Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple links up with Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland

Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple's Sandwich Project

Children prepare sandwiches for Salvation Army of Cleveland

Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple has linked up with the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland.  The Hindu temple in Parma has initiated a Sandwich Project.  On the first Sunday of each month, Hindu devotees of the temple prepare peanut butter sandwiches for the hungry and homeless which get distributed by the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland.

The Salvation Army is a religious and social service organization, a branch of the Christian church dedicated to the never-ending battle against the twin enemies of sin and despair. It is a holistic ministry to body, mind and soul. The Salvation Army seeks to improve the physical environment, provide for material needs and lead people to a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, Ohio is dedicated to the men, women, and children it serves. Covering the greater Cleveland area, it works everyday to elevate individuals up from despair to provide hope and assistance.  In teaching life skills, the Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland, Ohio provides individuals with an opportunity to maximize their physical, emotional and spiritual being to effect permanent change.

The Salvation Army of Greater Cleveland
2507 E. 22nd Street
Cleveland, Ohio  44115  (map)
Phone: (216) 861-8185  |  fax: (216) 928-6006  |  web: www.SalvationArmyCleveland.org

Major Lurlene-Kay M. Johnson

Divisional Secretary & Area Coordinator of Greater Cleveland
Phone: (216) 861-8185  |   fax: (216) 861-1463 
 |  email: Lurlene.Johnson@use.SalvationArmy.org

Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple holds vigil for Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

Shiva Vishnu Temple in Cleveland, Ohio

 Greater Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple conducted a prayer vigil in memory of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.  The group of Hindu priests from this Hindu temple in Northeast Ohio chanted Sanskrit mantras including the one below from Brhadaranyaka Upanishad and this was followed by a minute of silence by about 100 devotees in the temple.

Asato Ma Sadgamaya Mantra in Sanskrit

Asato Ma Sadgayama
Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya
Mrytor Ma Amritamgamaya

Asato Ma Sadgamaya Mantra English Translation

Lead me from Untruth to Truth
Lead me from Darkness to Light
Lead me from Death to Immortality

Photo Credit: Indrajit Mukherjee

Shiva Linga Meaning by Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple

SHIVA LINGA EXPLAINED BY CLEVELAND SHIVA VISHNU TEMPLE

Credit: Cleveland Asian Indian Shiva Vishnu Temple

The meaning of the word Linga is that which indicates. The Shiva Linga that is visible after the installation is the top one third and the other two third forms the base.

The first one third of the base stands for Brahma - the aspect of creation in the cosmos. As the creation brings things into the existence, naturally the process is directed outward (i.e. towards the object of creation). Since the creation is going on endlessly, the four directions represent this concept. One can move in each direction without reaching the end. This aspect of the Lord is called Brahma - the Lord as the Creator and is represnted by the square cross section standing for four directions.

The middle one third represents Vishnu - the one that pervades everything in the creation. The four directions and four corners totalling to eight along with up and down directions cover everything and it is indicated by the octagonal middle cross section.

The top one third represents the Shiva aspect by the circular cross section indicating the Limitlessness. Though there are three aspects indicated, the Shiva Linga is one alone and when worshiped all three inseparable aspects are worshiped.

Thus SHIVA and VISHNU are no two different entities!! It is one Limitlessness viewed from different aspects so mind has a direction to contemplate. Vishnu is also worshiped and invoked in the form of Shaligrama (a spherical shape) standing for the Limitlessness as so is Shiva...

Source: Cleveland Shiva Vishnu temple

Free book at Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple

Essence of World Religions-Unity in Diversity

Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple is providing a free book called Essence of World Religions-Unity in Diversity.  This book is compiled by an electrical engineer Pravin K. Shah.  Pravin Shah Chairperson of JAINA Education Committee Federation of Jain Associations in North America.  He is also the Director of Jain Study Center of North Carolina.

JAINA has over 70 member organizations supporting over 100,000 Jains in North America.

