Perth Shiva Temple

Hindu place of worship in Perth, Western Australia

32°05′00.1″S 115°56′58.6″E / 32.083361°S 115.949611°E / -32.083361; 115.949611ArchitectureTypeDravidian architectureGroundbreaking1990; 34 years ago (1990)Completed1991; 33 years ago (1991)Direction of façadeEastWebsitehindu.org.au

The Perth Shiva Temple (Tamil: பெர்த் சிவன் கோவில்), officially Perth Hindu Temple, is a Hindu temple in Canning Vale, in Perth, Western Australia, dedicated to the god Shiva and his consort goddess Meenakshi. The temple is run by the Shri Shiva Devasthanam, a non-profit religious organisation, and was completed in early 1990. It is the oldest Hindu temple in Western Australia.

Statue of the god Shiva at the entrance of the temple

History

Plans for a Hindu temple in Perth were first began in 1985. The land was consecrated in 1987 by Swami Shantanand Saraswati and construction was completed and the murtis installed in February 1990.[1] It is the oldest Hindu temple in Western Australia;[2] another temple was built in Perth by Tamil Hindus.[3] The temple's construction, including a final Royal Tower (for which Perth council contributed over $600,000)[4] took over 20 years and was completed in June 2008.[5][6]

In May 2022, in the lead up to Australia's national elections, both major parties promised donations of $1 million towards development of the temple.[7][8][9]

Deities inside the Temple

  • Shiva (Main God)
  • Meenakshi (Main Goddess) (referred to as "Devi" in the temple)
  • Ganesha
  • Murugan
  • Durga
  • Navagraha
  • Bhairava
  • Hanuman
  • Vishnu
  • Lakshmi[1]
  • Athma Lingam

Festivals and events

The temple priests perform pujas to specific gods and goddesses.[10] In addition, festivals celebrated at the temple include the following:

Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri: the temple is open for an entire day and night of fasting and meditation in honor of the god Shiva.

Purattasi

Purattasi, a Hindu month celebrating Perumal (an avatar of Vishnu), with prayers and a vegetarian feast each Saturday.

Pradosham

Pradosham, bimonthly prayers to Shiva during the three hours surrounding sunset on the thirteenth day of every fortnight in the Hindu calendar, with an hour-long mantra sung in the temple.

See also

  • flagAustralia portal
  • Hinduism portal
  • iconArchitecture portal

References

  1. ^ a b "Perth Hindu Temple history". Perth Hindu Temple. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Morrison government promises one million dollars each for Perth Hindu and Sikh Temples, if re-elected". NRI Affairs. 20 April 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  3. ^ Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine; York, Michael (2012). "Australasia, Hindus in". Encyclopedia of Hinduism. p. 60. ISBN 9781135189785.
  4. ^ "OZ province contributes USD 600,000 for Hindu temple". PTI - The Press Trust of India. 1 June 2008.
  5. ^ Emery, Ryan (2 June 2008). "Temple a blessing for city's Hindus". The Australian Magazine, The Weekend Australian. p. 7.
  6. ^ "A towering achievement". Fremantle-Cockburn Gazette (Perth, Australia). 17 June 2008. p. 28.
  7. ^ "Around $270 million worth of promises have been made by Labor for WA. Here's a seat-by-seat guide to them all". ABC News. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Morrison government promises one million dollars each for Perth Hindu and Sikh Temples, if re-elected - NRI Affairs". 20 April 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Political parties pledge millions in new funds to woo Indian Australian voters". SBS Language. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Poojas". Perth Hindu Temple. Retrieved 19 October 2022.

External links

  • Media related to Perth Shiva Temple at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website: Hindu Association of Western Australia