Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya- Houston
Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is the first free standing Siva temple of its kind in Houston.
The new 4,000-square feet house of worship was inaugurated on December 18, 2007 and is an integral part of the Chinmaya Prabha facility in Sugar Land, Texas.
Swami Chinmayananda, while inaugurating Chinmaya Prabha in Houston in the early 1980s, had envisioned the idea of a Siva temple on the premises.
His grand vision came to life when the temple construction was initiated on the Mahasivaratri day of February 26, 2006. Over a thousand people participated in the brick laying ceremony on that day.
This new temple was reverberating with the sounds of chanting and bhajans during the week long inaugural festivities.
The uniqueness of the temple is that it is a synthesis of two areas, the structure that houses the idols, and the courtyard from which one can view the temple and the deities within.
The shrine has a contemporary design. It is a glass structure sitting on a concrete pedestal that rises from a body of water. The statue of Siva is seated 13 feet above the ground.
A Shivalinga on the top adds a crowning touch to the monument. The courtyard extends the tranquil ambiance felt within the sanctum sanctorum.
Walls on either sides create the feeling of a room open to the skies. Covered walkways furnished with benches flank the beautiful garden.
While Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya is a Siva temple, it is home to Rama, Sita, Radha, Krishna, and Ganesha as well.
If in Houston, don’t forget to visit this beautiful temple!