This concise and informative book is will be helpful for adults and children.  Asian Indians should consider browsing through this book instead of watching a Bollywood movie.  The book is divided into three sections:

• Religions of India: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
• Religions of the Far East: Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism
• Religions of the West: Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, Islam and Baha'i

Go pick it up.

Picture at Shiva Vishnu Hindu Temple of Cleveland

A picture at Shiva Vishnu Hindu Temple of Cleveland says, As a body without a soul is dead, so a faith without deeds is dead.  Hats off to Shiva Vishnu Hindu Temple of Cleveland for placing this sign.  In fact, this sign is perhaps as important as the idols of the various deities at the Shiva Vishnu Hindu Temple of Cleveland.  May be this sign could be enlarged and placed between the Shiva and Vishnu deities at Shiva Vishnu Hindu Temple of Cleveland.  This sign encapsulates what is right about faith and what is not right about desis.  We desis, most of us, have a bit of superficial faith and a little bit of deeds, some of us.

1. As a body without a soul is dead, a desi without money is dead.  
2. As a body without a soul is dead, a desi with character is dead.
3. As a body without a soul is dead, a desi with intellect is dead.

Instead of learning about the foundation and pillars of Hinduism, some desi folks consider rituals, regurgitating undigested prayers and shlokas, and poojas to be more important.  The inexpensive lunches are the temple attract some.  Unfortunately the interest and demand to learn about Vedas, Upanishads, Hinduism is lacking and desi folks are looking for instant mukti from Ammas, Swamis, Babas, Gurus etc.    

Observed At Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple

So there I was sitting in the passenger lounge at O'Hare Airport in Chicago, waiting for the passenger boarding announcement. There was an another flight to India about to board from a nearby gate. As soon as the chick made the announcement for pre-boarding, all desis jumped up from their seats and headed towards the gate like bees chasing a very hot girl who dared to mess with their beehive.

Similar behavior is often seem at the Greater Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple in Parma, Ohio. As soon as the aarti bhajan is over, desis make a dash to the north side of the temple to be among the first in the line for the aarti. I suppose some are eager to get to the food at the lower level and then head home and watch TV and some do it out of instinct.

Bandar kitna bhi boodha ho jai, kulati marna nahi bhoolta.

Cleveland Temple of Shiva Vishnu

At popular events at the Great Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple in Parma, desis park along the road that leads to the lower level parking.  This narrow road provides for two way traffic and pedestrian access to the temple.  This is a dangerous place for the pedestrians since some desis driving as if they are on Indian streets.  It is a matter of when and not if regarding the unfortunate incident of lead footed desi hurting a pedesterian on this access road.

Restricting parking on this road is the prudent thing to do.    

Comment - Sree Venkateshwara Hindu Temple

This evening Rev. Mary and Susan Davis sent out an email alert. The Richfield Village Board of Zoning Appeals was hearing an appeal regarding the proposed Sree Venkateshwara Hindu temple.

The proposed temple on Brecksville Road just off 77 has generated considerable controversy among some residents of Richfield. They claim it will generate traffic, noise and "the influx of strangers into the residential neighborhood." Stop me if you've heard this before.

Read more at Pho and Cee Jay's Blog, The Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron

Resident Comment - Sree Venkateshwara Temple, Richfield

A comment by Sarina Barkwas in connection with the Sree Venkateshwara Temple issue. Jay Porter of Vorys, Seymour and Pease are on the temple side. Bill Burger and Jerry Smith are architects.

Sree Venkateshwara Temple of Cleveland

Representing the proposed Sree Venkateshwara Temple of Cleveland at some meetings in Richfield are Nanja Sundaram, Laks Benkatraman, Ramakrishna Bandi, MD and Jagdish Medarametla.

Richfield Village residents are opposed to the construction of the Hindu Sree Venkateswara Temple, which is being built in their neighborhood.

The residents’ attorney, Leland D. Cole, filed an administrative appeal in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas on Dec. 20, 2007 and Judge Patricia Cosgrove is scheduled to hear the case.

