "grand entrance tower of the temple." Depending on its size, a temple can have one or more towers representing different entrances of the temple. Rajagopuram is the main entrance. It is in line with the main sanctum, Dwajasthambam and Bali Peetam. Normally, the Rajagopuram will be the largest in size. The Rajagopuram is a fine representation of Hindu temple architecture. It has many sculptures and decorations placed in it, meeting the requirements of a solid structure. When the deities are taken out of the temple, they leave and re-enter the temple via the Rajagopuram. If the temple structure can be compared to a human body, the main sanctum is the head, Mahamandapam the central portion of the body and Rajagopuram the feet. Sri Lakshmi Temple's Rajagopuram stands fifty feet tall from the ground. It has many beautiful architectural sculptures in it, thanks to the work by Sri Muthiah Sthapathi of Madras and his Silpis. It took more than two years to complete this structure. As part of the dedication ceremony, special religious rituals were be performed by visiting priests from India and our own priests. Vedic hymns were uttered and "Havans " were offered during the celebration to "infuse" life into the Rajagopuram. Seven copper "Kalasas " (domes) were installed on top of the tower. On the Kumbhabishekam day the main priest reached the top of the tower, and poured the "holy" water to signify the divine nature of the tower. It is believed that just having a glimpse of the Rajagopuram, even from far off, is equivalent to coming to the temple and offering prayers to the deities in the temple.
Dwajasthambam: This literally means "flag pole." This is placed between the Rajagopuram and the main sanctum. Devatas representing "Sankam", "Chakram" and "Yupam " reside here. A special tree, fifteen feet in height, was brought from India, and has been placed and clad with brass decorations. Special flags will be raised during each of the festivals that will be conducted for Sri Lakshmi and other sanctums of the temple to mark the occasions. Daily pooja will also be performed for the Dwajasthambam.
Bali Peetam: This is placed between the Dwajasthambam and the Rajagopuram, and is "the seat of offerings". Final services will be conducted at this site after the completion of the daily pooja for all the deities in the temple.


Temple Timings

Mon-Thu 9AM-12PM & 5:30PM-09:00PM
Fridays 9AM-12PM & 5:30PM-09:00PM
Sat,Sun & Holidays 9AM-09:00PM
(Timings subject to weather conditions)
Priests
Sri.Krishna Bhatt, Sri.Balaji Bhattar, Sri.Karthikeyan Thiyagarajan, Sri.Padmanabha Nadig

Daily Services at the Temple

Every Day
Venkateswara Suprabhatam
09:00 AM
Navagraha Abhishekam
09:30 AM
Sri Subramanya Abhishekam
09:45 AM
Sri Ganesha Abhishekam
10:00 AM
Sri Shiva (Atmalinga) Abhishekam
10:15 AM
Sri Lakshmi Aarathi
08:30 PM
Weekly Services at the Temple
Every Monday
Sri Rudra Abhishekam
07:00 - 08:15 PM
Every Tuesday
Sri Lalitha Sahasranama Kumkuma Archana
07:00 - 08:00 PM
Every Friday
Mahalakshmi Abhishekam
09:30 - 11:00 AM
Mahalakshmi Sahasranama Archana
08:00 PM
Every Saturday
Sri Venkateswara Abhishekam
09:00 - 11:00 AM
Every Sunday
Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Parayanam
06:00 PM
Monthly Services at the Temple
Every Pradosham
Sri Rudra Abhisekam
05:30 - 07:00 PM
First Saturday of Every Month
Sri Ayyappa Abhisekam
7:00 pm to 8:15 pm
Every Sukla Shasthi
Sri Murugar Abhisekam
06:30 - 7:30 PM
Every Sukla Chaturthi
Sri Ganasha Abhisekam
6:30 - 7:30 PM
Every Sankatahara Chaturthi
Sri Ganasha Abhisekam
06:30 - 08:00 PM
Every Punarvasu
Sri Rama Abhishekam
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Every Swathi
Sri Garuda Abhishekam
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Every Swathi
Sri Sri Narasimhar Abhishekam
06:30 - 07:30 PM
Every Pournami
Samooha SatyaNarayana Puja
Weekday 06:30 - 08:00 PM Weekends/Holidays 03:00 - 06:00 PM
Every Sukla Ekadasi
Sri Venkateswara Utsavam
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Every Sravanam
Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Utsavar Abhishekam
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Every Amavasya
Sri Hanuman Abhishekam
06:00 - 07:30 PM
First Sunday of Every Month
Sri Sukta Homam
09:30 - 11:00 AM
Second Friday of Every Month
Sri Mahalakshmi Utsavam
07:00 - 08:00 PM

