Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in Canada -25/1 at 10:15 PM

Holy Pilgrimage - Hindu temples in Canada

Montreal Thiru Murugan Temple, Quebec, Canada

(Saiva Mission of Quebec)

Temple Address :
Saiva Mission of Quebec, 1611 St-Regis Bolvd Dollard Des Ormeaux, Quebec H9B 3H7 Canada.

Welcome to The Montreal Thiru Murugan Temple’s

Also popularly known as Montreal ARULMIHU THIRUMURUGAN KOYIL (“மொன்றியல் அருள்மிகு திருமுருகன் கோயில்” - Tamil ).
Temple du Murugan est administre par La Mission Saiva du Quebec
(French). Administered by SAIVA MISSION OF QUEBEC
established in 1983 and registered as Non-Profit religious organization.

This Temple is the first Saivaite Temple in the Province of Quebec in
Canada. While it is open to all those devotees who believe in
SAIVAISM to fulfill their religious rituals and functions, all other faiths are cordially invited to this Temple.

Brief History of Thiru Murugan Temple

1985
The weekly religious activity started with few members of the Tamil speaking Hindu community in Montreal, before two decades eventually evolved into hundreds of people coming and forming the Saiva Mission of Québec in 1985 with the main objective of building an authentic temple for their favorite god Lord Murugan following the Saiva Agamas and Sitpa Sastras and a centre to serve the social and cultural needs of the community.

1991
By 1991, hundreds of devotees succeed in raising CAN $135,000 towards a temple.

1992
In 1992 two acres of land was bought in the city of Dollard des Orrneaux for CAN
$450,000. Only faith in Lord Murugan and guru’s blessings encouraged the Tamils to embark on a multi-million dollar venture with only CAN $135,000 in hand. The project was blessed by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. Blessing of the land ceremony and a huge tree-planting ceremony were performed.

1995
The inauguration ceremony was held at an auspicious time on May 29th, 1995 by the divine grace of Almighty Lord Murugan at 1611 St-Regis Blvd, DDO (the location of the new temple).
The Consecration ceremony of Phase I was religiously performed during the auspicious hours of 8:15 - 9:15 AM on 12th November 1995.

1996
In 1996, Sri Durkai Amman Shrine was built and the Consecration ceremony was held on 25th August 1996.
The First Annual Festival (ten days) started on 6th of September 1996.
“Ther” (Chariot) festival was on 14th of September and “Theertham” (Holy Dip) festival was on 15th of September 1996. Since then, the Annual Festival has always been held in the second week of August.
2001
First auspicious ‘Sod Turning” ceremony, at 9:30 AM on 10th June 2001, was
religiously performed by Vaasthuvlgnani Dr. V. Ganapathy.

2002
The commencement of the works for Phase II project, with respect to all Saivaite Architectural designs and workmanships was held on 6th June 2002 on the temple soil by Dakshinamoorthy Sthapathy.
Conch-Setting (Sangu Sthapana) ceremony was held during the auspicious hours of 5 AM on Thursday June 13th 2002.

2003 - 2005
The major portion of the sculpture works were done in the period 2003-2005.
Twelve artisans from Tamil Nadu have built a 51ft Raja Gopuram (tower) with five  levels, the main altar for Lord Murugan with 32ft Vimanam, the Maha Mamndapam where Lord Shanmugar is sitting, the altars for Ganapathi, Natarajar, Venkateswarar,  Nava Grahas, Sivan and Parvathi, Bairavar, Vasantha Mandapam, Sri Arumugar and the Pillars. Local contractors placed granite tiles on the floor and inside each altars.

2006
With the divine grace of almighty Lord Murugan and after due consultation with very eminent priests and astrologers, the Maha Kumbabhishekam (Ritual Inauguration and Consecration ceremony) of the Montreal Thiru Murugan Temple has been set to take place during the very auspicious time of 7:47 to 8:50 AM on Sunday May 28th 2006.

Upcoming Event:

November 2013

02-10-2013 - New Moon Kethara Gowri Kappu

03-10-2013 -Skanthasati Viratahm Begins

06-10-2013 - Chathurthi

08-10-2013 - Skanda-Sura Battle Sasti

14-10-2013 - Prathosam

16-10-2013 - Sathiya Narayana Poja, Full Moon

17-10-2013 - Thirukarthikai

20-10-2013 - Sankadahara Chathurthi

30-10-2013 - Prathosam

Brief Descriptions of the Deities

Sri Vinayakar (Ganesha, Pillayar) is worshipped as the prime deity. Every ritual begins with a prayer and pooja offering to Lord Ganapathy. He is the remover of all obstacles in the proper conduct of Sacred Ritual. The physical form of Ganapathy with the elephant head denotes superior perfection. Lord Ganesha is associated with a mouse as his vahana (vehicle) which represents ego and the restless human mind. The act of sitting denotes control. It means that humility is acquired by controlling the ego and peace by controlling the mind. It is emphasized in the Tamil devotional book Thiruvarutpayan that one who earnestly prays to Lord Ganapathy will not have difficulties in his/her education. Pillayar Sathurthi is the most important festival during the month of Aavani (August-September).

