“Another donation box? Really?” someone mutters behind you. But there’s more to the Richmond Sri Murugan Temple than meets the eye. It’s a story of dedication, community, and a little bit of India right here in Richmond.
The Richmond Sri Murugan Temple’s story begins with Mr. Ramalingam Goundar. He and his extended family provided the land. They financed the temple’s construction. Mr. Goundar spent countless hours and resources upgrading the temple over the years. Because of him, the temple serves Hindus from British Columbia, Alberta, Washington, and Oregon.
With Mr. Goundar’s resources and Dr. Krishnan’s advice, construction finished in 1994. The statues of Vinayakar which is also known as Ganesha and Murugan were carved in India. They were made of granite rock under Dr. Krishnan’s guidance.
The first installation ceremony happened on December 5, 1994. It was preceded by initiation poojas. The statues of Vinayakar and Murugan were installed.
In 1995, the Navagrahas were installed. Navagrahas means nine planets. They consist of the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and the ascending and descending lunar nodes. These statues were also carved of granitic rock in India. Initially, they were installed without a cover. Later, a roof and enclosure were added.
The temple building was extended to the south. This created space for an entrance hall. It also created a place to distribute food to devotees. Mr. Shiu Sami Goundar founded the Murugan Temple Society. The society was registered with the Province of British Columbia as a religious society.
In June 1997, the statues of Sivalingam and Nantheeswarar were installed. These statues were carved of granitic rock in India. The installation ceremony was led by Brahmasri V. Eswara Kurukkal. He was assisted by Dr. Krishnan.
The parking lot was paved in November 1997. This provided easier access for devotees. The Richmond Sri Murugan Temple Society became a registered charitable organization in 1998.
In 1999, a glass exterior was installed for the Navagrahams. Also in 1999, the statues of Ambhal and the vehicles of Vinayakar and Murugan were installed. The statue of Ambhal was made of five metals. The vehicle statues were made of granitic rock, carved in India.
A kitchen was constructed in 2006. It uses a trailer for preparing food for devotees.
The temple’s first twelfth-year anniversary was observed in August 2006. The Maha Kumbha-Abihshekam was held.
In 2017, a covered area was completed at the northeast corner of the temple.
Today, the Richmond Sri Murugan Temple offers a place for worship. It hosts events and festivals. This includes Thai Poosam Festival, Thai Pongal, and Navarathiri Festival. It’s a place where tradition and community intertwine. It is all thanks to the vision and dedication of its founders.