Our Purpose:
The purpose of Sri Datta Sai Temple is twofold:
- To foster spirituality and a feeling of community: We aim to provide a serene place of worship, and a haven for conducting spiritual and charitable activities. The temple is a vibrant community center for the Indian diaspora who yearn for a sense of belonging to a community.
- To promote and preserve our cultural heritage: We are committed to promoting the principles and ideals of Hinduism (sanātana dharma), by disseminating and sharing knowledge that enlightens and inspires one and all. Our temple takes pride in preserving, propagating, and perpetuating the cultural aspects of India (bhāratīya sanskār), including classical music and fine arts. Through educational and cultural programs, we strive to keep our traditions alive, fostering a deep connection with our roots.
The Temple:
Established in 2012, Sri Datta Sai Temple stands as a beacon of faith and devotion, dedicated to Shirdi Sai Baba. It is nestled in the heart of San Ramon. The temple serves as a sacred place of worship for all Sai devotees by offering solace, peace, and a path to spiritual growth. Like Sai Baba, the temple is open to people of all faiths and religious beliefs. To worship Sai Baba and follow his eleven assertions, we have a marble statue of baba in a seated position as the primary idol.
We believe that Sai Baba was the fifth reincarnation of dattātreya. Following the guru paramparā, we understand that īśvarā is the ādi guru. To recognize this, we have an idol of Lord dattātreya in marble and a śiva linga in stone. Any spiritual journey cannot be started without the blessings of Lord gaṇeṣa – the remover of obstacles. So, we have a marble idol of Lord gaṇeṣa installed. These four primary idols define the core principles of our temple – attain spiritual growth with guidance from our gurus (īśvarā, dattātreya and sāī bābā) with the support of gaṇeṣa.
We acknowledge that God, the ultimate divine power (parabrahma), has taken multiple forms as and when necessary to suppress evil on this earth, and strengthen man’s mind to lead a righteous life. We recognize this philosophy through the idols of several other deities in the temple. These include:
- śrīnivāsa parivār (venkateśvara / bālājī, padmāvatī / lakṣmī & bhū devī)
- śivā – pārvatī
- subramaṇya (kārtikēya) and his consorts (valli and dēva sēnā)
- rāma parivar (rāmā, sītā, lakṣmaṇa and ānjanēyā)
- rādhē-kṛṣṇa
- ānjanēyā (hanumān)
- narasimha
- sarasvatī
- durgā
- ayyappa
Lastly, it’s important to realize the influence of the planetary system we live in. For this we have the navagrahās enshrined in its own space.
Our temple also includes dwārkāmai, where we have a huge portrait of bābā in a relaxed posture. Taking into consideration that bābā considered dwārkāmai as a mother who welcomes all her children, we have placed an utsav mūrtī of dēvī (the supreme mother) in dwārkāmai.
Temple schedule:
On most days, the temple is open from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. during the day time, and from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. in the evenings. On Thursdays, the temple is open until 9 p.m. in the evening. On special occasions, this schedule can change. We’ll post those times in the “temple timings” calendar.
Following the guru tradition, Thursdays (guruvāra) is the most sacred and special day of the week in our temple. Every Thursday, volunteers prepare fresh food in the temple and serve it in carry-out containers to all devotees. Devotees sing bhajans in the main prayer fall from 7:15 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. palaki sevā is conducted at the conclusion of the bhajans. Simultaneously, at 7:15 p.m. several suvāsinis gather and chant the lalitā sahasranāmam and other dēvī prayers in front of the dēvī’s utsav mūrti in dwārkamai. This too concludes before palaki seva at 8:15 p.m.
āratī schedule:
Volunteers perform āratī for baba 4 times day: kākaḍ āratī at 7:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. on Thursdays), madhyāhna āratī at 12:30 p.m., dhūp āratī at 6:30 p.m. and ṣēj āratī at 8:00 p.m. (8:30 p.m. on Thursdays). On certain days, these timings can change to accommodate the celebration of special events and festivals at the temple. Please check the āratī schedule for more details.
Festivals and special events:
Our calendar is filled with celebrations of festivals dedicated to the various deities. During these events, the temple becomes a focal point of joy, devotion, and unity. These events are not just spiritual gatherings but also opportunities for the community to come together, share happiness, and create lasting memories. A list of the various festivals and events can be found here. There are several ways for devotees to participate and support (sponsor) these events. We’ll post a list of these opportunities a few weeks before the events occur.
Services:
Worship and spiritual practices: Daily poojas, special ceremonies, and vibrant festivities provide devotees with a profound experience of devotion.
Cultural and educational Programs: The temple is available for devotees to demonstrate their talents in Indian classical music and dance. Teachers of these art forms can rent space in the temple to conduct classes. Additionally, the temple is open for classes on vēdās, ślōkās, Indian languages, and other satsangs. These programs are aimed at enriching our community’s knowledge and appreciation of our heritage.
Community Services: Guided by the teachings of Sai Baba, we extend our hand to serve the community through various charitable initiatives and human services.
Priests:
We have two priests who conduct all the pūjās and religious activities in the temple. Our devotees can employ the services for these priests for private events such as homām, gṛhapravēśam, etc. You can read more about our priests here.
You can request services from our priests by sending an e-mail to priestservices@sridattasaitemple.org
Operations:
The temple is managed and run by dedicated volunteers. We are very grateful for the selfless service our volunteers provide to keep the temple open and available to all interested parties. Every two years, a new group of volunteers form the Executive Committee, who manage all the daily operations and activities.
The temple needs the financial support from all our devotees to ensure that this sacred place continues to provide a religious and cultural center for the entire community. There are several opportunities for one to donate by sponsoring special events at the temple.
Executive Committee:
Founder: Marepalli Naga Venkata Shastri
Founder: Shravan Siramdas
Operations: Krishna Pendurthi
Treasurer: Chenna Kothur
Religious Services: Krishna Vemula
Procurement: Krishna Cherukuthota
Events & Activities: Yogesh Kumar Pogadala
IT & Marketing: Surendra Mallampati
Food & Prasadam Preparations: Kiru Pakkirisamy