The timings are subject to change, so please call the temple at 508-881-5775 for more information and to confirm pooja schedules.
Regular Services at the Temple
Abhishekam
$101.00
Archana
$11.00
Daily Annadhanam
$101.00
Ekanda Seva
$25.00
Oonjal Seva
$101.00
Seshavahana
$101.00
Sahasranama
$51.00
Vada Mala (Provided by Devotee)
$25.00
Vada Mala- count 54 (Provided by Temple with 2 days notice)
$65.00
Vada Mala- count 108 (Provided by Temple with 2 days notice)
$101.00
Vasthra Offering
$25.00
Vahana Puja
$30.00

Other Services at Temple/Home

  • Aksharabyasam
  • Annaprasanam
  • Ayshya Homam
  • Chandi Homam
  • Ganapathi Homam
  • Grahapravesam
  • Hair Offering
  • Hiranya Shrardham
  • Homam
  • Kalyana Uthsavam
  • Last Rights
  • Namakaranam
  • Navavarana Puja
  • Punyakavachanam
  • Rudrabhishekam
  • Sathyanarayana Puja
  • Seemantham
  • Shashtiaptha Porthi
  • Sathabhishekam
  • Sudharsana Homam
  • Upanayanam
  • Wedding



The following table provides cautionary information on certain hours of a given day in a week that are to be avoided when scheduling auspicious events, (assuming sunrise at 6:00 a.m. and sunset at 6:00 p.m.). The table also provides the names of the days in Samskritam ("Vaasara"). These names are stated during Sankalpam at the start of any pooja at the temple.

Daily Hours
Day
Vaasara
Rahu Kaalam
Guligai
Yamakandam
Sunday
Bhaanu
04:30 pm - 06:00 pm
03:00 pm - 04:30 pm
12:00 pm - 01:30 pm
Monday
Soma
07:30 am - 09:00 am
01:30 pm - 03:00 pm
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Tuesday
Bhouma
03:00 pm - 04:30 pm
12:00 pm - 01:30 pm
09:00 am - 10:30 am
Wednesday
Somya
12:00 pm - 01:30 pm
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
07:30 am - 09:00 am
Thursday
Guru
01:30 pm - 03:00 pm
09:00 am - 10:30 am
06:00 am - 07:30 am
Friday
Shukra/Brighu
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
07:30 am - 09:00 am
03:00 pm - 04:30 pm
Saturday
Mandha/Sthira
09:00 am - 10:30 am
06:00 am - 07:30 am
01:30 pm - 03:00 pm
The following table provides the Hindu names of months, in comparison with the Gregorian calendar, in multiple languages, using Tamil/Malayalam New Year as a starting point. The table also states the "Ritu" asociated with the month, which is stated during Sankalpam. There are SIX Ritus. Orthogonally, a year ("varsha") is split into two phases ("ayanams"). The half where the sun is on a northward path (generally the first half of a Gregorian calendar - Jan-Jul) is called Uttaraayanam, and the other half where the sun is on a southward path (Jul-Jan) - Dakshinaayanam.

Months of a Hindu Calendar
Gregorian
RITU
Samskritam (Chandramaanam)
Samskritam(Souramaanam)
Tamil
Malayalam
Kannada
Telugu
APR - MAY
VASANTHA
Chaitram
Mesham
Chithirai
Medam
 