Sri Murugan, the Great God, could well be called the Emancipator, ever available to the call of the needy and those in distress. He is the manifestations of Lord Siva in action and King of Kings, the power in their scepter. His Vel (Lance) empowering the scepter of the rulers, also ensures that justice prevails, wisdom enriches the mind of citizens, It rains in abundance and crops florish. Valli and Deivayani are his Divine consorts. They represent Ichcha Sakthi (Energy of Will) and the Kriya Sakhi (Energy of Action) of the Lord. The worship of Lord Murugan is revealed in the oldest Tamil scripture Tholkapiyam in 2500 B.C. Important festivals for Lord Murugan are Skantha Shasti (six days of strict fasting) in the month of Aipasi (October-November) and Karthikai Theepam in the month of Karthikai (November-December).

Sri Vengateswara (Lord Vishnu) is depicted as the great Preserver, sustaining God of the universe. Worship of Lord Vengateswara is the most prevalent form of Vaishnava religious worship and is inextricably intertwined with the cultural life of India from time immemorial. Lore has it that it was Lord Vishnu who incarnated as Sri Rama and then again as Sri Krishna. The two greatest epics in India, Ramayana and Maha Bharatha are the description of Life cycle events of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna respectively. Furthermore it is said that Sri Krishna expounded the most important moral and religious code of India called Bhaghavat Ghita to Arjuna, a warrior and participant in Maha Bharatha. Prominent festivity is Vaikunda Ekathasi on the month of Markazhi (December-January).

Durgai Amman is a Sanskrit word which means Fort, a metaphor for security or protection. The Great Universal mother Goddess Durgai Amman is the feminine aspect of Lord Siva. She is the power, the force by which God creates preserves and destroys. Mother Durgai Amman is worshipped in numerous physical forms. She is the benevolent Looking mother to devotees, but can take the virulent form of Mother Kali to protect them from wicked forces. The weapons in her hands are for fighting against eight evils - hate, greed, passion, vanity, contempt of others, envy, jealousy and illusion with which one binds one self. Navarathiri is the famous festival for Durga in Purattasi (September – October)

Sri Natarajar – Dancing Siva. Lord Siva is often depicted as Natarajah in the form of the Cosmic Dancer. The whole universe is in tune with the dance of the Lord. The dance is timed by the tempo of the universe, the seasons in the regularity, and the planets in their courses. Lord Siva in dancing form is shown with four hands. One hand holds a small drum by the sound of which he determines the time and the pulse of manifestation, evolution and renewal of the universe. In another hand are the flames which consume things in their eternal destiny. Third hand is Abhaya Mudra while the forth hand pointing downwards to the foot which represents the eternal moksha or muththi. The other foot is firmly established crushing the demom dwarf Muyalaka. Siva worship existed 4000 B.C. in Indus Valley civilization according to archeological evidence, the first historical signs of Saivaism, although it was more evident in the Indus Valley civilization of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro during 3000 B.C. The famous festivals are Sivarathiri in the month of Maasy (February-March) and Aruthira Thansanam (Thiruvembavai) in Markazi (December – January).

Sri Bhairavar is one of the manifestations of Lord Siva. In Tamil tradition, he is considered the Guardian of the village or Temple and it’s a tradition to leave the temple keys at his feet at the end of the day. It is the first duty of the priest in the morning to take the keys from his feet after praying for his permission and blessings.

Navagraham are the nine planets that govern our destinies. Hindus traditionally believe that the planets - Sooriyan (Sun), Chandran or Soma (Moon), Sevvai or Kuja (Mars), Puthan (Mercury), Viyalan or Guru (Jupiter), Velli or Sukkiran (Venus), Sani (Saturn) and other celestial features of Ragu and Kethu have considerable influence on the life of mankind and they are worshipped in all Saivaite Temples. Special pooja to Sani is very popular on Saturdays, especially in the month of Purattasi (September – October).

Other Deities Include:

SRI ARUMAIJGAR, SRI SANDESWARAR, SIVALINGAM, PAARVATHY, SRI DAKSHINAMOORTHY, SRI MAHA VISHNU, SRI BRAHMA

 

Om Tat Sat

                                                        

(Continued...)                                                                                                                             

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