The Shiva Murugan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Concord, California. Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It is one of the most prominent and important temples in the city. The temple was established in 1957 by Sivaya Subramuniya Swami. An Indian-born monk who moved to the United States in 1915. Today it is one of the most popular Hindu shrines in the Bay Area, offering a variety of spiritual and cultural activities to the community.
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Story of the Temple
The Shiva Murugan Temple is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Concord, California. The temple was founded in 1957 by Sivaya Subramuniya Swami, an Indian-born monk who came to the US in 1915. He lived in San Jose for four years, then moved to Sacramento before settling in Berkeley and establishing the Shiva Murugan Temple there in 1950. The following year he established the second temple in San Francisco, which remains active to this day. In 1957 the temple moved to a new location on Geary Boulevard near Masonic Avenue, where it has remained ever since.
The temple is a cornerstone of the Indian community in SF. It has played an important role in the community over the years, serving as a source of spiritual and cultural enrichment for its members. Many devotees consider it to be one of the most sacred sites in the region, and it is frequented by people from all parts of the Bay Area and beyond.
How to Reach Shiva Murugan Temple
The Shiva Murugan Temple is located at 1803 Second St, Concord, CA 94519. It is accessible from public transit routes on the E train line and the bus line. Free parking is available for guests. For visitors traveling by car, street parking is available on nearby streets. The temple is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8:30 midnight.
Timing of Temple
The temple open to the public from 10 am to 12 pm and from 6 pm to 8:30 pm on weekdays. On weekends, the temple remains open from 10 am to 8:30 pm.
When the clock strikes six in the afternoon you can hear bells ringing in the temple as the priests get ready for the evening pujas. The evening prayer ceremony features music and dancing, as well as chanting and lighting of the lamps that signify devotion to the gods. However, The ceremony usually lasts for about an hour, after which devotees take refreshments at the temple and enjoy the various cultural performances that take place throughout the night.
Celebration of festivals
Shivratri is the main festival of Shiva Murugan Temple and celebrate in the month of February every year. During the festival, the temple fills with colorful decorations and devotional rituals in honor of Lord Shiva, who is worshiped here as an incarnation of Vishnu.
Maha Navrati another important festival celebrate at the temple, which occurs in October every year. Although, during this month the temple hosts a number of religious ceremonies and special concerts, making it a popular destination for both locals and tourists alike.
Committee Members of Shiva Murugan Temple
President: Athappan Nallappan
Vice President: Thiru Rajagopal
Temple Operations: Ravi Nadesan
Secretary: Valliappan Annamalai Natarajan
Treasurer: V.S. Odaiyappan
Cultural, Volunteers: Al Subramanian
Temple Construction: Meena Ravi Annamalai
Public Relations & Religious Director: Senthil Chidambaram
Construction & Joint Treasurer: Lila Beckford
Contact Board at: feedback@temple.org