 
MAY - JUN
VASANTHA
Vaishaakham
Vrishabham
Vaikaasi
Edavam
 
 
JUN - JUL
GREESHMA
Jyeshtam
Mithunam
Aani
Mithunam
 
 
JUL - AUG
GREESHMA
Aashaadam
Karkkatam
Aadi
Karkkitakam
 
 
AUG - SEP
VARSHA
Shraavanam
Simham
Aavani
Chingam
 
 
SEP - OCT
VARSHA
Bhraadrapadham
Kanya
Purattasi
Kanni
 
 
OCT - NOV
SHARABHA
Aashwinam
Thulaam
Aippasi
Thulaam
 
 
NOV - DEC
SHARABHA
Kaarthikam
Vricchikam
Karthigai
Vricchigam
 
 
DEC - JAN
HEMANTHA
Maargsheersham
Dhanu
Maargazhi
Dhanu
 
 
JAN - FEB
HEMANTHA
Pushyam
Makaram
Thai
Makaram
 
 
FEB - MAR
SHISHIRAM
Maagham
Kumbham
Maasi
Kumbham
 
 
MAR - APR
SHISHIRAM
Phalghunam
Meenam
Panguni
Meenam
 
 
Another temporal entity mentioned during Sankalpams is the "Paksham".These are derived from the lunar calendar.The moon waxes and wanes in cycles. Each cycle is composed of FOURTEEN Thithis (lunar days) between the New Moon and Full Moon. In a given lunar month (of 30 days), there are essentially 30 thithis (excluding the first set of 14 Thithis is called "Shukla Paksham" - the waxing phase, and the second "Krishna Paksham" - the waning phase.

Lunar Days (Thithi) and Phases (Paksham)
Amavasya
Prathamai
Dwitiyai
Trithiyai
Chaturthi
Panchami
Sashti
Sapthami
Ashtami
Navami
Dasami
Ekaadasi
Dwaadasi
Thriyodasi
Chaturdasi
Poornima
(new
moon)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
(full
moon)
Shukla Paksham ==>
<== Krishna Paksham
The following table lists all the 27 Hindu birth stars. This is the star (nakshatram) that the Priest requests of you when performing the Sankalpam. The moon revolves around the earth in roughly 27 days, tracing a path over the sky. Our ancestors split this path into 27 units and named each unit with the name of a star, star group or constellation.

Hindu Birth Stars
Samskritam
Tamil
Malayalam
Kannada
Telugu
Gregorian
Aswini
Aswathi
Aswathi
 
 
 
Abha Bharani
Bharani
Bharani
 
 
 
Krithika
Karthigai
Kaarthika
 
 
 
Rohini
Rohini
Rohini
 
 
 
Mrigashiras
Mrigasheersham
Makeeryam
 
 
 
Aardhra
Thiruvaathirai
Thiruvaathira
 
 
 
Punarvasu
Punarpoosam
Punartham
 
 
 
Pushyam
Poosam
Pooyyam
 
 
 
Ashlesha
Aayilyam
Aayilyam
 
 
 
Makha
Makam
Makham
 
 
 
Poorvaphalguni
Pooram
Pooram
 
 
 
Uthraphalguni
Uthiram
Uthram
 
 
 
Hastha
Hastham
Atham
 
 
 
Chitra
Chithirai
Chitra
 
 
 
Swaathi
Swaathi
Chothi
 
 
 
Visaaka
Visaakam
Visaakam
 
 
 
Anuraadha
Anusham
Anizham
 
 
 
Jyeshta
Kettai
Thrikketta
 
 
 
Moola
Moolam
Moolam
 
 
 
Poorvashaada
Pooraadam
Pooraadam
 
 
 
Uthrashaada
Uthiraadam
Uthraadam
 
 
 
Shraavanam
Thiruvonam
Thiruvonam
 
 
 
Dhanishta
Avittam
Avittam
 
 
 
Shathabishak
Chathayam
Chathayam
 
 
 
Poorvabhadra
Poorattathi
Poorattadhi
 
 
 
Uthrabhadra
Uthirattathi
Uthrattathi
 
 
 
Revathi
Revathi
Revathi
 
 
 
The following table lists the various Hindu Gothras (ancestral lineage) and Pravarams (lineage of Rishis)associated with the Gothrams. This is the Gothram that the Priest requests of you when performing the Sankalpam ("Gothrauth Bhavasya"). There are 20 Gothras. Each has its own three Rishis, which arereferrred to in the Pravaram.

