Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in Canada -4

























Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in Canada





Maha Ganapathy Temple, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Maha Ganapathy Society of Alberta
128 Running Creek Road, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6J 7B1 
Tel: 780-988-5161, E-mail:mgsa@mahaganapathytemple.com




Revenue Canada Charity Business Number: 10765 4394 RR0001 
Daily Temple hours: 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM & 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Daily Pooja Times: 9:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 7:00 PM, 9:00 PM 
(No Abishekam at 1:00 PM & 9:00 PM)

Temple Information
Temple is open on all seven days of the week from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.  and 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Temple is located on Running Creek Road which is off 12th avenue and one block east of 12th Avenue and 111th Street south intersection.
Abeshekam and Arathi are conducted during mornings and evenings.
Archana can be done on any day for a chosen deity. Many devotees may choose to do an archana on a special day based on personal preference. Archanas are performed at the end of the Arathi.
Abishekams can be done on any day for a chosen deity.  Abishekams are performed at 9:30 AM and  7:00 PM Please contact the manager to find out the exact time and to book the abishekam. Abishekams have to be booked at least one day before the abishekam.To find out the detailed abishekam schedule please click here.
Special poojas are conducted during Navarathiri, Skanda Sasti, Vinayagar Viratham, Thiruvembavai, New Year, Sivarathiri, Tamil New Year, Chitirai Paruvam and Avani Chathurthi, Aadia Pooram, Somavaram, Vaikasi Visakam and Prathosam. Karthikai and Chathurti poojas are conducted once a month during the year. Santhana Kaappu is performed for Lord Ganesha and other deities. If you like to sponsor a Santhana Kaappu, please contact the manager.
Sahasranama, 108 chanting on any lord of your choosing, can be done on any day with prior booking.
Seemantha Pooja is done as a blessing for good child birth. Traditionally it is said that a woman has reached her second life after giving birth. 
Vahana Pooja is done to bless your vehicle after purchasing it. Archana is done inside and the Priest comes out with a basket (bearing fruits, leaves ... etc) and 4 limes, one for each tire, and an aarthi for the vehicle. 
Sumangali Pooja Pooja done for married women. Every month ladies go to the temple bringing along items for an archana and a lamp. A pooja for the lady goddess Parvathi is performed asking blessings for her husband. 
Private Pooja Poojas, including house warming poojas, can be performed outside the temple at private venues.
During the annual festival, devotees can sponsor the festival on any day except the last day.


Deities in the Maha Ganapati Temple
Compiled on behalf of the Board of Trustees by Mrs. L. Somasundarampillai
Hinduism is one of the most ancient religions of the world and it has stood the test of time and is still followed by millions of people all over the world. From very ancient times it has become the tradition of the Hindus to build temples for the Gods they worship and the large beautiful temples found in India and Sri Lanka bear witness to this tradition.
Temples are not built merely by the efforts of the people alone. It is the "will of God" to come and dwell in the midst of his devotees, which ends in the completion of a temple. By residing in a temple, God imparts divine feelings and ideas in the hearts of his devotes and the poojas and prayers lead them to the goal of life - self realization. In this context, Lord Ganesha has "willed" to be among us and bless us and the outcome of this "will" is the completion of the temple.

Lord Ganesha
He is the elephant faced God, also called Vinayaga. The Vedas consider Lord Ganesha as the most powerful and loving god. He is depicted as the oldest son of Lord Siva and Parvathi. Ganesha is the Lord of Siddi and Buddi - confers success and highest wisdom to his devotees. He is the remover of all obstacles and the healer of all Karmas. Just the breaking of a coconut or even the knock on our head by our palm and the though of him are enough to get his blessings.
The Puranas quote many instances where Lord Ganesha had shown his intense love to his devotees. He broke on of his tusks to help Sage Vyasa to write the Mahabaratha. His tusks was used as a pen to write the great epic. In another instance, he made the river Kaveri to flow out of Sage Agathyer's drinking vessel to make a part of the Indian subcontinent  fertile. In every village of India and Sri Lanka, we can find a Ganesha temple and this illustrates the respect and love the people have for this almighty god.

Lord Siva and Parvathi
According to the Vedas, Lord Siva and Parvathi are considered the father and mother of the Universe. The are depicted as the parents of Lord Ganesha and Lord Muruga. By his cosmic dance, Lord Siva controls all the activities of the Universe. Without this, all the activities will be at a standstill. He is also the destroyer of all evils. He gets all his energy from his consort Parvathi, who is also called Parasakthi.

