Parashakthi Temple

Last updated November 16, 2024

The Parashakthi Temple, also known as the Eternal Mother Temple, is a Hindu temple located in Pontiac, Michigan, United States. It was established in 1999 and serves as a place of worship for devotees of Parashakthi, who is worshiped in her manifestation as Karumariamman, a revered South Indian goddess.^[1]

History

Construction on Parashakthi Temple Pontiac, Michigan IMG-20211213-WA0000.jpg — Construction on Parashakthi Temple Pontiac, Michigan

The Parashakti Temple was founded by Dr. Krishna Kumar, who was inspired by what he believed to be a divine directive from the Hindu Goddess Parashkthi to construct a temple in her honor.^[2] Construction of the temple began in 1998, and the temple was inaugurated in 1999.^[2]^[1] The opening ceremonies coincided with Vijayadasami.^[2]

Since its founding, the Parashakti Temple has expanded both its physical structure and religious offerings. It was originally conceived as a space devoted to Karumariammam, but it now houses Hindu deities such as Muruga, Hanuman, and Jagannatha. These expansions have made the temple a multifaceted center for Hindu worship, serving individuals with roots in various parts of India.^[2]

The temple is located on 16 acres in Pontiac, Michigan. The temple space includes worship area, offices, coat room, multipurpose hall for dining. The total area is 10,000 sq. ft.^[3]

Architecture

The Parashakthi temple is reflective of traditional South Indian style architecture, characterized by its imposing granite structures and intricately carved pillars.^[2]^[4] A prominent feature of the temple is its grand 54-foot gopuram (tower).^[4]^[1] The inner sanctum of the temple houses the deity Karumariammam, who is venerated as a protective and nurturing force.^[2]

Mission statement

To share Divine Mother's grace with humanity so that they can explore and experience the Divine.^[5]

Deities

Divine Mother is "Divine Consciousness" manifested as Shiva Shakthi and formed a Nada Bindu (sound and spiritual light), which separated into Shiva and Shakthi. All the gods and goddesses are her manifestations of various vibratory divine entities. At Parashakthi Temple, she is present as Parashakthi Karumari Ambika who is closest to the earthly creations. Devi Parashakthi is Kundalini Shakthi, which manifested as Prakrti (Shakthi), which together with Purusha (Shiva) has materialized into various universes (multiverse) as living and non-living entities through maya (illusion) Shakthi.

The Mother Parashakthi Sanctum (Sannidhi) is also graced by the presence of the Maha Meru which RajaRajeswari/ Bhuvaneswari to this Sannidhi. Further, on the same pedestal, there is Goddess Raja Matangi, Devi Varahi Ambika, and Devi Bhuvaneshwari.

Other deities:^[6]

Parivara Devathas
Ayyappa Swami
Hanuman
Ashta Lakshmi
Jagannatha Swami, Balabadra and Subhadra
Lord Guruvayurappan, Kondungalur Bhagavathi, Chottanikari Bhagavathi
Radha Krishna
Subramanya, Kartikeya, Muruga, Skanda, Shanmuga
Ganesha, Shakthi Ganapaty, Tantrik Ganapaty
Varaahi, Mathangi, Rajeshwari
Venkateshwara Swami, Bhodevi, Sridevi, Bhoga Srinivas Murthy
Narasimha Swamy
Nataraja and Kalabhairava
Swarna Garuda Bhagawan
Kubera Shiva Lingam and Nandikeshwara
Kamadenu Ambika
Bala Murugan
Veera Ganapathi
Mantra Sridevi and Siddhars
Navagrahas
Rajagopuram with 520 Cosmic devathas
Dhristi Peetam

Major festivals

Devi Navaratri (Dasara) is the major function celebrating the Mother. This is celebrated on nine consecutive nights in the Month of Aswayujam starting on the 1st phase and ending on the 10th phase of waxing Moon. This function depicts how the Mother manifested Herself as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswathi.^[7]

Temple fire incident

The temple caught on major fire on April 21, 2018. The flame broke out in the temple after ember was from memorial firebox and set fire to the roof. Deputies sent people to the roof to evacuate them and they succeeded. About 30 people who were inside the temple during the fire were evacuated. The elder of the temple said that the cause of the fire was ember.^[8]

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References

1 2 3 "Devi Parashakthi Matha (Eternal Mother) Temple". www.parashakthitemple.org. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Bose, Mandakranta (2018-05-24). The Oxford History of Hinduism: The Goddess. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-107968-9.
↑ "Devi Parashakthi Matha (Eternal Mother) Temple". www.parashakthitemple.org. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
1 2 Hicks, Mark. "New tower at Pontiac Hindu temple draws devotees". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
↑ "Devi Parashakthi Matha (Eternal Mother) Temple". www.parashakthitemple.org. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
↑ "Devi Parashakthi Matha (Eternal Mother) Temple". www.parashakthitemple.org. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
↑ "Devi Parashakthi Matha (Eternal Mother) Temple". www.parashakthitemple.org. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
↑ Detroit Free Press staff (April 23, 2018). "Fire pit used for indoor ceremony burns roof of Hindu Temple in Pontiac". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2024-02-13.