Hindu Gothras
Gothram
Pravaram
Aatreya
Atreya, Aarchanaasa, Syaavaasva
Agastya
Aagastya, Tardhachyuta, Sowmavaha
Bhadarayana
Aankirasa, Paarshadaswa, Raatitara
Bharadwaja
Aankirasa, Bhaarhaspatya, Bharadwaja
Gargi
(variation 1) Aankirasa, Bharhaspatya, Bharadwaja, Sainya, Gargya

(variation 2) Aankirasa, Sainya, Gargya
Harita
Aankirasa, Ambarisha, Yuvanasva
Kanva
(variation 1) Aankirasa, Ajameeda, Kanva

(variation 2) Aankirasa, Kaura, Kanva
Kasyapa
Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala
Kaundinya
Vaasishta, Maithraavaruna, Kaundinya
Kausika
Vaiswaamitra, Aagamarshana, Kausika
Kutsa
Aankirasa, Maandhatra, Kautsa
Maudkalya
(variation 1) Aankirasa, Bharmyasva, Maudkalya

(variation 2) Tarkshya, Bharmyasva, Maudkalya

(variation 3) Aankirasa, Dhavya, Maudkalya
Naitruvakaasyapa
Kasyapa, Aavatsara, Naitruva
Paraasara
Vaasishta, Saaktya, Paarasarya
Sandilya
(variation 1) Kasyapa, Aavatsaara, Daivala

(variation 2) Kasyapa, Aavatsara, Sandilya
Shatamarshana
Aankirasa, Powrukutsa, Traasatasya
Srivatsa
Bhargava, Syaavana, Aapnavaana, Owrva, Jaamadaghnya
Sunkriti
(variation 1) Aankirasa, Kauravidha, Saankritya

(variation 2) Sadhya, Kauravidha, Saankritya
Vatula
Bhargava, Vaitahavya, Saavedasa
Viswamitra
Vaiswaamitra, Devaraata, Outala



Rules and Regulations
Information and Guidelines
Temple entrance from the Court Room door only. The temple is a house of God. Being a very sacred place, all visitors are required to abide by the following rules and regulations applicable to all areas of the temple:
Conduct
Please do not touch any of the idols within the temple. To maintain the spiritual atmosphere observe silence inside the temple.
Dress Code
Appropriate attire is suggested. As this is a place of worship, visitors are requested to abide by the following dress code. All clothing must cover shoulders and knees. The dresses like shorts, short skirts,ripped or truncated jeans or sleeveless shirts etc are not advisable. Please avoid dresses which are inappropriate while attending the temple.
Restrooms
are located in the basement. Diapers to be changed in the rest room only.
Photo-Videography
Photo graphy and videography inside the MahaMandapam is strictly prohibited.
Cell Phones
Please switch off all cell phones prior to entering the temple. Cell phones with cameras must not be used to take photographs inside the temple.
Food & Drink
No food or drinks are allowed inside the MahaMandapam. Please discard any chewing gum in the bin provided before entering. The ingredients such as Onion, Garlic are not to be used for food preparation and as well as take bath before preparing any prasadams for the temple.
Smoking and Alcohol
Smoking, tobacco, alcohol and drugs are not allowed anywhere in the temple premises.
Parking
Free parking available. Do not park in the fire-zones and in front of any of the building. The management does not assume any responsibility for vehicles parked on the premises.
Guide
Guides are available for schools / groups. (Advance notice required and subject to availability. Write to fd@srilakshmi.org).
Security
For the safety of all visitors, all activities in the Complex are monitored and recorded by video surveillance. Pets are not allowed inside the complex.
Donations
Visitors wishing to make donations towards the temple contact the Front DESK. Cheques can be made payable to ‘NEHTI.' Tax receipt will be issued for amounts over $15.00. Please make your donations to front desk or deposit in the HUNDI
Childrens
Please do not allow your children to run around and play in the Maha Mantapam of the temple. This is very distracting to devotees trying to concentrate on the ritual. It is recommended the childrens are accompanied by the adults.
Maha Mantapam
The Temple is a center for devotion, worship, performance of religious functions and expression of gratitude to the deity of your choice. Sancity of the Temple must be respected and silence must be observed to avoid disturbance to the Temple activities. The Maha Mantapam is a place for prayer, whorship and ritual. If you wish to socialize with your friends, kindly go downstairs or outside, especially when the priests are performing a ritual and devotees are trying to pay attention to the procedures. Please be sensitive to those around you wishing to pray quietly. No Eating is allowed in maha mantapam
Footwear
Please leave your footwear at the entrance in an orderly way, so that they are easily available at the time of leaving, after worship

