Sri Soma Sundareswara Swamy Temple

Sri Soma Sundareshwara Swamy Temple

Chinmaya Sundaram in Austin, Texas, is home to beautifully consecrated temples, offering a serene and spiritually uplifting experience. Our temple houses the following carefully chosen deities:

Lord Ganesha

Lord Ganesha: Lord Ganesha is worshipped as remover of obstacles.

Sri Ganesha Atharva Seersham eulogises Him as manifestation of ultimate reality.

In Puranas, he is often depicted as leader of Ganas (Lord Siva's servants) and is described as son of Lord Siva and Parvati.
The word Ganapati is mentioned in Vedas so he is a very ancient diety.

ॐ गं गणपतये नमः

oṃ gaṃ gaṇapataye namaḥ

Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva embodies pure consciousness, peace, and divine power.

According to Siva Purana : The name Śiva (शिव) is derived from
• vaś (वश्) : The Supreme Controller.
• Śaṁ (शं): Eternal calm and quietude.
• I (इ): Self.
• Va (व): Śakti (divine creative power) and everlasting life.

Thus, Śiva represents the true Self/Consciousness (our true nature), imbued with divine power and eternal life, and embodies a state of perfect tranquility.

Moreover, Lord Śiva is the one deity with five faces (Pañca Vaktra पंच वक्त्र): these five faces represent five distinct aspects in the cycle of creation andin the evolution occurring from states of 5 (subtle) to 1 (gross) as enumerated below:

Creation (Sṛṣṭi सृष्टि): Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space are expressed.
Preservation (Sthiti स्तिति): Water, Fire, Air, Space are expressed.
Destruction (Nāśanam नाशनम्): Fire, Air, Space are expressed.
Concealment (Tirodhānam तिरोधानम्): Air, Space are expressed.
Grace (Anugraham अनुग्रहम्): Space is expressed.

Lord Rudra is an avatara of Siva and is worshipped from Vedic times.

Lord Krishna

As a major avatar of Lord Narayana—the sustainer of the universe—Lord Krishna embodies the Ākarṣaṇa Śakti, the divine power of attraction, drawing the individual soul (Jīvātmā) back to its cosmic source through irresistible love and beauty.

Described in the Puranas as having a beautiful dark (Śyāma) complexion, he assumes the role of the ultimate teacher in Veda Vyasa’s Śrīmad Bhagavad Gītā. As a masterful summary of the Upanishads, the Gita stands as a foundational pillar of Sanatana Dharma.

In his final teachings, the Uddhava Gītā, Krishna provides a practical roadmap for inner transformation: through the study of scriptures, holy association (Satsaṅga), pure charity (Sāttvika Dāna), and meditation (Dhyāna), one can consciously elevate their personality toward pure Sattva.

Mother Meenakshi Devi

She is an avatara of Mother Parvati the consort of Lord Siva. The parrot in her hand represents Vedas (OM and revealed scriptures). She represents the divine Mother.

In Lalita Sahasranama, Mother (Devi) is called PañcaVaktrā (the deity with five faces); she is the fire of consciousness, is the lord of concealment, and has arrows of the five subtle elements: space, earth, etc.

she creates and destroys. She is both manifest and unmanifest and the witness of the world.

What we perceive as reality is an interplay of the unmanifest and the manifest, a continuous cycle ofcreation, sustenance, and dissolution, ultimately rooted in a single, unified consciousness.

Nandi Bhagwan

Nandi (also known as Nandikesvara) is the divine vahana (mount) and foremost devotee of Lord Shiva. Representing dharma (righteousness) and unwavering devotion, his origin is deeply rooted in Puranic lore.

Divine Birth According to the Puranas, the sage Silada performed intense penance to seek a son who possessed the divine qualities of Lord Shiva. His prayers were answered in a miraculous birth.
One tradition states Nandi was born directly out of a sacred ritual fire (homa).
Another Puranic tradition suggests he emerged from the matted locks of Lord Shiva himself.
Devotion and Destiny Though born divine, sages foretold a tragic destiny: Nandi was destined to live for only a few short years. Undeterred by this prophecy, the young Nandi immersed himself in deep meditation upon Lord Shiva for many years.
Impressed by his profound austerity and devotion, Lord Shiva granted him numerous boons.
The Holy River: Nandi was transformed into a sacred river, offering spiritual liberation (moksha) to all who bathe in its waters.
The Divine Mount: He was elevated to become the eternal companion, guardian, and vahana of Lord Shiva, forever stationed at the entrance of Shiva's temples, facing his Lord.

Navagrahas

The nine celestial deities governing planetary influences. Worship of Navagrahas helps maintain harmony, balance, and positive energies in life.

Contact Us
Chinmaya Sundaram,
12825 Burnet Road
Austin, Texas 78727
ph.no. : (512) 888-9232
E-mail : info@chinmayaaustin.org

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