Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, Maryland

The Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, located in Lanham, Maryland is about 12 miles from Washington D.C. What started off as a very small idea, in the living rooms of a few devotees in the late seventies, has now blossomed into being one of the largest temples in the western hemisphere. The actual temple construction began in 1988 and has incorporated the Mayan, Pallava, Vijayanagara, Kerala and the South Canara styles of temple architecture.

The Temple houses several Sannidhis with several deities which were consecrated between the years of 1990 and 2002. The last deity consecrated was in 2002, and they were all re-consecrated during the Jeernodharana Kumbhabhishekam in 2003.

1980

• The seed for the idea that a Hindu temple should be built in the nation’s capital was planted in 1976 among a few friends. By 1980, that idea had been nurtured and shared with others, and the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple Trust was formed. Its goals seemed fitting for immigrants thousands of miles from their ancestral home: to unite Hindus in America, individuals diverse in their customs but unified in their devotion and values, and to offer a place where Hindu culture could thrive among immigrants, their children and their children’s children.

1984

• In 1984, the SSVT Trust acquired a plot of land with a small house in suburban Washington. This house was the Balalaya, where the shrines were initially installed. As more people began to share in the vision for a grand temple of traditional architecture and sculpture, plans were drawn up, with the blessings of the Shankaracharyas, under the direction of eminent temple architect Dr. Ganapati Sthapati.

1990

• 1400 people witnessed in 1990 the consecration and installation of the first shrines in the temple building we see today.

1991

• In 1991, the Temple held its first Kumbabhishekam, as shrines for several deities were built and consecrated. Over the years, SSVT adapted to the growing needs of the congregation, acquiring more land and adding shrines for Venkateshwara and Ayyappa.

2002

• In 2002 the Mahakumbabiskem ushered in the majestic Rajagopuram and the spacious Vasantha Mandapam. In July 2003, the new gopurams for Venkateswara and Ayyappa were completed. In addition, the temple has a auditorium for concerts, dance performances and other special events, a large dining hall to meet the devotees needs and 2 homakundams, a large one for Temple Homams and a smaller one for personal Homams. Both the auditorium and the dining hall can be rented out for weddings and other personal functions.

At Present

• Today, the Temple is the enterprise of dedicated volunteers, administrative staff and eleven priests, and the symbol of a community’s joint aspirations and efforts.