Hinduism in Vancouver, Canada

[ShivaFan]

Namaste Vinayaka

This Durka - Thurkadevi temple is now a must on my list, not sure how I missed it. This is Durga Devi. I see it received assistance from Saiva Siddhanta leadership. More a reason to visit!

Anyway, I was searcing Google Images for the Altar of this Temple, and indeed found the red and white barred temple and the altar itself.

So right there to the Thurkadevi's Own right side it a portrait of Sherawali (Durga on Tiger) that is the EXACT print (not similiar, but the exact same print on board) with red background I had purchased recently at a temple when touring temples for my friend from Udaipur.

Must mean this Devi Temple is calling!

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Vinayaka]

Namaste Vinayaka

I see it received assistance from Saiva Siddhanta leadership. More a reason to visit!

Om Namah Sivaya

There is still a picture of Swami there. Last time we went, which was a couple summers back, there were more people there, and it was explained that the first time Swami visited, they had a rented room. He said, "You really need to have your own space." and gave them a donation towards it. He often gave donations in this way, and that encouragement generally got acted on.

Yes, it's interesting, there are 2 Durga temples, one North Indian variety, one South Indian variety.

 

[Vinayaka]

Management problems?Good to know that they are managing fine.

I don't think so. More just a decline, or movement in membership, I think. It is sad, but also quite understandable too.

 

[Vinayaka]

On two separate mornings we headed here: www.richmondmurugan.com Naturally, given my affinity to Murugan, it is/was my favorite temple in Vancouver. It's quite small, and 'hidden' across the road from a portion of the Fraser River. (The river is a delta here, so it has a few branches.) The building itself is more like a hall, and there are no large signs. You have to go by the address to find it.

We'd celebrated Skanda Shasthi there a few years back for about 4 nights in a row. It is South Indian Saiva (although run by a very humble Tamil Fijian) and the priest is AdiSaiva, trained in Kanchipuram.

There is room for about 150 packed, and the main shrines are just Murugan with Ganapat on the right, and Siva (lingam) on His right. There are two separate side brass shrines, one for Amman, and one for the Murugan parade deity. In a separate area there is a navagraha shrine.

This place is strong (for me) and we sat for quite some time both before and after. The priest is awesome, and his chanting is slower than some. It's rather obvious he knows what he's doing, bringing out the vibration of Murugan. During the ending portion, his sincerity shines through. I truly appreciate high quality priests. They can make or break a temple.

Since we went in the weekday mornings, there were few people, but one day 3 or 4 engaged us in conversation after the puja, and it wasn't long before we discovered people whom we knew in common.

This is another one we'll definitely go back to. it's the only Murugan temple I know within easy driving distance.

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste Vinayaka

Are pictures allowed of the Muruga murti at this Murugan Richmond temple? At the Shiva Murugan temple in my area, no photos of Gods are allowed.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Vinayaka]

Namaste Vinayaka

Are pictures allowed of the Muruga murti at this Murugan Richmond temple? At the Shiva Murugan temple in my area, no photos of Gods are allowed.

Om Namah Sivaya

Definitely not. If you want His darshan, you'll just have to go yourself.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Nice temple. They could do with a better site.

I truly appreciate high quality priests. They can make or break a temple.

True. Any more temples? I am not going to visit Vancouver, so take us around.

 

[Vinayaka]

Richmond has a 'religion' street. Some time back they designated some land along #5 road as religious land. It has a Buddhist temple, a synagogue, a mosque, some Christian churches, and 2 Hindu temples. It's a reflection of Canada's tolerant multicultural policy.

If Surrey is Vancouver's 'Little India' then Richmond is Vancouver's 'Little China' . There are many ethnic Chinese shops, grocery stores, and restaurants.

One temple is the Subramanya Swami (Murugan, most especially in Karnataka) temple. http://subramaniyaswamytemple.ca/ Of all the Vancouver temples, it's the most 'mixed' combining South and North, and everything else. All the deities are aligned along one wall, with Murugan (as Palaniandavar) flanked by Siva and Ganesha (although switched from the normal way, Ganesha on Murugan's left, Siva on the right. These three are in black granite. Then slightly forward of them are all kinds of combinations of the north variety, Lakshmi/Narayan, Radha/Krishna, and several more. On the sides are pictures of several saints. The seating area is about 100 to 150, not a large temple by any means.

This temple is run by a Fijian, and Fiji has its own unique brand of Hinduism, with a different mix of North/South. Originally, when sugar was king and the indentured labour led to populating these islands, Fiji got a real mix. Unlike some other places where one group dominated, or they stayed separate, in Fiji all mixed.

So bottom line is that personally I found this temple to be a bit 'swirly' for lack of a better word. We sat for a bit, I tried to focus ion Murugan, and then we made our merry way out of the place.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Nice temple.

