Inside a Hindu Temple

Inside a Hindu Temple The Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple, located in Lanham, Maryland, is unique in that it houses both an icon to Shiva and an icon to Vishnu. Shiva is represented with a stone lingam and Vishnu is portrayed lying upon a bed of snakes. These two icons are the center of the temple and are housed in inner shrines. About twenty other gods are also represented in icons ringing the temple. These icons …

…the inner shrine. The puja was to conclude later in the evening, a very lengthy ceremony in contrast to Western Christian services, which only last about as long as several time slots on prime time television. The priests at the Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple reside at the temple, and are Brahmins who have studied the Vedas. They are men who's lives are committed to the worship of the gods, and one marvels at their devotion.