01Tirumala in the hills
The Hindu Temple Society of Southern California set out to build a temple on the pattern of Tirumala for the growing Indian community of Los Angeles, and chose a canyon site in the hills above Malibu that recalled the seven hills of Venkateshwara’s home. Work began in 1981. The upper temple holds Venkateswara as the presiding deity, with shrines of Rama, Lakshmi, Bhudevi and Krishna at the four corners and a shrine of Hanuman; the lower temple is of Shiva, with Ganesh, Murugan and the Devi. The towers are built in concrete in the forms of South Indian stone vimanas.
02Worship in the canyon
Priests from South India perform the daily worship by the Agamas, abhishekam on the weekly days of each deity, and the annual Brahmotsavam with processions of the utsava murtis round the hillside. Families come from across Southern California for weddings, naming ceremonies and first feedings of rice, and the temple holds classes in Sanskrit, music and dance. Visitors from far beyond the Hindu community come up the canyon too, drawn by the white towers against the brown hills.
The life of this place
- 1981Construction of the temple begins.
1600 Las Virgenes Canyon Road, Calabasas. Modest dress is expected; the road is winding, so allow time.
