Photo's ~ Inauguration of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Austin, Texas

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FOR WILLIAMSON COUNTY HINDUS, A NEW WORSHIP CENTER~~ SHRI SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLE IN CEDAR PARK ~~OPEN TO PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS, CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING THIS WEEKEND Austin American-StatesmanBy Joshunda Sanders - joshundasandersFriday, 19th March`2010For the hundreds of

Hindu families in Williamson County who have been worshipping in a rented Cedar Park space, the wait for a new temple ended Friday with the opening of the Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin. The $2 million, four-acre facility on New Hope Drive in Cedar Park will continue its grand opening activities through Sunday, and organizers said they expect as many as 5,000 visitors to the new temple this weekend.It's the second Hindu temple in Williamson County, joining the Chinmaya Mission in Round Rock. It's named for Sai Baba, a popular Indian saint.Technology jobs have drawn thousands of new Hindu and Indian families to

Central Texas, said Harish Kotecha, an organizer for the events and Austin Hindu community leader. He estimates the Austin Metro area has about 10,000 Hindus, based on census figures. Though the census doesn't keep track of religious data, an estimated 60,000 Asians live in the area.Kotecha said the New Temple welcomes people of all Faiths. "We believe that the temple is more of a peaceful service to humanity," Kotecha said. "It's also about harmony between communities."The Temple, which includes a meditation hall with an environmentally friendly roof — insulated and made

with dirt and flowers — was co-founded by Craig Edwards, a retired businessman who moved to Austin with his wife, Jill, from Hawaii in 2006.After selling their property management and security businesses, Edwards said he tried to build a Temple in Hawaii but that strict building rules there made the effort too difficult. On an impulse, he and his wife, in 1983 considered moving to Austin and decided to finally do it. "In business, you're motivated to make money," Edwards, 53, said. "Now we're more love-motivated."In January 2008, the Edwardses started the temple in a temporary space at Railyard Shopping Center in

Cedar Park. About 30 people came to worship on Thursdays, the traditional day of worship for Sai Baba followers, when the temple launched, Kotecha said. Now more than 200 people attend Thursday services, he said. Along with performing various religious rituals in the Hindu community, the temple's volunteers annually serve more than 40,000 sandwiches and meals to Austin's homeless and refugee communities, Edwards said.Edwards added that -"One of the sayings we like is that serving hands are dearer to God than praying lips,If we go to church and pretend to be holy, then we go out and abuse our fellow man, that looks like religion, but it doesn't mean that we have any real relationship to God."Two priests, Raghunathji Bhattar and Dattatreya Ganti , will live in a house near the temple. They will go there to conduct aarti — a song and praise of Sai Baba that lasts about 20 minutes — four times a day, Kotecha said.To help people from other faiths feel welcome, temple leaders plan to paint angels over the front door holding a banner that reads, "The World Is My Family." On each side, symbols from several major religions will be painted, Edwards said. "The main thing is that it is our wish to serve the community and serve God," Edwards said. "The best compliment someone who visits the temple can give us is to say they left with a feeling of peace."Three days of ceremony and ritual began on Friday 19th March`2010 to dedicate the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.A Sai devotee, puts the finishing touches on a Ceremonial tent outside

the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.A Statue of Shirdi Sai Baba is Blindfolded before the opening of the New Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.A Portrait of Shirdi Sai Baba sits on the main altar at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.A Hindu priest, places the colored rice on the Sarvotobhadra Mandapa, or main altar, at the new Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin. Each color has significance - "Green and Yellow ask for Prosperity, Black is Sadness, Red bring Happiness & Joy, and White brings Peace."A Hindu priest follows along with ritual chants during a ceremony at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.A Hindu priest performs sacred Chants during a ceremony on 19th March`2010. Pots called Kalash will hold Holy Water for purification ritual's at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.Copper pots called Kalash and brick hearths will hold Water and Fire for purification rituals. The Meditation Room at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple would ideally be built underground. Due to construction limitations, earth is piled against the walls and the green roof will blossom with flowers.A Devotee meditates in the new meditation room at the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.Founding member's Craig and Jill Edwards - receive blessings during the dedication of the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple.Source - http://www.statesman.com/news/local/for-williamson-county-hindus-a-new-worship-center-403115.html?cxtype=ynews_rssPhotographs - Julia Robinson/FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN" Fear can keep us up all Night LOng, but Faith makes one fine Pillow.".......... Philip Gulley zzzzzzzZZzz - rOhit beHaL _If photo's not visible then view them at - http://.com/forum/index.php?topic=3928.0orhttp://sai-ka-aangan.org/sai-baba-news-room/kumbhabhishekam-of-new-'sri-shirdi-sai-baba-temple'-in-austin-texas/orhttp://forum.spiritualindia.org/photos-inauguration-of-sri-shirdi-sai-baba-temple-austin-texas-t34935.0.html

 

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