Sri Maha Kaleshwar Mandir is the first Jyotirlingam Shiva temple in the United States. Its two ton sahasralingam was inaugurated on August 28, 2010.
The temple houses solid Shivalingam with 1008 individual shivalingams inscribed upon it. This is known as a “sahasralingam,” and multiplies Lord Shiva’s power by 1000 times. In addition the lingam is consecrated as Sri Maha Kaleshwar, who is one of the 12 Jyotirlingams, especially sacred manifestations of Lord Shiva in India. This is the first of an eventual twelve Jyotirlingam temples to be established in the United States.
Sri Maha Kaleshwar, whose original temple is in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India, is known as the Lord of Time. Unlike other Shivalingams, Sri Maha Kaleshwar faces South, the traditional direction of death in Hindu culture. As such he is the Lord who does not turn his face away from suffering, illness, or death, and who is capable of conquering the most difficult of circumstances. Prayers to him for relief of mental and physical suffering are particularly effective. He grants wisdom, peace, and well-being.
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