Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin2509 W. New Hope Drive,
Cedar Park, TX 78613
USA
Mailing Address :Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Austin
P.O. Box 877
Cedar Park, TX 78630-0877
USA
Email : info@saiaustin.orgPhone : 512-260-2721.
Fax/Phone :512-528-0807
THE GRAND OPENING & KUMBHABHISHEKAM
OF
~~ THE NEW SHIRDI SAI BABA TEMPLE`AUSTIN, TEXAS ~~The Kumbhabhishekam is considered a rare and precious event. It is like giving birth to a child.
People come from far and wide to share in the joy of this experience. It is not an everyday thing - the birth of a New Temple!
Many priests, have flown in from India, some from Austin, some from Texas and across the United States, to help deliver this new child.
The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple finally moved into its new 4,700-square-foot home in Cedar Park 19th March`2010.
Till now, this religious organization has been run from a rental space in the Railyard Shopping center in Cedar park since January 2008,
where it gave more than 40,000 meals to the homeless. The Food was donated through Austin-based Caritas and the Salvation Army.
The New Temple is located on four acres at 2509 West New Hope Dr., next to the Veterans Memorial Park.
It includes a 3,500 square foot Hall, Office space, a Day care, Kitchen, Ceremony room's and Meditation space.
The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple was Inaugurated with Three days of events beginning 19th March`2010.
Over these three days, 10-12 priests performed sacred Hindu ceremonies that bring mystical powers into the Idols (Moortis),
bringing them to life.
Special Pujas, chants of Vedas, Sanctifying of Kalasas (pots of water), Adhivasas, and Homas (Havans), were performed.
The Grand finale was the pouring of Sanctified Holy water from Puja Kalasas over the Golden Stupa, 55 feet above the Sanctum Sanctorum.
The new 5’5” white marble Moorti of Sai Baba will be installed, along with the new idol of Lord Ganapati.
The New Temple is so beautiful! Golden Spires reach towards the Sky, a Meditation hall, Yagnasala, Dhuni, Meditation pond with fountains,
a new Ganapati Shrine, and finally, and a perfect 5'5" pure white marble moorti of Sai Baba.
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 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.
~~ DIRECTIONS TO THE NEW TEMPLE ~~FROM AUSTIN : Take 183N or 183-A Toll Road North. Turn left on W. New Hope Dr (toll road ends at New Hope Rd/stop light).
Proceed about 4 miles, crossing over Lakeline Blvd. Temple is ½ mile on right side, before Veterans Memorial Park.
FROM ROUND ROCK : Take Cedar Park/RM-1431 exit. Proceed about 12 miles, crossing over Lakeline Blvd and Anderson Mill Rd.
Take next right on W. New Hope Rd. Temple is on left hand side at 2509 W. New Hope.
Go to next left turn lane, and make a U-Turn to enter Temple driveway.
Source - http://www.saiaustin.org/default.htmlhttp://www.statesman.com/news/local/for-williamson-county-hindus-a-new-worship-center-403115.html?cxtype=ynews_rss_
" Feed yOur Faith and yOur Fears will starve to Death.".......anOnymOus
nAiled - rOhit beHaL
Topic: 105 Photo's ~ Arrival & Unveiling of Sai Baba's Idol in Austin`Texas (Read 5558 times)