A group called “Concerned Richfield Homeowners” an Unincorporated Associated, is listed as the plaintiff in the court appeal, along with the following individual members: Brush Road residents Jim Voltz, Bob and Rosemary Lassiter, Brad and Beth Newcomb and Don and Sally Lane; Townsend Road residents Joe Stefanini and the Primosch family; and Brecksville Road resident David Hutton.

“I don’t dislike Indian people or their culture,” Larry Primosch is reported as saying. “This is just the wrong place for it. The application doesn’t meet four of the seven standards for a conditional use nor one of the five standards for a church.”

2007 Diwali at Cleveland Shiva Vishnu Temple in Parma

On arrival at the temple, one finds that the temple parking lot is full and one is directed to parking lots on adjacent properties. Cabs shuttle folks back and forth. Tea lights are placed along the walkway to the temple and it looks cool in the dark.

The main temple hall gets filled with devotees, my guesstimate is about 600. I heard someone say that about 1,000 devotees attend this event at times. One sees a few gora log among the devotees. The temple sticks to the announced pooja schedule pretty much. I think folks sang bhajans in Hindi and Bengali and this was cool too. The folks who sponsor the pooja are given a lamp on a plate for performing pooja. The aarti rocks and this is the highlight of this celebration.

The tall guy, whose I name I should find out, does a pretty good job and wisely announced that desis should not use the fire escape staircase as a short cut to the Patel hall where the prasad is served. The scene in the Patel hall is indicative of some chaos as desis chow down the food brought for the Annakoot pooja and served the volunteers.

It appears that the Gujrati community takes the lead in this event and I suppose people would have opinions about this circumstance. Similarly, the situation at the Sri Venkateshwara Temple in Pittsburgh where the Tamil community takes the lead in events.

I hope this Diwali Celebration is on your to do list for 2008.

Sree Venkateshwara Temple, Cleveland

Previously, it was thought that the Sree Venkateshwara temple will be located in the I-77, I-80 and I-271 corridor. Now it is announced that this temple will be built on the premises of the existing Shiva Vishnu Temple in Parma.

It is interesting to note that even though the temple uses monies received from the peoples, no information is provided to the people about the temple procedures such as dates and times of temple board meetings, minutes of the board meetings, election process of board members, decision making processes for the temple, decisions etc. Some things appear to occur behind closed doors.

There should be more information sharing. Participation of people who are young and new and may not be well connected or even well off should be encouraged. One should not have to be connected to a board member or a well to do member of the desi community to be awarded an opportunity to make a contribute to the Shiva Vishnu temple.

A outreach program for international students at Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Akron, Kent State University would be something worth considering.

Parma Mayor at Shiva Vishnu Temple

During the Health Fair 2007, Parma Mayor Dean DePiero visited the Shiva Vishnu Temple and chatted with the health fair participants.

I vaguely recall seeing a picture at the temple notice board which including the Mayor and the health fair volunteers. Its good to have Mayor DePiero visit the temple. I reckon this aint the last time he will be present at the temple.

Proposed Sree Venkateshwara Temple of Cleveland

A new Shri Venkateshwara/Balaji temple is in the works for the Greater Cleveland area, I hear from the media and the temple website. The location may be in Richfield. The reported estimated cost is about 1.5 million bucks.

"The temple will fulfill a deeply-felt, long-standing need and demand for a Balaji Temple in the Greater Cleveland area. "

There are two existing temples in the Greater Cleveland area and hence why the need for an another one. There is a thriving Balaji temple in Pittsburgh.

Its the nature of people to demand things and demands are not accompanied by a warranty of common sense.

Suppose one could be mistaken about an implicit desire to have a setting where rituals will be performed in the Telugu way rather than the Tamil way. Or is this about power?

Surely there was better ways of spending moolah given that our birth country has millions living in extreme poverty.

Shiva Vishnu Temple, Cleveland

Shiva Vishnu Temple of Cleveland