Lord Muruga, Valli, and Theivanai
Lord Muruga is the youngest son of Lord Siva and Parvathi and the youngest brother of Lord Ganesha. The Purunas describe him as a very daring and adventurous person. He killed the most valiant King Pathmasuran save the Devas and as a reward, the Deva King Indra gave his daughter Theivanai as a bride to Muruga. He has come down to the Earth many times to bless his devotees. He appeared in front of the great Tamil pet Ouvaiyar and lased her. When his ardent devotee Valli yearned for his love and waited to marry him, he accepted her love and made her his wife.

Bairavar
Bairavar is considered as the super guard for the deities. he is very fearful and energetic and destroys the evil forces which come near the deities.

Sandeswarar
In all the Hindu Temples, we can find a shrine of Sandeswarer. In the Maha Ganapati Temple there is also a shrine. After praying to all the deities it is a tradition to pray to Sandeswarer and in the end to clap the hands. Sandeswarer is depicted as a very strong devotee of Lord Siva, who spent all his life in prayers. So it was Lord Siva's wish that in every temple, Sandeswarer has to be worshipped and respected. Our prayer will be fulfilled only after we pay homage to Sandeswarer. Also, it is tradition to clap the hands, because he is always in Dyana and never opens his eyes, only if we clap our hands he will open this eyes and know that we are praying to him.

Vasantha Mandapam
It is a belief that our Hindu religion that our Gods enjoy festivals and ceremonies. Usually on certain auspicious days the main deity of the temple is taken in procession. The deity of the Moolasthanam is never taken out of its position. On festival days, a replica of the main deity is decorated well with silk dresses, ornaments and flowers and taken out on chariots or palanquins and special poojas are conducted in a place called Vasantha Mandampam before they are taken out on procession inside or outside the temple. The deities in the Vasantha Mandapam include Lord Ganesha, Lord Natarajar and Parvathi, Lord Muruga, Valli and Theivanai, Goddess Rajarajeswary Amman, Pallaniyandavar, Asthirathevar and Sandeswarar.



October 2013
October 2, Wednesday
Prathosam, 7:00 PM   
October 5, Saturday      
Navarathiri Festival Day 1, 7:00 PM 
October 6, Sunday       
Navarathiri Festival Day 2,7:00 PM
October 7, Monday
Navarathiri Festival Day 3, 7:00 PM 
October 8, Tuesday        
Navarathiri Festival Day 4, Chathurthi, 7:00 PM
October 9,, Wednesday
Navarathiri Festival Day 5 , 7:00 PM
October 10, Thursday
Navarathiri Festival Day 6, Saraswathy Pooja, 7:00 PM
October 11, Friday        
Navarathiri Festival Day 7,  Saraswathy Pooja 
October 12, Saturday     
Navarathiri Festival Day 8, Saraswathy Pooja  
October 13, Sunday    
Vijayadasami, Kethara Gowri Vratham  Day 1
October 16, Wednesday
Prathosam, 7:00 PM                                   
October 18, Friday        
Powrnami                                
October 21, Monday  
Kaarthikai, 7:00 PM   
October  22, Tuesday
Sankadahara Chathurthi
October 31, Thursday
Prathosam, 7:00 PM                                    
November 2013
November 2, Saturday
Deepavali  7:00 PM, Kethara Gowri Vratham  Last Day
November 3, Sunday        
Skantha sashti viratham Day 1
November 4, Monday  
Skantha sashti viratham Day 2
November  5, Tuesday  
Skantha sashti viratham Day 3,
 November 6, Wednesday
Skantha sashti viratham Day 4, Chathurthi,7:00 PM
November 7, Thursday  
Skantha sashti viratham  Day 5
November 8, Friday  
Skantha sashti viratham Last Day, Ruthrakumba Abishekam,
November  14, Thursday  
Prathosam, 7:00 PM 
November  16, Saturday   
Powrnami, Villakkedu, Deepa Pooja
November 17, Sunday   
Vinayakar  Viratham  Day1, Thiru Kaarthikai
November 18, Monday    
1st Somavaram,Vinayakar Viratham, Day 2
November 19, Tuesday     
Vinayakar  Viratham, Day 3
November 20, Wednesday
Vinayakar  Viratham Day4
November 21, Thursday   
Vinayakar  Viratham Day 5, Sankadahara Chathurthi
November 22, Friday
Vinayakar  Viratham Day 6
November 23, Saturday    
Vinayakar Viratham Day 7
November 24, Sunday
Vinayakar Viratham Day 8
November 25, Monday
Vinayakar Viratham Day 9, 2nd Somavaram,
November 26, Tuesday 
Vinayakar Viratham Day 10
November 27, Wednesday
Vinayakar  Viratham Day11
November 28, Thursday
Vinayakar Viratham Day 12       
November 29, Friday
Vinayakar  Viratham Day 13
November 30, Saturday 
Vinayakar Viratham Day14, Prathosam 7:00 PM
December, 2013
 
