FLASH NEWS: 9 Nov 2007

Montclair, CA, USA. 3:14 p.m.: Hindu Temple holds opening ceremonies in Montclair
Neil Nisperos
Courtesy: Inland Valley, Daily Bulletin.


MONTCLAIR - The first Hindu Temple in Montclair history opened today in ceremony steeped in symbolic ritual and centuries-old tradition.

Paramahamsa Nithyananda, a noted Hindu swami, led the ceremony at the new 24,000-square-foot Nithyananda Vedic Temple and Vedic Sciences University from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Friday at 9720 N. Central Ave.

With a hand bell, a flaming lamp and a vase filled with sacred water, the spiritual leader consecrated a meditation numerous deity statues made of marble and black granite that adorned a large, colorful meditation hall.

One large statue, of the Hindu deity Venkateshwara, stood 12-feet-tall, while several others, including the familiar multi-armed, dancing Hindu statue of Nataraja towered over about 500 people who came to celebrate and worship at the grand opening at the former church.

The deity statues included the 24 Tirthankaras, or enlightened masters of Jainism, and one of Buddha.

The music of Indian flutes and drums filled the hall as a smiling Nithyananda motioned the lamp around each deity and then toward devotees who raised their hands toward the light.

"Everything in the universe is made up of the five elements of fire, water, air, ether and earth," said Ma Ananda Vibhooti, a Nithyananda devotee. "When we are worshiping, we are worshiping through these five elements."

Umesh Hari, of Houston, Texas, traveled to the opening in Montclair with his wife and two children.

"We're very blissful because the cosmic energy here is omnipresent," Hari said of the temple.

The Montclair temple will provide free vegetarian food to the public every day, free medical advice once a month, as well as courses in everything from yoga and meditation to traditional Indian architecture.

Nithyananda's goal is to spread Indian religious culture - the Vedic tradition - throughout the world. The swami has missions in 34 countries and counts 1.2 million initiated disciples worldwide, said Nithyananda devotee Sevakananda Nithya.

The Montclair temple is Nithyananda's flagship mission in California, he said.