Deities
The presiding deity of Nithyanandeshwara Hindu Temple, Houston. He is a Shiva Linga, an exact replica of the Shiva Linga in the Kalahasti Temple in Andhra Pradesh. Standing 6 feet tall, this is the largest Shiva Linga in North America. He is also known as Vayu Linga (representing wind energy). He will protect people in and around Houston from all forms of air-related natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.
The founder of Kailasa Houston and Nithyanandeshwara Hindu Temple Houston. He is the reviver of KAILASA – the ancient enlightened civilization, the great cosmic borderless Hindu nation. SPH has made the science of power manifestation, yoga, and temple-based universities for humanity. SOVEREIGN ORDER OF KAILASA, led by HDH and NITHYANANDA ORDER of monks, nuns, and Hindu diaspora, are working for global peace and to give a super-conscious breakthrough to humanity. He is the 293rd Guru Mahasannidanam of Shyamalapeeta Sarvajnapeetham (ancient apex body) & 203rd Emperor of Suryavamsa Surangi Samrajyam (Kingdom).
Devi Nithyanandeshwari is an embodiment of Devi Meenakshi, the Mother of the Cosmos, Devi Parashakti (the original source of energy), and the divine consort of Paramashiva. She is a mighty queen who rules with exemplary administrative powers, cosmic justice, and causeless compassion as Universal Mother to all. “Meenakshi” means “the one who has eyes like a fish.” Just as fish protect their young with their own eyes, Devi Meenakshi looks after her devotees. With just one glance, all our miseries disappear. Standing 5 feet tall, this is the tallest Meenakshi deity in the US.
The remover of obstacles and one of the most beloved Hindu deities worshipped in every corner of India, Lord Ganesha represents the energy of spontaneity and intelligence. His blessings are invoked before beginning any important task or project, ensuring an obstacle-free path and successful completion. He is also worshipped for blessings in education since he is also the God of ‘buddhi’ or intelligence. His appealing form and easy-going temperament make him easily approachable and win the hearts of devotees across the world.
Lord Nithyananda Dakshinamurthy is an incarnation of Paramashiva Himself as the primordial and supreme teacher. His upper right hand holds the drum representing harmony with Time and Creation (Integrity). His upper left hand holds a flame, the fire of Knowledge which destroys ignorance (Authenticity). His lower right hand poised in Abhaya (Responsibility).His lower left hand clasps palm leaves indicating He is the master of the established teachings (Enriching). He is shown seated in a posture indicating that he is ready to teach all who are willing to sit in ‘Upanishad’ at his feet and learn from him.
Sri Ananda Venkateshwara is the Hindu God of wealth, devotion and blissful relationships. His celestial abode is Vaikunta, a divine, imperishable realm. He holds Sri Mahalakshmi, the Hindu Goddess of abundance, health and blissful relationships, in his heart. He is worshipped by millions of devotees every year in India at the Thirumala Thirupathi temple, where he showers seekers with blessings and boons.
The Hindu goddess of wealth, abundance, beauty, fertility and blissful relationships. She is the consort and beloved of Sri Ananda Venkateshwara and is seated in his heart. “Laksha” in Sanskrit means goal, and Sri Mahalakshmi is the Goddess who leads us to those goals in sync with our highest purpose. Her blessings are invoked for all matters relating to the manifestation of wealth and the healing of relationships. She is often depicted as sitting on a lotus throne and in many other depictions she is surrounded by elephants. Her ‘beeja’ mantra is ‘Shrim’.
Worshipped under the name Maha Kali, Goddess Durga Devi is widely revered as a manifestation of the Universal Mother, Parvati. Durga Devi riding the lion is the symbol of strength and courage. She is worshipped by all communities particularly during Navratri (the nine nights of celebrating the Divine Feminine).
The Navagrahas – the 9 heavenly planets – are worshipped in Hinduism as divine beings. The Navagrahas can be seen in deity form in many temples in India. The planets follow Paramashiva’s directive to lead humanity to enlightenment whether through desirable or undesirable situations in our lives, and to help us finish our karmas when we are in the earthly body. Worshipping the Navagrahas invokes their blessings to heal any undesirable karmas, any flaws in our astrological birth chart and to ease our path to liberation on this planet.
Lord Krishna and Radha symbolize divine love. Lord Krishna’s teaching, “the Bhagavad Gita” is the greatest divine gift to humanity in the science of Enlightenment and solutions for day-to-day living.
Sri Subramanya is the younger son of Paramashiva and Parashakti. He was born from the third eye of Paramashiva, and was raised by the stars that make up the Pleiades constellation. He is the chief of the divine army, or ‘Deva Senapathy’, and holds a spear or ‘vel’ in his hand. He is also known as Kartikeya or Muruga in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where he is worshipped widely. He is shown with his two consorts Sri Valli and Sri Devasena. Sri Subrahmanya is worshipped for blessings of intelligence, bravery, valour and for victory over inimical forces.
Sri Rama is another beloved avatar of Maha Vishnu who is worshipped throughout India. He is the representation of humility, duty, sacrifice and true leadership. He is considered to be the very model of Dharmic living. His life story is told in the popular Indian epic Ramayana which recounts his birth as a king, is exile to the forest, the slaying of the demon Ravana in Lanka and his subsequent return to India. Sri Rama is always depicted with a bow and a quiver or arrows. His wife Sita Mata is held in high regard by Hindus for her virtue, chastity and dutifulness. One of his most faithful devotees is Sri Hanuman, son of the Wind God Vayu and a very powerful being who existed only to serve Sri Rama.