Sri Nagapooshani Ambika Sametha Nagalingeswar Temple Toronto
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Nagapooshani Ambika Sametha Nagalingeshwar Swamy Temple is a temple in Canada[1], a Naga Devata Sthalam and Mataji Temple in Toronto, Ontario, Canada dedicated to Nagapooshani Amman and her consort Naglingeswar Swamy and is located on Ellesmere/Bellamy Intersection in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. It is the only temple in the world that has Nagalingeswar in sitting form[2]. In the Hindu sect of Saivism, this temple represents the nine planets or Navagraha Sthalas; especially Rahu, Ketu and Saneeshwara Swamis like the Tirunageswaram Naganatha Temple, Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple, Kumbakonam Nageshwarar Temple, Nagoor Nageshwarar Temple[3] in India.
According to Hindu belief, those troubled by Sarpa-dosha, Kala Sarpa Dosha, Rahu-Kethu or Saneeshwara malefic effects should seek a relief by offering prayers at a Naga Devata Temple such as this[4]
The temple contains both South Indian statues as well as North Indian Idols of Hindu Gods and is an abode for Indian and Sri Lankan devotees alike from all parts of the world.[5]
The Chief Priest Kandaswamy Gurukkal also performs family counseling, marital counseling, face reading and psychic counseling as well as jyotish/janampatrika/kurippu services for the general public on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 am to 1 pm and from 5 pm to 9 pm. He also does poojas and homas both in temple and outside temple for the well-being of visitors.[2]
Aarthis and Abhishekams for the various gods happen during the temple hours which are usually from 9:30 am to 1 pm and from 5 pm to 9 pm everyday. Temple is closed between 1 to 5 pm everyday.[2]
Legend[edit]
Sri Nagapooshani Amman Temple was founded by Kandaswamy Gurukkal in 1996 in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada[1]. His family in India are all Chief priests in Bhavani Amman Temple in Periapalayam, Chennai, India. Periapalayam village is in the Tiruvallur district in the state of Tamil Nadu, in India.
In his younger years, when he sat and meditated under a tree while visiting Mata Naina Devi Temple in Bilaspur district in the Indian State Himachal Pradesh; which is one of the shakti peethams[6] in India, he had an idea to build a temple for Naina Devi in Toronto, Canada. Naina Devi Temple according to legends and Vedas, is the place where when Lord Vishnu cut up Sati Devi's body after she immolated herself in the pyre at her father's yagna; and where her eyes fell; making it a Shakti Peetham.[6]
However, as he landed in Canada, soon the young form of Nagapooshani Amman Temple took from the inspiration of Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple in SriLanka [[[Tamil language|Tamil]]: நாகபூசணி அம்மன் கோயில்]. She is the Goddess who wears Snakes.[7]The temple is famous due to works of Adi Shankaracharya, a Hindu philosopher, and it is named on the 64 Shakti Peethams in the Brahmanda Purana.
The temple has over 5000 visitors during its Ther festival or Rath Yatra which happens once a year from June to July.
Worship/Religious practices[edit]
The temple priests perform aarthis and poojas along with abhishekams everyday from 9am to 1 pm and from 5 pm to 9 pm. The temple is closed between 1 pm to 5 pm everyday.
Being a Naga Deveta Temple, this temple offers Naga Shanthi Poojas, Kala Sarpa Dosha Poojas, Saneeshwara Pooja, Rahu/Ketu Pooja as its main pooja offerings like the Tirunageswaram Naganatha Temple, Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple, Kumbakonam Nageshwarar Temple, Nagoor Nageshwarar Temple. Since this temple is located in Canada, hindus all over North America can perform such poojas at this temple.
Other poojas include Ganapati Homas, Graha pravesha homas, Tila Homas, Santana Gopala Homas and other poojas and homas among other services.[2]
Kandaswamy Gurukkal is a Telugu priest in Toronto and Hindu priest, and Brahmin priest in Canada who also goes to peoples' homes to perform various poojas.
Deities[edit]
The temple hosts Nagapooshani Amman, Nagalingeswar, Muneeshwarar, Ram, Vishnu, Mahalakshmi, Durga, Nava Grahas, Kala Bhairavar, Dakshinamoorthy, Hanuman, Shiva and other deities all under one roof[2]
Main Festivals[edit]
There is a major Thiruvizha that happens in the Aani Tamil month (June/July) for the Goddess Nagapooshani and Nagalingeswar.
There is also Bhramothsavam for Shiva and for Vishnu where Thiruppavai & Thiruvemba are read.
There is Gowri Veratham, Navarathri, Shivarathri, Aadi Pooram, Diwali, Dusshera, Tamil New Year, Thiruvadurai, Vaikunta Ekadesi, and many more festivals that attract Hindus from all over the world.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "List of Temples in Canada". templeincanada.ca. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:0 - ↑ Sharma, Sridhara (2007). Kumbakonam Azhaikkirathu. New Horizon Media. pp. 24–26. ISBN 9788183682244.
- ↑ "Navagraha temples". Thanjavur District Administration. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013.
- ↑ Dalal, Roshen (2010). The Religions of India: A Concise Guide to Nine Major Faiths. Penguin Books. p. 202. ISBN 9780143415176.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Shakthi Peetha Stotram Vedanta Spiritual Library
- ↑ http://keraladotpark.com/pdf/Archacological%20wonders.pdf A research paper from archaeologist Dr. P. Rajendran showing evidence of paleolithic age human inhabitation in Kerala. This includes the pictures of serpent idols made of clay and metal which belong to the mesolithic age.
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