 

[ShivaFan]

Beautiful murtis!

 

[Vinayaka]

Here's a nice little ling to the various religious structures represented along # 5 road. Pathways to Heaven Via Richmond B.C.

The other Hindu temple here is called the Vedic Society. It's a North Indian style temple, a beautiful arched entranceway leading up to it. Too bad we were about 3 weeks before roses, but I'm sure it's awesome.

I really liked this temple, we went inside and did Shiva abhishekham to the lingam. After we sat, a devotee came over and chatted with us. He shared many of our interests, and unlike most Hindus actually knew a lot about all the other Hindu temples in Vancouver. That was really refreshing as many Hindus often just concentrate on one, and know a lot about that one, but don't 'get around' much.

Then a mother daughter, very devoted came in and prayed for a bit. it's always nice to see other devotees who are sincere. Here`s their website:

http://www.margaretdeefholts.com/heaven-via-richmond-bc.html

 

[ShivaFan]

It seems you had a rewarding adventure at the Vedic Center! The Cosmic Family of Shiva is very nice, but it seems Ganesha's Brother is missing!

Not to jump ahead of your sharing, but did any of the temples you visited have a Nandi? I love Nandi.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Vinayaka]

It seems you had a rewarding adventure at the Vedic Center! The Cosmic Family of Shiva is very nice, but it seems Ganesha's Brother is missing!

Not to jump ahead of your sharing, but did any of the temples you visited have a Nandi? I love Nandi.

Om Namah Sivaya

The Shiv Mandir at the back of the lot at the one you visited has one. The Murugan temple on River road has all 3 vahanas out in front of the deities, Mayil, Mushika, and Nandi. Others probably do too, although I didn't notice all of them.

I only have one more temple to share about.

 

[Aupmanyav]

I do not like Murugan/Kartikeya to be left out whether in North or in South. It leaves the family incomplete.

 

[Sb1995]

I do not like Murugan/Kartikeya to be left out whether in North or in South. It leaves the family incomplete.

From the 3 North Indian temples I frequently visit, only one has Karthikji in it. All South Indian ones have Muruganji though

 

[Vinayaka]

I do not like Murugan/Kartikeya to be left out whether in North or in South. It leaves the family incomplete.

I like simple temples. One God at a time suits me just fine.

 

[Vinayaka]

The final temple we went to was this one: Home Page I was surprised at how old it was, but upon further reflection on the immigration patterns in the lower mainland, it makes sense.

Sikh Punjabis arrived here just around the turn of the century, 1910s, and have had a really strong presence for a long time. Along with the early Sikhs were a few Hindus. So both religions thrived, and often the Hindus would use the Gurdwaras and vice versa. The main occupation the Punjabis took up in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver region) was farming.

Abbotsford is about 60 miles to the east of Vancouver, is an area where agriculture, mainly market gardening is king. The Hindu temple is right next door to an open field.

We went on the way out of town, just to drop in, before the long drive home. It was about 2 in the afternoon, anbd I didn't expect it to be open. But, (actually not surprisingly now) it was. So we went in to sit for a minute in the 'old' temple, as just nearby there is a large expansion underway. The place had an Indian and older feel to it, like maybe 40 or 50 years. Unfortunately I didn't get to talk to anyone who knew much. On the way out we did meet two devotees on the way in.
The lady soon enough let us know that she was Sikh, but came here because it was really close. It appeard she had some food with her, for the construction workmen on the new temple site.

I certainly like the feel of these older temples, they have more of an established vibration, just like older houses do, as do the ancient stone temple of India.

So that's it ... 13 temples in about 4 days, and more knowledge for 'next time'.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Small temple? Nothing particularly interesting. Of course, accessibility in the neighborhood. Best wishes to them.

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste Vinayaka

Thank you so much for sharing these visits of 13 temples in 4 days. I would truly love to visit all 13 in the way you did, and Vancouver is certainly a premier destination for Hindus and Dharmis. The good people of the world act ceaselessly in pursuance of some ideal and temples inspire the pursuit of idealism in life. I certainly am inspired to visit and explore these temples more broadly thanks to you, now we know so much more about them and yiu deserve 13 frubals for 13 temples. All were attracting the bees to the flowers, each one, I am particularly interested in visting the ARUL MIGU THURKADEVI HINDU temple just to see the the vertical red and white stripes and the architectural style of this Lankan Tamil temple.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Vinayaka]

Namaste Vinayaka
I am particularly interested in visting the ARUL MIGU THURKADEVI HINDU temple just to see the the vertical red and white stripes and the architectural style of this Lankan Tamil temple.

Om Namah Sivaya

Right now it's just like a renovated old hall, and I'm afraid you might be disappointed. But likely in 20 years or so, they will have rebuilt, and it will be more Sri Lankan in style. Still, the red stripes add quite a bit.