December 1, Sunday       
Vinayakar  Viratham Day15
December 2, Monday        
Vinayakar  Viratham Day16, 3rd Somavaram
December 3, Tuesday        
Vinayakar  Viratham Day17
December 4, Wednesday 
Vinayakar  Viratham Day18
December 5, Thursday
Vinayakar  Viratham Day19, Chathurthi 7:00 PM
December 6, Friday
Vinayakar Viratham Day 20
December 7, Saturday
Vinayakar Sashti
December 9, Monday
Thiruvembavai Day 1, 4th Somavaram
December 10, Tuesday
Thiruvembavai Day 2
December 11, Wednesday
Thiruvembavai Day 3
December 12, Thursday
Thiruvembavai Day 4
December 13, Friday           
Thiruvembavai Day 5 
December 14, Saturday
Thiruvembavai Day 6, Prothosam 5:45 PM, Kaarthikai 7:00 PM  
December 15, Sunday      
Thiruvembavai Day 7
December 16, Monday      
Thiruvembavai Day 8, Powrnami 7:00 PM
December 17, Tuesday
Thiruvembavai Day 9 
December 18, Wednesday
Thiruvembavai Last Day, Nadesar  Abishekam 5:30 AM,
December 20, Friday        
Sankadahara Chathurthi
December 29, Sunday
Prathosam, 7:00 PM
Last updated:  28/09/2013 06:02:23 PM



TEMPLE SERVICES
Service
Fee
Abishekam
Abishekam (per Deity)
Rudra Kumbam (Includes all items)

$40
$200
Pooja
Regular Archana 
Ashdothiranama(108) Archana
Sahasranama(1008) Archana
Santhana Kaappu
Seemantha Pooja (Sponsors to provide materials)
Vahana (car) Pooja
Sumangali Pooja
Blessing of Pictures (for new home, etc.)
Lighting lamps (Lime Shells, Copper/Clay Lamps etc)
Home Pooja (no Homa, No Kumbam)

$5
$51
$101
$125
$150
$40
$10
$35
$5
$75
Homa Pooja
Snabana Kumbam
    -Single Family
    -Multiple Families
Sankaaabshekam
Ayusha Homa (Sponsors to provide materials)


$400
$250
$450
$150
Weddings
At the temple with Homa (With hall & kitchen facilities)
At temple with Ganesha pooja (With hall and kitchen facilities)
At temple with Ganesha pooja (No hall use, No homa, No food)
At private residence or hall
Note: The resident Priest is authorized to perform registration of marriage through Maha Ganapathy Society of Alberta

$500
$250

$150
$450
Siraartham (At the Cultural Centre)
Siraartham
Annual Siraartham
Aadi Amavaasai Tharpanam (Not available during temple hours, No pooja/abishekam is performed)

$40
$75
$10
Annathanam (Meal sponsorship)
Materials and labour provided by the temple
 
$375
Cultural Centre Rental
Hall and kitchen facilities up to 4 hours
Each additional hour
 
$200
$30
  

Temple Manager - Mr. S. Sadasivan Pillay
Board of Trustees (2012-2013)
NAME
POSITION
PHONE (Res)
Dr. S. Suthaker
President
780-431-9845
Mr. S. Yogasundaram
Vice President
780-432-4404
Mr. S. Senthilnathan
Secretary
780-244-3139
Mr. N. Sriskanthan
Treasurer
780-450-3953
Mr. S. Sivabalan
Trustee
780-463-1658

Priests:
Sri Kamalanathan Visvanatha Kurukal and Sri Karthigesu Iyer Ragavan 
Contact us:
Maha Ganapathy Society of Alberta
128 Running Creek Road, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6J 7B1 
Tel: 780-988-5161, E-mail:mgsa@mahaganapathytemple.com




Om Tat Sat
                                                        
(Continued...)                                                                                                                             



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



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