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Desi Talk publisher and Padma Shri award recipient Dr. Sudhir M. Parikh visited the Sri Sai Datta Peetham in South Plainfield, New Jersey, Feb. 8 to meet with the temple priest and trustees, and show his support to the initiatives undertaken by the temple management. The temple, which opened in March last year, is currently raising funds for the construction of a bigger temple in the state.
Accompanying Dr. Parikh was Upendra Chivukula, commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Utilities. Dr. Parikh and Chivukula toured the temple premises and were familiarized with the proceedings by head priest Raghu Sankaramanchi, one of the founders of the temple.
Daily activities at the temple begin with a kakada aarti at 5:15 a.m. and conclude with the seja aarti at 8:30 p.m. The temple also conducts daily donation of food, nithya annadaman, and also supplies food to local homeless shelters first Sunday of every month. Sai bhajans and satsangs are conducted every Thursday, and devottees can partake in archanas, abhishekams and sammohika vratams free of cost. Temple priests also bring the Sai pallaki to devotees’ houses to cure theirailments.
Coinciding with its first anniversary, the temple management is currently working on a herculean task of constructing a replica of the Shirdi temple in the state. Titled “Shirdi in America,” the project plan is to first acquire land (Sthala Seva) extending over 23 acres. The temple is currently accepting registration for sponsorship of $11 to donate a square yard.
The new temple, situated on 23 acres of land in Somerset County, will accommodate the Gurusthaanam, Lendivanam, Dwarakamai, 24X7 Dhuni and Chavadi similar to the Shiridi temple. The larger square area will also provide more space to organize yagnas and other events like Lalitha Maha Yagnam, Sahasra Linga Archana and Baba Pallaki Seva. A huge Prasadalaaya will be constructed to continue the nithya annadanam; as well as a Goshala to adopt cows, a Gurukula Pathashala for teaching the Vedas to children and an auditorium to host community events.