Please Note -The Management also reserves the right to cancel or alter any visit or close the temple or part of the premises without prior notice. Every effort will be made to avoid any inconvenience




117 Waverly street, Ashland MA 01721
Phone: 508-881-5775
Phone:
(508) 881-5775
Fax:
(508) 881-6401
E-mail:FD@srilakshmi.org

Directions

From Hartford, CT
  1. Distance - 81.5 mi – about 1 hour 25 mins
  2. Head north on Main St toward Bushnell Plaza II/Gold St - go 0.4 mi
  3. Turn right at Morgan St S/US-44 E Continue to follow Morgan St S - go 0.2 mi
  4. Take the ramp onto I-84 E Partial toll road Entering Massachusetts - go 43.0 mi
  5. Take the exit onto I-90 E/Massachusetts Turnpike/Mass Pike toward Boston/N.H.-Maine Partial toll road - go 32.9 mi
  6. Take exit 12 to merge onto RT-9 E/Worcester Rd toward Framingham Partial toll road - go 2.5 mi
  7. Turn right at Winter St 1.9 mi
  8. Turn right at RT-135/Waverly St 0.6 mi
  9. Arrive at 117 Waverly Street, Ashland MA (Sri Lakshmi Temple

From Logan Airport, MA
  1. Distance 26.2 mi – about 39 mins
  2. Head southeast - 338 ft
  3. Slight right toward Harborside Dr (signs for Hotels/Harborside Dr/I-90 W/Economy Lot/Rental Cars/Gen. Aviation) - go 0.2 mi
  4. Turn right toward Harborside Dr - go 217 ft
  5. Turn left at Harborside Dr - go 0.2 mi
  6. Turn left onto the ramp to I-93/Williams Tunnel/I-90 W Partial toll road - go 0.2 mi
  7. Merge onto I-90 W/Massachusetts Turnpike/Mass Pike Partial toll road - go 20.0 mi
  8. Take exit 13 to merge onto Cochituate Rd/RT-30 W toward Framingham Continue to follow RT-30 W Partial toll road - go 2.2 mi
  9. Continue on RT-126 - go 1.5 mi
  10. Turn right at RT-135/Waverly St - go 1.7 mi
  11. Arrive at 117 Waverly Street, Ashland MA (Sri Lakshmi Temple)

From Nashua, NH
  1. Distance - 48.4 mi – about 1 hour 7 mins
  2. Head south on Daniel Webster Hwy/Main St toward E Hollis St/RT-111 - go 1.2 mi
  3. Slight right at E Dunstable Rd - go 0.9 mi
  4. Turn left onto the Everett Turnpike S/US-3 S ramp to Boston - go 0.8 mi
  5. Merge onto Everett Turnpike/US-3 S Continue to follow US-3 S Entering Massachusetts - go 22.7 mi
  6. Take exit 25B to merge onto I-95 S/RT-128 S toward Providence RI -go 10.6 mi
  7. Take exit 25 to merge onto I-90 W/Massachusetts Turnpike/Mass Pike Partial toll road - go 6.8 mi
  8. Take exit 13 to merge onto Cochituate Rd/RT-30 W toward Framingham Continue to follow RT-30 W Partial toll road - go 2.2 mi
  9. Continue on RT-126 - go 1.5 mi
  10. Turn right at RT-135/Waverly St 1.7 mi
  11. Arrive at 117 Waverly Street, Ashland MA (Sri Lakshmi Temple)

From Providence, RI
  1. Distance - 47.1 mi – about 55 mins
  2. Head southeast on Dorrance St toward Westminster St - go 0.2 mi
  3. Slight right to merge onto I-195 W/US-6 W - go 0.3 mi
  4. Take the exit onto I-95 N/US-6 W toward Boston Continue to follow I-95 N Entering Massachusetts - go 18.3 mi
  5. Take exit 6B to merge onto I-495 N toward Worcester - go 21.3 mi
  6. Take exit 21A to merge onto W Main St toward Hopkinton - go 3.9 mi
  7. Continue on RT-135/W Union St Continue to follow RT-135
  8. Arrive at 117 Waverly Street, Ashland MA (Sri Lakshmi Temple)




Om Tat Sat
                                                        
(Continued...)                                                                                                                              



(My humble  salutations to the great devotees ,  wikisources  and Pilgrimage tourist guide for the collection )


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