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MALIBU HINDU TEMPLE

Malibu Hindu Temple(Tamil: மாலிபூ ஹிந்து கோவில்), a temple of the Hindu god Venkateswara, built in 1981, is located in the city of Calabasas near Malibu, California, in the Santa. It is owned and operated by the Hindu Temple Society of Southern California. Built in the traditional Indian style, it is frequented by followers of Hinduism in Southern. The priests are situated and live on the grounds of the temple. The temple has many gatherings for ceremonies, and provides numerous space for meditation, picnicking, it has a full stage for special cultural and Hindu programs. Contents [hide]

•	History •	Hinduism •	Hindu Temple Society qQ •	Services •	2 Temple hours •	3 In popular culture •	4 References •	5 External links

History Malibu Hindu temple, which was founded and built in 1981, has been a place of worship, to many individuals – regardless of which religion they choose to practice. The temple started off with one complex (the lower one) and progressively grew into 2 complexes and one theater and food area. Since 1981 the Temple has not only grown but has been recognized by the state of California in various aspects, has been referenced in pop culture, has developed many involvement programs, and annual cultural shows that bring the community together. In 1977, several members of the Hindu Temple society of Southern California, resolved to build a Hindu temple to help and benefit the community.

Hinduism As a worship house to a polytheistic religion, naturally the Temple hosts many different Gods and Goddesses. The temple is designed around the positioning of these dieties. The lower complex is house to Lord Shiva as the presiding deity and the upper complex of the temple houses Lord Venkateshwara as the presiding Deity. The most “pujas” or services, are done in front of the presiding deity, making those deities the central gods of the temple. However, there are other Gods and Goddesses in the both complexes of the temple including, Lord Ganesha – the Destroyer of Obstacles, Durga- The Goddess of wealth and power, Saraswati- The goddess of knowledge and intelligence, other deities that practicing Hindus, more commonly pray to.

Hindu Temple Society Hindu Temple Society of North America is in charge of incorporating The Hindu culture, and religious practices and responsibilities into the cultures found in the North American continent. By founding temples all across the nation, the Hindu Temple Society, immerses Indians – those that are immigrants and those that are not – in the culture that comes from India in order to keep that culture alive, and the religious practices that those people follow including, doing “Puja” (services) to various deities.

Services The temple offers a variety of services from Arathi (blessings from God usually given by a piece of fruit and a hovering of the hands above a candle), to Archana(prayers said in yours and your family’s name), to Homam’s(sacrificing some pieces of clothing and some food) done for each individual god. The temple also offers a stage and theater area for devotional dance and music performances and shows in addition to a kitchen and food area where one can buy prasadam( traditional indian food, served with gods blessing). Temple hours [edit] The temple is open every day of the year. Weekdays: Summer hours: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 5 pm to 8 pm Winter hours: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm Weekends and holidays: 8:00 am to 7:00 pm In popular culture [edit] In 1997, the temple was used in a small scene in the movie Beverly Hills Ninja starring Chris Farley, and in 1998 in a song in the Tamil film Jeans. In January 2006, the pop-star singer Britney Spears had her 4-month-old son blessed in a large ceremony by the Hindu priests of this temple. The event had worldwide coverage in the media.[1]

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